Warning: Spoilers for The Flash #11
Summary
The mysterious source of theFlash’s powers, the Speed Force, has been redefined countless times over the years in an effort to make sense of what makes him the Fastest Man Alive. Now, after a shocking discovery, the Speed Force has been given a major lore update that changes the nature of the Flash’s speed in a big way.
InThe Flash#11 by Simon Spurrier and Ramón Pérez, the Flash has been manipulated by cosmic beings known as the Arc Angles who seek to destroy time. As the Flash races across reality to do their bidding, they revealthe Speed Force’s true originto him. The Arc Angles explain thatthe Speed Force originates from a living being known as the Deep Change, and that the Flash Family were all chosen to be its conduits so that it could experience life through them.
With this revelation, the Speed Force’s origin is finally made known. However, it also means thatanother potential origin of the Speed Force has been retconned— and that might be for the best.
Flash’s Horrifying New Power Feat Proves Flashpoint Was Just the Beginning
The Flash just tapped into a new power that threatens the multiverse, and it isn’t the first time the Fastest Man Alive has put the world at risk.
Panel fromThe Flash: Rebirthby Geoff Johns, Ethan Van Sciver, Alex Sinclair, Hi-Fi, and Rob Leigh
The Flash: Rebirthby Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver served as the long-awaited return of Barry Allen as the Flash after he was resurrected during theFinal Crisisevent. During this storyline, Barry learned from fellow speedster Max Mercury thathe created the Speed Force when he was first struck by lightning. What makes thisproposed origin for the Flash’s power sourceso controversial is that it positions Barry Allen as the sole “Chosen One” of the Speed Force. The source of every speedster’s power therefore revolves around Barry, making them secondary to him as its conduits.
Fans can check out the very beginning of Spurrier’s radical new take on Flash lore and the Flash Family — including wild new powers for Wally West — in “Between Love and You” by Spurrier, Mike Deodato Jr., Trish Mulvihill, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou fromThe Flash#800, available now from DC Comics.
With the Speed Force’s new origin inThe Flash#11,no Flash Family member is more inherently important than the rest. Rather than being born from Barry’s lightning, the Speed Force emanates from the Deep Change, a cosmic being that exists outside of reality itself. This creature chose Barry Allen to be the Flash the same way itchose every member of the Flash Family. The Speed Force originating from the Deep Change instead of just one man makes ita much cooler power sourcefor the Scarlet Speedster that welcomes the entire Flash Family into the DC Universe’scosmic hierarchy.
The Speed Force Created the Flash
Not The Other Way Around
This groundbreaking reveal about the Flash’s powers changes everything longtime fans thought they knewabout the Speed Force. When Barry Allen was struck by lightning, he didn’t create the Speed Force. Instead,the Deep Change chose to gift him powers because it deemed him worthy. As such, this lore update makes the source of the Flash Family’s abilities far more interesting, while also elevating their potential beyond a binary idea of speed. The Speed Force’s origin has officially been changed for the better, and its newfound cosmic scale opens up endless possibilities forFlashstories moving forward.
THE FLASH #11 (2024)
The Flash
The Flash is the superhero name given to the DC Comics character who utilizes unparalleled speed tied to a dimensional power known as the “speed force” to overwhelm their opposition. Premiering in 1939, the original Flash arrived as Jay Garrick. Still, it would be superseded by Barry Allen in popularity and featured status, but the Flash is one character that has met many of their alternate selves. The character is typically seen as a part of the Justice League in nearly all incarnations.
