<P> Barry Allen is a police scientist (his job title was changed to a forensic scientist in The Flash: Iron Heights one - shot) with a reputation for being very slow, and frequently late, which frustrates his fiancee, Iris West, as the result of being absent - minded and his devotion to crime - solving . One night, as he is working late, a lightning bolt shatters a case full of chemicals and spills all over Barry . As a result, Allen finds that he can run extremely fast and has matching reflexes and senses . He dons a set of red tights sporting a lightning bolt (reminiscent of the original Fawcett Comics Captain Marvel), dubs himself the Flash (after his childhood comic book hero, Jay Garrick), and becomes Central City's resident costumed crimefighter . Central City University professor Ira West (Iris' adoptive father) designed Allen's costume and the ring which stores it while Allen is in his civilian identity . The ring can eject the compressed clothing when Allen needs it and suck it back in with the aid of a special gas that shrinks the suit . In addition, Allen invented the cosmic treadmill, a device that allowed for precise time travel and was used in many stories . Allen was so well liked that nearly all speedsters that come after him are often compared to him . Batman once said "Barry is the kind of man that I would've hoped to become if my parents had not been murdered ." </P> <P> As presented in Justice League of America #9, when the Earth is infiltrated by alien warriors sent to conquer the planet, some of the world's greatest heroes join forces, Allen among them . While the superheroes individually defeat most of the invaders, they fall prey to a single alien and only by working together are they able to defeat the warrior . Afterwards, the heroes decide to find the Justice League . </P> <P> During the years, he is depicted as feeling slightly attracted to Black Canary and Zatanna, but he never pursues a relationship because he feels his real love is Iris West, whom he ultimately marries . Allen also becomes a good friend with Green Lantern (Hal Jordan), which would later be the subject of the limited series Flash and Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold . </P> <P> In The Flash #123--"Flash of Two Worlds"--Allen is transported to Earth - Two where he meets Jay Garrick, the original Flash in DC Continuity; it is revealed that Jay Garrick's adventures were captured in comic book form on Earth - One . This storyline initiated DC's multiverse and was continued in issues of Flash and in team - ups between the Justice League of America of Earth - One and the Justice Society of America of Earth - Two . In the classic story from Flash #179--"The Flash--Fact or Fiction?"--Allen is thrown into the universe eventually called Earth Prime, a representation of "our" universe, where he seeks the aid of the Flash comic book's editor Julius Schwartz to build a cosmic treadmill so that he can return home . He also gains a sidekick and protégé in Iris' nephew, Wally West, who gains super-speed in an accident similar to that which gave Allen his powers . </P>

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