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How Did Flash Get His Powers? Scarlet Speedster's Origin Explained


The Flash prepares for take off
Credit: DC Studios

Since the inception of The Flash in Detective Comic's The Flash #1 back in 1940, we’ve seen different versions of the Scarlet Speedster appear throughout the decades including, Jay Garrick, Wally West, Bart Allen, and last but not least - Silver Age’s Flash, Barry Allen. 

To this day when people think of The Flash, the majority will automatically have their mind pulled to Barry Allen.

It is this iteration that we see in CW Network’s TV series The Flash, and also the one that appeared in 2021's Justice League movie and reprised their role in 2023's The Flash movie.

Now then, let's dig deep into how the Flash got his powers in the first place!

WARNING: This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for 2023's The Flash, so READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!

The Flash (Barry Allen) First Appearance

Ezra miller as the flash in justice league
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Barry Allen’s version of The Flash first appeared in Showcase #4, a comic anthology created by DC Comics. 

It is here that we see him working as a forensic chemist for the CCPD (Central City Police Department).

Ironically, having a reputation for being slow, Barry finds himself working late one night in the lab when a lightning bolt strikes covering him in electrified chemicals from the lab and knocking him out cold.

Upon waking, he finds himself with the ability to move at super speed.

How the Flash got his powers in DC Comics
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Credit: DC Comics

There are slight differences between the comics and the TV series with how The Flash gets his powers.

Within the TV series, we see him being struck by a lightning bolt that was caused by the explosion of the particle accelerator which goes on to create other metahumans within the city. 

However, in some comic arcs, it actually shows that The Flash was the one responsible for causing the lightning bolt to himself when he travels through time.

RELATED: Who is the Faster Speedster: Quicksilver vs. The Flash?

The Flash’s Powers: What Are They?

Super speed can sound like quite a limiting superpower when compared to other members of The Justice League.

After all, super speed is one of the many powers that other heroes simply contain in their arsenals such as Superman, Martian Manhunter, and Wonder Woman.

However, not only is The Flash faster than Superman as well as the other Justice League members, but he is able to use his speed in more ways.

Barry Allen trying to save the people from the falling building
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Credit: DC Studios

As he runs, he is able to generate his own form of lightning that he can hurl with precision at different villains.

As well as this within both comics and TV series, he can vibrate at such speeds that he can phase through different solid objects or vibrate objects at such speeds that they can also phase with him. 

As well as this, he can heal quickly, witness things in slow motion, and he can also move so quickly that he can give the illusion that he is invisible!

In some episodes, he has moved his arms in small circles to put out fires, hover, run up and down buildings, and even used his speed to create a sonic barrier in order to stop a tidal wave.

One of the most powerful ways in which The Flash uses his powers, however, is through his connection to the speed force (the interdimensional source of dark matter that gives Barry and other speedsters their powers).

Barry is able to connect to the speed force in order to travel back and forward through time and enter different universes.

The Flash gets trapped in the Speed Force
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Credit: DC Comics

The Flashpoint Paradox

In The Flashpoint Paradox, we saw Barry Allen make the decision to go back in time and rescue his mother, Nora Allen from being murdered when he was a boy.

As a result of this, due to the butterfly effect, he begins to change lots of other events within the DC universe.

We see that Bruce Wayne is the one who is shot that night, and instead, Thomas and Martha Wayne end up living.

Thomas goes on to become a much more brutal version of the Batman we know, and Martha, due to the grief and loss of her son, goes crazy and goes on to become the Joker. 

Thomas Wayne Batman and the Flash in the Flashpoint Paradox
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Credit: DC

We also see that a war has broken out between Atlantis (led by Aquaman) and the Amazons (led by Wonder Woman).

On top of this, in this universe, Barry has never had the accident that caused his super-speed and is, therefore, left powerless.

With the help of Thomas Wayne, Barry creates the same mixture of chemicals at the lab and attaches himself to a lightning rod in order to capture the lightning strike and recreate the chemical conditions of his speed.

However, the first attempt goes badly leaving Barry badly burned and scarred barely able to walk. 

Due to the urgency and need to change the current timeline, Barry tries once more and this time is able to access the speed force, heal his burns, and have full access to his powers once more.

DC's The Flash: Barry Allen's Powers and Weaknesses

Barry Allen with young Barry in The Flash
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Credit: DC

DC's solo movie for The Flash came out this June 2023, and while many have been made aware that the film will be loosely based on the Flashpoint comics' storyline, here's how the DCEU film portrayed Ezra Miller's Scarlet Speedster.

When the present Barry Allen figured he could time travel by running faster than light, he took this opportunity to see the time when his mother, Nora, was still alive.

The DC movie pretty much confirmed he could time travel, and some of his comic-based powers made it into the canon, such as running while generating his own form of lightning, healing faster, and vibrating his entire body to phrase through walls and objects.

How Did Flash Get His Powers in the 2023 DC Movie?

Aside from that, when Barry traveled back in time to meet his 18-year-old version, he magically landed on the day he was supposed to get his powers, September 29th.

Barry was fully aware of the consequences if his younger self did not get his powers on that day, he knew he would lose his powers and never return to his present time.

So, Barry took the younger version into the lab where he was supposed to have worked late in, ensured the positioning of chemicals would hit right where his younger self could get struck by lightning along with the chemicals.

How the Flash got his powers in his 2023 solo movie
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Credit: DC

What is The Flash's Weakness in the 2023 Movie?

At the beginning of The Flash (2023), Barry was waiting for his PB&J sandwich and even had his own calorie counterwatch on his wrist.

He was growing anxious every second he was not getting his fill that morning, especially since he also had to go to work right after. As it turned out, the speed is being fueled by the calories he takes.

Barry also admitted he could never touch humans, let alone any living being, along with his speed, as this could cause their imminent death.

This goes the same for the clothes that could slip right through him when he has to phase through walls or even speed up. But he can carry a microwave during his speeding, which explains why he had to put the baby in it first to save them.

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