Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Power #4For 68 years, Barry Allen has won the hearts of comic readers as the Flash, but now Barry Allen is officially stepping down as the Flash, and the DC Universe will never be the same as a result. A shocking revelation just changed DC Comics' status quo in a way that can't be undone, and it may be the end of the road for one of DC's most prolific heroes.

Absolute Power #4 – written by Mark Waid, with art by Dan Mora – shut their universe off from the Multiverse entirely. Though most of the superheroes' powers end up being restored, something goes terribly wrong.

In the aftermath, the three Flashes convene to discuss how their connection to the multiverse has vanished, and Barry reveals that his powers are gone.

Barry Allen Loses His Powers In A Shocking Twist, Ending His Tenure As DC's Greatest Flash

Absolute Power #4 – Written By Mark Waid, Art By Dan Mora; Color By Alejandro Sánchez; Lettering By Ariana Maher

Barry's power loss is a major twist, but it isn't the first instance where he's been shelved as the Flash. In 1985's Crisis on Infinite Earths #8, Barry died in order to save the DC Universe from the Anti-Monitor, after which Wally West inherited the Flash mantle, racing to new heights with it. Barry Allen returned to the Flash mantle decades later in the Final Crisis storyline, sharing it with Wally from then on. Now, with the ending of Absolute Power #4, the cycle is repeating, and Barry Allen's Flash is no more once again.

Some may wonder if Barry's retirement from the Flash role will be short-lived like it was before, but his absence in Wally is also taking his spot in the Justice League. Barry Allen is nowhere to be seen in DC's future, and now readers know it's because he lost his powers and therefore can't be a superhero anymore. Without his speed, Barry must hang up his cowl and the torch - permanently.

As The Flash, Barry Allen Has Performed Countless Incredible Feats Of Heroism

The Defining Version Of The Speedster

​​​​​​​Beyond his impact in the real world, Barry Allen's Flash has plenty of extraordinary feats that warrant recognition. His speed is his most well-known asset, and with good reason, as it's allowed him to The Flash has mastered vibrational intangibility, time travel, and more, pushing the limits of what his speed can do. He can even jump to different universes so he can study and map them. These and other feats prove that as the Flash, Barry Allen earned his spot among the best of the best that DC has to offer.

Barry Allen's accomplishments are what will cement his name in Flash history as one of the greatest to ever wear the red spandex.

Of course, this doesn't mean that Barry's Flash career is without its lows. The infamous Flashpoint disaster, caused by Barry's attempt to travel back in time and prevent his mother's death, nearly erased the entire DC Universe from existence. Still, the good that Barry has done as the Flash outweighs the bad. He's owned up to his past mistakes and always strives to do better, and that's what counts. Barry Allen's accomplishments are what will cement his name in Flash history as one of the greatest to ever wear the red spandex, long after his powers have been stripped away.

In Many Ways, Barry Allen's Life – And Death, And Rebirth – As The Flash Have Defined DC History

The Flash's Death from Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 by Marv Wolfman, George Pérez, Jerry Ordway, Anthony Tollin, and John Costanza

Barry Allen sped to the pages of DC Comics for the first time in 1956's Showcase #4 – written by Robert Kanigher, with art by Carmine Infantino. He started off as a nerdy forensic scientist with a love for Flash comics – that is, until he was struck by lightning and doused in chemicals that gave him super-speed! Donning his trademark Flash costume, Barry went on to fight iconic enemies like Reverse-Flash, combining his speed and smarts to beat his foes. His role in DC's canon became all the more prominent when he ed the Justice League as a founding member.

The first Flash, Jay Garrick, made his debut in 1940's Flash Comics #1 – written by Gardner Fox, with art by Harry Lampert – laying the groundwork for Barry Allen's reinvention of the mantle, but it was Barry who truly defined the modern conception of the character.

The early adventures of Barry Allen as the Flash made an indelible mark on comics as a whole. His introduction began what is known today as the Silver Age of comics, driving forth a new age of superhero stories. He also originated DC's Multiverse in The Flash #123 – by Gardner Fox and Carmine Infantino – when he traveled to Earth-2 and met Jay Garrick, the original Golden Age Flash. The Multiverse has evolved from there into a staple of the comic medium. Barry's impact on the DC Universe as the Flash can't be overstated, and that's not including his astounding power feats.

As Barry Allen Retires, Wally West Is Once More The Preeminent Flash In DC Comics

The Flash Legacy Has A Worthy Succesor

As sad as it is to see the Flash step down, Barry himself seems eager to faster than Barry. If anyone deserves to continue Barry's legacy, it's Wally.

Although Barry Allen is retiring, his era as the Flash will never be forgotten, and he can rest easy knowing that his legacy will live on through Wally West​​​​​​​.

Barry Allen's time as a hero has ended, but the future is bright for the DC Universe thanks to all he's accomplished under the Flash name. Barry has taken the title that Jay Garrick originated and hit the ground running with it, changing the trajectory of DC's history forever. The Flash wouldn't be what he is today without him, and neither would DC Comics in general. Although Barry Allen is retiring, his era as the Flash will never be forgotten, and he can rest easy knowing that his legacy will live on through Wally West and the rest of the Flash family.

Absolute Power #4 is available now from DC Comics.

Source: Simon Spurrier