Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Power #4For 68 years, Barry Allen has won the hearts of comic book readers like these FlashBut now Barry Allen is officially stepping down as the Flash, and the DC Universe will never be the same as a result. A shocking revelation just changed DC Comics’ status quo in a way that cannot be unintended, and it could be the end of the road for one of DC’s most prolific heroes.
Absolute power #4 – written by Mark Waid, with art by Dan Mora – brings DC’s blockbuster event to a climax, as Barry Allen faces off against enemies from across the multiverse with his fellow Flashes supporting him. The only solution is to shut their universe off from the multiverse entirely. Although most of the superheroes’ powers end up being healthy, something goes terribly wrong.
In the aftermath, the three Flashes convince to discuss how their connection to the multiverse has disappeared, and Barry reveals that his powers are gone.
Barry Allen loses his powers in a shocking twist, ending his tenure as DC’s greatest Flash
Absolute power #4 – Written by Mark Waid, Art by Dan Mora; Color by Alejandro Sánchez; Lettering by Ariana Maher
Barry’s loss of power is a major twist, but it’s not the first instance where he’s been shelved as the Flash. In 1985 Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 Barry died saving the DC Universe from the Anti-Monitor after Wally West inherited the Flash mantle, racing to new heights with it. Barry Allen returned to the Flash mantle decades later in the Final crisis storyline, share it with Wally from then on. Now, with the end of Absolute power #4, the cycle is repeating, and Barry Allen’s Flash is no more once again.
Related
Some may wonder if Barry’s retirement from the Flash role will be as short-lived as it was before, but his absence in DC’s All in era suggests otherwise. Not only does Wally West continue to lead his own solo title, while Barry lacks one, but Wally also takes his place in the Justice League. Barry Allen is nowhere to be seen in DC’s future, and now readers know it’s because he lost his powers And therefore can not be a superhero anymore. Without his speed, Barry must hang up his hat and pass the torch—permanently.
As the Lightning, Barry Allen has performed countless incredible feats of heroism
The defining version of the Speedster
Beyond his impact in the real world, Barry Allen’s Flash has a lot of extraordinary feats that warrant recognition. His speed is his most prominent asset, and with good reason, as it’s allowed him to beat Superman in a race on multiple occasions. The Flash has mastered vibrational intangibility, time travel and more, pushing the limits of what his speed can do. He can even jump to different universes so he can study and map them. These and other feats prove that as The Flash, Barry Allen earned his place among the best of the best that DC has to offer.
Barry Allen’s achievements are what will cement his name in Flash history as one of the greatest to ever wear the red spandex.
Of course, that doesn’t mean Barry’s Flash career is without its lows. The famous Flash Point disaster, caused by Barry’s attempt to travel back in time and prevent his mother’s death, almost wiped the entire DC Universe out of existence. Still, the good that Barry has done as the Flash outweighs the bad. He owns up to his past mistakes and always strives to do better, and that’s what counts. Barry Allen’s achievements are what will cement his name in Flash history as one of the greatest to ever wear the red spandex, long after his powers are stripped away.
In many ways, Barry Allen’s life – and death and rebirth – as the Flash have defined the history of DC.
The Blitz’s death of Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez, Jerry Ordway, Anthony Tollin and John Costanza
Barry Allen first appeared in the pages of DC Comics in the 1956s Showcase #4 – Written by Robert Kanigher, with art by Carmine Infantino. He started out as a nerdy forensic scientist with a love for Flash comics – that is, until he was struck by lightning and doused in chemicals that gave him super-speed! Donning his trademark Flash costume, Barry proceeded to battle iconic foes like the Reverse-Flash, combining his speed and smarts to beat his foes. His role in DC’s canon became all the more prominent when he joined the Justice League as a founding member.
Barry Allen’s early adventures as the Flash made an indelible mark on comics as a whole. His introduction began what is known today as the Silver Age of comics, driving a new era of superhero stories. He also originated DC’s Multiverse in The bottle #123 – By Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino – When he traveled to Earth-2 and met Jay Garrick, the original Golden Age Flash. The multiverse evolved from there into a staple of the comic medium. Barry’s impact on the DC Universe as the Flash cannot be overstatedAnd that’s not including his amazing feats of power.
When Barry Allen retires, Wally West is once again the preeminent Flash in DC Comics
The Flash legacy has a worthy successor
As sad as it is to see The Flash step down, Barry himself seems eager to pass on his role on the next Flash. In a sneak peek of The bottle #14 – By Simon Spurrier and Vasco Georgiev – Barry gives Wally his bottle ring to keep. This gesture shows that Barry is entrusting Wally with the Flash legacy, and it cannot be in safe hands. Wally West has more than proven himself over the years, boasting a strong connection to the Speed ​​Force that makes him even faster than Barry. If anyone deserves to continue Barry’s legacy, it’s Wally.
Although Barry Allen is retiring, his era as the Flash will never be forgotten, and he can rest easy knowing that his legacy will live on in Wally West.
Barry Allen’s time as a hero has ended, but HHis future is bright for the DC Universe thanks to all he has accomplished under the Flash name. Barry took the title that Jay Garrick originated and hit the ground running with it, changing the trajectory of DC’s history forever. The bottle wouldn’t be what it is today without him, and neither would DC Comics in general. Although Barry Allen is retiring, his era as the Flash will never be forgotten, and he can rest in the knowledge that his legacy will live on through Wally West and the rest of the Bottle family.
Absolute power #4 is available now from DC Comics.
Source: Simon Spurrier