My name is Dave the Herald, and I have the fastest Flash reading order introduction alive.
Where to Start With Flash Comics?
Updates by: Nathan Payson
Index:
I) Golden Age Flash Comics (1940’s to 1950’s)
II) The Flash of Two Worlds – Flash kicks off the Silver Age of Comics (Late 1950’s through early 1980’s)
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III) After Crisis on Infinite Earths – The Mark Waid Era of Flash (Late 1980’s to 1990’s)
IV) Geoff John’s Era of Flash (Early 2000’s to 2009)
V) Flash Rebirth & Flashpoint (2009 to 2011)
VI) New 52 Flash (2011 to 2016)
VII) DC Rebirth Flash
VIII) Infinite Frontiers
IX) Dark Crisis
Golden Age Flash
It all begins with Jay Garrick, the fastest hat alive.
The Golden Age Flash Archives Vol. 1
Collects: Flash Comics #1 to #17
The Golden Age Flash Archives Vol. 2
Collects: Flash Comics #18 to #24, All-Flash Comics #1 to #2
You can also check out Golden Age Flash’s appearances as a member of the Justice Society of America, in the likes of the All Star Comics Archives below.
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 0
Collects: All Star Comics #1-2
Note: Does not contain the JSA.
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 1
Collects: All Star Comics #3-6
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 2
Collects: All Star Comics #7-10
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 3
Collects: All Star Comics #11-14
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 4
Collects: All Star Comics #15-18
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 5
Collects: All Star Comics #19-22
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 6
Collects: All Star Comics #23-28
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 7
Collects: All Star Comics #29-33
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 8
Collects: All Star Comics #34-38
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 9
Collects: All Star Comics #39-43
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 10
Collects: All Star Comics #44-49
All the way up to…
All Star Comics Archives Vol. 11
Collects: All Star Comics #50-57
Silver Age Flash
Enter the era of Barry Allen, the fastest man alive. Barry Allen’s first appearance was in Showcase #4. He eventually replaces Flash Comics (A Jay Gerrick/JSA series that hasn’t been digitized yet) and Flash Comics becomes The Flash with #105
Collects: Showcase #4, 8, 13 And 14 And The Flash #105-132
The Flash: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 2
Collects: The Flash #133-163
The Flash: The Silver Age Omnibus Vol. 3
Collects: The Flash #164-#199
Collects: Showcase #8; The Flash #150, #297, The Flash #28 & #182, Flashpoint: Citizen Cold #1, The Flash #6 and The Flash #17
Collects: Flash Comics 104; Showcase 4, 8, 13, 14; The Flash 105-108
Collects: The Flash #109 to #116
Collects: The Flash #117 to #124
Collects: The Flash #125 to #132
Collects: The Flash #133 to #141
Collects: The Flash #142 to #150
Following Flash Archives Volume 6, collected Flash editions basically skips the whole gosh darn bronze age (approximately the 70’s). You can essentially mark a close to this era of the Flash with the above omnibus editions or:
Showcase Presents: Trial of the Flash
Collects: Flash #323 to #327, #329 to #336, and #340 to #350
New Flash – Mark Waid Flash Reading Order (1990’s)
In 1985, DC Comics launched the largest event in their history with Crisis on Infinite Earths
As in, we’re going to need a new Flash. Enter the era of Wally West.
It’s worth noting here that there are over 60 issues of Flash comics from 1987 to 1992 that are uncollected, and weirdly almost never discussed. Whereas Batman, Wonder Woman, and Superman saw some of their most iconic comics in the wake of Crisis, Flash wouldn’t reach the acclaimed Mark Waid run until issue #62.
Collects: Graphic Novel
Sums up pre-Infinite Crisis Barry Allen Flash stories. 
Collects: Flash Special #1, The Flash Annual #4, The Flash #62-68, The Flash Annual #5
Collects: Green Lantern(1990) #30, The Flash #69, Green Lantern #31, The Flash #70, Justice League Quarterly #10 “Half and Inch”, The Flash #71-76, Green Lantern #40, The Flash #77, The Flash Annual #6, and The Flash #78-79
Collects: The Flash #80-#94
Note: The Flash #92-94 spin-off into an ongoing Impulse Series which crosses over with the Flash occasionally. You can buy the omnibus of this run here:
Impulse by Mark Waid & Humberto Ramos Omnibus
Collects: Impulse #1-27, The Flash #108-111 And Secret Origins 80-Page Giant #1
Or the 1st trade here:
Collects: Flash #92 to #94, Impulse #1 to #6
Collects: The Flash #0, The Flash #95-105, and The Flash Annual #8
Collects: The Flash #108-#109, Impulse #10, The Flash #110, Impulse #11, The Flash #111 – The Flash #118.
