Until recently, I never quite understood why the Flash was so popular. Sure, he’s likable and smart, and the new television show is doing well for the character’s popularity, but the truth is he’s not exactly like your typical superhero…and he’s not supposed to be. For starters, Barry Allen (the second flash) is a lot younger than most of his superhero counterparts and perhaps, more intelligent too. Doesn’t that remind you of someone else in the Marvel Universe, say Spider-man? I was thinking the same thing.
Every Man Characters
Although most superhero alter egos tend to be mild mannered and insecure in their daily lives, Barry Allen and Peter Parker seem to take this archetype a step further. Both Allen and Parker are skinny book worms that can’t seem to catch a break with friends, family or on the on the job. Basically, they tend to remind us all of our worse day, but their whole lives are a repeat of that worse day, kind of like a perpetually depressing Groundhog Day. They’re always late for work, dates or events and of course broke to boot. However, they both continue to press on, even offering a joke here and there, in spite of overwhelming odds that are stacked against them. Their courage to persevere is inspiring and at times, foolish, some would say. Nevertheless, they sort of inspire us to move beyond circumstances in our own lives and remind us to keep up the good fight because if they can do it, so can we.
Experts in Science
Both Barry Allen and Peter Parker are whiz kids in the field of science. While Barry Allen is an expert in physics and forensic science, Peter Parker, on the other hand, is an academic genius with expertise in applied science, chemistry, physics, biology, engineering, mathematics and mechanics. With so much time in the labs, it’s no wonder they both ended up in the scientific accidents that led them to developing a superpower. Barry Allen is a police scientist, aiding in the investigation of criminal activity in Central City, who uses physics and superhuman reflexes to defeat the Flash villains. Peter Parker, however, has moved on from being photographer for the Daily Bugle to being a full time scientist as owner of Parker Industries (a scientific research firm). Parker uses his knowledge of science to create tools to help him defeat Spider-man villains. Most recently he has been working to depower his villains. The point being that science is the only thing in both Barry Allen and Peter Parker’s lives that they can depend on, even when nothing else in their personal or professional lives is going quite right.
Rogues Gallery
Other than Batman, the Flash and Spider-man arguably have the biggest and most diverse rogues gallery of villains. In the case of the Flash, he not only has notorious adversaries like Gorilla Grodd and The Reverse Flash, but also a unique group of rogues who insist on being called the “Flash’s Rogues Gallery,” which include Abbra Kadabra, Heatwave, Mirror Master and their leader Captain Cold. The same is true for Spider-man, who has notable villains such as the Green Goblin and Venom, in addition to a tight knit group of villains like the rogues, who refer to themselves as the Sinister Six. The Sinister Six, which are led by Doctor Octopus, include Electro, Sandman and Mysterio. Such a rare distinction of having a rogues gallery, not only sets both the Flash and Spider-man apart from their superhero counterparts, but also bonds them together in similar plight.
Although both the Flash and Spider-man are different in many aspects (i.e. belonging to two different universes and possessing different abilities), they both mirror similar qualities with respect to relatability, expertise in science and gallery of villains. In addition, both superheroes seem to embody hope; no matter how dire a situation may be. They both teach us to transcend beyond our constraints and to be bigger and better. Why else would both the Flash and Spider-Man be granted cosmic powers (as a Blue Lantern and Captain Universe) in an effort to defend their respective universes from outside threats?