Throughout his 60 year history, the Flash has appeared in numerous media.

[edit] Early animated appearances

The Flash and Kid Flash on The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure

In 1967, The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure was produced by Filmation and featured eighteen seven-minute shorts which starred various DC Universe heroes, including three solo adventures of the Flash (Barry Allen).

Wally West, as Kid Flash, appears in two segments starring the Flash (Barry Allen); they are titled "Take A Giant Step" and "To Catch A Blue Bolt"; the latter shows Barry and Wally changing into their Flash and Kid Flash uniforms using their rings. It should be noted that Wally's appearance differs from his comic book counterpart. He has black hair, and the red and yellow color scheme of his second costume is reversed, as well as simplified to put him in trunks.

Barry was also seen as a member of the Justice League of America, which also included Superman, Atom, Green Lantern, Hawkman, and sometimes Aquaman.

Wally additionally appeared as Kid Flash on the Teen Titans segment, which also featured Aqualad, Wonder Girl and Speedy.

The Flash and Kid Flash were voiced by Cliff Owens and Tommy Cook, respectively.

Flash appeared off and on in the Super Friends series throughout its run from 1973 to 1985.

[edit] Live action appearances

In 1979, the Flash appeared in the live-action Legends of the Superheroes specials, played by actor Rod Haase.

[edit] The Flash TV series (1990–1991)

The Flash was a live action television series on CBS that starred John Wesley Shipp and Amanda Pays. The Flash featured in the series was an amalgamation of the silver-age Flash, Barry Allen, and the modern-age Wally West. The only resemblances between the TV Barry Allen Flash and the comic book Barry Allen Flash were his name, his profession as a forensic scientist, and his love interest Iris (who was very short lived as a love interest in the television series). Most of the elements in the television show were taken directly from the main story line in the first Wally West Flash comic books: The S.T.A.R. Labs researcher Tina McGee, her and her husband's research into speed, her husband's allegedly fatal accident with their speed research, the Flash's ravenous appetite, heat problems (which were mitigated by the TV show Flash suit), and speed limit on the order of the speed of sound were all elements from the main Wally West comic book storyline.

The Flash's most famous villain in the series was the Trickster, played by Mark Hamill, which oddly foreshadowed Hamill's subsequent success at voicing the Joker in Batman: The Animated Series and, later, the Trickster in Justice League Unlimited. Captain Cold, played by Michael Champion, and Mirror Master, played by David Cassidy, also appeared in their own episodes. The complete series was released as a DVD set by Warner Bros. in 2006.

The Flash TV Special #1 comic introduced a variation on Kid Flash. This particular version of the character was a teenage thief named Vince Everett. Unlike The Flash, his powers did not require eating to replenish. His speed is pushed to the limit as he chases The Flash through an amusement park, eventually burning out his powers.

[edit] Justice League of America pilot (1997)

The Flash (Barry Allen) was in a CBS live-action pilot called Justice League of America, portrayed by Kenny Johnston. The pilot did not air in the United States. Similar to The Flash TV series, this Flash appeared to be Barry Allen in name only, as he reflected Wally's age, ravenous appetite, and personality. In addition, this version of Justice League was inspired by the Keith Giffen-era Justice League, of which Wally was a member.

[edit] Smallville

Bart Allen races Clark Kent in the Smallville episode "Run"

The Flash made guest appearances in the television series Smallville, in the fourth-season episode "Run" (first aired October 20, 2004) and in the sixth season in the episode "Justice" (first aired on January 18, 2007). He is played by Kyle Gallner. He is portrayed as a self-centered teenager who uses his powers for personal gain. He goes by the name Bart Allen, but he is shown to be carrying multiple ID cards also identifying him as Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, and Wally West. His speed is depicted as being well in excess of that of Clark. Not only is he able to run backward and match Clark's top speed, but is able to run fast enough that Clark, even moving at top speed, cannot follow his movements.

Their mutual respect made it apparent that they had become friends towards the end (as Superman and Flash are good friends in the future), with allusions being made to forming a "league" one day. It is mentioned that he got his powers through an accident, rather than genetics as in the actual comics, though it should be noted that at least one of the Flashes has gotten his powers through an accident. This incarnation of the Flash is also one of the few characters on Smallville who is not a 'Meteor Freak', meaning they have not acquired their powers through Kryptonite-related means via one of Smallville's infamous meteor showers.

