Most of the Flash’s allies and enemies date from the Silver Age or later. But a few go back to the early years, the Golden Age of comics (roughly 1938–1955). Those early comics made less use of recurring villains, and only a few of those have stuck around through modern times.
Allies
Enemies
Allies
Flash I: Jay Garrick
 |
The speedster who started it all! The founding member of the JSA has come out
of retirement to mentor younger heroes... in the new JSA!
Regular in: Flash Comics, All-Flash, Comic Cavalcade |
Johnny Quick
 |
Another speedster and member of the All-Star Squadron.
Later married Liberty Belle. Father of Jesse Quick.
Retured from heroics to found Quickstart Enterprises.
Regular in: Adventure Comics, More Fun Comics |
Liberty Belle
 |
Super-strong member of the All-Star Squadron.
Later married Johnny Quick. Mother of Jesse Quick.
Regular in: Star Spangled Comics |
Quicksilver (Max Mercury)
 |
The enigmatic speedster vanished for decades, only to reappear with a new name.
Max has occasionally jumped forward in time by several decades. After being dragged out
of retirement, he took on the job of teaching Impulse. When last
seen, Max’s mind had been trapped in the Speed Force, his body taken over by the Rival.
Regular in: National Comics |
Joan Williams Garrick
 |
Long-time confidante, sidekick and girlfriend—and now wife—of the original Flash.
Regular in: Flash Comics, All-Flash, Comic Cavalcade |
Three Dimwits
 |
Winky, Blinky and Noddy, a group of Three Stooges stand-ins who served
as comic relief for the Flash. Last seen discovering a huge bag of cash back
in 1947 with plans to retire to the Caribbean.
Regulars in: All-Flash |
Enemies
The Eel
 |
The Eel, a racketeer who twisted the law to his own ends, tangled with the Flash twice, then vanished.
Current Status: Unknown |
The Fiddler
 |
An early recurring Flash villain, this expert in sonics was part of the
“Flash of Two Worlds” trio, forever earning him a place in Flash history.
Since then, however, he has slowly faded from the publc eye, appearing rarely. The Fiddler was killed by Deadshot shortly before Infinite Crisis.
Current Status: Deceased |
The Icicle
 |
The Icicle was primarily a Green Lantern villain, but his will left half his estate to
“whoever wears Flash’s cowl.” His estranged son Cameron has since taken on the Icicle identity.
Current Status: Deceased |
The Rival
 |
The Rival appeared in the very last issue of Flash Comics and disappeared
for fifty years, only to zoom back into action in the pages of JSA.
A disembodied being of Speed Force energy, the Rival is currently in possession
of Max Mercury’s body. He has vowed vengeance on Jay Garrick
for unwittingly trapping him in the Speed Force for half a century.
Current Status: Active |
The Rag Doll
 |
In old age he became a cult leader, sending his followers to wreak havoc in Opal City.
At one time thought to have been killed by the original Starman, he turned up alive...
and rejuvenated by Neron.
Current Status: Active |
The Shade
 |
The Shade only appeared once during the Golden Age, but his part in the
“Flash of Two Worlds” trio ensured he would be remembered. The Shade was later
revealed to be immortal, and his exploits as a super-villain were more for fun than
anything else. The Shade has since retired to Opal City.
Current Status: Retired |
Star Sapphire
 |
Star Sapphire attacked Earth twice, then disappeared for decades.
She was eventually revealed to be a predecessor of the Silver Age
Star Sapphire, and was trapped within her gem.
Current Status: Trapped in her successor’s gem |
The Thinker
 |
An early recurring Flash villain, this genius and inventor was (not surprisingly) the brains of the
“Flash of Two Worlds” trio, forever earning him a place in Flash history.
After his death, his consciousness survived as an artificial intelligence program.
Free of human emotions, the new Thinker is more ruthless than he ever was alive.
Current Status: Deceased, but lives on as an AI computer program. |
The Thorn
 |
Rose believed herself cured, then married Green Lantern Alan Scott. The Thorn re-emerged,
and she ran off letting her husband believe she was dead. When their children (the future Jade and Obsidian)
were born she put them up for adoption. Years later, the Thorn attacked Jade, Obsidian and Green Lantern,
and Rose killed herself to save them.
Current Status: Deceased |
The Turtle
 |
The “slowest man alive” plotted his crimes with care, only to be defeated time and again by the Flash.
Eventually he went underground, taking over Keystone’s organized crime, while a younger
villain adopted his name in Central City. Both were defeated when the third Flash
came to Keystone.
Current Status: In prison. |
Vandal Savage
 |
The immortal Vandal Savage was mainly a Green Lantern and JSA villain during the Golden Age,
but began battling the Flashes later on. He continues manipulating the world through the Illuminati,
and battling super-heroes with science and magic.
Current Status: Active |
Art
- Flash I: Who’s Who (first series) #8 (October 1985) - Eduardo Barreto
- Johnny Quick: Who’s Who (first series) #11 (January 1986) - Kerry Gammill and Bruce Patterson
- Liberty Belle: Who’s Who in the DC Universe #13 (March 1986) - Mitch Schauer & Dick Giordano
- Max Mercury: Flash Secret Files #1 (November 1997) - Craig Rousseau and José Marzan, Jr.
- Joan Garrick: Secret Origins #9 (December 1986) - George Tuska and Jerry Acerno
- Dimwits: All-Flash #13 (Winter 1943) - E.E. Hibbard
- Fiddler: Speed Force #1 (November 1997) - John Byrne
- Icicle: Who’s Who (first series) #11 (January 1986) - Paris Cullins and Karl Kesel
- Rival: Flash Comics #104 (February 1949) - Carmine Infantino and Frank Giacoia
- Shade: The Shade #3 (June 1997) - Bret Blevins
- Thinker: All-Flash #12 (Fall 1943) - E.E. Hibbard
- Turtle: Who’s Who (loose-leaf edition) #8 (April 1991) - Mike Parobeck and José Marzan, Jr.
- Vandal Savage: Flash (second series) #1 (June 1987) - Jackson Guice and Larry Mahlstedt
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