Top 15 Most Feared Flash Villains of All Time
In terms of importance to DC and just outside the big three (Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman) lies The Flash. The Flash is the most important comic speedster and an integral part of the Justice League. He has been there to thwart crime for over half a century and stands firmly at the center of one of the greatest storylines in comics, ‘Crisis on Infinite Earths.’
Whether it be Barry Allen, Jay Garrick, Wally West, or others, The Flash and his abilities don’t deviate too much. He runs and runs fast. Of course, what he can do with his running has changed to suit whichever story he’s a part of, but that’s not the point.
With the Flash comes a group of villains unlike any in comics. While many could make this list, there are only a few who I would classify as the most feared of his enemies. But who are they? I present to you the most feared Flash villains of all time.
15. Speed Demon
Jerry McGee, known as Speed Demon, was married to Tina McGee and possessed deep scientific knowledge of superspeed. However, due to his misuse of the drug Steroid B-19, he alternated between being an ally and a villain of the Flash. His complex relationship with the Flash and his expertise in superspeed managed to place him on this list.
14. Turtle Man
The Turtle Man, an admirer of the original Flash villain known as the Turtle, devised a two-stage robbery plan involving the Central Bank. The Flash, unaware of the Turtle Man’s presence, pursued a painted silhouette that he believed belonged to the villain. Eventually, the Flash chased the Turtle Man into the sewers and later caught him as he attempted to escape in a rowboat, ultimately apprehending him and delivering him to the police.
13. Savitar
When he initially appeared, Savitar was nothing more than a pilot. As he aged, however, he became one of the greatest Flash enemies ever.
One day as a pilot, Savitar took a high-powered jet out for a test flight. While in the sky, the plane was struck by lightning, causing it to crash. Once on the ground, Savitar discovered that he could move at incredible speeds. The more Savitar used the speed, the more he became obsessed with learning more about it.
Eventually, he named himself after the Hindi God of motion, Savitr. With his new name, he began to unlock secrets within the Speedforce that no one else had. Of them, the most important were self-healing, forcefield projection, and passing his speed energy to others.
After years of mastery, Savitar eliminated anyone who could challenge his speed and abilities.
12. Killer Frost
Killer Frost is a little bit of an anomaly on this list. Unlike the others, Killer Frost is often considered not a Flash enemy but a Firestorm enemy. For that very reason, I had a hard time placing her here. However, things became a little easier after her appearance on CW’s ‘The Flash.’
Each version of the character has roughly the same power set…the ability to convert heat to waves of cold energy. This means that she can turn herself into a literal popsicle, thereby increasing her durability and strength. In addition, she can also project blasts of ice from her body and instantly freeze anything she touches.
11. Pied Piper
Pied Piper, also known as Hartley Rathaway, is a deaf musical genius who utilizes sonic technology to harm and control others. Initially a supervillain and a member of the Rogues, he eventually reforms and becomes a vigilante, aiding the Flash.
10. Weather Wizard
Like Storm over at Marvel, Weather Wizard, through a wand, can control the weather. Unlike Storm, who uses her power for the betterment of humankind, Weather Wizard uses his for the betterment of himself.
Over the years, Weather Wizard has aligned himself with some of the greatest Flash enemies in existence. Together he and the other Flash enemies form what’s known as the Rogues. Alone, Weather Wizard is powerful. Together with the Rogues, he’s downright formidable.
9. Heatwave
At a young age, Mick Rory was fascinated with fire. As a child, he set his family’s farmhouse on fire and watched everything inside burn. As he grew, so too did his obsession with fire. This led him to create a fireproof suit and a handheld flamethrower. With both at his side, he transformed from a simple criminal to a supervillain.
Try as he may. However, he was unable to beat the Flash in combat. His continued defeat caused him to join the Rogues. Alongside the Rogues, Heatwave once again transformed. This time and like most of the other members, instead of being a supervillain who constantly tasted defeat, he became a supervillain capable of nearly anything.
8. Star Sapphire
The original Star Sapphire, rejected by the Zamarons, sought to destroy all plant life and oxygen on Earth. She clashed with Flash Jay Garrick during the 1940s. Following the death of Iris Allen, the wife of the second Flash, the first Star Sapphire tried to manipulate Carol Ferris, the new Star Sapphire, in an attempt to eliminate Hal Jordan.
