The Flashis gearing up to be one of 2022’s most exciting movies and that is in no small part thanks to the intrigue surrounding how it will tie into James Gunn’s DC Universe, however, some early leaks from the film suggest it could also introduce a lot of people to one of Barry Allen’s most fearsome villains, the Dark Flash.
While nowadaysDCfinds no shame in spoiling its own movies,The Flash’sreveals do not hit as a desperate marketing stunt (seeBlack AdamandShazam! Fury of the Gods), but rather as the usual teases any superhero blockbuster gets from its own merchandising. So even ifBen Affleck has apparently ruined the Wonder Woman cameo, there are plenty of reasons why DC fans are so hyped about a Dark Flash storyline.
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Who Is Dark Flash In The Comics?
The first thing that needs to be cleared up is that the Dark Flash and the Black Flash are two separate characters in DC Comics, each one with its own unique background story, powers and motivation. Although the leakedFunko Pops and action figures forThe Flashmovie all bear the name the Dark Flash, their appearance actually resembles the antagonist known as the Black Flash.
Walter West, aka the Dark Flash, is a comic book character from another timeline that takes up the Flash identity, instead of Barry Allen. This Dark Flash made his debut inThe Flash #149in 1999, as part of a storyline titledThe Dark Flash Sagawhere the Flash(Walter) jumps to another universe where he usurps the identity of one Wally West, who is the third man to assume the Flash mantle after Jay Garrick and Barry.
Both Walter and Wally had lived nearly identical lives, at least up until the moment when Walter is unable to save his wife from dying at the hands of the series' villain Kobra. Walter’s Dark Flash is quite literally a darker more brutal spin on the superhero, one who is not afraid to kill his enemies, and whose actions serve as a cautionary tale for Wally.
Now, the Black Flash is an entirely different entity, acting pretty much like the Grim Reaper for speedsters. With such a mystical concept tied to it, it’s no surprise the Black Flash is one with the Speed Force, as its role is mainly to take the fallen Flash variants back to the source of their superpowers.
Unlike the Dark Flash, who basically looks like the regular hero wearing a black suit, the Black Flash is often depicted as zombie-like figure,think moreResident Evilthan DC, which is quite a fitting design considering he personifies death itself.
What Are Dark Flash’s Powers?
Given that Walter West is essentially a Flash variant, his powers are exactly the same as Jay, Barry, Wally, Bart Allen and Avery Ho’s, so not much to elaborate with him. Nevertheless, sinceThe Flash’stoy leaks are referencing the Black Flash, only with a different name due to several reasons, it’s the pacey Grim Reaper’s abilities that are more interesting.
At first glance, the Black Flash possesses the same powers as every other Flash, yet its innate connection to death requires it to be faster than the other speedster out there. Technically, the Black Flash can’t be killed because it represents death, but Wally and the other speedsters did manage to defeat him by drawing him out to end of time, where not even death can exist.
Despite the Black Flash’s appearance changing constantly in each iteration, most see it with claws aded to its hands, albeit not that it needs as his simple touch is supposed to be enough to end the life of any speedster. Even more so, the Black Flash’s biggest power is his ability to inflict fear upon any speedster, as spotting it means death is near, similar toPuss in Boots: The Last Wish’smain villain.
How Could Dark Flash work inThe Flash?
It should be obvious that Andy Muschietti and writer Christina Hodson won’t be adapting either the Dark or Black Flash directly in their movie, especially sincethe film has been likened to Flashpoint, but the themes these two characters embody do make sense forThe Flash.
Walter West’s Dark Flash is a corrupted version of the iconic superhero, and given Ezra Miller will be playing several versions of Barry, it’s plausible to think the variant he meets in the trailer goes rogue. On the other hand, the movie’s Dark Flash could also be a future version of Barry that becomes evil after the protagonist’s failed attempts to save his mother mess up the natural flow of the universe.
Overall, the movie’s Dark Flash seems more likely to be an amalgamation of Walter West and the deadly Black Flash, borrowing from the latter’s design for shock purposes and to really drive home the idea that whichever Flash’s future it represents is well beyond salvation.
It may not be possible to rule out that the movie’s Dark Flash is also death itself coming for the two Barrys, yet for a movie that’s presenting its story as an emotional personal journey, that theory feels a bit weaker due todeath technically not being a proper villain. Whatever the case, the Dark Flash must be making a lot of good impressions forTom Cruise to become a fan ofThe Flashand jump on the hype train DC’s summer tent pole.
The Flashis scheduled for release on July 21, 2025
