Who Are the Members of the Flash Family in DC Comics?

Ever since DC Comics introduced The Flash in January 1940, the Flash Family has been growing. But what exactly is the Flash Family? Well, they’re a group of speedsters and friends that come together to save the day, no matter the odds.

Just like Batman’s Bat-Family, some are related by blood, and some are found family. Even one speedster can permanently change a timeline. Get a group of speedsters and metahumans together? Now you’ve got yourself a family where every single person matters to the Multiverse.

Let’s meet these characters, old and new, and get to know the Flash Family.

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Barry Allen and Iris West-Allen

The Flash Family begins with one of the most popular couples in comics. Barry Allen and Iris West fall in love across dimensions, timelines, and mediums. In the comics, they raise two speedsters and mentor countless relatives. On TV, Barry and Iris are the metaphysical parents of the Strength Force, the Sage Force, and the Still Force. And of course, both Barry and Iris have used the Speed Force.

Everything always comes back to Barry and Iris, whether it’s nephews, great-great-grandsons, or even long-lost twins. Together, they are the couple that truly started the Flash Family. Their constant compassion continues to bring speedsters from across time and space together. Even the newest members of the family will certainly be accepted.

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Jay Garrick

He may not be blood-related, but Jay Garrick is definitely a part of the Flash Family. For nearly every member of the Flash Family, he’s like a father figure, especially for Barry Allen and Wally West. In The CW series, he’s actually played by the very same actor who plays Barry’s father. Jay knows the Speed Force in a way that other members of the family are still learning.

Decades ago, Jay Garrick was the original Flash in DC Comics. He was a founding member of the Justice Society of America. He and his wife Joan choose to be mentors to the Flash Family, helping them with their powers and their struggles. Even Batman himself trusts Jay Garrick’s quick thinking and creative solutions.

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Wally West

Wally West is the fastest man alive. Though every Flash is often described that way, when it comes to Wally West, it’s really true. Classically, Wally West was able to siphon the momentum from every living being in the entire universe so that he was able to outrun a teleporter. Many fans actually grew up with Wally West as The Flash, instead of Barry Allen, due to his appearance in the Justice League animated series.

As far as family goes, Iris West is Wally West’s aunt. One day, when Iris was visiting her friend Barry Allen at his office, Wally West was struck by lightning and doused in chemicals. It was the exact same thing that turned Barry Allen into The Flash. Once Wally West gained his powers, he became Kid Flash. He was a founding member of the Teen Titans and, in that way, the Flash Family grew even larger.

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Jesse Chambers

The Speed Force is time, space, movement, and more. While it might be hard to wrap your head around, some members of the Flash Family have narrowed it down to a single formula: 3×2(9yz)4a. There are very few people who have ever been able to truly understand the formula. Those who do are somehow able to understand how to connect with the Speed Force itself. Jonathan Chambers (AKA Johnny Quick) understood the formula. And so does his daughter, Jesse Chambers.

What’s more, Jesse Chambers is able to connect with the Speed Force in a way her father never could. Actually, she was trapped in the Speed Force for a long time. When Barry Allen was trapped in the Speed Force, she was able to help him escape. With Jesse Quick’s help, the Flash Family was able to defeat the Reverse Flash and his Legion of Zoom.

Kid Quick

In another corner of the Multiverse, an alternate version of Jesse Chambers is The Flash and she has a sidekick named Jess Chambers. Jess, AKA Kid Quick, works with their aunt to fight crime on Earth-11. This Earth is ruled by the Amazons, which means Earth-11 is a matriarchal society. Kid Quick is a member of Teen Justice and their connection to the Speed Force is so powerful that they’re even faster than Earth-11’s Superwoman!

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Circuit Breaker

Julien “Jules” Jourdain is the most recent addition to the Flash Family. Fans were introduced to him in Lazarus Planet: Dark Fate #1. Jules is a transgender man living in a rural town whose claim to fame is a visit from The Flash and The Turtle. He works as a tour guide and portrays The Turtle, a villain who uses the Still Force for evil. However, when the Lazarus Rain falls, Jules gets The Turtle’s powers too. Suddenly, he’s connected to the Still Force and their life is never the same.

As the rain continues to fall, other people gain powers and lose control. Jules uses the Still Force to absorb slow rampant energy and break the circuit so that no one gets hurt. Avery Ho, The Flash of China, races in to help them save the day. She is the one who comes up with his super hero name: Circuit Breaker. And just like that, Jules joins the Flash Family.

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Eobard Thawne

The Flash Family is perhaps the largest super hero family in comics. Sure, The Bat-Family is an ever-growing team of Gotham heroes. But the Flash Family extends into the past and future, twisting and turning through time as if it were an interdimensional slinky. Which is why it’s no surprise that, depending on the comics, Eoboard Thawne is related to Barry Allen. That’s right, Barry Allen’s greatest nemesis is technically his relative.

In some comics, Barry has a secret twin who is adopted by the Thawne Family. Barry’s secret twin, Malcom Thawne, becomes the villain Cobalt Blue. Later, in the 25th century, a descendant named Eobard Thawne is born. Eobard is obsessed with The Flash. He longed to be just like his hero, but constantly fell short. Each time Eobard failed, his future self would race back in time and kill anyone who got in his way. With time, he learned the truth: His future self killed Barry Allen’s parents so that Barry would become a detective and gain his powers. Eobard had to be the villain so that Barry Allen could be The Flash.

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There are many more members of the Flash Family. Nearly every member of the Flash Family has family and distant relatives from distant timelines who are all intertwined. Yes, each member of the family is powerful on their own. However, like all heroes, the Flash Family is stronger together.

Who is your favorite member of the Flash Family? Join the conversation with other Flash fans over at Sideshow Social Network or at side.show/geekgroup, and don’t forget to Let Your Geek Sideshow!