Although commercials for "Run" billed him as "the Flash", he is never called by this name in the episode. Instead, in "Justice", he has been given the codename "Impulse". Like in the comics, Bart did not pick this name himself. In his second appearance, Bart has matured somewhat, but he maintained roughly the same personality. However, he is now using his powers to help others. Along with Aquaman, Green Arrow, Cyborg and Black Canary he now works to stop one of Lex Luthor's evil side projects, 33.1.

Kyle Gallner reprises his role as Impulse in the season eight finale called "Doomsday".

[edit] Film

In December 2004, David S. Goyer was attached to write and direct a superhero film based on the The Flash.^[1] Goyer expressed interest in having actor Ryan Reynolds portray Wally West,^[2] with Reynolds expressing his own interest in the role.^[3] In June 2005, Goyer was still developing the first script draft for The Flash and had yet to finalize negotiations with Reynolds.^[4] In February 2007, Goyer departed from the project, citing creative differences with the studio.^[5] Goyer's script was considered dark-themed,^[6] including both Barry Allen and Wally West as The Flash and drawing on seminal comic book runs by Mike Baron, Mark Waid, and Geoff Johns.^[7]

Later in February 2007, director Shawn Levy was announced to be attached to The Flash and to oversee the writing of the new draft, which would use elements of Goyer's script.^[6] Ryan Reynolds expressed interest in the role once more of The Flash if the new script's incarnation was Wally West.^[8]

In October 2007, director David Dobkin said that he was signed on to direct The Flash, replacing Shawn Levy. Dobkin said that the film would work as a spin-off from the upcoming Justice League of America film. He said that the incarnation of the Flash would be Wally West.^[9] In the February 2008 issue of Wizard the Flash was placed for a 2008 release date.^[10] However, this fell through as well.

[edit] Animated appearances

[edit] DC Animated Universe

The Flash appeared in Superman: The Animated Series, voiced by Charlie Schlatter, in the second-season episode "Speed Demons". As in the traditional comic book storylines, the Flash and Superman race to find out who is faster, but the Weather Wizard gets in the way, which causes the two to work together. He also appears in Batman: Gotham Adventures #25 due to a theft in Central City leading him to Gotham.

The Flash in the Justice League animated series is voiced by Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor on the television series Smallville). This Flash is Wally West; however he is an amalgamation of Barry Allen and Wally West (in Justice League Unlimited, Wally is a forensic scientist, which was Barry's profession. Wally in the comics is an auto mechanic). Michael Rosenbaum also voiced Kid Flash for a Fall 2005 episode of Teen Titans animated series entitled "Lightspeed". He later appeared in a cameo in the episode "Calling all Titans" and then he reappeared fully in the episode "Titans Together".

The importance of the Flash as the "heart" of the Justice League was shown in the episode "A Better World", when his death in an alternate timeline triggered a series of events which turned that alternate League (the "Justice Lords") into virtual dictators of Earth. He has also proven key in saving the day in a few episodes, such as Divided We Fall, in which he defeated the fused Brainiac/Lex Luthor when all the other six founding Justice League members could not. In the process, he was drawn into the Speed Force (the first explicit use of the concept in the DCAU), and barely managed to escape. The episode "Flash and Substance" is centered on the opening of the Flash Museum on "Flash Appreciation Day" in Central City, and featured many of the Flash's rogues in cameos, while focusing on Captain Boomerang, Mirror Master, Captain Cold, and The Trickster (voiced by Mark Hamill). Linda Park also appears as a reporter covering the museum opening. Mirror Master alludes that Wally West may not have been the only Flash stating to the rest of the Rogues, "We've all been stopped by a Flash."^[11] Additionally, the episode "The Great Brain Robbery", saw The Flash and Lex Luthor inadvertently changing consciousness-Wally West (inside Lex Luthor's body) is tasked with trying to figure out what has occurred, escape, and not be killed by the suspicious members of the Legion of Doom.

Flash as featured in the Justice League episode Eclipsed.

Wally West is the Flash featured as one of the seven founding members of the Justice League, in both the Justice League and Justice League Unlimited animated series. His personality is more or less the same as it was from his appearance on Superman: The Animated Series, and his flippant attitude is often used to provide comic relief from the often intense nature of his fellow Leaguers, though he is the featured hero in several episodes. However, in one episode of Justice League Unlimited, he complains to Elongated Man that he dislikes being viewed as the "teenage sidekick" even though he was part of the original seven. His super fast metabolism, which results in him eating absurdly and inhumanly large portions of food, was something of a running gag on the series. Flash's endorsement of the "Lightspeed" candy bar (which created controversy fueled by a talk-show host who constantly dissed the League in one episode) was also a sort of running gag, as the bars make numerous other appearances, with Flash's picture on the wrapper in some cases.

