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1. Grant Gustin’s Flash (Arrowverse)
Grant Gustin’s portrayal of Barry Allen in The Flash TV series has been one of the longest-running incarnations of the character. Over the course of nine seasons, Gustin’s Flash has evolved significantly, mastering various aspects of the Speed Force.
Some notable feats include:
Traveling back in time multiple times.
Running fast enough to stop a nuclear bomb (Season 4, "Enter Flashtime").
Outspeeding the villain Savitar, who was also a future version of Barry Allen.
Despite these accomplishments, Gustin’s Flash operates within the constraints of television storytelling, meaning his speed isn’t pushed to its maximum as frequently as in big-budget films. However, his ability to consistently use his speed in creative ways makes him a strong contender for fastest Flash.
Running fast enough to stop a nuclear bomb (Season 4, "Enter Flashtime").
Outspeeding the villain Savitar, who was also a future version of Barry Allen.
Despite these accomplishments, Gustin’s Flash operates within the constraints of television storytelling, meaning his speed isn’t pushed to its maximum as frequently as in big-budget films. However, his ability to consistently use his speed in creative ways makes him a strong contender for fastest Flash.
2. Ezra Miller’s Flash (DC Extended Universe)
Ezra Miller’s version of Barry Allen from the DCEU made their debut in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and later appeared in Justice League and The Flash (2023). Unlike Gustin’s TV version, Miller’s Flash was introduced with much more cinematic flair and faster visual effects.
Key feats of Ezra Miller’s Flash include:
Turning back time to save the Justice League in Zack Snyder's Justice League cut.
Running fast enough to travel through alternate timelines in The Flash movie, a feat that alters the entire multiverse.
His lightning-fast reflexes, demonstrated when he saves Iris West from a car crash.
Miller’s Flash also seems to have a closer connection to the Speed Force on a cosmic level, especially with the visual representation of their time-travel abilities. Their portrayal leans into the idea that The Flash can affect reality itself with his speed, something that’s not as heavily emphasized in Gustin’s version.
Running fast enough to travel through alternate timelines in The Flash movie, a feat that alters the entire multiverse.
His lightning-fast reflexes, demonstrated when he saves Iris West from a car crash.
Miller’s Flash also seems to have a closer connection to the Speed Force on a cosmic level, especially with the visual representation of their time-travel abilities. Their portrayal leans into the idea that The Flash can affect reality itself with his speed, something that’s not as heavily emphasized in Gustin’s version.
3. John Wesley Shipp’s Flash (1990s TV Show)
Before Grant Gustin and Ezra Miller, John Wesley Shipp brought Barry Allen to life in the 1990 TV show The Flash. Though the show only lasted one season, Shipp’s Flash became a cult favorite.
While Shipp’s Flash didn’t have access to today’s CGI and speed effects, his portrayal was strong for its time. However, compared to modern versions, his feats were limited, and his top speed never reached the same heights as Gustin or Miller’s portrayals. Shipp later reprised his role in the Arrowverse crossover events, playing an alternate universe’s Flash (Earth-90 Flash), but his speed still didn’t quite match up.
4. Animated Flash (Justice League Unlimited and The Flashpoint Paradox)
In the world of animation, the Flash has achieved some of his most mind-bending speeds. The Justice League Unlimited version of Wally West (voiced by Michael Rosenbaum) is one of the most beloved animated speedsters. This Flash notably ran fast enough to defeat Brainiac-Luthor by almost phasing out of existence, moving at such speed that he broke the dimensional barrier.
In Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox, Barry Allen’s speed causes massive timeline disruptions, leading to an alternate, dystopian reality. This Flash not only outruns his TV counterparts but also shows the devastating consequences of misusing the Speed Force.
The animated Flash frequently performs feats that are physically impossible in live-action media, making him arguably one of the fastest versions.
5. Keiynan Lonsdale's Flash (Arrowverse)
Wally West, portrayed by Keiynan Lonsdale in The Flash series, initially begins as a sidekick to Grant Gustin’s Barry Allen. However, as Kid Flash, Wally quickly rises in power and even rivals Barry in some episodes.
