The DC Universe is home to a unique group of heroes and villains capable of astonishing feats of superhuman speed. Known collectively as speedsters, these characters tap into the mysterious energy known as the Speed Force or its variants to run faster than light, manipulate time, and perform incredible feats. From iconic Flashes to deadly adversaries like Reverse-Flash and Godspeed, each brings their own story and motivations. Exploring every major speedster in DC reveals a legacy of speed, legacy, and moral complexity that defines these remarkable characters.
Foundational Flashes
Jay Garrick
The original Flash, Jay Garrick gained his powers in the Golden Age by inhaling hard water vapors. A founding member of the Justice Society of America, he set the stage for future speedsters, with early feats like super-speed reflexes, invisibility through vibration, and time travel.
Barry Allen
Barry, the Silver Age Flash, received speed powers from a lightning strike in his forensic lab. A central figure in the DC universe, he is known for his moral integrity, connection to the Speed Force, and speed rivaling light measured at up to 13 million times the speed of light.
Wally West
Originally Kid Flash, Barry’s nephew Wally eventually becomes the main Flash. Widely considered the fastest of them all, Wally exhibits ultimate mastery over the Speed Force able to outrun death incarnate, manipulate time and space, heal, and even lend speed to others.
Legacy and Subsequent Speedsters
Bart Allen (Impulse / Kid Flash / Flash)
Grandson of Barry Allen, Bart first appears as the impulsive hero Impulse before becoming Kid Flash and later a short-term Flash. Known for his unstable speed, aging issues, and time-traveling origins from the future.
Jesse Chambers (Jesse Quick / Liberty Belle)
Daughter of Johnny Quick and Liberty Belle, Jesse combines super speed and strength, even gaining flight. She becomes a key member of the JSA and Titans, aided by her inherited speed formula.
Max Mercury
Nicknamed the Zen Master of Speed, Max is a mentor to many Flash successors. A time-traveling speedster from the Golden Age, he guides Wally and Bart in mastering the Speed Force.
John Fox
A 27th-century Flash, John Fox gains speed from tachyon radiation during a rescue mission. He travels through time, joining the Justice Legion A in the 853rd century.
XS (Jenni Ognats)
Descendant of Barry Allen and Iris West, XS serves with the Legion of Super-Heroes 1,000 years in the future. Her speed is self-controlled from a young age.
Notable Villains and Dark Speedsters
Eobard Thawne (Reverse-Flash / Professor Zoom)
A supervillain obsessed with Barry Allen, Eobard can manipulate time via the Negative Speed Force. He has traveled through time to sabotage Barry’s life and is responsible for major timeline events like Flashpoint.
Hunter Zolomon (Zoom)
Also known as Zoom, Hunter gains his speed through personal time manipulation, not the Speed Force. His obsession with making Wally a better hero leads to tragic consequences.
Savitar
A Cold War test pilot struck by lightning, Savitar becomes a speed cult leader. Known for his speed and as a recurring Speed Force villain.
Godspeed (August Heart)
A police detective turned serial killer, Godspeed steals speed from others during a Speed Force storm, making him a uniquely formidable foe.
Daniel West (Reverse-Flash II)
Iris West’s brother, Daniel gains Negative Speed Force abilities. He attempts to reverse his father’s abuse through speed-powered time manipulation, becoming a tragic rival to Barry.
Black Flash
Personification of death for speedsters, Black Flash pursues Flashes on behalf of the Speed Force. Wally outruns it at the end of time, showcasing his unparalleled speed.
Additional Speedsters in the Flash Family
- Johnny Quick Golden Age speedster and father to Jesse.
- Rival (Edward Clariss) A Speed Force user gone rogue.
- Other future or alternate speedsters: Avery Ho (Flash of China), Iris West II, Carrie Allen, Danica Williams, and others.
The Speed Force and Its Influence
The Speed Force is a cosmic energy field fueling virtually all DC speedsters. It grants super speed, time travel, multidimensional access, healing, and more. Negative versions of the Speed Force power villains like Reverse-Flash and Daniel West. Beyond being a power source, the Speed Force has personality it judges who should live or die, as seen with Black Flash.
Ranking and Legacy
While Barry Allen is iconic, many fans and storylines credit Wally West as the fastest speedster in DC history. Wally’s feats outrunning Death and absorbing kinetic energy cement his reputation.
Speedsters in DC aren’t just fast they represent family legacies, moral introspection, and time-bending narratives. From mentors like Max Mercury and John Fox, to future heroes like XS, villains like Savitar and Godspeed, and mythical beings like Black Flash, each character contributes to a rich tableau of flash fiction in DC lore.
The DC Universe’s speedsters comprise a dynamic, legacy-rich group of characters. Flashes like Jay, Barry, and Wally blend heroism and humanity, while their descendants and successors expand family influence. Villains such as Reverse-Flash, Zoom, Savitar, and Godspeed showcase the dark side of speed. Together, they explore the boundaries of power, morality, and time. Understanding these speedsters reveals the full depth of what it means to harness the Speed Force and how speed defines identity in a world forever racing forward.