Written by GL
Many main superhero characters in the DC Universe have at least one arch-enemy that had been created almost as a reflection of him or her - possessing similar powers, similar skills and, sometimes, even similar costumes. Superman has his Bizzaro, Green Lantern has his Sinestro. And the Flash. The Flash has his Reverse Flash.
What many generic readers may not know is that there have been just about three different Reverse Flash supervillains; one for each age, one for each Flash.
Back in 1949, Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash, was forced to face off against a fella called The Rival. The Rival was a man named Dr. Edward Clariss, a professor who had attended the same university as Jay Garrick himself. Clariss believed that he was the creator of the chemical formula that gave Jay Garrick super-speed. This chemical was called 'Velocity 9'Clariss hated the fact that no one in the science community would believe his claims. So, he turned to a life of crime, wearing a darker version of Jay Garrick's costume. Clariss, however, discovered that his 'Velocity 9' only gave temporary super-speed. The first time he battled Jay Garrick, the effects of the chemical wore off and he was totally defeated. Several months later, Clariss faced off against Jay Garrick a second time. Clariss fought so hard that he managed to reach light speed and just vanished into thin air. Here's where everyone learns something new: when all beings of super-speed die, they are taken to the Speed Force. The Speed Force is sort of like a Heaven for everything that has the ability of super-speed, whether good or bad. That's where Clariss was. Clariss was brought back from the Speed Force by a villain called Johnny Sorrow. He was invited to join the Injustice Society - the organization that was to be the main arch-enemy team against the Justice Society of America (formed in 1999).
Being of pure energy, Clariss' origins and story ends and continues at him possessing the body of another Golden Age speedster called Max Mercury. In the body of Max Mercury, The Rival continues to be the thorn in the side of Jay Garrick.
In the Silver Age, Barry Allen (the greatest hero to hold the name of The Flash) met an arch-enemy that was practically as powerful as himself - that man's name was Professor Zoom. Professor Zoom was Eobard Thawne, a criminal from the 25th century. Eobard Thawne discovered a time capsule containing the costume of Barry Allen. Using a machine, Eobard Thawne managed to harness and amplify the speed-energy that was built into the costume. This gave him all the powers of the Flash for as long as he wore the costume. In the process, all the colors of the costume were reversed - Professor Zoom's suit became yellow with red boots and lightening bolts, and the white background logo symbol on his chest had turned black. Professor Zoom used his powers to commit many, many crimes, whilst plotting for a way to eliminate Barry Allen, the original Flash. Professor Zoom knew of Barry Allen's dual identity, and with this knowledge, he managed to kill Barry Allen's wife, Iris. Professor Zoom met his end when he attempted to murder Fiona, Barry Allen's fiancee. It was while trying to save the life of Fiona that Barry Allen broke Professor Zoom's neck; and this was the final end of the Silver Age Reverse Flash.
After the untimely death of Barry Allen, Wally West came to take over the mantle of the Flash from his uncle. Wally West befriended a fella named Hunter Zolomon. Zolomon, after arriving in Keystone City, was hired by the police department as a profiler for the Department of Metahuman Hostilities. His work meant that he would constantly come into contact with the Flash, and the two became close friends. Zolomon, through his work, offered valuable information that would help solve a number of cases for Wally West.
One day, Zolomon was attacked by Gorilla Grodd. The attack left him paralyzed from the waist down. He approached the Flash begging for help. His plan was for the Flash to use the Cosmic Treadmill, housed in the Flash Museum, to go back into time and stop the attack from happening. Wally West said that it would be too dangerous, that playing with the time-stream would be an unstable thing to do. Zolomon, of course, broke into the museum himself and tried using the treadmill. The resulting explosion destroyed the entire museum and this drove Zolomon insane. The explosion also gave Zolomon the power to play with time. He could now alter his own timeframe, giving himself super-speed.
Being a little bit insane, Zolomon theorized that that reason Wally West didn't help him in the first place was because he had never learnt to suffer personal tragedy. So, he decided to take on the name of Zoom and attempt to murder Wally West's wife, Linda Park, to teach him how to be a better hero. And their fight continues on.
In the case of the Reverse Flashes, there is an arch-enemy for each age. In my opinion, that's pretty cool as it's the villains that also help to keep the superhero characters themselves alive. Not that the Flash, as a character could ever be forgotten – who could ever forget the fastest man alive, the man who lives in-between the ticks of a second.
