Reverse-Flash
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Reverse Flash is a title that has been taken by three supervillains in DC Comics. All of them have super-speed and are enemies of the Flash dynasty.
The three Reverse Flashes, corresponding to the three Flashes, are:
- The Rival
- Professor Zoom
- Zoom
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[edit] The Rival (Golden Age Reverse Flash)
The Rival Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #104 (February 1949) as Dr. Edward Clariss, a professor at the university attended by the Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick. He believed he had recreated the formula that gave Garrick his speed.
Bitter at the rejection of his claims by the scientific community, Clariss became a criminal, wearing a darker version of the Flash's outfit. His version of the formula, however, proved to be temporary, and he was defeated when it was expended. He reappeared a few months later, and in battling the Flash, reached lightspeed and vanished.
Following the reformation of the Justice Society of America in 1999, Clariss was retrieved from the "Speed Force" (which had been revealed as the Valhalla of fallen speedsters (good or evil), as well as their source of power) by Johnny Sorrow, who invited him to join the new Injustice Society. Now pure speed energy, he has possessed Garrick's fellow Golden Age speedster Max Mercury.
[edit] Professor Zoom (Silver Age Reverse Flash)
Eobard Thawne, Professor Zoom, first appeared in The Flash (first series) #139 (September 1963). Originally, he was a criminal from the 25th century, who found a time capsule containing the Silver Age Flash's costume. He was able to use a machine to amplify the suit's speed energy, giving himself the abilities of the Flash as long as he wore it. In the process, the colors of the costume reversed, the suit becoming yellow, the boots and lightning bolt highlights red, and the chest symbol's white circle becoming black. He used his speed powers to commit crimes, His knowledge of Allen’s dual identity enabled him to strike at him by killing his wife, Iris, and later attempting to kill his fiancée Fiona. It was in saving Fiona’s life that the Flash broke Zoom’s neck, killing him.
[edit] Zoom (Modern Age Reverse Flash)
Hunter Zolomon first appeared in The Flash: Secret Files & Origins #3, created by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins.
After arriving in Keystone City, Hunter Zolomon got a job as a profiler, working with the police in their Department of Metahuman Hostilities. His work put him in constant contact with the Flash (Wally West), and the two became good friends. His insight was critical in solving a number of cases, but he always resented being stuck behind a desk.
One day, Hunter was severely injured in an attack by Gorilla Grodd, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down. He asked Wally West to use the time-travelling cosmic treadmill in the Flash Museum to prevent this from occurring. West refused, saying that he couldn't risk damaging the timestream. Zolomon then broke into the museum and attempted to use the treadmill himself. The resulting explosion destroyed the museum (as well as his remaining sanity) and shifted Hunter's connection to time. He could now alter his personal timeframe, giving the effect of super-speed.
Zolomon decided that West wouldn't help because, unlike Barry Allen, he had never suffered personal tragedy. Zolomon decided that if he became the new Zoom and killed West's wife (Linda Park), this would help the Flash become a better hero.
[edit] See also
- Blur, a White Martian/Human hybrid who appeared in the Son of Vulcan mini-series.
- Inertia, an evil clone of Bart Allen, the current Flash
- Johnny Quick, the Flash's evil counter part from the anti-matter Earth
[edit] Other media
The Reverse-Flash has not entirely appeared in any filmed adaptation. However, in the Justice League Unlimited episode, "Divided We Fall", Brainiac creates robotic copies of the League's villainous counterparts, the Justice Lords, with Flash squaring off against a duplicate wearing the red on yellow costume of the Reverse-Flash.
In addition, in the live action television series adaptation, Barry Allen temporarily takes the false name, Professor Zoom, when investigating the Mirror Master. Also, in another episode a scientist creates a clone of Barry he names Pollux which bears no direct relation to any comic anti-Flash.
[edit] External links
- Crimson Lightning, an online index to the comic book adventures of the Modern Age Flash.
- Justice League Unlimited at the Internet Movie Database
- The Flash at the Internet Movie Database