Collects: The Flash #119-128, Green Lantern/Flash: Faster Friends #1-2, The Flash Plus Nightwing #1, Showcase 96′ #12, DC Universe Holiday Bash #1 Flash Story
Note: This book specifically is full of some filler. The Showcase 96′ #12 book is in the collection but do not include the Flash.
Collects: JLA #1 to #9
I’d recommend reading the first 9 issue story arc from Grant Morrison and Howard Porter’s JLA here. Wally is a major player on the reconstituted JLA. If you want more, you can check out the Justice League reading order.
Collects: #130-135
Grant Morrison & Mark Millar, two of the most well-known comics writers in the game, put together a co-written 12 issue stint on Flash from issue #130 to #141.
Collects: Flash #136 to #141, Secret Origins #50
Collects: The Flash #142-147, The Flash 80-Page Giant, The Flash #148-#150, The Flash Secret Files #1, Speed Force #1
Collects: The Flash Annual #12, The Flash #151-162
Geoff Johns Flash Reading Order (Early 2000’s)
While Geoff Johns is now just about the biggest name in DC Comics, his earlier work includes a long, sustained, and generally very solid run on The Flash.
The Flash By Geoff Johns Book One
Collects: The Flash #164-176 And The Flash: Iron Heights
The Flash by Geoff Johns Book Two
Collects: The Flash #177-188, The Flash: Our Worlds At War #1, Flash Secret Files And Origins #3, And Dc First: Flash/Superman #1
The Flash By Geoff Johns Book Three
Collects: The Flash #189-200
The Flash by Geoff Johns Book Four
Collects: The Flash #201-213
The Flash by Geoff Johns Book Five
Collects: The Flash #214-225
Infinite Crisis is a DC Universe mega event penned by Geoff Johns. There’s a whole big reading order just for Infinite Crisis, and it’s a pretty major commitment if you’re just here for the Flash.
The Flash: Finish line which goes from The Flash #226-230 is uncollected, but available on DC Universe Infinite or available on kindle here
Collects: Flash #231 to #237
The Flash #238-247 are uncollected but available on Kindle here and DC Universe Infinite
The Flash: Lightning in a Bottle
Collects: Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1-6
Collects: Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #7 to #13
Final Crisis is another mega DC Universe event, and although I’m typically a Grant Morrison fan, it’s currently number 296 on my best comics of all time rankings.
That said, there is a three issue ‘Rogues Revenge’ miniseries which is a good read for the Flash fanatic.
Blackest Night: Flash
#1 to #3
Another DC Universe mega event to close out the era, this time penned by Geoff Johns as part of his 2000’s Green Lantern epic. There are some fairly important Flash ramifications here, most notably detailed in the three issue Blackest Night: Flash tie-in.
Flash: Rebirth (2009)
When DC references their long and storied history of classic ‘Rebirths,’ they’re basically talking about Geoff John’s work on Green Lantern: Rebirth
Collects: The Flash: Rebirth #1 to #6
The Flash Volume 1: The Dastardly Death of the Rogues
Collects: The Flash #1 to #7, The Flash Secret Files
The Flash Volume 2: The Road to Flashpoint
Collects: The Flash #8 to #12
Collects: Flashpoint #1 to #5
Full Flashpoint reading order here.
Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring The Flash
Collects: Grodd of War #1, Kid Flash Lost #1 to #3, Legion of Doom #1 to #3, Reverse Flash #1, Citizen Cold #1 to #3
Flashpoint Featuring Wonder Woman
Collects: Emperor Aquaman #1 to #3, Outisder #1 to #3, Lois Lane and The Resistance #1 to #3, Wonder Woman and The Furies #1 to #3
Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Superman
Collects: World of Flashpoint #1 to #3, Booster Gold #44 to #47, The Canterbury Cricker #1, Project Superman #1 to #3)
Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Batman
Collects: Batman: Knight of Vengeance #1 to #3, Deadman and The Flying Graysons #1 to #3, Deathstroke and the Curse of the Ravager #1 to #3, Secret Seven #1 to #3
Flashpoint: The World of Flashpoint Featuring Green Lantern
Collects: Hal Jordan #1 to #3, Abin Sur #1 to #3, Frankenstein and The Creatures of the Unknown #1 to #3, Green Arrow Industries #1
New 52 Flash Reading Order
If you want the full DC New 52 Reading Order, or want to see how each of these Flash issues fits within the New 52 as a whole, check out the full DC New 52 Reading Order!
