The Flash is certainly one of the most loved superheroes from the DC Comics universe. While Barry Allen has been the most famous speedster to play the role of Flash, there have been others who have also received the same mantle to keep the world safe from tyranny and danger. While there has been no new major motion picture about the Flash, we all do know that we will see him appear in Justice League soon.
However, the TV series since 2014 has certainly made its mark in mainstream consciousness. The very first season on Netflix has seen the concept of time travel introduced, and since then, there have been a few timelines that have diverged from one another. Majority of these timelines happen to be viewed from Barry’s point of view. Interestingly enough, this messing up of timelines was caused by Barry himself, but there is one particular timeline that has escaped the attention of fans.
This particular timeline that I am referring to is "the original timeline". In other words, it would be the one which was made redundant when Reverse Flash killed Nora Allen, resulting in the timeline that viewers know and love in The Flash Season 1. This particular timeline saw Barry Allen end up as the Flash after an accident with the particle accelerator caused an explosion in the year 2020. From hence, he ended up as the Scarlet Speedster sans interference, having settled down with Iris West, while his folks were hale and hearty.
While Eobard Thawne meddled with the timeline and caused all sorts of mix ups, one particular event that Thawne ensured remained intact was that the 2024 article remained the same. This particular article made mention about how the Flash vanished in a crisis, and nobody out there managed to figure out why this was so. Fans were left scratching their heads, wondering whether Thawne wanted this particular article to be proof that the Flash is indeed Barry Allen, or he could simply be obsessed with said article simply because it ended up as a key moment where new history was created.
What was the content in the 2024 article? Well, first spotted in The Flash Season 1, it reported that the Flash had gone missing. He was definitely not running from anyone or anything, but his disappearance happened in the midst of a crisis. The word ‘crisis’ triggered speculation that it could be a purposeful hint of Crisis on Infinite Earths, which is a popular DC Comics storyline. However, it is not likely, since the crisis mentioned do seem to focus more on the destruction that Central City suffered in a showdown between the Flash and Reverse-Flash.
The text of the 2024 article in The Flash Season 1 reads, "After an epic street battle with the Reverse-Flash, our city's very own Scarlet Speedster disappeared in an explosion of light. The cause of the fight is currently unknown. According to witnesses, The Flash, with help from Starling City's Green Arrow, The Atom, and Hawkgirl, began fighting the Reverse-Flash around midnight last night. The sky took on a deep crimson color as the ensuing battle created the most destruction this city has seen since The Flash first arrived in Central City.”
Other parts of the article went deeper into the action, including the fight between Barry and Thawne. With the two of them vanishing, The Atom, Green Arrow, and Hawkgirl were the only ones left behind. Perhaps there is nothing to it, or there could be a whole lot behind all that has happened. All that we can do is prepare tubs of popcorn while waiting for The Flash Season 4 to kick off this coming October 10, 2017, on Netflix. For those who would like to play catch up with the series can do so on Netflix for Seasons 1 to 3.
