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The Flash reading order

This order follows Wally West through Mark Waid's and Geoff Johns' runs, then Barry Allen's return and the modern series up to today. Start with Waid's "Born to Run" in Flash (1987) #62.

  1. Background: Wally takes the mantle1985–1988

    15 issues · about 5 hours0 essential issues · about 0 min

    Barry Allen gives his life in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and his former sidekick Wally West becomes the Flash. Useful context, but Waid's run explains everything you need.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. The Flash: Savage Velocity (2020)Covers Flash #1–14Find it
    2. Flash: A Celebration of 75 Years (2015)Covers Crisis on Infinite Earths #8Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Crisis on Infinite Earths (1985)#8November 1985, optional

      Barry Allen's last stand; read for background on why Wally inherits the name.

    2. Flash (1987)#1–1414 issues, optional
      1. #1June 1987
      2. #2July 1987
      3. #3August 1987
      4. #4September 1987
      5. #5October 1987
      6. #6November 1987
      7. #7December 1987
      8. #8January 1988
      9. #9February 1988
      10. #10March 1988
      11. #11April 1988
      12. #12May 1988
      13. #13June 1988
      14. #14July 1988

      Mike Baron's opening issues set up Wally as a slower, rougher new Flash.

  2. Start here

    Mark Waid's Flash: the core years1992–1996

    58 issues · about 19 hours58 essential issues · about 19 hours

    Waid turns Wally into a hero defined by Barry's legacy and the Flash family, introducing the Speed Force along the way. This is the clearest starting point for the character.

    Read this stretch in 5 books
    1. Flash by Mark Waid Vol. 3 (2017)Covers Flash #80–94Find it
    2. Flash by Mark Waid Vol. 5 (2018)Covers Flash #106–118Find it
    3. Flash by Mark Waid Vol. 4 (2018)Covers Flash #0, 95–105Find it
    4. Flash by Mark Waid Vol. 2 (2017)Covers Flash #69–79Find it
    5. Flash by Mark Waid Vol. 1 (2017)Covers Flash #62–68Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Flash (1987)#62–7312 issues
      1. #62May 1992
      2. #63May 1992
      3. #64June 1992
      4. #65June 1992
      5. #66July 1992
      6. #67August 1992
      7. #68September 1992
      8. #69October 1992
      9. #70November 1992
      10. #71December 1992
      11. #72January 1993
      12. #73February 1993

      Born to Run: Wally's origin as Kid Flash, retold.

    2. #74–796 issues
      1. #74March 1993
      2. #75April 1993
      3. #76May 1993
      4. #77June 1993
      5. #78July 1993
      6. #79August 1993

      The Return of Barry Allen, which also brings in Max Mercury.

    3. #80–9415 issues
      1. #80September 1993
      2. #81September 1993
      3. #82October 1993
      4. #83October 1993
      5. #84November 1993
      6. #85December 1993
      7. #86January 1994
      8. #87February 1994
      9. #88March 1994
      10. #89April 1994
      11. #90May 1994
      12. #91June 1994
      13. #92July 1994
      14. #93August 1994
      15. #94September 1994

      Impulse, who matters later, arrives in #92.

    4. #0October 1994

      Published between #94 and #95; read it here as the prologue to Terminal Velocity.

    5. #95–10713 issues
      1. #95November 1994
      2. #96December 1994
      3. #97January 1995
      4. #98February 1995
      5. #99March 1995
      6. #100April 1995
      7. #101May 1995
      8. #102June 1995
      9. #103July 1995
      10. #104August 1995
      11. #105September 1995
      12. #106October 1995
      13. #107November 1995

      Terminal Velocity, where the Speed Force comes into focus.

    6. #108–1114 issues
      1. #108December 1995
      2. #109January 1996
      3. #110February 1996
      4. #111March 1996

      Dead Heat.

    7. #112–1187 issues
      1. #112April 1996
      2. #113May 1996
      3. #114June 1996
      4. #115July 1996
      5. #116August 1996
      6. #117September 1996
      7. #118October 1996

      Race Against Time.

