BARRY ALLEN
Bartholomew Henry "Barry Allen" is the iconic Silver Age superhero known as The Flash, created by writer Robert Kanigher and penciler Carmine Infantino. Serving as a Central City police forensic scientist, a lightning strike doused him in chemicals and connected him to the Speed Force, granting him superhuman velocity. As a founding member of the Justice League, Barry stands at the center of reality-defining storylines across DC Comics, television, film, and video games.
Cronologia
Biografia
Bartholomew Henry "Barry Allen" is a Central City police forensic scientist (police chemist) who operates as The Flash, one of DC Comics' most legendary superheroes and a founding member of the Justice League of America. While habitually slow and unpunctual in his everyday civilian life, Barry serves as a pivotal defender of reality itself across the DC Multiverse.
Connected directly to the Speed Force, he guards Central City alongside key allies and fellow speedsters, including his wife Iris West-Allen, his nephew Wally West (the original Kid Flash), and his mentor Jay Garrick. Throughout his superhero career, Barry faces iconic threats ranging from the rogue criminal coalition known as The Rogues to his arch-nemesis, Eobard Thawne (Reverse-Flash).
Supported at Central City Police Department by figures like Joe West and Captain David Singh, Barry balances high-stakes scientific crime-solving with global heroism alongside close League allies Bruce Wayne (Batman), Clark Kent (Superman), and his best friend Hal Jordan (Green Lantern). Beyond defending his home city, Barry plays a universe-altering role in DC's most pivotal comic sagas. His heroism is defined by monumental milestones, including his heroic sacrifice in Crisis on Infinite Earths and his attempt to alter history in Flashpoint, which reset the timeline across the entire DC Universe.
Storia
Barry Allen worked as a dedicated forensic chemist for the Central City Police Department. His origin story began during a late-night thunderstorm in his laboratory when a bolt of lightning shattered a window, striking a shelf of volatile chemicals and dousing Barry in the electrified liquid.
The freak accident bestowed upon him a direct connection to the Speed Force, endowing him with super-speed, accelerated reflexes, and molecular manipulation.
Barry's relentless career in forensic science was driven by a deep personal tragedy: the mysterious murder of his mother, Nora Allen, for which his father, Henry Allen, was wrongfully framed and imprisoned. As revealed later in his history, his mother's death was orchestrated via time travel by his bitter rival from the 25th century, Eobard Thawne. Inspired by comic book adventures featuring Golden Age speedster Jay Garrick, Barry created a crimson costume and stepped up as Central City's protector, The Flash.
I PEZZI DI BARRY ALLEN
Evoluzione
Barry Allen's introduction in 1956's Showcase #4 revitalized superhero publishing and marked the official beginning of the Silver Age of Comic Books. In 1961's landmark "Flash of Two Worlds" (The Flash #123), Barry met Earth-Two speedster Jay Garrick, establishing the DC Multiverse framework. Over decades, Barry evolved from a solo scientific hero into a founding leader of the Justice League of America, eventually marrying Iris West. His story took a dramatic shift during "The Trial of The Flash" (1983–1985), where Barry killed Eobard Thawne to stop him from murdering his fiancée Fiona Webb, culminating in a lengthy trial before he relocated to the 30th century.
In 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths #8, Barry famously sacrificed his life destroying the Anti-Monitor's anti-matter cannon. He remained dead in canonical continuity for 23 years while his nephew Wally West assumed the mantle. Barry made a high-profile return in 2008's Final Crisis and 2009's The Flash: Rebirth, which introduced the retcon that Reverse-Flash murdered his mother. Attempting to fix this past tragedy led to 2011's Flashpoint, triggering reality changes that birthed The New 52 reboot. Across subsequent eras including DC Rebirth, Infinite Frontier, and Dawn of DC, Barry evolved into a veteran multiverse guardian working alongside the expanded Flash Family.
Da Collezione
As the catalyst hero of the Silver Age, Barry Allen is a foundational centerpiece for comic book and pop culture figure collectors. His sleek red suit, golden lightning bolt belt, and chest emblem make his collectibles instantly recognizable across figure lines spanning comic, television, and film releases.
In the realm of brick building and digital crossover collecting, Barry Allen maintains a massive footprint through official Lego releases, including digital and physical minifigure versions featured across titles like Lego Dimensions, Lego Batman 2 & 3, and Lego DC Super-Villains. For virtual figure collectors, his live-action CW suit was adapted as a official playable skin in Fortnite. Action figure enthusiasts track his diverse media representations across distinct eras—ranging from John Wesley Shipp's 1990 live-action suit and Grant Gustin’s long-running Arrowverse outfit to Ezra Miller's DCEU armor in Justice League and 2023's The Flash film. Figures pairing Barry Allen alongside his speedster mentor Jay Garrick, successor Wally West, or arch-foe Eobard Thawne serve as high-value grail pieces for serious DC collectors.
Despite possessing superhuman speed, Barry is ironically notorious for being late and unpunctual in his civilian life.