What many generic readers may not know is that there have been just about three different Reverse Flash supervillains; one for each age, one for each Flash.
Back in 1949, Jay Garrick, the Golden Age Flash, was forced to face off against a fella called The Rival. The Rival was a man named Dr. Edward Clariss, a professor who had attended the same university as Jay Garrick himself. Clariss believed that he was the creator of the chemical formula that gave Jay Garrick super-speed. This chemical was called 'Velocity 9'Clariss hated the fact that no one in the science community would believe his claims. So, he turned to a life of crime, wearing a darker version of Jay Garrick's costume. Clariss, however, discovered that his 'Velocity 9' only gave temporary super-speed. The first time he battled Jay Garrick, the effects of the chemical wore off and he was totally defeated. Several months later, Clariss faced off against Jay Garrick a second time. Clariss fought so hard that he managed to reach light speed and just vanished into thin air. Here's where everyone learns something new: when all beings of super-speed die, they are taken to the Speed Force. The Speed Force is sort of like a Heaven for everything that has the ability of super-speed, whether good or bad. That's where Clariss was. Clariss was brought back from the Speed Force by a villain called Johnny Sorrow. He was invited to join the Injustice Society - the organization that was to be the main arch-enemy team against the Justice Society of America (formed in 1999).
Being of pure energy, Clariss' origins and story ends and continues at him possessing the body of another Golden Age speedster called Max Mercury. In the body of Max Mercury, The Rival continues to be the thorn in the side of Jay Garrick.
In the Silver Age, Barry Allen (the greatest hero to hold the name of The Flash) met an arch-enemy that was practically as powerful as himself - that man's name was Professor Zoom. Professor Zoom was Eobard Thawne, a criminal from the 25th century. Eobard Thawne discovered a time capsule containing the costume of Barry Allen. Using a machine, Eobard Thawne managed to harness and amplify the speed-energy that was built into the costume. This gave him all the powers of the Flash for as long as he wore the costume. In the process, all the colors of the costume were reversed - Professor Zoom's suit became yellow with red boots and lightening bolts, and the white background logo symbol on his chest had turned black. Professor Zoom used his powers to commit many, many crimes, whilst plotting for a way to eliminate Barry Allen, the original Flash. Professor Zoom knew of Barry Allen's dual identity, and with this knowledge, he managed to kill Barry Allen's wife, Iris. Professor Zoom met his end when he attempted to murder Fiona, Barry Allen's fiancee. It was while trying to save the life of Fiona that Barry Allen broke Professor Zoom's neck; and this was the final end of the Silver Age Reverse Flash.
After the untimely death of Barry Allen, Wally West came to take over the mantle of the Flash from his uncle. Wally West befriended a fella named Hunter Zolomon. Zolomon, after arriving in Keystone City, was hired by the police department as a profiler for the Department of Metahuman Hostilities. His work meant that he would constantly come into contact with the Flash, and the two became close friends. Zolomon, through his work, offered valuable information that would help solve a number of cases for Wally West.
One day, Zolomon was attacked by Gorilla Grodd. The attack left him paralyzed from the waist down. He approached the Flash begging for help. His plan was for the Flash to use the Cosmic Treadmill, housed in the Flash Museum, to go back into time and stop the attack from happening. Wally West said that it would be too dangerous, that playing with the time-stream would be an unstable thing to do. Zolomon, of course, broke into the museum himself and tried using the treadmill. The resulting explosion destroyed the entire museum and this drove Zolomon insane. The explosion also gave Zolomon the power to play with time. He could now alter his own timeframe, giving himself super-speed.
Being a little bit insane, Zolomon theorized that that reason Wally West didn't help him in the first place was because he had never learnt to suffer personal tragedy. So, he decided to take on the name of Zoom and attempt to murder Wally West's wife, Linda Park, to teach him how to be a better hero. And their fight continues on.
In the case of the Reverse Flashes, there is an arch-enemy for each age. In my opinion, that's pretty cool as it's the villains that also help to keep the superhero characters themselves alive. Not that the Flash, as a character could ever be forgotten – who could ever forget the fastest man alive, the man who lives in-between the ticks of a second.
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