No matter who calls themselves the Flash, the character almost always carries a bright, hopeful nature about him, no matter how bleak things may seem at the time. Throughout the character’s history, the Scarlet Speedster has continually been one of the most important heroes in the entire DC universe.
However, while the hero is generally one of the more reliable ones, he also isn’t without his own faults. In fact, there have been several times where the Flash has actually been the villain of the story.
10 Drive Top Insane (Worst)
While few people are likely to be familiar with the Top, he still serves as one of the lowest points in Barry’s entire career as a hero. Originally one of the Scarlet Speedster’s more psychotic villains, Barry actually had Zatanna completely alter his personality so that he became a good guy.
Eventually though, Top came to remember his past life with the clash of both personalities being enough to drive him insane. Despite the fact that Barry felt his intentions were noble, it is still one of the more dramatic actions that a superhero of his caliber has ever done.
9 Charitable Acts (Heroic)
Barry Allen has always been the type of character to set his pride aside for the betterment of others, even when he doesn’t always need to. For years within the DC universe, fans were never sure as to whether Superman or Flash was really the Fastest Man Alive.
On several occasions, the two heroes would actually race each other, but they either resulted in a tie, or certain external factors ended up influencing the race. However, shortly after Barry made a return from the dead, it became very clear that he truly was the Fastest Man Alive. While it may not seem like much, the fact that Barry was willing to slow himself down for the benefit of others is a true reflection of his great character and heroic actions.
8 Try to Kill Himself (Worst)
In one of the many alternate futures that the DC universe has explored, Barry is revealed to be one of the only surviving members of the Justice League in an incredibly dark and bleak world. Now in a blue suit, Barry decides to travel back in time to kill the biggest threat to the future, himself.
While this is technically an alternate version of the character, he still fought against the main version of Barry Allen and proved to be one of the most frightening versions of the hero yet imagined. While the main Barry’s hands were technically clean, the fact that he could potentially turn into this horrifying villain is terrifying in a whole other way.
7 Inspire Others (Heroic)
One of the greatest things any hero can do is inspire others to make a difference. Since Barry is one of the more lighthearted members of the Justice League, he actually accomplishes this feat quite often.
Whether its characters like a young Wally West or Superman himself, Barry has inspired countless others across the DC universe to become the best versions of themselves that they can be. Even though he has also made his share of mistakes over the years, the character continues to set an example for others, doing little things here and there to make a big difference overall.
6 Mind-Wiped Dr. Light (Worst)
Similarly to the Top, Barry once again played a major role in the mind wipe of a powerful villain. After Dr. Light successfully broke into the Justice League Watchtower and raped Sue Dibney, Barry was one of the first heroes to return and find him. Not knowing what to do, the smaller group of Leaguers voted on how to approach punishing the villain.
As the determining vote, Barry’s decision ultimately ended up lobotomizing Dr. Light, turning him into a fraction of the threat he once was and marking one of the darkest moments in Justice League history. Granted, Barry himself wasn’t the one who did it, but his vote doesn’t exactly earn him the best favor either.
5 Create the Speed Force (Heroic)
Following his triumphant return to the land of the living, DC Comics fans quickly learned that Barry himself was actually the one who created the Speed Force. Considering how the Speed Force plays a major role in the larger science fiction of the DC universe, this was a massive reveal that also stands as one of the character’s most heroic actions.
Considering all the other speedsters who also use the Speed Force, Barry has indirectly saved countless other lives. Even when he was presumed dead for years, Barry’s actions continued to help others save people around the world. While they may not have realized it, Barry was continually inspiring others, despite being a passive influence on the entire world.
4 Kill Reverse Flash (Worst)
For all the horrible things that Reverse Flash has done to Barry Allen, the hero almost always remains true to himself. However, there was actually a time where Barry, in a fit of rage, actually killed the villain, causing all sorts of controversy around his character.
Following the event, the Flash was actually put on trial in the comic books, with several surprising characters testifying against him. Furthermore, after he is found guilty, instead of facing the consequences of his actions, Barry runs away to another time. For all the other heroic deeds he’s done over the years, this is one point where Barry definitely acts more like a villain.
3 Fix the Flashpoint (Heroic)
In one of the darkest timelines imaginable for the DC universe, Barry found himself to be the only one in the world to remember how things should be. With few options and time running out, it was up to Barry and Thomas Wayne’s Batman to find a way to restore the timeline to its proper form.
In the end, Barry ended up having to leave his mother behind, who was revealed to still be alive within this world. However painful it was for him to say goodbye to her, he still chose to be the hero and saved countless others in the process, solidifying his role as one of the best DC heroes around.
2 Create the Flashpoint (Worst)
While Barry was still the key in fixing the Flashpoint, he was also the one who caused it. In an effort to go back in time and save his mother from her tragic death, Barry accidentally changed things into the incredibly dark timeline that he found himself in.
Originally, Eobard Thawne was thought to be the one to have caused the dramatic changes, but Barry eventually realized it was him. While he still proved to be the hero by the end of the story, it doesn’t change the fact that it was his incredibly selfish actions that caused the Flashpoint in the first place.
1 Sacrifice Himself (Heroic)
Of course, one of the most heroic acts that Barry ever accomplished was when he literally ran himself to death in the pages of Crisis On Infinite Earths. In order to save the planet and some of his closest friends, Barry gave his life so that they could continue fighting.
Following this event, Wally West became the new Flash and continued to follow in Barry’s footsteps. For several years, Barry would actually be dead within the comics. Thankfully, he eventually made a return, but his sacrifice still stands as one of his most heroic actions to date.