  3. Waid and Augustyn, with Morrison and Millar1996–2000

    45 issues · about 15 hours29 essential issues · about 9.5 hours

    Waid and Brian Augustyn carry Wally towards marriage with Linda Park, with a year-long guest stint by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar in the middle.

    Read this stretch in 4 books
    1. Flash by Mark Waid Vol. 8 (2021)Covers Flash #151–163Find it
    2. Flash by Grant Morrison and Mark Millar (2016)Covers Flash #130–141Find it
    3. Flash by Mark Waid Vol. 6 (2019)Covers Flash #119–129Find it
    4. Flash by Mark Waid Vol. 7 (2020)Covers Flash #142–150Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Flash (1987)#119–12911 issues
      1. #119November 1996
      2. #120December 1996
      3. #121January 1997
      4. #122February 1997
      5. #123March 1997
      6. #124April 1997
      7. #125May 1997
      8. #126June 1997
      9. #127July 1997
      10. #128August 1997
      11. #129September 1997
    2. #130–14112 issues, optional
      1. #130October 1997
      2. #131November 1997
      3. #132December 1997
      4. #133January 1998
      5. #134February 1998
      6. #135March 1998
      7. #136April 1998
      8. #137May 1998
      9. #138June 1998
      10. #139July 1998
      11. #140August 1998
      12. #141September 1998

      Morrison and Millar's stories stand largely on their own.

    3. #142–15918 issues
      1. #142October 1998
      2. #143December 1998
      3. #144January 1999
      4. #145February 1999
      5. #146March 1999
      6. #147April 1999
      7. #148May 1999
      8. #149June 1999
      9. #150July 1999
      10. #151August 1999
      11. #152September 1999
      12. #153October 1999
      13. #154November 1999
      14. #155December 1999
      15. #156January 2000
      16. #157February 2000
      17. #158March 2000
      18. #159April 2000

      Waid returns with a long story built around Wally and Linda's wedding.

    4. #160–1634 issues, optional
      1. #160May 2000
      2. #161June 2000
      3. #162July 2000
      4. #163August 2000

      Waid and Augustyn sign off in #162, with fill-in stories in #161 and #163.

  4. Geoff Johns' Wally West2000–2005

    62 issues · about 21 hours62 essential issues · about 21 hours

    Johns grounds Wally in Keystone City and rebuilds the Rogues as a working-class gang with their own lives. Zoom's arrival reshapes Wally's life.

    Read this stretch in 3 books
    1. The Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns Vol. 3 (2012)Covers Flash #201–225Find it
    2. The Flash Omnibus by Geoff Johns Vol. 2 (2012)Covers Flash #177–200Find it
    3. The Flash by Geoff Johns Vol. 1 (2016)Covers Flash #164–176Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. Flash (1987)#164–22562 issues
      1. #164September 2000
      2. #165October 2000
      3. #166November 2000
      4. #167December 2000
      5. #168January 2001
      6. #169February 2001
      7. #170March 2001
      8. #171April 2001
      9. #172May 2001
      10. #173June 2001
      11. #174July 2001
      12. #175August 2001
      13. #176September 2001
      14. #177October 2001
      15. #178November 2001
      16. #179December 2001
      17. #180January 2002
      18. #181February 2002
      19. #182March 2002
      20. #183April 2002
      21. #184May 2002
      22. #185June 2002
      23. #186July 2002
      24. #187August 2002
      25. #188September 2002
      26. #189October 2002
      27. #190November 2002
      28. #191December 2002
      29. #192January 2003
      30. #193February 2003
      31. #194March 2003
      32. #195April 2003
      33. #196May 2003
      34. #197June 2003
      35. #198July 2003
      36. #199August 2003
      37. #200September 2003
      38. #201October 2003
      39. #202November 2003
      40. #203December 2003
      41. #204January 2004
      42. #205February 2004
      43. #206March 2004
      44. #207April 2004
      45. #208May 2004
      46. #209June 2004
      47. #210July 2004
      48. #211August 2004
      49. #212September 2004
      50. #213October 2004
      51. #214November 2004
      52. #215December 2004
      53. #216January 2005
      54. #217February 2005
      55. #218March 2005
      56. #219April 2005
      57. #220May 2005
      58. #221June 2005
      59. #222July 2005
      60. #223August 2005
      61. #224September 2005
      62. #225October 2005

      Runs through to Rogue War, the end of Johns' run.

