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The Many Faces Of… The Flash
Russ Dimino looks at the many actors who have played The Flash
Back in the days of KryptonSite, Russ Dimino had a frequent column “The Many Faces Of…” where he’d look back at the different actors to play an iconic DC Comics role. He came out of “retirement” here to explore the different actors who have played The Flash, just in time for tonight’s premiere! This is an update of a column originally published in 2004.
Anyone can tell you that Superman’s real name is Clark Kent, and everyone knows that Bruce Wayne is the man beneath Batman’s cowl. But ask a few comic book fans who the Flash’s secret identity is, and the answer is likely to vary. That’s because there have actually been several different characters to possess super speed, don an orange costume with a lightning bolt logo and take on the name of the Flash.
The original “Golden Age” Flash was named Jay Garrick, and first appeared in Flash Comics #1 in January 1940. His successor, Barry Allen, debuted in Showcase #4 in 1956. Barry’s nephew Wally West first appeared as Kid Flash, Barry’s sidekick, in Flash #110 in December 1959, and then became the full-fledged Flash himself after Barry died saving the world during the “Crisis on Infinite Earths” event in 1986. Bart Allen, Barry’s grandson, first appeared in Flash vol. 2 #91 and had a super-speeding career of his own under the name Impulse. Bart went on to become the new Kid Flash and served as a sidekick to Wally before inheriting the role of the Flash himself in 2006. A resurrection and a reboot have led to Barry Allen once again holding the title of the Flash in the comics in DC’s “New 52” era (a company-wide relaunch of all the titles saw much of the previous continuity wiped clean in 2011).
The first time the Flash appeared on television it was in cartoon form. The scarlet speedster made several appearances on Filmation’s “The Superman/Aquaman Hour of Adventure” in 1967. Though the series primarily focused on the exploits of the two titular heroes, other heroes rotated in and out of an additional segment on the show. The Flash who appeared here was the Barry Allen version, and his voice was supplied by Cliff Owens. He was often accompanied by Kid Flash, a.k.a. Wally West, who was voiced by Tommy Cook.
The next time Flash made the airwaves, he was joined by a few friends… Super Friends, that is. Throughout the various incarnations of the show from 1977 – 1986, including “The All New Super Friends Hour,” “The Challenge of the Super Friends,” and “Super Friends: The Legendary Super Powers Show,” Jack Angel lent his voice to the Flash. Angel was also the voices of Hawkman and Samurai, and went on to provide voice work for shows like “Darkwing Duck,” “Tale Spin” and “Peter Pan and the Pirates.” He was also the voice of Teddy in the movie “A.I.”
In 1979, the Flash appeared in a two part live-action TV special called “Legends of the Superheroes,” which featured characters like Batman and Robin, Green Lantern, Captain Marvel, Hawkman, Black Canary, and more. It was done in a campy, tongue-in-cheek style reminiscent of the Adam West “Batman” series of the 1960s, and, in fact, Adam West and Burt Ward reprised their roles as Batman and Robin. In part one, the heroes team up to save the world from a group of villains. In part two, the heroes pay tribute to Batman and Robin in the form of a roast. This movie has pretty much been relegated to the realm of bootleg copies sold at comic book conventions. The Flash was played by Rod Haase.
Of course this isn’t all! Navigate below for more:
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No, That Was Not Teddy Sears In The Flash Movie
Flash TV series actor Teddy Sears confirms that was not him playing Jay Garrick in The Flash movie.
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The Flash Season 9 & Complete Series Blu-rays Announced
Flash Complete Series and Season 9 Blu-ray sets are coming out in August 2023.
The Flash: The Ninth and Final Season and The Flash: The Complete Series are both coming to Blu-ray and DVD on August 29. Extras for the Season 9 set have also been revealed, as has box art for both. The Complete Series box art is a bit odd: While it’s truth in advertising for the final seasons to have Cecile front and center, the lack of Carlos Valdes (Cisco) or Tom Cavanagh (as any Wells) is.. a choice.
Here’s the press release with more info:
BURBANK, CA (June 1, 2023) – The fast-paced DC Super Hero drama ends its nine-season run as The Flash: The Ninth and Final Season arrives on Blu-rayTM Disc and DVD on August 29, 2023. The action continues through all 13 episodes of the final season along with brand-new bonus content. The season is also available to own on Digital via purchase from digital retailers.