The Flash By Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato Omnibus
Collects: The Flash #0-25, Plus Issue #23.2 (Starring Reverse-Flash)
Collects: Flash #1 to #8
Collects: The Flash #9-12, The Flash Annual #1
Collects: The Flash #13-19
Collects: The Flash #20-25 and Flash Featuring the Reverse Flash #23.2 and The Flash Annual #2
Collects: The Flash #26-29 The Flash Annual #2
Collects: Forever Evil #1-7
Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion
Collects: Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #1-6 and The Flash Featuring Gorilla Grodd #23.2
If you want to know where to read the rest of the Forever Evil tie-ins make sure to check out the complete New 52 reading order
Collects: The Flash #30-35, The Flash Annual #3, and The Flash Futures End #1
Collects: The Flash #36-40 and Secret Origins #7
Collects: The Flash #42-47 and The Flash Annual #4
Collects: Flash #48 to #52
DC Universe Rebirth (2016 – Present)
At the time of publication, DC Rebirth brings a new status quo for all things Flash (and the DC Universe as a whole). As a matter of (flash) fact, the Flash family is at the center of DC Universe Rebirth #1, in some thrilling and poignant ways. The launch of this entire new universe makes a whole lot more sense if you have this Flash reading order under your belt.
You can check out the full DC Rebirth experience with Comic Book Herald’s complete DC Rebirth reading order.
The Flash Vol. 1: Lightning Strikes Twice
Collects: The Flash: Rebirth #1, The Flash #1 to #8 
Collects: The Flash #9 to #13
The Flash Vol. 3: Rogues Reloaded
Collects: Flash #14 to #20
Order:
Batman #21
Flash #21
Batman #22
Flash #22
Collects: Flash #23 to #28
Collects: The Flash #28 to #32, #34
Issue of Flash #33 is a DC Metal tie-in!
The Flash Vol. 6: Cold Day in Hell
Collects: Flash #34-38 And Flash Annual #1
The Flash Vol. 7: Perfect Storm
Collects: Flash #39 to #45
Collects: Flash #46 to #51
This issue is critical to understanding the relationship between Barry and Wallace (Kid Flash). However, you can just read the Wallace story in the special for that context.
The Flash Vol. 9: Reckoning of the Forces
Collects: The Flash #52-57
The Flash Vol. 10: Force Quest
Collects: The Flash #58-65
Comic Book Herald’s Heroes in Crisis reading order.
The Flash Vol. 11: The Greatest Trick of All Time
Collects: The Flash Annual #2 and The Flash #66-69
The Flash: Year One
Collects: The Flash #70-75
The Flash Vol. 12: The Death of the Speed Force
Collects: The Flash #76-81
At this point, DC’s Year of the Villain event begins and the Death of the Speed Force arc happens during the event, but the continuity gets really confusing if you read the rest of the year of the villain event now, so instead I’d recommend reading the rest of Year of the Villain after Williamson’s run comes to an end.
The Flash Vol. 13: Rogues Reign
Collects: The Flash #82-87
The Flash Vol. 14: The Flash Age
Collects: The Flash #88, The Flash Annual #3, The Flash #750-#755
Collects: Flash Forward #1-6
The Flash Vol. 15: Finish Line
Read: The Flash #756-762
*Note: This is the official end of Williamson’s 100 issue run on the Flash. At this point, the run ties into Death Metal with Speed Metal #1 acting as a sort of epilogue for the run.
Comic Book Herald’s Dark Knights: Death Metal Reading Order
Read: The Flash #764-766
This is a very short filler arc by Kevin Shinick, but it’s a very fun story nonetheless.
Infinite Frontier (2021-Present)
Future State: The Flash #1-2
This is a widely disliked story, but it may be very important to the future of the flash franchise. Think of this story as a possible sneak peek into the future of the Infinite Frontier stories. If you want to see where these two issues fit on the Future State Timeline check out the Future State Reading Order.
Infinite Frontier #0
The Flash: Infinite Frontier Arc 1
The Flash #768-
This is the start of a new run on the Flash by Jeremy Adams. It seems from solicits to be more Wally focused.
