Eobard Thawne

Lore & Background

Thawne's origin varies slightly across continuities, but all versions center on his obsession with Barry Allen. In the Post-Crisis storyline 'The Return of Barry Allen,' he was a scientist who underwent cosmetic surgery to resemble his hero and replicated the electrochemical accident that gave Flash his powers using the Cosmic Treadmill from an antique shop. He discovered at the Flash Museum years after Barry's death that he was destined to be 'Professor Zoom, the Reverse-Flash' and die at his idol's hands. This revelation drove him insane; he convinced himself he was Barry Allen based on reading an unpublished biography and attacked Central City for 'forgetting him.' In the DC Rebirth origin, Thawne found a time capsule with the Flash's costume and used traces of the Speed Force within it to become a version of the Flash. He later erased his younger brother from existence and killed his parents when they interfered with his research.

In Their Own Story

In one timeline, Thawne found a time capsule containing the Flash's costume and a Tachyon device that amplified speed energy, giving him speedster abilities. After reversing the costume's colors, he adopted the moniker 'Professor Zoom the Reverse-Flash' and went on a crime spree. However, an atomic clock in the capsule altered into an atomic bomb; Barry Allen defeated Zoom to locate it but Thawne refused to reveal its location. Barry later found the clock, detonated it safely, and destroyed Thawne's costume. Blaming Flash for his defeat, Thawne traveled back in time to exact revenge. He killed Iris West after she rejected his romantic pursuits and threatened Fiona Webb on her wedding day with Barry. Fearful history would repeat itself, Barry broke Thawne's neck, killing him. In The Flash: Rebirth, Thawne murdered the revived Johnny Quick, trapped Barry and Max Mercury in the negative Speed Force, and attempted to kill Wally West's children through their Speed Force connection.

Reader's Guide

Thawne has been adapted across various media, including films, television series, and video games. In The CW's Arrowverse franchise, Tom Cavanagh and Matt Letscher portrayed the character, most notably in the television series The Flash. His powers stem from the Negative Speed Force, which he accessed by replicating Barry Allen's accident or using traces of the Speed Force found in a time capsule costume. Thawne can run fast enough to alter history, as seen when he killed Nora Allen to create the Flashpoint timeline. He has been imprisoned in Iron Heights Penitentiary multiple times but escapes frequently through resurrections or time travel. During Blackest Night, the pre-Crisis version of Thawne was reanimated as a member of the Black Lantern Corps after his corpse's memories were downloaded by a black power ring. In Brightest Day, he became the first to fulfill the Life Entity's mission when he freed Allen from the Speed Force following resurrection in The Flash: Rebirth.

Did You Know?

• Thawne was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, first appearing in The Flash #139 (September 1963).
• In the Post-Crisis origin, Thawne underwent cosmetic surgery to resemble his idol Barry Allen before gaining speedster powers.
• Thawne is responsible for Nora Allen's death, an event that created the Flashpoint timeline when Barry attempted to stop him.
• During Blackest Night, a pre-Crisis version of Thawne was reanimated as a Black Lantern after his corpse's memories were downloaded by a black power ring.
• Thawne is both a descendant of Malcolm Thawne and an ancestor of Bart Allen, Thaddeus Thawne, and Owen Mercer.