Also available on August 29, is The Flash: The Complete Series on Blu-ray Disc and DVD, which includes 184 episodes from the exhilarating DC series along with hours of bonus content from all nine seasons in one complete set.
After defeating the Reverse Flash once and for all, the ninth season of The Flash picks up one week after their epic battle, and Barry Allen aka The Flash and Iris West-Allen are reconnecting and growing closer than ever. When a deadly group of Rogues descend on Central City, led by a powerful and unknown new threat, The Flash and his team including Meta-Empath Cecile Horton, the light-powered meta, Allegra Garcia, brilliant tech-nerd Chester P. Runk and reformed cryogenics thief Mark Blaine, must once again defy the odds to save the day. But as The Rogues are defeated, a deadly new adversary rises to challenge Barry Allen’s heroic legacy. In their greatest battle yet, Barry and Team Flash will be pushed to their limits, to save Central City one last time.
The Flash stars Grant Gustin (Arrow, Glee), Candice Patton (The Game), Danielle Panabaker (Sky High, Friday the 13th), Danielle Nicolet (Central Intelligence), Kayla Compton (Making Moves), Brandon McKnight (The Shape of Water) and Jon Cor (Shadowhunters). Based on the characters from DC, The Flash is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, Supergirl, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, Riverdale), Eric Wallace (Teen Wolf, Z Nation, Eureka), Sarah Schechter (Batwoman, Riverdale, Black Lightning, Supergirl), Jonathan Butler, and Sam Chalsen (Sleepy Hollow).
SPECIAL FEATURES INCLUDE:
The Flash: The Saga of the Scarlett Speedster (featurette)
Deleted Scenes
Gag Reel
The Flash: The Complete Ninth Season and The Flash: The Complete Series will be available to purchase August 29, 2023 on Blu-ray Disc and DVD both online and in-store at major retailers. The series is also available now to purchase Digitally from Amazon Prime Video, AppleTV, Google Play, Vudu and more.
The Flash: The Ninth and Final Season
Includes 13 one-hour episodes:
Wednesday Ever After
Hear No Evil
Rogues of War
The Mask of the Red Death, Part 1
The Mask of the Red Death, Part 2
The Good, the Bad and the Lucky
Wildest Dreams
Partners in Time
It’s My Party and I’ll Die if I Want To
A New World, Part 1
A New World, Part 2
A New World, Part 3
A New World, Part 4
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The Flash: The Ninth and Final Season – The Flash: The Complete Series
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Who Are Those New Characters At The End Of The Flash Finale?
FlashTVNews can tell you who played the new characters who were introduced at the end of the Flash finale.
The Flash has ended on the East Coast, and now you might be wondering who those characters might be as part of the “New World” Barry is talking about. He’s shared the lightning beyond his family, and now new speedsters will be out there in the world.
One of those new folks we met before: Avery Ho. In the comics, Avery is the Flash of China, and she first appeared in the comics in 2016. On the show, though, we saw her in the Season 8 episode “Obsessive Impulsive Disorder” as someone working at Fast Track Labs; she returned for a phone call with Meena Dhawan in “The Man in the Yellow Tie.” Playing her was actress Piper Curda who fans might know from I Didn’t Do It and Legacies.
Next up: Max Mercury. A character from comics’ Golden Age who went by a number of names back in the day, Mark Waid brought him back for his celebrated and excellent Flash comics run of the 1990s. Trevor Carroll plays Max Mercury in the Flash finale. In addition to acting, Trevor Carroll is an award-winning director for a short film called No Reservations. He could also recently be seen on Resident Alien.
The third new “Flash” type character we see here is Jess Chambers, introduced in DC’s “Future State” initiative and also seen in the Multiverse: Teen Justice comic book series. Sometimes using the name “Kid Quick,” Jess is a non-binary character. The role of Jess Chambers here is played by Hana Destiny Huggins, who just might be the “Hana Huggins” that IMDb has a listing for whose credits include an upcoming film called It’s A Wonderful Knife.
Shall we ever see these characters again in live-action? We certainly hope there is someday an opportunity to see them ride the lightning….
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Who Are Those New Characters At The End Of The Flash Finale?
A Message From FlashTVNews As The Show Concludes
The Flash: Speaking With Tom Cavanagh Before Tonight’s Finale
Flash #9.9 Description & Trailer: “It’s My Party And I’ll Die If I Want To”
Flash Season 9 Extended Trailer Released
Flash Final Season Trailer: Let’s Do This One Last Time
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