Flash Vol. 16: Wally West Returns
Collects: #763 to #771, Flash 2021 Annual #1
(Infinite Frontier Story starts at #768)
Collects: #772 to #779
Flash Vol. 18: The Search for Barry Allen Part 1
Collects: Flash #780 to #782
Collects: Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 to #3
This is a prequel comic to DC’s upcoming The Flash movie.
Collects: Aquaman & The Flash: Voidsong #1 to #3
Collects: Flashpoint: Beyond #0 to #6
This is the sequel to DC’s Flashpoint from 2011. You can read the original Flashpoint’s reading order here. Stories that take place in the strange in-between of Dark Crisis and Dawn of the DCU like Golden Age, 60 Second War, and batman vs. Robin will be included in the Dawn of the DCU Reading Order.
Dark Crisis
To see where the Flash comics fit in, check out Comic Book Herald’s full Dark Crisis reading order.
Collects: #783 to #785
Collects: #786
Dawn of the DCU
Collects: #787 to #789
Context: Wally West is the main Flash again. He works for Mr. Terrific and has a family who currently has two kids (Jay and Irai).
Collects: #790 to #795
Flash Vol. 1
Collects: #800, Prelude Story and Flash #1
Context: Coming September 2023
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This post was exactly what I needed. Thanks a lot!
Where would be good jumping on points for people if they aren’t sure if they want to read the Golden Age? Start with the Waid run?
I started the infinite frontier area recently and now infinite frontier and dark crisis issues are confussing me. Can you make an update about this new events?
Can you please do a Bart Allen reading order?
Would you start in the future or the past? or the Future’s past ? or the past’s future or the present’s future, or the future’s present….THERE’S TOO MANY OPTIONS!!! PANIC OVERLOAD…
In all seriousness, I wouldn’t ever rule out having a bart allen reading order on the site, but it would be most likely to be published if bart got a more mainstream role. I can tell you from Rebirth on it’s pretty simple.
– Rebirth: Flash War
– Rebirth: Young Justice Vol. 1-3
– Infinite Frontier: Flash: Wally West returns (or whatever the first flash infinite frontier story is called)
– Dark Crisis: Young Justice.
Barts certainly hasn’t gotten a ton of love lately, which is sad because he’s the most crash character at DC….
The era of Wally West pre-Mark Waid, that you noted are almost never discussed, are my favorite ones! Bill Messner-Loebs created Linda, had Pied Piper come out as gay, reformed Chunk, changed Wally’s costume with Greg LaRocque, and created lots of villains. He was responsible for a large part of Wally’s arc towards maturity. I love the Mark Waid run but I like some of these even more.
Thank you! 🙂
Thank you
This is awesome, but is there a chance this can be updated? I understand that Flash Year One comes out between Volume 11 & 12. I also believe that Flash Forward is based between Volume 8 & 9 as well.
I need it updated too, I’m trying to figure out where doomsday clock and the full Metal crossover/story is 😮
Hey, the reading order should be updated soon, but to answer your question. Doomsday Clock is in a nebulous position that can be a little confusing. Despite all the build-up, there really isn’t much if any effect on DC Universe from the story. (It’s a great story though). Metal is best read before Flash War because the Flash War came as part of DC’s Summer of Events which was based around the aftermath of Metal, but it’s not really relevant to the flash families story in any meaningful way. Death Metal is best read after the end of Williamson’s run because the run doesn’t give any space for Metal to occur, but it has to occur before Future State.
Love this list and been using it to finally get all the history of my favourite hero. One thing I’ll note is the Mark Waid books end just before the marriage of Wally and Linda and then jumps to the Geoff Johns books. There is a plethora of comics between those with some pretty huge events and not sure why they weren’t included. #142 – #150 outlines some pretty important character development and history. For those wanting a bit more I’d advise going and reading those titles in between (ex. Chain Lightning) as they are epic and shouldn’t be left out!
Is there a printer friendly version of this list?
Can you add the different Wally West (new and old) arc’s in here as well? I want to read all the Flash Family comic arcs in order.
Rebirth that is.
Cool idea. For now, if you check out Rebirth order look to Titans for Wally!
yes
I was just wondering does The Flash: Rebirth (2009) come before or after Blackest Night in the reading order? I’ve seen different things on other sites and wanted to make sure I read them in the right order. Thanks.