The REAL Origin of The Flash! ⚡ || Comic Misconceptions || NerdSync

The Flash is a classic DC superhero whose debut launched the Silver Age of comics, but what if everything we know about Barry Allen's origin as the Scarlet Speedster is wrong? What if that lightning bolt that struck him and doused him in chemicals wasn't a freak accident, but was a deliberate choice? Today we're talking about Barry's history with an imp named Mopee to learn the REAL origin of the Flash!

Every Wednesday, Comic Misconceptions explores fascinating trivia, crazy stories, and mind-blowing theories about the comic book universe from Marvel, DC, and beyond!

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RELATED VIDEOS:

The REAL Origin of the Fantastic Four!

What Are the Different Ages of Comic Books?

The REAL Origin of Superman Revealed!

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SOURCES:
Showcase Vol 1 #4
The Flash Vol 1 #167
Ambush Bug Vol 1 #3
Who's Who: The Definitive Directory of the DC Universe Vol 1 #8
The Life Story of the Flash

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[NerdSyncProductions]

Boy, three years later and this comic is still weird...

[alexjackson]

I think it's much more beautiful to think that heroes are chosen by random chance. It reaffirms the notion that anyone could be a hero and I just love that. They all chose to do something great and that just really speaks to me. I could be a hero, you could be a hero, we all could be a hero because we have the capacity for greatness. That's just pure poetry to me.

[stewdippin]

Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.
- William Shakespeare

[NerdSyncProductions]

*The Weird Origin Story of the Flash that DC Wants Everyone to Forget!*

The Flash has made his way back to television in the CW's pilot episode last night about Barry Allen's origin story. We all know how the tale goes by now: Barry Allen is a police scientist who is struck by a random bolt of lightning and doused in chemicals which give him super-speed. But what if everything we know about that origin is wrong? What if that lightning bolt wasn't a freak accident, but was a deliberate and purposeful decision made by an imp named Mopee?! Let's learn about the REAL origin of the Flash in this week's Comic Misconceptions!


_Every Wednesday, Comic Misconceptions explores fascinating trivia, crazy stories, and mind-blowing theories about the comic book universe from Marvel, DC, and beyond!_

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#flash   #theflash   #barryallen   #dccomics   #comics   #comicbooks   #nerdy   #geeky   #youtube   #video   #cwtheflash   #nerdsync   #scottniswander   #comicmisconceptions  

[DoctorTopper]

Well, Steve Rogers was chosen to be Captain America, and that works for that story.  Peter Parker was just in the right place in the right time, and that works for that story.

[demigogg]

You forgot to mention my favorite version of his origins, from Secret Origins. During the original Crisis when Barry was trying to destroy the Anti-Monitor's antimatter cannon by running around it at super speed, he started slipping in and out throughout his timeline. And as the cannon blew up, it released one burst of tachyons. In order to catch that one burst, he had to run faster than he's ever ran in his entire life. As he ran faster and faster, his body started to break down atom by atom until he was left as pure ENERGY which finally allowed him to reach the burst of tachyons. As he grabbed the burst, he realized how great his life was and he wished he could do it all over again and the tachyon took him back, to the laboratory where he was working and he became the lightening that struck the chemicals that created the Flash. THAT is my favorite origin story of all time because of the beautiful sense of poetry and symmetry. Love your work Scott!

[kingcurry]

Nah I still like the idea of Barry becoming speed force energy and becoming the Lightning that struck Barry in the first place

[reagan]

I think a big reason why they got rid of Mopee (and why its better for comic book characters to be at least partly made from chance) is it allows the reader to better place themselves in the shoes of the superhero. It allows them to believe that maybe through some strange coincidence that they themselves could become like this, effectively making even the most overpowered of the heroes feel more obtainable and possible. For example, I started liking Deadpool more after I got cancer because I liked the idea that even if the treatments screwed me up I could still end up like that... I didn't really believe it but it made it more fun to read and helped with my treatments as well.

[Draybolt]

I like random chance better, makes things more balanced for those of us that have no chance of being chosen for our good morals or honor or stuff like that and creates more heros like Static Shock and Plastic Man

[SuperSablei]

I could be wrong but wasn't there a comic that said that Barry Allen himself was the lightning bolt?  If I remember right, Barry Allen was running so fast that he turned into pure energy and traveled back in time.  He then struck the Barry Allen of the past, knocking him into the chemicals and we all knows what happens.

I don't remember where I heard this origin nor can I say whether this actually happened or I made it all up, but I swear I heard it somewhere

[kyletowers]

if you ask me, this whole being chosen vs random chance debate is dumb. to me it's not about how the hero got his/her abilities it's about what they do with them. i doubt captain america would be improved by Steve rogers accidentally falling into a vat of patriotic steroids, the same way i don't really see batman being ruined by Joe being a mafia hitman. what makes captain america and batman great heroes, and every other superhero as well, is their resolve to do good in the world.

[alexbroGellungaRunga]

The origin from the show is by far the best.

[csandreas]

I honestly can't deal with how awesome this is. I remember reading Impulse back in the day and thinking he was going to be Flash one day and when it happened how disappointed I truly was. I'm now interested on your take on the CW show! 

[blacknmild]

I've read a spiderman comic where some similar events occured. Some rich business man with spider powers tells Peter it was no accident the spider bit him but in fact he was chosen to be spider man. I don't remember anything else about this story line but would love to see a "real origin of" about it if you can dig up the source material

[MadHatterAlabaster]

Later after Barry Allen joins the speed force he traveled the earth in several dimensions as a force of energy. In several different issues it has been circumanced that Barry Allen traveling through time Barry actually struck himself as a lightning bolt. He would then later hit Wally West as a way to continue his legacy.

[aidanhunt]

Nerds are wonderful people...
Just wonderful people.

[josephgonzalez]

This is my favorite video! I have rewatched this a few times :)

[natvomvzik]

I really thought they were gonna talk about how barry ran really fast and became the bolt of lightning that struck him

[dconrocks]

For example try to imagine spiderman turning into spiderman because of someone's intentions... Now try to imagine captain America getting his powers by chance... It just doesn't work for those characters. So, there's really no correct answer. Now if I was given a specific hero I could answer. Like the flash, he should get his powers by CHANCE. Oh and love ur videos! :D

[dankilroy]

I'd have to go with the first origin. I really didn't like magic being thrown into a flash story  since the flash is one of the most science based DC heroes. Also I know there's one story where Barry turns into the lightning bolt that gave him his powers but I can't remember which issue that is in.