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I've always been a Batman fan. Still am, but anymore I collect Batman items because frankly its easy. I went to a comic book gathering this past weekend and the majority of the comics I bought there were in fact Batman comics. However, in the past few months a character has sneaked into my heart and I will admit, is slowly (and in this case saying that he's doing this slowly is incredibly ironic) eclipsing the fandom I have for Batman.

No boos, no hisses please. I can hear the teeth mashing already.

I haven't given up on The Caped Crusader.

Its just that Scarlet Speedster is so damn charming.

That's right my new major fandom is The Flash. Anything Flash, I get. At that same comic book gathering one table had a bunch of 1.00 comics for sale (and if you needed Batman back issues this was THE place. 1.00 Batman back issues, no brainer) I went straight for The Flash section and pulled every comic from its place. The owner looked at me like I was a fool.

Flash may not have the street cred that he once did, but here's a little background on what he's all about:

1) There have been 4 people taking the name of Flash. Three of which are still active as Flashes. These people are: Jay Garrick, golden age Flash and founder of the Justice Society of America. You can tell who he is by his metal helmet. Barry Allen, silver age Flash, who recently came back from being long dead (well not actually dead, but merging with the Speed Force the place where Flash gets his powers from) to become the Flash again. Wally West, bronze and modern age Flash, who is the most recognized Flash and was the longest running Flash. Think of Wally more like the Peter Parker of the DCU. Finally, former Kid Flash, Bart Allen (Barry's grandson, from the FUTURE!!!) who was killed by The Rogues and then later came back, however his resurrection escapes me at the moment.



They often run around the twin cities in the DCU Midwest called Keystone City and Central City. Central City is home to the famous Flash Museum!




2) Flash may have the third most recognizable cast of villains, named The Rogues. Naturally, the first is Batman and the second is Spider-Man. The Rogues are a collection of The Flash villains who decided to pull resources and work together. Yet, in the context of things, I would say they unionized, because unlike the other two collections of villains I mentioned, The Rogues have rules.

The Rogues are currently made up of the following villains: Captain Cold, Heat Wave, The Trickster, Weather Wizard, and The Mirror Master.




Flash has other villains who were either kicked out of the rogues for not following their rules (No drug use, no hurting women or children, and no killing the Flash (the last one was broken once and never to be broken again)) or just too powerful to be part of the Rogues. These people are: Gorilla Grodd, Captain Boomerang, The Top, Shade, Samurai, The Melter, and Abra Kadabra.

3) Flash's arch-nemesis is man by many names: Reverse Flash, Professor Zoom, or just Zoom. While Zoom was a different person, Reverse Flash and Professor Zoom are one in the same, Eobard Thawne. Thawne is a man from the 25th century who went back in time to kill Barry Allen's girlfriend Fiona. Flash got pissed and actually snapped Thawne's neck. This caused Flash to go on a very public murder trial and he Flash was cleared of the charges in the end. Thawne since has been resurrected through Brightest Day and in the story of Flash: Rebirth, he was revealed to have been the murderer of Barry Allen's mother. This is a major point for Barry because he has been searching for the true murderer of his mother all his life. With Professor Zoom back from Brightest Day, we can expect much more trouble from this guy.


4) As most are familiar with him, Flash is a member of the Justice League of America and often helps out. He and Batman are generally friends, in the sense that Batman enjoyed working with Barry Allen, but kinda hated Wally West. The two of them often compare their villains and decides which set is worse. Barry is also best friends with Hal Jordan, Green Lantern. (In reality this came about because Green Lantern was often used as back up stories in the later Silver Age back up comics.)



And that's the basic information one would need to know to start reading The Flash Comics. I write this now, because The fifth issue of his new ongoing series is out today. If you are interested in past comics, DC has a good selection of collections that group most, if not all, the early Flash stories.