Barry Allen elements of the JL/JLU animated Flash: he's the only existing Flash in the series, he was never Kid Flash. He lives in Central City, Barry Allen's hometown as opposed to Keystone City, Wally West's hometown. He is a police scientist, which was Barry Allen's job in the comics. His origin is also that of Barry Allen's. This Flash also fought some of Barry Allen's enemies throughout the series, such as Captain Cold, Mirror Master, Captain Boomerang, Gorilla Grodd, and The Trickster. Wally also has the Flash ring, which was invented by Barry Allen in the comics, to store his Flash costume in.

Wally West elements of the JL/JLU animated Flash: he has red hair and green eyes like Wally does in the comics. This Flash also has Wally's girl-crazed, occasionally big-headed manner, paired with a childlike attitude and intelligence. When he tries to vibrate his molecules through solid objects, he causes them to explode as opposed to passing through the object intangible like Barry Allen would. Linda Park, Wally's girlfriend and eventual wife in the comics, appears in an episode and is a suggested love interest for the Flash. He also has a good relationship with Hawkgirl. Wally shows a strong friendship with Shayera that is touched on several times through both the JL and JLU series, usually in a sisterly way, including him being the first to hug her after her decision to resign. In the Justice League Unlimited third season's debut episode "I Am Legion", Flash says, "She loves me. She's like the big sister I never had. Only, you know... short."

Wally appears without the Flash costume twice in the series. The first time is in the Starcrossed episodes when the Justice League decides to remove their costumes and move around as ordinary people to hide and regroup. The Flash appears reluctant to trust his fellow Justice League members with his secret identity, whereupon Batman shows he already knows by exclaiming, "Wally West!" while pointing at the Flash, followed up by revealing the secret identity of Superman (Clark Kent) and himself (Bruce Wayne). Wally then removes his mask and Wonder Woman tells him that she likes his red hair just before ruffling it. The second time is in the episode "Flash and Substance", where Wally is shown to be working at the forensics lab before taking a half day off to attend the Flash museum opening. Wally's face is also exposed in one other episode, "The Great Brain Robbery". When his mind is switched with Lex Luthor's, Lex removes the mask to see if he can at least "figure out" who the Flash really is by looking at his face in the bathroom mirror, only to state in an annoyed tone, "I have no idea who this is."

[edit] The Batman

The Flash appeared at the end of The Batman's fourth season finale The Joining as one of the members of the Justice League. The Flash was properly introduced in the episode A Mirror Darkly to help Batman battle Mirror Master. Also Charlie Schlatter reprised the role of Flash from the above Superman episode Speed Demons. Creators stated that their version was intended to be Barry Allen, but they'd leave it up to the viewers to decide for themselves. He is more similar to Bart Allen in attitude, and personality. This Flash is known to speak at an unusual fast tone.

[edit] Teen Titans animated series

Kid Flash in "Lightspeed"

Kid Flash debuts in the episode of the Teen Titans animated series entitled "Lightspeed". While the character's true identity is never given, the fact that Michael Rosenbaum voices the character implies that he is intended to be Wally West as Rosenbaum also voices an older Flash/Wally West in Justice League, as well as insisting he vibrated through the bars of a cage the H.I.V.E Five trapped him in, an ability only Wally has demonstrated. In the series, he is portrayed similar to the way that Wally was portrayed in comic books. His personality is often considered "laid back", and he is known to be comedic and sometimes flirtatious. When Jinx asks Kid Flash who he is working for, he says, "I work alone these days", implying a previous partnership with The Flash.

When the Titans are searching for the Brotherhood of Evil and the Titans East have gone back home to Steel City, Kid Flash decides to help protect Jump City and stop crimes from being committed. When he interferes with the H.I.V.E. Five's criminal deeds, he flirts with their leader, Jinx, and tries to make her reevaluate her life of crime. Shortly afterwards the H.I.V.E Five attempts to capture him and, after Madame Rouge tires him out, Jinx traps him in an electric field. Jinx nearly hands him over to Madame Rouge, but she frees him when she realizes Madame Rouge doesn't appreciate her help and that Kid Flash was the one who truly cared for her well-being. Afterwards, Jinx quits the H.I.V.E. Five and joins forces with him as a Titan, and the two quickly form a romantic relationship.

