Ever since the Flash kickstarted the Silver Age, he's been tearing through comics with a yellow-and-red streak. Although there are numerous super-heroes with super speed, Flash reigns supreme — over Marvel's Quicksilver, and even DC's flagship Superman who also has superspeed. In recent years, writer Geoff Johns has fully embraced the diverse assortment of Flash characters created over time into a cohesive family of characters both friend and foe that are memorable to most any comic fans.
But if you don't know that, where do you start? We can help. Here's five Flash books that serve as an ideal introduction to the Scarlet Speedster's life — or lives, when you count the numerous people who have taken on the 'Flash' moniker. With Flashpoint bearing down on us and Warner Bros. hoping to do a Flash film in the next few years, now is the time to get up to speed on DC's speedster.
The Flash Archives, Vol. 1: Although the Flash was introduced years before, it wasn't until the relaunch of the title in 1956 that the Flash really gained traction. The creation of Robert Kanigher, John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the new Barry Allen/Flash kickstarted the Silver Age and paved the way for the 2nd generation of super-heroes — including Marvel's string of hits. The Flash Archives Vol. 1 collects the earliest adventures of Barry Allen as the Flash, and really fleshes out his rogue's gallery as well as the early motivations that still show through today on the comics page.
The Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns: Geoff Johns has risen to the top tier of DC's creators in the 21st century, and he owes it all to The Flash. This omnibus collects Johns' first stories on the character way back when he was an unknown in 2000. This collects not only his inaugural "Wonderland" arc but also the epic "Blood Will Run" arc that saw Johns and Scott Kolins really get up to speed. It also shows Flash's Rogues in a deadly new light that became the new standard for Captain Cold and Co.
The Flash: Terminal Velocity: This late-90s storyarc tells the definitive origin of the Flash — not the character's origin, but of their powers thesmevles. The Speed Force is revealed as part-Green Lantern 
battery and part Star Wars' The Force, granting a select few the power to run at the speed of light — but not without its downside. But the story isn't just sci-fi, as Mark Waid and Salvador Larroca mix super-powers with romance between Wally and his wife who he sees in a vision dying in his future. This story became the high-water mark for modern Flash stories until Geoff Johns came onto the title, and remains one of the defining stories for the character over time.
The Flash: Human Race: This is part of one of the most over-looked runs in Flash history — Grant Morrison and Mark Millar do The Flash. This is years before Millar and Morrison became industry heavyweights, but shows alot of verve and skill with a "Contest of Champions" style race pitting the greatest speedsters in the universe (this means aliens!) against one another with their home planets on the line.
The Flash: Greatest Stories Ever Told: Although this collection is a few years out of date, it is true to its name in collecting some of the greatest standalone stories in Flash's history. There's no rose-tinted glasses here: stand-outs here include: "1968's "The Flash — Fact or Fiction?" which shows the speedster transported to the real world — our world — and sees himself starring in a comic; and "Out of TIme", which shows a young Wally West as Flash who tries to amp up his powers with catastrophic results. Take note, there are a couple stories here that also appear in some of our other selections today, but don't let that chase you away — this book is a must-read.
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got or ordered them all. Keep those Flashes coming!
I haven’t really got any Flash books or know too much about him beyond the JLA / JSA appearances, but I’ve been considering buying Rebirth and expected to see that here. Is it not that great?
I liked The Human Race though, and Emergency Stop was good too.
…and listen to Tom vs. The Flash!
I would also recommend Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold by Mark Waid and Barry Kitson. Those are great Hal and Barry stories and really shows a lot about the characters.
I’m really looking forward to the Geoff Johns Omnibus when it drops later this year.
I’m surprised Flash: The Return of Barry Allen isn’t listed on here. Classic Mark Waid and heavily features Professor Zoom. Good list otherwise.
Darn it Prax Jarvin you stole my suggestion 🙁 I also recommend reading all or any of Mark Waid’s Run on The Flash. He gave Wally West a unique voice and Identity all of his own before Geoff Johns took over the reigns of The Flash 🙂
I don’t want to be “that guy,” but I Terminal Velocity acutall came out in ’94 and the are was by Salvador Larroca, not Mike Wiergino. Wiergino did the art leading up to Terminal Velocity.
The only reason I know this is because I just finished reading this in for the first time. It is a great arc, I was really impressed by Mark Waid’s writing. The arc is definitely one of the keys to understanding the speed force and current status quo. I think a lot of the things that confused me about Flash: Rebirth will probably make more sense now.
I read the issues in floppies which was cool because I got to see the letter columns. One of the letters was from an enthusiastic fan named Geoffery Johns.
The Geoff Johns Omnibus is a must.
The two trades in the Geoff Johns Omnibus (Wonderland and Blood Will Run) are out of print, but can be procured rather cheaply via Amazon or eBay. I have both on the way and am pocketing the price difference.
Another one I forgot was Flash: Rebirth. It establishes the current Flash family status, and is a good Barry Allen story.
You know, i loved the Flash in the Justice League cartoons because he was the funny jokester character, i never really got the same vibe from the comic books so i never was too into him. But i will definitely want to try reading the Flash Omnibus
Hooray – a character I’ve been meaning to get into but never known where to begin. i love the current Geoff Johns series.
Is Flash Chronicles the same as Flash Archives only paperback and cheaper…?
I don’t think you can really start with “The Return of Barry Allen” because it would probably be slightly confusing and might not mean as much to a first time reader. But once you know the characters and the history, that story will blow your mind.
Does the Flash Omnibus only have the Wonderland, and Blood will run stories?
I’m going to repeat what others have said and suggest The Return of Barry Allen by Mark Waid. My favorite Flash story.
Don’t overlook the Waid run. Some awesome stuff in there – it’s what made me a Flash fan!
@RocketRacoon Info from Wikipedia:
The Flash: Wonderland (The Flash vol. 2, #164–169)
The Flash: Blood Will Run (2nd ed.) (The Flash vol. 2, #170–176, The Flash Secret Files #3, The Flash: Iron Heights)
The Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns Vol. 1 (The Flash vol. 2, #164-176, The Flash: Our Worlds at War #1, The Flash Secret Files #3, The Flash: Iron Heights)
@rocketraccoon – That Flash Omnibus is just Volume 1. They’ll collect all the subsequent stories in later volumes like they did with Starman.
I was just filling out my preorder over at DCBS and it looks like a lot of Flash material is being reprinted. Available for preorder now.
Been waiting for the Johns Omnibus for a while, hopefully they will continue to collect the other great runs as lmiller31 pointed out…