Is The Flash Faster Than Superman? Netflix Says Yes!

DC fans have often debated whether Superman or The Flash is DC’s fastest hero. Netflix’s The Guardians of Justice picks Flash – without any debate.

Netflix’s The Guardians of Justice has picked a surprisingly straightforward winner in the ongoing DC debate over who’s faster out of Superman and The Flash. Comic books have thrown up all manner of life-altering philosophical questions over the years, from “Gwen Stacy vs. MJ” to “Is Joker the sanest man in Gotham City?” But few inspire fiery debate quite like a conversation over whether The Flash is faster than Superman. On one hand, speed is Barry Allen’s entire gimmick, his raison d’être. Flash is literally connected to the Speed Force. On the other, Superman is DC’s ideal – stronger, faster, more patriotic than everybody else, let down by only a crippling aversion to Kyptonite and a shockingly bad talent for disguise.

Wading into that friendship-testing conundrum is Netflix’s Guardians of Justice. Blending live-action with animation segments, Guardians of Justice is what would’ve happened if someone very impressionable on the Amazon creative team binged a lot of YouTube while making The Boys. The action centers around the titular superhero team after their esteemed leader, Marvelous Man, takes his own life on live TV.

Related: Elseworlds Crossover Suggests Flash Is Faster Than Superman

Though The Guardians of Justice has plenty to say about American conservatism, the futility of war, and the murky role of a superhero in society (all while doffing its cap to Dr. Manhattan), the Netflix series delves into properly controversial territory when addressing who’s faster out of Superman and The Flash.

How Guardians Of Justice Confirms Flash Is Faster Than Superman

To say Guardians of Justice‘s DC superhero parodies are thinly-veiled would be an insult to thin veils the world over. You’ve got Knight Hawk, who dresses in black, speaks in a gravelly voice, and attacks foes with onomatopoeia. Golden Goddess is a demigod princess clad in metal armor à la Wonder Woman, while King Tsunami carries a trident and controls fish, rivaling Aquaman for the “King of the Ocean” title.

For our purposes, Guardians of Justice introduces Marvelous Man as an obvious parallel to DC’s Superman. Aside from sharing broadly the same powers, Marvelous Man’s wife is called “Laura Lang,” his biggest weakness is Caltronite, and his true name is Cal. Also on the Guardians of Justice super-team is The Speed, who plainly riffs on DC’s Barry Allen as a keen scientist possessing powers of super-speed. During Guardians of Justice‘s premiere episode (“It Was Murder, She Said”), Diamond Dallas Page’s Knight Hawk gives a brief, illustrated rundown through every member of his group, and when introducing The Speed, boldly claims his colleague is, “The only person faster than Marvelous Man.”

Since The Speed represents DC’s Flash, and Marvelous Man stands in for Superman, Guardians of Justice is essentially arguing that Barry Allen is faster than the comic book Kryptonian. There’s not even any debate or doubt over the matter – The Speed simply is the fastest superhero on Knight Hawk’s team.

Related: The Flash Season 8 Gives Brandon Routh One Last Superman Moment

Who Is Faster, Superman Or The Flash In DC Comics

DC movies broached who’s faster out of Flash and Superman relatively recently. In the 2017 theatrical cut of Justice League, Superman catches up to Barry during the film’s final battle against Steppenwolf, visibly irking the Scarlet Speedster. This prompts a race between them in the aftermath – the finish of which is never shown onscreen. Joss Whedon was widely panned for inserting this scene into Zack Snyder’s plan (among various others), and many criticized the director for not engaging with the source material for his Superman vs. Flash moment.

The two Justice League heroes have raced numerous times in DC comic lore, their first head-to-head coming in 1967’s Superman #199. That resulted in a frustrating tie, and the same outcome occurred in Flash #175. Fortunately, it hasn’t always been a dead heat when the pair have tested running shoes. Superman chalked up one victory in 2019; Flash has two victories from 2009 and 2016, the latter of which saw Superman actually admit he “couldn’t catch up.” DC comics have also hinted Barry might’ve held back whenever the pair were racing for charity.

Netflix’s Guardians of Justice picks the right horse by plumping for The Speed over Marvelous Man, but delving into DC comic lore proves the “who’s faster out of Flash and Superman” debate isn’t quite as cut and dry.

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