On This Day: The Flash!
Born in Fallville, Iowa, Barry Allen grew to be a meticulous man and an excellent police scientist with one notable flaw—he was always late.
That changed, however, on the night that he was working late in his lab in Central City and a lightning bolt shattered a case full of chemicals and doused Barry with the supercharged contents. After that accident, Barry discovered that he could move at superspeed. He adopted a costumed identity, donning a red costume with a gold lightning bolt motif, and became the Flash, the Fastest Man Alive!
Barry would become one of the greatest heroes in the world, a founding member of the Justice League of America, and Central City’s protector, before his untimely death during the Crisis on Infinite Earths. Even death could not stop the Flash, however, and he has reappeared several times since to aid his family and friends.
It’s important to note that the Flash is one of the DC heroes whose birthdate has been changed. Before the Crisis, his official birthday was six days later, on March 19. Now that’s fast!