Wally’s top speed in the Arrowverse comes close to matching Barry’s, especially after he trains and connects with the Speed Force. Still, his time on the show is relatively short-lived compared to the main Flash, and he never quite surpasses Barry’s top feats.
6. Jay Garrick (Multiple Versions)
Jay Garrick, the original Flash from the comics, has appeared in multiple live-action versions, most notably played by John Wesley Shipp in the Arrowverse. This Flash is from Earth-3 and acts as a mentor to Barry Allen.
Though older, Jay Garrick demonstrates incredible speed and mastery of the Speed Force, but his top speeds are never quite showcased to the extent of Barry or Wally’s. He remains more of a legacy character, embodying the spirit of The Flash rather than outpacing his successors.
7. Bart Allen (Smallville)
Portrayed by Kyle Gallner, Bart Allen makes his debut in Smallville season 4, episode 5, titled "Run." Unlike Barry Allen or Wally West, Bart isn't simply a future version of The Flash—he's known in the comics as Impulse and eventually becomes Kid Flash. However, in Smallville, he’s simply a young man with super speed, and while he doesn’t explicitly call himself "The Flash," he does hint at it by showing multiple fake IDs with the names Barry Allen, Jay Garrick, and Wally West.
Bart’s feats in Smallville include:
Portrayed by Kyle Gallner, Bart Allen makes his debut in Smallville season 4, episode 5, titled "Run." Unlike Barry Allen or Wally West, Bart isn't simply a future version of The Flash—he's known in the comics as Impulse and eventually becomes Kid Flash. However, in Smallville, he’s simply a young man with super speed, and while he doesn’t explicitly call himself "The Flash," he does hint at it by showing multiple fake IDs with the names Barry Allen, Jay Garrick, and Wally West.
Bart’s feats in Smallville include:
Outrunning Clark Kent: In his first appearance, Bart easily outruns Clark, who is known to have superhuman speed himself. This feat solidifies Bart as one of the fastest speedsters in the Smallville universe, showcasing speeds that exceed Clark’s, which is no small achievement.
Speed Travel Across Continents: Bart is shown to travel vast distances in the blink of an eye, as he casually mentions running from Metropolis to Mexico and Europe in seconds.
Superhuman Reflexes: His quick reflexes allow him to dodge attacks from metahumans and get out of sticky situations faster than the blink of an eye, making him almost untouchable in a fight.
Although Bart Allen’s speed is impressive within the Smallville universe, his abilities aren't as deeply explored as those of Barry Allen in other adaptations. He’s clearly one of the fastest speedsters when compared to Clark Kent, but without an official connection to the Speed Force or other reality-bending feats, Bart’s top speed is left somewhat ambiguous. However, outrunning Superman certainly makes him one of the most formidable Flashes, and one of the fastest on TV.
Updated Conclusion: Who’s the Fastest Flash?
After considering Bart Allen's feats in Smallville, the competition becomes even more intense. Here’s the breakdown:
After considering Bart Allen's feats in Smallville, the competition becomes even more intense. Here’s the breakdown:
Ezra Miller’s Flash (DCEU) still edges out most others with his reality-bending, time-traveling abilities.
Grant Gustin’s Flash (Arrowverse) continues to showcase incredible consistency with his use of the Speed Force.
Bart Allen (Smallville) deserves special recognition for outrunning Clark Kent, but his overall speed capabilities remain somewhat underdeveloped compared to other versions.
Animated Flash (from Justice League Unlimited and The Flashpoint Paradox) might still be the fastest overall with his reality-shattering feats.
Bart Allen from Smallville adds an interesting layer to the debate, but in terms of pushing the limits of speed, he doesn’t quite surpass the multiverse-level feats of Ezra Miller's or the animated Flash.
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Source: Dan Lalonde
Photo Credit: DC/CW
Social Media Hashtags: #Smallville #BartAllen #TheFlash #DC
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