When thinking of The Flash, it’s easy to assume he’s the fastest speedster in the universe. Decked out in a classic red outfit with a lightning bolt proudly strewn across his chest, The Flash is one of the most iconic characters to ever come out of the DC Universe. His ability to connect with the Speed Force, along with other powers, makes him a superhuman hero that can travel through space and time, one that seems immortal by any normal human standards. However, in the years since The Flash first appeared in the Golden Age of comics in Flash Comics #1 in 1940, he’s gone numerous transformations, character arcs, and appearances. Although Jay Garrick began as the original Flash, DC decided to revamp the character in 1952, creating Barry Allen, a new Flash that most people recognize as the definitive and canonical one. As an inspiring American hero, many of The Flash’s enemies over the years have tried to emulate and copy his unique abilities. Some have succeeded and surpassed The Flash; others have fallen flat, long forgotten in the back pages of comic lore.
Unpacking the fastest speedsters in the universe is no easy task. With nearly eight decades of comics to choose form, there will almost certainly be some heroes, and foes, that we could include here but can’t due to time constraints. With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the speedsters that could crush Barry Allen in a foot race, as well as some others that make better impostors than competitors.
20 FASTER: EOBARD THAWNE
At this point, it’s been well established that Eobard Thwarne, aka the Reverse-Flash, is one of The Flash’s greatest archenemies of all time. Not only is he a genius with an abnormally high IQ, but he’s one of the fastest characters in the DC Universe, often reaching speeds faster than the speed of light.
Some of his other powers include the ability to hit his opponents hundreds of times per second, run on water, and most dangerously, travel through space and time. Eobard Thawne has the special advantage of being able to use the later power to change history and completely erase people from human existence.
19 SLOWER: BIZARRO FLASH
After a blue sun hit Bizarro III with radiation, he found that he could copy himself as well as others based on anyone he encounter on Earth. He used this ability to create “Bizarro” versions of many superheroes, including Green Lantern, Batman, and of course, The Flash.
Unfortunately, Bizarro Flash is the complete opposite of the real Flash. He’s a slow moving creature with chalky gray skin that resembles ash. His body is misshapen and his appendages are not consistent with those of a normal human being. He is also slow to process thought, often speaking or acting the reverse of what he really means.
18 FASTER: WALLY WEST
Wally West, also known as the third Flash or Kid Flash, is the fastest character to take on The Flash persona. He can reach lightning speed by thinking, using vibrations to maintain alpha-level control of his body’s movements. He seems to have a special connection to the Speed Force, the mysterious sprit that enables heroes to enact superhuman speed.
Unlike others who have become The Flash, Wally West’s direct line to the Speed Force allows him to run for extended periods of time without having to take a break. He’s so fast that he can’t be seen by the human eye, and he can also create a vortex, run on water, and travel through time.
17 SLOWER: SUPERMAN
Whether or not Superman is actually faster than The Flash has been a favorite debate in comic book circles. The first race between Superman and the Flash happened in the “Superman’s Race With The Flash!” storyline in Superman #199 from 1967. Typically races between the two friends end in ties due to outside forces. Often Superman is described as being slower on the ground as he prefers flying due to its efficiency.
Earlier this year, The Flash #49 attempted to settle the issue pitting Barry Allen and Wally West against each other, with Superman lagging far behind. The Man of Steel eventually resigns, stating: “I couldn’t catch up to them. They’re going too fast”.
16 FASTER: HERMES
As the illegitimate son of Zeus and Maia, Hermes is a messenger for the Greek gods, often described as the benefactor of thieves. As such, he stole The Flash’s speed and flew away with it in the 1991 comic The Flash Vol. 2 #55. In this particular issue, Hermes appears without his signature winged cap -- the same one that inspired the original Flash, portrayed by Jay Garrick.
Hermes soon finds himself under attack from his Roman equal Mercury, and The Flash comes to his rescue by planting a swift punch to Mercury’s face. Hermes possesses superhuman speed and strength, being the fastest Greek Olympian. Unfortunately, his powers become diminished when people stop worshiping him.
15 SLOWER: JESSE QUICK
Jesse Chambers, who later used the superhero moniker Jesse Quick, is the daughter of Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle. She became Wally West’s partner in The Flash Vol. 2. Like her dad, she has the ability to fly and has superspeed. She’s able to connect with the Speed Force by reaching a meditative state and visualizing the speed formula.