7. Captain Boomerang
You may recognize Captain Boomerang from the 2016s ‘Suicide Squad’ movie. Although the character may seem a little goofy, don’t let his portrayal or name confuse you. When it comes to Flash’s enemies, he is one of the best.
As you may have guessed by his name, Captain Boomerang primarily uses a Boomerang as his weapon of choice. These boomerangs, however, aren’t your run-of-the-mill boomerangs. Instead, his boomerangs are trick boomerangs capable of all sorts of things. Some, for example, explode on contact, while others can slice through practically anything. No matter which he uses, Captain Boomerang deserves to be on this list.
6. Mirror Master
First appearing in ‘The Flash’ #105 back in 1959, Mirror Master has easily gone on to become one of the most feared Flash enemies of all time. Like Killer Frost, many people have taken up the mantle of Mirror Master. If you think this would be detrimental to the character, think again. Whether it be Sam Scudder or Evan McCulloch, Mirror Master is not a villain to be taken lightly.
Mirror Master possesses the ability to travel through mirrors into other dimensions. He can also lock his enemies inside the mirrors, cause his enemies to fall under hypnotism, create invisibility for himself, and project holograms.
5. Zoom
Hunter Zoloman, or Zoom, first appeared in 2001 and quickly became the arch-enemy of Wally West.
After a series of accidents and misfortunes left Hunter Soloman a fraction of the man he was, he approached Wally West to use the Cosmic Treadmill to reset his life. Wally refused, citing that he didn’t want to interrupt the timestream.
Not willing to walk away from the idea, Hunter broke into the museum where the treadmill was being held and used it for himself. The machine exploded, causing two significant changes to Hunter. First, his paralysis was cured. Second, he could now alter his personal connection to the timestream.
Wanting Wally to be a better hero, Hunter became a villain. This meant that Zoom focused all of his energy on pushing Wally to his limits.
4. Black Flash
Black Flash is just one more personification of death in the DC universe. Black Flash specifically targets characters that have super speed and harvests their souls. Once the souls of DC’s speedsters are harvested, they return to the source of their powers – the Speed Force itself. How Black Flash came to be is unknown except that the Speed Force created it, but it is said that the entity is incredibly powerful, with numerous reality-bending powers at its disposal, including immortality.
Black Flash might not be the most impactful Flash villain, but he is certainly among the most terrifying ones.
3. Gorilla Grodd
Gorilla Grodd is, without a doubt, one of the strongest of The Flash’s enemies. As his name implies, Gorilla Grodd is a large Gorilla who is highly intelligent, telepathic, and capable of ripping the arms off of anyone.
Grodd’s city, Gorilla City, is closely tied to The Flash’s mythos. His city is most easily accessed via the Speedforce. Through it, he has tried multiple times to access and take over Earth. What makes Grodd so different from many other Flash enemies is that he is big, strong, and smart enough to follow through on whatever plan he thinks up.
2. Captain Cold
Don’t let his name fool you. Captain Cold is one of the most feared Flash enemies of all time.
After stealing an advanced freeze gun, Leonard Snort wore a winter jacket and called himself Captain Cold. Whereas most other Flash enemies cast aside the well-being of others, Captain Cold lives by a code of honor. In it lies the following codes: no senseless violence, no use of drugs, and no killing of women or children.
All of this equates to Captain Cold solidifying himself as one of the greatest Flash enemies. Where others let their emotions dictate who and what they do, Captain Cold relies solely on the task at hand, never letting his emotions get the better of him.
1. Reverse Flash
Above killing Iris West. Above causing a Universe-wide change in the New 52. And above causing Barry Allen to stand trial for his murder, Eobard Thawne is the reason that The Flash is so good. Not only does he bring out the best and worst in The Flash, but he does so with ease.
Throughout the years, Eobard Thawne has mastered the art of time travel, has learned to run as fast or faster than The Flash, and does each without so much as lifting a finger.
Reverse Flash stands for everything that The Flash doesn’t and, because of this, can get to him in a way that very few can.
