Warning! Minor spoilers for Absolute Flash #1 ahead!Barry Allen might not be able to keep up with Wally West's The Flash has lost his speed, and he had to quietly retire from the superhero life, but the former superhero is about to put another set of his skills to good use.

The year is going by quickly and fans have seen just whats on the horizon thanks to DC Comics' June batch of solicitations. Later this year, fans are going to get a brand-new look at the various decades of the DCU in New History of the DC Universe.

Mark Waid is teaming up with an all-star list of artists such as Jerry Ordway and Todd Nauck to re-tell DC's expansive history. Central to this four-issue miniseries is DC's new "chronicler of time", Barry Allen, who will guide fans through the various periods starting with the rise of the Justice Society.

Barry Allen is the DC Universe's New Historian

A Perfect Fit For the Biggest DC Geek Alive

The Flash, particularly Barry Allen, has been one of the most crucial heroes to expanding the DC Universe. He was, after all, the hero who discovered Earth-2 way back during the Silver Age. After Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths, the Fastest Man Alive focused his efforts on charting the recently expanded multiverse. But during Absolute Power, he had to literally run for his life as he was hunted down by Amanda Waller's Task Force VII. Flash even sacrificed his powers to close off the Prime DCU from the multiverse to prevent Waller from calling in help from other Earths.

If it weren't bad enough that Barry's been benched in the mainline DC Universe, he's also being downplayed in the developing Absolute Universe as well. The first issue of Absolute Flash #1 ended with Barry dying in an accident, leaving Wally West to deal with things on his own. There's no doubt Barry's really aching for something to do right now, which is why him being a DC historian is a great move for him. Aside from the fact that he’s been catag the multiverse, the former Flash knows the DC Universe as well as any comic book geek.

Barry Allen isn't Letting His Lack of Powers Keep Him From Being Active

He May Not Be the Flash, But He's At Least Keeping Continuity Straight

Continuity’s hard for even the most hardcore DC fan to keep straight. But Barry’s spent much of his adult life keeping track of every little shift and change to the DCU and if anyone’s suited to the role of the DCU’s chronicler, it’s Barry. Sure, it’s a far sight from being able to run faster than the speed of light, but it’s a role well-suited to him that keeps him an active part of the DC Universe. Hopefully, the retired Flash will absolutely thrive as he takes fans on a journey through DC history.

New History of the DC Universe #1 is available on June 25th from DC Comics.