  5. Barry Allen returns2009–2010

    6 issues · about 2 hours6 essential issues · about 2 hours

    Johns brings Barry Allen back and redefines his origin and his link to the Speed Force.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. The Flash by Geoff Johns Vol. 6 (2019)Covers The Flash: Rebirth #1–6Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. The Flash: Rebirth (2009)#1–66 issues
      1. #1June 2009
      2. #2July 2009
      3. #3August 2009
      4. #4September 2009
      5. #5January 2010
      6. #6April 2010

  6. Johns' Barry Allen and Flashpoint2010–2011

    17 issues · about 5.5 hours17 essential issues · about 5.5 hours

    Barry settles back into Central City as a crime scene investigator, and his clashes with the Reverse-Flash lead into the event that reboots the DC universe.

    Read this stretch in 2 books
    1. Flashpoint: The 10th Anniversary Omnibus (2021)Covers The Flash #1, 8–12; Flashpoint #1–5Find it
    2. The Flash: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues (2012)Covers The Flash #2–7Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. The Flash (2010)#1–1212 issues
      1. #1June 2010
      2. #2July 2010
      3. #3August 2010
      4. #4September 2010
      5. #5October 2010
      6. #6November 2010
      7. #7February 2011
      8. #8January 2011
      9. #9April 2011
      10. #10June 2011
      11. #11June 2011
      12. #12July 2011
    2. Flashpoint (2011)#1–55 issues
      1. #1July 2011
      2. #2August 2011
      3. #3September 2011
      4. #4October 2011
      5. #5October 2011

      The many Flashpoint tie-in series are not needed.

  7. The New 52: Manapul and Buccellato2011–2014

    26 issues · about 8.5 hours25 essential issues · about 8.5 hours

    A rebooted, younger Barry headlines a series known for its artwork and its reworked versions of the Rogues and Gorilla City.

    Read this stretch in 1 book
    1. The Flash Omnibus by Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato (2017)Covers The Flash #1–23, 0, 24–25Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. The Flash (2011)#1–2323 issues
      1. #1November 2011
      2. #2December 2011
      3. #3January 2012
      4. #4February 2012
      5. #5March 2012
      6. #6April 2012
      7. #7May 2012
      8. #8June 2012
      9. #9July 2012
      10. #10August 2012
      11. #11September 2012
      12. #12October 2012
      13. #13December 2012
      14. #14January 2013
      15. #15February 2013
      16. #16March 2013
      17. #17April 2013
      18. #18May 2013
      19. #19June 2013
      20. #20July 2013
      21. #21August 2013
      22. #22September 2013
      23. #23October 2013
    2. #0November 2012, optional

      Published after #12; a retelling of Barry's origin for the New 52.

    3. #24–252 issues
      1. #24December 2013
      2. #25January 2014

      The end of Manapul and Buccellato's run; issues after this are not needed.

  8. Rebirth: Joshua Williamson's Flash2016–2021

    109 issues · about 36 hours53 essential issues · about 18 hours

    Wally West escapes the Speed Force and Barry faces a Central City full of new speedsters. Williamson's long run brings both Flashes back together.