She also inherited many of her mother’s powers, such as super strength, fast reflexes, and superhuman stamina. However, she was rendered powerless after her father stepped in to protect her from Savitar’s forces. In his demise, Johnny Quick merged with the Speed Force, leaving Jesse alive but without superpowers. She went on to take over the management of her father’s company.
14 FASTER: HUNTER ZOLOMON
Hunter Zolomon, aka Zoom, is the second character to take on the Reverse-Flash handle. His main advantage over his foe Wally West is that he doesn’t have to rely on the Speed Force to enable his superhuman velocity. Instead, he can manipulate time in relation to himself, meaning he slows time down around him.
Due to this unique characteristic, Zoom possesses superhuman strength and agility, able to withstand punches even at extraordinary speed. He doesn’t sustain injuries from these blows, nor does he suffer from issues of friction and perception like many other speedsters do. As a mastermind investigator with a background in criminology, and avid athlete, Hunter Zolomon is one dangerous enemy.
13 SLOWER: TRAJECTORY
When speedsters fan Eliza Harmon went to Lex Luthor to ask him for superspeed, he chose her for the Everyman Project, a new initiative that aimed to grant superhuman abilities to non-meta humans. Luthor gave her superspeed, but she was not able to slow back down without using a drug called the Sharp. She argued with Luthor about her condition which resulted in him removing her from the Infinity team.
Later, Starlight is able to convince Luthor to let Trajectory back on the team, but she is taken down when her powers unexpectedly cut out. It was later revealed that Luthor himself pressed the button that caused her to lose her abilities.
12 FASTER: DANIEL WEST
Danny West is one of the darkest villains in the Flash universe. He first appeared in The Flash #0 in 2012. His mother passed away while giving birth to him, a tragic incident that his dad never forgave him for. After pushing his abusive, alcoholic father down the stairs -- and immobilizing him for life -- Danny left home and his relationship with his sister Iris West was never the same.
With anger issues in tow, Danny made it his mission to go out and end everyone affected by the Speed Force in order to steal speed for himself. Using this new power, his goal was to travel back in time, end his father, and save his strained relationship with Iris.
11 SLOWER: INERTIA
Thaddeus Thwane, aka Inertia, first appeared as the evil clone of Impulse in Impluse #50 in 1999. He was created by Thaddeus Thawne of Earthgov and sent back in time to end Bart Allen. Inertia has the ability to manipulate time around him so he doesn’t have to access the Speed Force. He is also skilled in hand-to-hand combat.
However, Inertia is slower than Barry Allen because he’s unable to vibrate his own molecules like so many other speedsters can. His speed also used to be dependent on Velocity 9, a substance he took to induce his speed and powers.
10 FASTER: AUGUST HEART
As the detective partner of Barry Allen, August Heart was the only person to see Barry get struck by the Speed Force. August himself was later stuck by the Speed Force lightning in Central City, but looking to seek revenge on the who took out his brother, he became the rebel villain Godspeed in secret.
Godspeed’s unique ability to divide the Speed Force and clone himself gives him an advantage over other speedsters as he can be in two places at the same time. He’s also a conduit for the Speed Force, able to tap into the Force’s built up energy. Superhuman agility, stamina, durability, and accelerated healing are just a few of August Heart’s many other powers.
9 SLOWER: MAX MERCURY
Max Mercury has a long history in the Flash comics, first appearing in Flash Vol. 2 #76 in 1993. He became one with the Speed Force when his body was taken over by Jay Garrick’s enemy, Rival. He is a Speed Force conduit, which mean that, for whatever reason, he is one with it. Some of his other abilities include accelerated healing, enhanced senses, and the Speed Force Aura.
He’s also been called the Zen Guru of Speed and became a mentor to Wally West, teaching him decision making skills and helping him fight Professor Zoom. His nickname may be the Whirlwind of the West, but he’s still not faster than Barry Allen.
8 FASTER: IRIS WEST II
Iris West II is the daughter of Wally West and twin sister of Barry West, appearing in the 1996 “Kingdom Come” alternate universe storyline. As another Kid Flash, she’s inherited many of her father’s abilities, including superspeed, the capability of altering her body’s molecules, and the power to create an aura around herself, protecting her from friction.
