The Flash #3

Sep 2016 · DC · 2.99 USD

📊 ~97,334 copies sold its debut month

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“Speed City”

★ 1st appearance — Avery Ho

About this Issue

The Flash (vol. 5) #3 is the pivotal chapter of the DC Rebirth era's opening 'Lightning Strikes Twice' arc, delivering two significant character introductions in a single issue: the first appearance of Dr. Meena Dhawan (later Fast Track) and the issue in which the name and face of Godspeed are first revealed in-story, cementing August Heart's dual identity as the arc's central dramatic irony. Godspeed — a vigilante speedster willing to kill criminals rather than imprison them — was deliberately crafted as a philosophical counterpoint to Barry Allen, giving writer Joshua Williamson's run a morally complex antagonist who would drive Flash storytelling for years and cross over into the CW television series. The issue also advances the 'Speed Force Storm' premise that defines the entire first arc, populating Central City with newly empowered civilians and forcing Barry to grapple with the ethics of power, mentorship, and justice. Together, these elements made #3 the densest key-issue chapter of Williamson's Rebirth launch.

In "Speed City," Barry Allen takes on a new challenge as S.T.A.R. Labs launches a training center for newly powered speedsters, following a wave of lightning-induced transformations across Central City. With Iris chasing leads on the Black Hole and Wally aiding her in secret, Barry steps in to mentor the new recruits—only to uncover a chilling mystery when the captured rogue speedsters are found dead at Iron Heights, murdered by a terrifying new foe: Godspeed. Written by Joshua Williamson and illustrated with dynamic precision by Carmine Di Giandomenico, this 2016 issue features a cover by Di Giandomenico that captures the pulse of a city racing toward chaos.

writer Joshua Williamson · artist, inker Carmine Di Giandomenico · colorist Ivan Plascencia · letterer Steve Wands · cover Carmine Di Giandomenico

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History

The Flash (vol. 5) launched in mid-2016 as part of DC's line-wide Rebirth initiative, which ended The New 52 continuity. Writer Joshua Williamson personally pitched the project to DC's Dan DiDio in the summer of 2015, telling him there was 'a story that he really had to tell,' with a Speed Force storm hitting Central City as its engine. The primary artist on the opening arc — including issue #3 — was Carmine Di Giandomenico, whose kinetic linework defined the visual identity of the Godspeed character; colorist Ivan Plascencia completed the core creative team. Williamson's intention for Godspeed was to distinguish the new villain from prior evil speedsters like Eobard Thawne by making the character more sympathetic and morally calculating, which shaped how August Heart's reveal was staged across the first several issues.

Trivia · 8 facts

Published July 27, 2016 (cover-dated September 2016); part of The Flash (vol. 5), DC's Rebirth relaunch series.
Story title: 'Lightning Strikes Twice, Chapter Three: Speed City.' Chapter three of the opening arc of Joshua Williamson's run.
First appearance of Dr. Meena Dhawan, the S.T.A.R. Labs scientist and speedster who later becomes Fast Track — created by Joshua Williamson and artist Neil Googe (Googe's contributions appear alongside Di Giandomenico's in this arc).
The issue is the first in-story revelation of Godspeed's civilian identity as August Heart, though only in a flashback/cameo capacity; Godspeed's name is spoken and connected to a face for the first time here.
First team appearance of the S.T.A.R. Labs speed-force training program and its in-training speedsters, establishing a supporting cast element that runs through the arc.
Godspeed was created by writer Joshua Williamson and artist Carmine Di Giandomenico; the character is depicted as a former detective and Barry Allen's best friend who turns vigilante after his brother's murder goes unpunished.
The issue and its arc are collected in The Flash Vol. 1: Lightning Strikes Twice (TPB), which collects Flash: Rebirth #1 (2016) and The Flash (vol. 5) #1–8, as well as in the larger Flash: Rebirth Deluxe Edition Book 1 hardcover collecting #1–12.
Godspeed went on to appear in The CW's 'The Flash' television series, portrayed in live-action by Karan Oberoi in seasons 7 and 9 and voiced by BD Wong in seasons 5 and 6, with his comics first appearance in this arc cited by reviewers as the source material.