    Read this stretch in 6 books
    1. The Flash Rebirth Deluxe Edition Vol. 2 (2018)Covers The Flash #14–27Find it
    2. The Flash Rebirth Deluxe Edition Vol. 1 (2017)Covers Flash: Rebirth #1; The Flash #1–13Find it
    3. The Flash Rebirth Deluxe Edition Vol. 3 (2018)Covers The Flash #28–38Find it
    4. The Flash Vol. 13: Rogues Reign (2021)Covers The Flash #75, 82–87Find it
    5. The Flash Vol. 15: Finish Line (2021)Covers The Flash #756–762Find it
    6. The Flash Vol. 14: The Flash Age (2021)Covers The Flash #88, 750–755Find it

    Not in these books: DC Universe: Rebirth #1; The Flash #39–46; The Flash Annual #1; The Flash #47–74, 76–81, 763–767. Look for the single issues.

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. DC Universe: Rebirth (2016)#1July 2016

      Wally's return, which sets up the whole Rebirth era.

    2. Flash: Rebirth (2016)#1August 2016
    3. The Flash (2016)#1–4646 issues
      1. #1August 2016
      2. #2September 2016
      3. #3September 2016
      4. #4October 2016
      5. #5October 2016
      6. #6November 2016
      7. #7November 2016
      8. #8December 2016
      9. #9December 2016
      10. #10January 2017
      11. #11January 2017
      12. #12February 2017
      13. #13February 2017
      14. #14March 2017
      15. #15March 2017
      16. #16April 2017
      17. #17April 2017
      18. #18May 2017
      19. #19May 2017
      20. #20June 2017
      21. #21June 2017
      22. #22July 2017
      23. #23July 2017
      24. #24August 2017
      25. #25August 2017
      26. #26September 2017
      27. #27September 2017
      28. #28October 2017
      29. #29October 2017
      30. #30November 2017
      31. #31November 2017
      32. #32December 2017
      33. #33December 2017
      34. #34January 2018
      35. #35January 2018
      36. #36February 2018
      37. #37February 2018
      38. #38March 2018
      39. #39March 2018
      40. #40April 2018
      41. #41April 2018
      42. #42May 2018
      43. #43May 2018
      44. #44June 2018
      45. #45June 2018
      46. #46July 2018
    4. The Flash Annual (2018)#1March 2018, optional

      Contains the prelude to Flash War.

    5. The Flash (2016)#47–504 issues
      1. #47July 2018
      2. #48August 2018
      3. #49August 2018
      4. #50September 2018

      Flash War.

    6. #51–8838 issues, optional
      1. #51September 2018
      2. #52October 2018
      3. #53October 2018
      4. #54November 2018
      5. #55November 2018
      6. #56December 2018
      7. #57December 2018
      8. #58January 2019
      9. #59January 2019
      10. #60February 2019
      11. #61March 2019
      12. #62March 2019
      13. #63March 2019
      14. #64April 2019
      15. #65April 2019
      16. #66May 2019
      17. #67May 2019
      18. #68June 2019
      19. #69June 2019
      20. #70July 2019
      21. #71July 2019
      22. #72August 2019
      23. #73August 2019
      24. #74September 2019
      25. #75September 2019
      26. #76October 2019
      27. #77October 2019
      28. #78November 2019
      29. #79November 2019
      30. #80December 2019
      31. #81December 2019
      32. #82January 2020
      33. #83January 2020
      34. #84February 2020
      35. #85March 2020
      36. #86March 2020
      37. #87March 2020
      38. #88April 2020

      Includes Year One (#70 to #75); good, but less central to the main story.

    7. #750May 2020

      The series moves to legacy numbering after #88.

    8. #751–76212 issues, optional
      1. #751May 2020
      2. #752May 2020
      3. #753June 2020
      4. #754July 2020
      5. #755August 2020
      6. #756August 2020
      7. #757September 2020
      8. #758September 2020
      9. #759October 2020
      10. #760October 2020
      11. #761November 2020
      12. #762November 2020

      Williamson's final stories, ending with Finish Line in #762.

    9. #763–7675 issues, optional
      1. #763December 2020
      2. #764December 2020
      3. #765January 2021
      4. #766January 2021
      5. #767February 2021

      Fill-in stories by other writers and an Endless Winter tie-in.