She’s a master of the Speed Force, able to create bubbles of speed and time that freeze her enemies in their tracks. However, she’s slower than her brother Barry -- even though he’s a lazy slacker with no interest in the family legacy -- due to her young age.
7 SLOWER: BLACK FLASH
Black Flash acts as Death to those with superspeed, seeking out those who use the Speed Force. Many heroes have seen him in the face of their demise, including Johnny Quick, Max Mercury, and Barry Allen himself. It seems as though Black Flash is the conduit for Death, since Death is not fast enough to capture these superhumans himself.
Black Flash appeared to Barry Allen before his demise at the Getty Center at the hands of the Rogues. Allen became Black Flash for a short time, before the role was taken over by Professor Zoom. He is an immortal entity who can kill with one single touch, but it’s unclear if Black Flash and Black Racer are meant to be one in the same.
6 FASTER: AMAZO
Professor Ivo was an evil genius plagued by an obsession with immortality. He built Amazo, the world’s first android, using advanced Absorption Cell technology, making him a fierce robot capable of mimicking the skills and powers of any hero he can get his hands on. For the Justice League of America, that meant he was able to copy The Flash’s lightning speed.
Originally, Amazo was only able to copy one hero’s abilities at a time, but later versions of the droid allowed him to retain various powers at once. Sometimes he’s even pre-built with the skills of the various JLA members, such as Green Lantern’s Power Ring or Wonder Woman’s Lasso of Truth.
5 SLOWER: LADY FLASH
Ivana Christine Borodin Molotova’s backstory is as convoluted as her name, but the gist of it is that her father was a scientist who was interested in The Flash, Barry Allen. When the Kremlin gave her father three children, he first wanted to test his own Flash serum on himself, but disintegrated due to the air friction brought on by Flash’s superspeed powers.
The three children, known as Blue Trinity, were hired by Rudy West to capture Barry Allen and bring him back to Siberia. However, they were betrayed and imprisoned. To make a long story short, Lady Flash ended up addicted to Velocity 9 and was eventually ended by Barry Allen, just like her father.
4 FASTER: Bart Allen
Bart Allen first appeared as the hero Impulse in The Flash #91 in 1994, and later became known as the second Kid Flash. Along with insane speed, he possess many traits common to speedsters, including running on water and creating an aura that protects him from air friction as he moves at a lightning fast pace.
His most interesting ability, however, is the fact that he can create Speed Force avatars that he can send back through the time continuum. Additionally, he isn’t affected by alterations to the time stream, making him supersmart. Bart can remember everything he’s ever seen, heard, or read, which makes him a walking encyclopedia.
3 SLOWER: BLACK RACER
Black Racer is depicted as an agent of the end, hunting down those who are associated with the Speed Force. He was created by comic legend Jack Kirby and first appeared in New Gods #3 in 1971. When Sgt. Willie Walker became immobile due to his fighting in the Vietnam War, Darkseid gave him the role of Black Racer when he brought the war of the gods to Earth.
Although Black Racer has the ability to travel through solid objects, he typically travels on cosmically powered skis and therefore is not as fast as Barry Allen. Still, he brings darkness to those he encounters with a single touch, making him a worthy enemy.
2 FASTER: SAVITAR
A man obsessed with becoming the fastest there ever was, Savitar -- named after the Hindu God of Speed -- was one of Wally West's most dangerous foes. First breaking the sound barrier while testing a supersonic jet, Savitar would desire nothing but to know everything about the Speed Force and take the speed of all those who tap into it.
Eventually, he would start a cult devoted to him and his name, and take on the entire Flash family during the "Dead Heat" storyline. This led to the demise of Johnny Quick and a race around the world with Wally that led to him being displaced through time.
1 SLOWER: JAY GARRICK
Jay Garrick was the first Flash, originally appearing in Flash Comics #1 way back in 1940. He gained his unique superspeed abilities after accidentally breathing in hard water vapors. In the early days, Garrick would mask his identity and use his capability of vibrating molecules to hide or make it difficult for others to photograph him. Things changed in 1956 when DC created a new Flash named Barry Allen, a character with a new look, backstory, and costume that was not related to Garrick.
Garrick shares other features with Allen, such as super fast reflexes and the ability to access the Speed Force. His rank as a speedster has fluctuated over the years, but he’s generally considered to be the second fastest Flash behind Barry Allen