He briefly appears in a shot of all the Titans in "Calling All Titans", where it is revealed the Titans have come in contact with him and he has a Titan communicator. In "Titans Together", he brings Jinx to the Brotherhood's lair as his ally and helps the speedsters Más y Menos and the other Titans freeze the Brotherhood's member villains inside cryogenic cases. Más y Menos are very impressed by Kid Flash's speed and abilities.

Kid Flash is one of the few Titans in the animated series to fully resemble his comic counterpart. However, Wally's eyes in the comics are currently green. The design of Kid Flash with blue eyes remains consistent with his original appearances, pre-Crisis.

Kid Flash is mentioned in issue #28 of Teen Titans Go!, and makes cameo appearances in several other issues. He is featured in a worldwide race against Más y Menos in issue #34. Although knowing that Jinx obviously has feelings for him, he inadvertently flirts with Raven, Argent, and several other girls behind while running the race, making Jinx jealous and causing him to lose the race to Más y Menos when Jinx shows up at the finish line and confronts him about his flirtatious nature. They remain close, however, and share their first official kiss in issue #53.

[edit] Teen Titans: The Judas Contract

Wally West is slated to appear (as Kid Flash), in the new movie Teen Titans: The Judas Contract.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Batman: The Brave and the Bold

The Jay Garrick version of the Flash will appear in Batman: The Brave and the Bold episode Trials of the Demon^[12]. In the teaser plot Jay (voiced by Andy Milder) teams up with Batman to stop Scarecrow and Scream Queen. No other Flashes have been confirmed at this time, though Weather Wizard made a cameo in a later episode, hinting at the appearance of Barry Allen.

[edit] Video Games

• The Flash is a Game Boy game based on the live action television series and was released in 1991.
• The Flash was a video game that was released on the Sega Master System in 1993.
• Wally West is a playable fighter in Justice League Task Force released on the Super NES in 1995.
• The Flash is a featured playable character in the video game, Justice League Heroes. In addition, there is a spin-off game for the Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS with The Flash as the main hero titled Justice League Heroes: The Flash. Both were released in 2006.

• The Flash will appear in Sony's DC Universe Online. A video showing game play displays Wally West.^[13] Jay Garrick has also been confirmed.^[14]
• Wally West is a playable fighter in Justice League Task Force released on the Super NES and Sega Genesis in 1995.
• Wally West is a featured playable character in the video game, Justice League Heroes. In addition, there is a spinoff game for Game Boy Advance with The Flash as the main hero titled Justice League Heroes: The Flash. Both were released in 2006.

• Wally West will appear in Sony's DC Universe Online. A video showing gameplay displays Wally as The Flash.^[13] Jay Garrick has also been confirmed,^[15] affirming the prediction that all four Flashes will make appearances.

• The Flash appears in Mortal Kombat vs. DC Universe a crossover fighting game produced by Midway Games. It features characters from both the Mortal Kombat universe as well as the well known DC Universe. The Flash is a playable character and upholds a part in the plot of the story line. It's confirmed to be Barry Allen.

[edit] Other appearances

• Wally West appeared in a novel Stop Motion, written by Mark Schultz.
• Barry Allen appears in the direct-to-video movie Justice League: The New Frontier and is central to the story. Jay Garrick and Wally West also make brief appearances during the opening and closing credits of the movie.

