365 DC Comics Heroes & Villains Paper Cut-Outs
The Reverse Flash
Sometimes known as Professor Zoom, Eobard Thawne heralded from the 25th Century where he discovered both the secrets of the speed force (bestowing him super speed on par with that of The Flash) as well as the means to travel back in time. Overwhelmed by power and mentally unbalanced by the process, Thawne dubbed himself the Reverse Flash and went on a crime spree. He was ultimately defeated by The (Barry Allen). This would prove the first of many battles between the two and the Thawne would quickly become the Scarlet Speedster’s arch nemesis.
Having grown even more psychologically unhinged, Thawne became obsessed with defeating the Flash and ruining every aspects of the hero’s life. After murdering Barry’s then-fiancee, Iris West, and threatening to kill more of the hero’s loved ones, the Flash was forced to drastic actions and he killed Thawne, breaking the villain’s neck.
Following the Crisis on Multiple Earths and Zero Hour Events, both Thawne and Iris West were resurrected. Thawne’s origin story was altered and he was reimagined as a 25th century scientist who was obsessively enamored by Berry Allen. His admiration grew to such an extreme that he recreated the accident that had bestowed Barry his speed force powered and even endured plastic surgery to make himself look just like Barry. With the use of the Cosmic Treadmill, Thawne traveled to the past to meet his idol, yet was devastated to learn the hero had perished in battle. Seeing Wally West as an unsuitable inheritor of the Flash mantle, Thawne attempted to kill and replace him. Yet Wally persevered and the Revere Flash was once more defeated.
Thawne laster attempted to utilize the Speed Force as a weapon to destroy Wally West and all of his future descendants. The plan bore unexpected results in helping to facilitate Barry Allen’s return.
Thawne’s obsession with Berry Allen continues to fester as he engages in multiple plots to bedevil the hero and garner his attention. It is revealed somewhere herein that Thawne was responsible for the tragic and mysterious death of Barry’s mother when Barry was a boy. His mother’s death had a profound impact on Barry, yet Thawne demanded it was a necessary motivating factor in forming Barry into becoming such a great hero.
The Flash was able to defeat Thawne seemingly once and for all, erasing his memories and removing the villain’s obsession with The Flash. To what extent this fate will remain in place remains to be seen.
The second villain known as The Reverse Flash is Hunter Zolomon. Zolomon had worked as a criminal profiler and became good friends with Wally West asa part of the Central City Police Department. He was severely injured in a confrontation with Gorilla Grodd, injuries that resulted in near full-body paralysis.
Zolomon believed the Flash had the power to heal his injuries, that he could use the Cosmic Treadmill to reverse time and and undo his paraplegia. The Flash regretfully had to refuse the request, knowing of the extreme dangers inherent in altering the time-stream. Unwilling to accept his fate, Zolomon attempted to operate the Cosmic Treadmill himself, resulting in an explosion that bestowed him the powers of the Speed Force while also driving him criminally insane.
Now operating as The Reverse Flash (also known as ‘Professor Zoom’) Zoloman became a nemesis of The Flash (West) and also became a member of Lex Luthor’s Secret Society of Super Villains. Zolomon was later betrayed by the fellow speedster villain known as Inertia, who robbed him of his speed force powers. This caused Zolomon to revert to his former self, once more paralyzed from the neck down.
Actors Tom Cavanag and Matt Letscher have portrayed live-action versions of Eobard Thawne in The Flash television. The Reverse Flash has additionally featured in numerous animated projects, voiced by actors John Wesley Shipp, Matthew Senreich, C. Thomas Howell and Dwight Schultz. Whereas Hunter Zolomon was portrayed by actors Teddy Sears, Octavian Kaul and voiced by actor Tony Todd in The Flash television series.
The first Reverse Flash debuted in the pages of The Flash Vol. 1 #139 (1963); while the second first appeared in The Flash Vol. 2 #197 (2003).
