Of all the stories published during DC Comics' New 52 era from 2011 to 2016, one of the most critically acclaimed was Brian Buccellato and Francis Manapul's run on The Flash, which kick-started the speedster superhero's relaunch as part of the line-wide reboot of the DC Universe.
For over two years, the creative team set a new status quo for the Scarlet Speedster, while reimagining his classic rogues gallery in the continuing battle for the fate of Central City. Now, we're taking a look back at some big parts of Buccellato and Manapul's run and how it repositioned Barry Allen as DC's Fastest Man Alive in the New 52 era.
The New, Improved Barry Allen
The New 52's Barry was a forensic scientist working for the Central City Police Department, but he was considerably younger -- in his mid-to-late 20s -- as opposed to his pre-Flashpoint counterpart. No longer married to Iris West, Barry dated other women including fellow CCPD officer Patty Spivot while maintaining a flirtatious relationship with Iris who remained a prolific Central City reporter. The relaunched series had Barry serving as the Flash for approximately five years before the start of the series, with one of his earliest adventures seeing him become a founding member of the Justice League.
A new incarnation of Wally West would eventually run alongside Barry as the New 52 Kid Flash. Like his counterpart, he was still a teenager and key member of the Teen Titans but came from a considerably more troubled home than the Wally West who was apparently lost to the ravages of Flashpoint. As Barry faced an old friend who had transformed into the villainous Multiplex, he gained the ability to think faster-than-light, which could occasionally prove a burden as he was prone to become lost in his own racing thoughts and various strategies while on the fly.
The Return of the Rogues
Just as the Scarlet Speedster was reimagined and made younger, so were his classic assembled villains, who referred to themselves aptly as the Rogues. For decades of comic book history, the antagonists had largely relied on gadgets to aid them in their various crimes and alter ego inspirations. To give themselves an edge over the Flash, the Rogues had their powers internalized through illegal genetic enhancements, perhaps most notably with Captain Cold able to generate his trademark cold fields through his hands. This version of Cold would also blame the Flash for causing an EMP which threatened his sister's life while she was hospitalized with cancer.
While usually opposing the Flash, the Rogues would take on a more heroic role to defend Central City, first against an invasion force from Gorilla City led by Gorilla Grodd and later when the Crime Syndicate from Earth-3 led a coalition of villains to take over Earth during the crossover event Forever Evil. In retribution for siding against them, Deathstorm, the evil Firestorm from Earth-3 would forcibly remove Cold's powers, which forced him to begin using his signature cold gun once again.
Gorilla War and a New Reverse-Flash
The classic foes Gorilla Grodd and Reverse-Flash were among the most dramatically reimagined Flash villains in the New 52. Grodd and the citizens of Gorilla City obtained their intelligence through a latent connection to the Speed Force which they called the Light. While retaining his usual telepathic abilities and formidable strength, this incarnation of Grodd consumed the Speed Force's raw energy to give himself temporary bouts of super-speed to keep up with Barry. Defeated and trapped within the Speed Force itself for a time, Grodd would emerge even more powerful with the added ability of telekinesis.
The New 52's Reverse-Flash was Daniel West, the ne'er-do-well father of Wallace and brother of Iris. Abused by his father growing up, Daniel accidentally crippled the man and ran away from home, horrified by his actions before turning to a life of crime. During Grodd's invasion of Central City, Daniel is struck by energies unleashed from a Speed Force battery and transforms into the Reverse-Flash, targeting those connected to the Speed Force to draw their energy and give himself enough speed to run back in time to kill his father. Dissuaded by Barry from changing history, Daniel is later recruited on to the Suicide Squad for a time only to later resurface during DC Rebirth.