The Flash is one of DC Comics' most popular characters and has been integral to the publisher's many reality-changing "crisis" storylines over the years.
Each incarnation of the Flash has been a key member of at least one of DC's premier teams: the Justice Society of America, the Justice League, and the Teen Titans. Thus far, at least five different characters-each of whom somehow gained the power of "the speed force"-have assumed the mantle of the Flash in DC's history: college athlete Jay Garrick (1940–1951, 1961–2011, 2017–present), forensic scientist Barry Allen (1956–1985, 2008–present), Barry's nephew Wally West (1986–2011, 2016–present), Barry's grandson Bart Allen (2006–2007), and Chinese-America Avery Ho (2017–present). Nicknamed the "Scarlet Speedster", all incarnations of the Flash possess "super speed", which includes the ability to run, move, and think extremely fast, use superhuman reflexes, and seemingly violate certain laws of physics. Created by writer Gardner Fox and artist Harry Lampert, the original Flash first appeared in Flash Comics #1 (cover date January 1940/release month November 1939). The Flash (or simply Flash) is the name of several superheroes appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.
Characters who have associated with the name "The Flash": Barry Allen at the center, and counterclockwise from upper left are Iris West II, Bart Allen, Jesse Chambers, Wally West, Jay Garrick, and Max Mercury.