The Flash, Kid Flash, Impulse, and All The Rest

THE TOP 10 TEMPORAL SUPER POWERS

Chronal Power #4: The Speed Force

Of all the powers related to time and its mastery, one concept has been so categorically profound and important, that it has become a central and reoccurring theme of their superheroes. Called The Speed Force, it's also become one of the most mysterious and hard to define.

Right: Barry Allen is surrounded by a strange, lightning-like energy which would later be termed the Speed Force. Excerpt from Flash: Rebirth #1 (2009).

For those of you familiar with it, The Speed Force is the underlying dimensional energy that powers The Flash, whether your referring to Jay Garrick (The Golden Age Flash), Barry Allen (The Original Flash), or Wally West (The Next Flash Incarnation). It also seems to be linked to every super-speedster in the DC Universe, which includes (or included): Jesse Quick, Johnny Quick, Max Mercury, Bart Allen (Impulse), Professor Zoom, Zoom, Savitar, and likely heirs of the Allen family yet to be born. Whether a stream of lightning-like force or a place that exists outside the realm of time, it has become the integral power that gives super-speed, allows vibrational intangibility, and gives the controller the ability to breach his current dimension and move through time.

But fast feet, rapid-punching, and these incredible feats are only a side effect of this power. In actuality, it has been revealed that the Speed Force is the guiding principle that governs time. This makes The Flash and all the other characters ambassadors of Time by association. And to a greater sense, it seems that The Flash is fundamentally bonded to it, giving him access to its miraculous gifts by a greater degree.

Whether traveling forward or backward in time, entering the dimension through vibratory relocation, or using simple super-speed, the Speed Force and those who use it are some of the greatest actors in the field of time. DC Comics has turned it into an upper-tier power and given it the potential for even greater temporal revelations.

For those interested in learning more about the Speed Force, one of the best sources, although dated from the 1990's, is Flash: Terminal Velocity. This Trade Paper-Back covers The Flash V2, #96-100. Written by Mark Waid, it goes into great clarity as many of the aspects of this dimensional power are learned by the heroes.

Chronologically correct and temporally precise, this is The Top 10 Temporal Super Powers, a Countdown of Time-Wielding Abilities and Characters provided by The Superheroes List  provided every Wednesday for the 2013 New Year. (And no, Father Time is not a superhero.) Want to read more? It's about TIME! Read the List!

The Luck of The Flash

SUPERFUNNIES

Barry Has Rogue and Gorilla Problems

~The Flash #13 (2012)

In the middle of fighting the Rogues Gallery and being betrayed by Captain Cold, The Flash is called out by Gorilla Grodd and an  army of intelligent apes. Just another typical day for The Fastest Man Alive.

It's a SIEGE ON CENTRAL CITY! Gorilla Grodd is back and The Flash is in his cross-hairs in The Flash #13. With a story that started in issue #12, jumped over to The Flash Annual #1, now continuing, Barry is once again plagued by numerous problems simultaneously. That's how it goes when speed is your power.

Are heroes and villains smart? Naw. #SuperFunnies updates every week (usually Thursday) on The Superheroes List. Here are the bloopers, flip-flops, and all-together moments of levity during exchanges of humor and snapshots of utterly ridiculous decisions in comic books.

DC Announces Gay Hero; It's Probably Wonder Woman

 ~Wonder Woman #9 (2012), Hades using her own Lasso of Truth against her.

DC Comics recently announced that one of their primary (Read: main) characters will be coming out of the closet; in an interview with Co-Publisher Dan DiDio, he stated that although this person was originally considered straight, the announcement would immediately make this superhero "one of our most prominent gay superheroes".

Perhaps it shouldn't come at a surprise. Both Marvel and DC have been introducing superheroes with gay backgrounds for a few years now. (For example, Northstar of Marvel Comics is leading an openly gay life in Canada, while Batwoman of DC is pursuing a similar lifestyle.) What's culminating from these stories appears to be a contest of upstaging; recently Marvel announced Northstar would enter a gay marriage and this may be DC's chance to outdo their comic book rivals.

Additionally, this could also be a quirky timing gimmick since President Obama decided to announce he supports gay marriage; this also wouldn't be the first time politics have lurked in comic books. So if you're wondering "why" a formerly straight superhero will be announcing this revelation, join the club. Let's be honest, hopefully most of the stories will be about fighting and action.

Pictured Right: Excerpt from Wonder Woman #220 (2005)

If "prominent" is the keyword, this could limit our choices to Superman, Batman, Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman, and possibly, Aquaman. Among DC's biggest draws, they represent their major product lines and would seriously shake things up. Any other character coming out of the closet would lack the same level of significance. So who will it be:

Superman has been suggested, but should be discounted. We also know that it would really hurt him if his Lois Lane/Clark Kent, strangely-promoted affair disappeared.

Batman has also been speculated, which better be inaccurate. Perhaps people are forgetting Bruce Wayne has had some suspicious "Robin" debates over the years; it would destroy The Dark Knight. Basically it would mean illegality and surely DC doesn't want to fight that war.

The Flash and Aquaman are married. To women. (Or,  at least, they were; since the DC New 52, Barry dates a girl named Patty Spivot, while Iris has a romantic attraction to him.) Hal Jordan, The Green Lantern, is a swinging single; it could be him, but unlikely. His character has always been tied to Carol Ferris aka Star Sapphire.

And so we're left with Wonder Woman. Intentionally. If DC Comics is going to out one of their major characters, Wonder Woman is the most likely, and best, choice:

She originates from the island of Themyscira, home of The Amazons, where only women are allowed to live; this gives her a perfect background, one of unfamiliarity with men and comfort-ability with her own gender. It would, therefore, be no surprise to see her spending time with other women; this is or was her natural setting.

Picture: Wonder Woman and Steve Trevor Breaking Up. No One Knows Why. ~Justice League #9 (2012)

Take also into consideration the comic book readers: mostly men. Comic book demographics have aged over the years, but clearly if there is a sense of appeal, a lesbian would be preferred by them over a gay male.

Lastly, most of us who know the Wonder Woman history, remember Colonel Steve Trevor; he's always been the major love-interest for Diana Prince, from back when he first appeared in All-Star Comics #8 (1941). Although Steve has been through a lot, lately there's a storyline that the Amazonian isn't reciprocating his feelings.

Take this prediction as you will; it's not set in stone. But remember this as you go through the list - DC isn't in the business of losing money. It's all about what sells. And anytime you shuck a "major" change on a "primary" character, you have to assume they don't want to diminish their own paychecks. (Heck, it was rough enough back when Superman was switching his red tights.)

Gorilla Grodd Rises To Power

 ~The Flash #8 (2012)

In a gory rite of passage, Grodd-Son, the villain who will be known as Gorilla Grodd, has just murdered his father to take the throne of Gorilla City. All that remains now is to eat the brains and partake in the festival.

Oh wait, who just showed up? That's the Flash!

In The Flash #8, Barry Allen escapes The Speed Force just as this diabolical, super-intelligent ape became King. Who knows what evil is about to be perpetrated as King Grodd reigns his terror?

Villainous Moments is a column from of The Superheroes List, updated weekly (usually Tuesday). What are the bad guys doing this week? Macabre and unthinkable, grotesque and unbearable; here's your answer! Look for #VillainousMoments on Twitter.