Events & eras On screen Lore Members Activity

Barry Allen (DC) — First appearance, key issues & comics · Cape Zone

Barry Allen portrait

Character/DC

Barry Allen

The Flash

3,946 appearancesSince 1956

Barry Allen first appeared in Showcase #4 (1956-09), published by DC. 3,946 appearances are indexed across 60 series.

Barry Allen is a criminologist who became the second Flash when he was simultaneously struck by lightning and doused with chemicals. Husband of Iris West. Father of Don and Dawn Allen (the Tornado Twins). Grandfather of Bart Allen (Impulse / Kid Flash) and Jenni Ognats (XS). Former mentor of Wallace "Wally" West (Kid Flash, son of Rudy and Mary West) and Wallace "Ace" West (Kid Flash, son of Daniel West).

Character history

Key issues

11 issues

Showcase
#4
first appearance · intro · origin
1956-09-00
Flits Classics#2610Cape Archive1970
Flits Classics
#2610
origin retold
1970-00-00

Across the catalog

Appears in

60 series

The Flash
1959–1985
243 issues →
Justice League of America
1960–1987
189 issues →
The Flash
2016–2023
121 issues →

The Secret Origin of the Flash [Leaf Comic Book Candy]#1Cape Archive1980

The Secret Origin of the Flash [Leaf Comic Book Candy]

#1

origin retold

1980-00-00

The Flash #283 cover

The Flash

#283

1980-03-00

Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 cover

Crisis on Infinite Earths

#8

1985-11-00

DC Silver Age Classics Showcase 4#NNCape Archive1992

DC Silver Age Classics Showcase 4

#[nn]

1992-04-00

Countdown #44 cover

Countdown

#44

2007-08-00

The Flash #0 cover

The Flash

#0

2012-11-00

The Flash: Season Zero#1Cape Archive2014

The Flash: Season Zero

#1

2014-12-00

Justice League 3001#7Cape Archive2016

Justice League 3001

#7

2016-02-00

Flash 105 (Facsimile Edition)#NNCape Archive2023

Flash 105 (Facsimile Edition)

#[nn]

2023-11-00

Justice League cover

Justice League

2018–2022

56 issues →

The Flash cover

The Flash

2011–2016

54 issues →

Justice League cover

Justice League

2016–2018

30 issues →

Flash cover

Flash

1987–2006

29 issues →

Action Comics cover

Action Comics

1938–2011

22 issues →

Justice League cover

Justice League

2011–2016

22 issues →

The Flash cover

The Flash

2017–2024

19 issues →

The Flash cover

The Flash

2023–

18 issues →

The Brave and the Bold cover

The Brave and the Bold

1955–1983

17 issues →

Batman / Superman: World's Finest cover

Batman / Superman: World's Finest

2022–

15 issues →

52 cover

52

2006–2007

13 issues →

Countdown cover

Countdown

2007–2008

13 issues →

Action Comics cover

Action Comics

2011–

13 issues →

Green Lantern cover

Green Lantern

1960–1986

12 issues →

JLA: Year One cover

JLA: Year One

1998–1998

12 issues →

Justice cover

Justice

2005–2007

12 issues →

Wednesday Comics cover

Wednesday Comics

2009–2009

12 issues →

The Flash cover

The Flash

2010–2011

12 issues →

DC Universe Online Legends cover

DC Universe Online Legends

2011–2012

12 issues →

Superman cover

Superman

1939–1986

11 issues →

World's Finest Comics cover

World's Finest Comics

1941–1986

11 issues →

Show all 60 series ↓Show less ↑

CBGCape Archive 1983
Comics Buyer's Guide
1983–2013
11 issues →
Batman
2016–2026
11 issues →
Adventure Comics
1938–1983
10 issues →
Justice League of America Archives
1992–2012
10 issues →
Booster Gold
2007–2011
9 issues →
The Flash
2012–2017
9 issues →
The Flash
2013–2017
9 issues →
Wonder Woman
1942–1986
8 issues →
Showcase
1956–1978
8 issues →
DC Comics Presents
1978–1986
8 issues →
Secret Origins
1986–1990
8 issues →
Impulse
1995–2002
8 issues →
JLA: Classified
2005–2008
8 issues →
Justice League of America
2006–2011
8 issues →
Blackest Night
2009–2010
8 issues →
General Mills Presents: Justice League
2011–2013
8 issues →
Wonder Woman
2016–2023
8 issues →
Heroes in Crisis
2018–2019
8 issues →
Superman
2018–2021
8 issues →
Detective Comics
1937–2011
7 issues →
DC Special
1968–1977
7 issues →
DC Special Series
1977–1981
7 issues →
The Best of DC
1979–1986
7 issues →
Legends of the DC Universe
1998–2001
7 issues →
Justice League Dark
2011–2015
7 issues →
Justice League
2017–2018
7 issues →
Justice League
2018–2021
7 issues →
Justice League Giant
2018–2019
7 issues →
The Flash Giant
2019–2019
7 issues →
Dark Nights: Death Metal
2020–2021
7 issues →
Infinite Frontier
2021–2021
7 issues →
Flashpoint Beyond
2022–2022
7 issues →
Justice League vs. Godzilla vs. Kong 2
2025–2026
7 issues →
Super-Team Family
1975–1978
6 issues →
Crisis on Infinite Earths
1985–1986
6 issues →
The Flash Archives
1996–2012
6 issues →