WARNING! Spoilers for Justice League: The Atom Project #2
TheFlashhas been the fastest character in the DC Universe for decades, but in a shocking turn of events, a fellow hero has stolen his speed to outpace him. Captain Atom is DC’s new Fastest Man Alive, potentially stripping Barry Allen of the powers that have long defined him. Whether this shift in status quo is permanent remains to be seen, as another superhero steals the Flash’s speedster spotlight.
In a preview forJustice League: The Atom Project#2 by Ryan Parrott, John Ridley, Mike Perkins, Adriano Lucas, and Wes Abbott, the two Atoms - Ray Palmer and Ryan Choi - try to investigate Captain Atom’s whereabouts after he evaded them with newfound speed. Upon shrinking down and searching the area at an atomic level, Ray discoversSpeed Forceresidue at the scene.
Captain Atom now has access to the Flash’s signature power source, suggesting that he’s taken the Scarlet Speedster’s powers for himself and replaced him as thefastest hero in DC continuity.
Captain Atom May Have Just Stolen The Flash’s Super-Speed
The Flash Lost His Speed Force Connection, While Captain Atom Just Unlocked His Own
Captain Atom’s unexpected surge of speed is one of several superpowers he’s gained access to. InJustice League: The Atom Project#1, Nathaniel Adam is experimented on as part of Ray and Ryan’s mission to restore the Justice League heroes' missing powers. However, he ends up going rogue in an effort to avoid regaining his quantum form, and he showcases new abilities in this process. Specifically, he races off at aspeed that only the Flash could pull offbefore.Barry Allen is detached from the Speed Force as of now, and Captain Atom may have just revealed where his powers went.
Sorry, But It’s True: The Flash’s New Power Is Making Him a Way Worse Hero
The Flash’s new duplication ability is a good idea in theory, but in practice, it’s only caused problems for himself and the DC Universe as a whole.
The Flash’s connection to the Speed Force being severed aligns perfectly with Captain Atom obtaining his own connection to it.Barry Allen revealed that he could no longer tap into his speed inAbsolute Power#4 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora. Mostheroes switched powerswith each other, whereas Barry lost his speed entirely - or so he’d thought. After all, only a few DC heroes have beenchosen by the Speed Forcedue to how selective it is, so there’s a high likelihood that Captain Atom’s unprecedented upgrade isn’t a natural occurrence and is instead borrowed from the Flash.
The Flash Finally Has a Chance At Regaining His Super-Speed
With the Atom Project, Barry Allen Can Become The Flash Once More
Now that the Atoms have figured out a possible destination forBarry Allen’s powers, then there’s hope for him to reclaim his mantle as the Flash. He had no choice but to retire from being a superhero in the wake of theAbsolute Powerevent so thatWally West could replace him as the Flash, but Ray and Ryan have devised a system that restores swapped superpowers. If Captain Atom can be contained, then the Atoms can return his speed to Barry. Captain Atom’s time as the Fastest Man Alive won’t last forever, because theFlashcould return sooner than anticipated.
Justice League: The Atom Project#2is available February 5th, 2025 from DC Comics.
