Who Is Faster Flash Or Superman?

When it comes to DC comics, there are a lot of questions amongst fans which can often remain unanswered. Can Batman actually beat superman, what’s The Joker’s true identity, is Alfred the sweetest man alive… ok I made that last one up, but the point remains the same. Then comes the age old question, The Scarlet Speedster Vs Kal-el from the planet Krypton, who would win in a race Flash or Superman.

The two have raced several times over the years since their first race around the world for charity in 1967, and the outcome always changes. Some media would say The Flash, fastest man alive, had Superman beat – whilst others suggest the Kryptonian is no man, beating Flash with no competition. The answer to this question seems to be based on which universe you are following, what we should really be asking is, “Who’s faster Superman or The Flash?”. In this article, we will be doing exactly that.

1. How Fast is The Flash

2. How Fast is Superman

3. Superman vs Flash race around the world

4. Is Flash or Superman Faster

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How Fast is The Flash?

Image by DC Comics

The Flash has travelled various speeds depending on which universe you explore and which character is the speedster. Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West, and Bart Allen to list a few of the many Flash’s, all have super speed and various other superhuman powers including the power to time travel which requires a speed of at least 186,000 miles per second. However, speedsters gain speed from something far greater than the sun.

In 1994, The Flash comic first introduced the speed force. It was then realised, the speed force is an infinite source of energy within the multiverse which the speedsters tap into to gain their superhuman speed – the more a speedster connects with the speed force the faster they can travel. Barry Allen was said in The Flash Rebirth to have created the speed force himself, a ridiculous concept in my opinion since Jay Garrick was drawing power from this plane long before Barry Allen was even alive.

The Flash has a unique set of abilities which contribute to his maximum speed including superhuman reflexes, the ability to perceive things in an attosecond,  and the ability to pass through solid objects while running by vibrating his atoms. Wally West, the first Kid Flash, has even exceeded the speed of every speedster out there, including his rival Reverse-Flash, by reaching 13 trillion times the speed of light making him not only the fastest speedster, but the fastest superhero in the DC universe – though this was a rare incident since The Flash been susceptible to overexertion if pushed too hard.

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How Fast is Superman?

Image by DC Comics

Just like The Flash, Superman has travelled various speeds throughout different media, the most notable of which being the 1978 movie Superman in which he flies around the earth faster than the speed of light, 186,000 miles per second, and turns back time – making Superman and The Flash pretty even on paper. Superman is said to have potential power which can grow to an unknown number. So who knows, since Kryptonians draw power from the yellow sun, a nice day at the beach might see this superhero beat The Flash!

Unlike The Flash, Superman does not have access to the speed force meaning he does not have access to the infinite energy the speed force is made up of. Although Superman has unknown potential power, this number is not infinite – his speed could increase with time and training, but without the speed force he is limited in his abilities. Superman also does not truly experience fatigue, it is widely believed across DC comics fans that Clark Kent simply chooses to sleep to feel normal.

It is worth noting, Superman is much faster flying than running. His abilities are also much stronger on Earth than on his home planet of Krypton due to Krypton having 1000 times Earth’s Gravity – on a planet where the gravity is 2000 times weaker than earths, Superman would in theory be even stronger and have more speed.

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Superman Vs Flash Race Around The Earth 

Image by DC Comics

The first time the question of who’s faster Flash or Superman was explored in DC comics was in 1967 in issue #199 of Superman. The Flash and Superman were both approached by the Secretary-general of the United Nations with the idea of a charity race to help underdeveloped nations. Though the sentiment was sweet, this race gained interest from crime families who then would place bets on Superman and The Flash.

The two superheroes would circle the earth for 3 laps on foot, Superman forbidden to fly, avoiding obstacles on their way. With both Superman and The Flash having a unique set of abilities to aid them, Flash able to vibrate through the great pyramids and Superman unaffected by the thin air in the Himalayas, this was a pretty even race – a sure answer to who is faster.

However, in an attempt to rig the results of the race, two crime families with high stakes against the other captured The Flash and Superman and replaced them with slower competitors. With little to no time to spare Superman and The Flash escaped and agreed to finish the race in a tie to stop either crime family benefitting.

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Is Flash or Superman Faster?

So, Who’s Faster In a Flash vs Superman race, The Flash could easily beat Superman in any DC comics, specifically Wally West. Both Justice League members have their strengths and vulnerabilities, regardless The Flash is still the fastest superhero alive. This being said, Both Superman’s and Flash’s speed has changed over time, as we see Superman unlock more potential power we may end up seeing Superman faster than Flash in future DC comics, but for the time being I think it’s safe to say The Flash wins.

Though The Flash might beat Superman in a running race, there are many interesting questions to ask from this article. Who’s Faster than Flash? Can The Flash beat Superman in combat? I personally think the Justice League would intervene with a situation like this causing it to never happen, but let’s save that for another article!

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