  9. Jeremy Adams' Wally West2021–2023

    33 issues · about 11 hours33 essential issues · about 11 hours

    Wally takes the lead again, balancing family life with Linda and the twins against trouble across time and the Speed Force.

    Read this stretch in 5 books
    1. The Flash Vol. 18: The Search for Barry Allen (2023)Covers The Flash #780–789Find it
    2. The Flash Vol. 17: Eclipsed (2023)Covers The Flash #772–779Find it
    3. The Flash Vol. 19: The One-Minute War (2024)Covers The Flash #790–796Find it
    4. The Flash Vol. 20: Time Heist (2024)Covers The Flash #797–800Find it
    5. The Flash Vol. 16: Wally West Returns (2022)Covers The Flash #768–771Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. The Flash (2016)#768–80033 issues
      1. #768May 2021
      2. #769June 2021
      3. #770July 2021
      4. #771August 2021
      5. #772September 2021
      6. #773October 2021
      7. #774November 2021
      8. #775December 2021
      9. #776January 2022
      10. #777February 2022
      11. #778March 2022
      12. #779April 2022
      13. #780May 2022
      14. #781June 2022
      15. #782July 2022
      16. #783August 2022
      17. #784September 2022
      18. #785October 2022
      19. #786November 2022
      20. #787December 2022
      21. #788January 2023
      22. #789February 2023
      23. #790March 2023
      24. #791March 2023
      25. #792April 2023
      26. #793April 2023
      27. #794May 2023
      28. #795May 2023
      29. #796June 2023
      30. #797June 2023
      31. #798July 2023
      32. #799July 2023
      33. #800August 2023

  10. Si Spurrier's Flash2023–2025

    25 issues · about 8.5 hours25 essential issues · about 8.5 hours

    A new volume begins with Wally exploring stranger corners of the Speed Force. Spurrier writes the first 25 issues.

    Read this stretch in 4 books
    1. The Flash Vol. 2: Until Time Stands Still (2025)Covers The Flash #7–13Find it
    2. The Flash Vol. 3: As Above (2025)Covers The Flash #14–19Find it
    3. The Flash Vol. 4: Bad Moon Rising (2025)Covers The Flash #20–25Find it
    4. The Flash Vol. 1: Strange Attractor (2024)Covers The Flash #1–6Find it

    Fewest books first; newer printings are preferred because they're likelier to be in stock.

    1. The Flash (2023)#1–2525 issues
      1. #1November 2023
      2. #2December 2023
      3. #3January 2024
      4. #4February 2024
      5. #5March 2024
      6. #6April 2024
      7. #7May 2024
      8. #8June 2024
      9. #9July 2024
      10. #10August 2024
      11. #11September 2024
      12. #12October 2024
      13. #13November 2024
      14. #14December 2024
      15. #15January 2025
      16. #16February 2025
      17. #17March 2025
      18. #18April 2025
      19. #19May 2025
      20. #20June 2025
      21. #21July 2025
      22. #22August 2025
      23. #23September 2025
      24. #24October 2025
      25. #25November 2025

      Issue #1 carries the legacy number #801.

  11. The current series2025–present

    12 issues · about 4 hours7 essential issues · about 2.5 hours

    After a short stint by Mark Waid and Christopher Cantwell tied to DC K.O., Ryan North takes over from #31. New issues of this ongoing series will appear here.

    1. The Flash (2023)#26–305 issues, optional
      1. #26December 2025
      2. #27January 2026
      3. #28February 2026
      4. #29March 2026
      5. #30April 2026

      Waid and Cantwell's DC K.O. tie-in issues.

    2. The Flash (2023)#31–377 issues
      1. #31May 2026
      2. #32June 2026
      3. #33July 2026
      4. #34August 2026
      5. #35September 2026
      6. #36October 2026
      7. #37November 2026

      Ryan North's run.

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