[edit] In popular culture

• In the Simpsons episode "New Kids On The Blecch", Comic Book Guy dresses up like the Flash and even stated, "No one can outrun The Flash" until he gets stuck into an open manhole. In the earlier episode "Marge Vs. The Monorail", Lyle Lanley, when addressing a classroom of children is asked whether his monorail can outrun The Flash. After replying in the affirmative, he is asked if Superman can outrun The Flash, to which he replies "Sure, whatever..."
• In 2002, the lead character in the movie Catch Me If You Can a con man played by Leonardo DiCaprio uses the alias "Barry Allen" to elude G-man Tom Hanks in reference to his love for the comic book.
• In the 2003 movie Daddy Day Care, Jimmy Bennett plays a boy who thinks he is the Flash and refuses to take off his costume, plus a sugar rush actually affords him super speed for a while.
• The band "Jim's Big Ego" has a song entitled "The Ballad of Barry Allen", about the Flash.
• In the first season of the TV series Lost, the character Walt Lloyd is seen reading the Spanish version of a Flash comic Green Lantern/Flash: Faster Friends #1 on several occasions. In the third season episode "Catch–22", Charlie and Hurley are seen debating the question of whether the Flash could defeat Superman in a footrace.
• During WrestleMania XX, Rey Mysterio wore a 'Flash-like' costume.
• In the novel Assault on the Senses, three characters share their names with three Flash alter egos (Jay, Barry and Wally) and each have personalities representative of the character they are respectively inspired by.
• In the Jimmy Neutron episode "N-Men", Jimmy's friend Sheen Estevez gains Flash-like powers and goes by the name Vibrating Lad.
• In the South Park episode "Imaginationland," The Flash can be seen as one of the characters in Imaginationland.
• Flash appeared in the Robot Chicken episode "Losin' the Wobble" voiced by Nathan Fillion. The Flash, Superman, and Wonder Woman are unable to stop Reverse-Flash which leads to them talking about their reverse opponents. It was not revealed if this version of the Flash was revealed to be Barry Allen or Wally West.
• In The Big Bang Theory episode "The Middle Earth Paradigm" the four guys dressed as The Flash when they were invited to go to a Halloween party but changed as they did not want to go in the same costume. The character of Sheldon is also frequently seen to be wearing a Flash t-shirt. Similarly in the episode "The Work Song Nanocluster" Sheldon is shown dressed as The Flash and imitating his powers, after drinking coffee.
• A guy dressed as The Flash was one of the superheroes on Jimmy Kimmel Live!.
• At Six Flags theme parks, which frequently use DC superheroes around their park, visitors can spend additional money to buy "The Flash Pass" which allows them speed through lines to certain attractions. Promotions for the pass frequently feature The Flash himself.
• he is a main hero in tiny titains books

[edit] References

1. ^ Claude Brodesser; Cathy Dunkley (2004-12-16). "WB shines Flash light". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117915172.html?categoryid=1350&cs=1. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
2. ^ Clint Morris (2004-12-18). "Exclusive Interview: David Goyer". Moviehole.net. http://www.moviehole.net/news/4718.html. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
3. ^ "Wizard World L.A.: Ryan Reynolds". Comics Continuum. 2005-03-20. http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0503/20/index.htm. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
4. ^ Jeff Otto (2005-06-05). "Goyer on Flash & Thor". IGN. http://movies.ign.com/articles/622/622613p1.html. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
5. ^ "No Flash for David Goyer". ComingSoon.net. 2007-02-03. http://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=18724. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Borys Kit (2007-02-05). "News 'Flash': Levy to helm". The Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i942a6313d5bbee00232d4b3bf4691924. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
7. ^ "Goyer Ankles The Flash". IGN. 2007-02-03. http://movies.ign.com/articles/761/761295p1.html. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
8. ^ David Sgargetta (2007-02-09). "Exclusive Interview : Ryan Reynolds". Moviehole.net. http://www.moviehole.net/interviews/20070209_exclusive_interview_ryan_reyno.html. Retrieved 2007-02-12. 
9. ^ Shawn Adler (2007-10-27). "David Dobkin Takes ‘Flash’ Reins, Spills Details". MTV. http://moviesblog.mtv.com/2007/10/27/exclusive-david-dobkin-takes-flash-reins-spills-details/. Retrieved 2007-11-17. 
10. ^ Template:Wizard
11. ^ Justice League Unlimited, episode #31 "Flash and Substance."
12. ^ http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0903/17/index.htm
13. ^ ^{a b} Gametrailers.com - DC Universe Online - E3 2008: Sony Conference Trailer
14. ^ IGN: DC Universe Online Artworks (PS3) Full Size 2477376
15. ^ IGN: DC Universe Online Artworks (PS3) Full Size 2477376

[edit] External links

• Alan Kistler's Profile On: The Flash - An analysis of the history of the Flash by comic book historian Alan Kistler.
• Silver Age Flash Toonopedia entry
• The Flash: The Continuity Pages
• The Flash JLResource.com entry
• The Flash: Those Who Ride The Lightning - Fan site with information about the super-speed characters of the DC Universe.
• Index to Barry Allen's Earth-1 adventures
• The Unofficial Flash Biography
• Aquaman in movie after all
• The JLA movie info
• Superman Homepage JLA biography

2011 film

The Flash at the Internet Movie Database

The Flash at Allmovie