Zhang Tianran

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Zhang Tianran (张天然)
Alias(es)	Dr. Zhang; Speedster
Species/Race	Earthling from another universe
Gender	Male
Affiliation	S.T.A.R. Labs; later an independent multiversal traveler
Occupation/Role	Scientist, Speedster, researcher, and collector of anomalous powers and artifacts
Status	Active
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Speedster	2	Contacts his future self for the Permanent Ultimate Speed Serum, injects it, and gains super speed. His perception makes the outside world appear frozen. 2
Advanced Speed Force control	5	Masters molecular vibration phasing, time slowing, reversal, acceleration, and time jumps while training away from civilization. 5
Time Remnant user	3	Creates Time Remnants during his battle with Reverse-Flash, producing a stalemate. 3
Speed Force Space wielder	39	Learns that his future self has become an existence akin to the Speed Force and begins adapting to an additional Speed Force and the Time Ship’s collection room. 39
Solid Speed Force creator	84	Successfully condenses Solid Speed Force and uses it as the basis for a custom suit of armor. 84
Angelic power bearer	136	Absorbs Angelic Power, develops retractable wings, and discovers that this power allows free movement between Heaven and Hell. 136
Perfect Speed Force body	140	Integrates the Speed Force into every cell, gaining invulnerability and a limitless energy supply; Zero identifies countless worlds and timelines within his body. 140
Matter-control / creation capability	163	Gains control over size, mass, gravity, and other properties of matter, demonstrated by shrinking a Tyrannosaurus rex to fist size. 163
Synthesizer of the Strength, Sage, and Still Forces	182	Captures the three newly born forces and synthesizes their methods into his Speed Force Space. 182
Simulation mastery	215	Masters a technique that can manifest imagined abilities. 215

Background

Zhang Tianran was already an accomplished, if controversial, scientist before becoming a Speedster. His research focused on spatial dimensions and time; while Felicity Smoak admired his papers, mainstream scientific circles regarded him as an attention-seeking showman. 8

After Reverse-Flash disappeared from S.T.A.R. Labs, Zhang Tianran avoided the facility for a week and relied on his knowledge of time and the Speed Force to contact his future self. The future self supplied the Permanent Ultimate Speed Serum, which Zhang injected into himself rather than seeking help from others. 2

His early goal was to master the Speed Force and make it wholly his own. He trained in isolation, stole Time Bureau equipment to travel to the Second World War era, and methodically developed time-manipulation techniques before returning to his original timeline. 5

Appearance

Zhang Tianran generally presents as an ordinary, unmasked man; the Department of Extranormal Operations was able to identify and monitor him without difficulty. 46

• His Speed Force manifests as white or silver-white lightning. 38 75
• His completed armor is silver-white with blue-white lightning patterns, form-fitting but aggressive in appearance. 84
• After absorbing Angelic Power, he develops a pair of retractable wings. 136

Personality

Zhang Tianran is intensely self-reliant. He chose to manufacture his own path to becoming a Speedster, repeatedly studies unfamiliar powers firsthand, and tends to solve problems through research, preparation, or overwhelming force rather than dependence on others. 2 29 139

He is curious, analytical, and often treats dangerous phenomena as research opportunities. This extends from Grodd’s telepathy and Kryptonian genetics to divine artifacts, new fundamental forces, and the nature of souls. 29 97 164 182

His growing power leaves him detached from ordinary morality and increasingly frustrated by others’ attempts to alter time. He does not consider himself a hero or villain, but can still show restraint, mercy, and concern—such as sparing Savitar, helping Barry Allen, and supporting Zero’s evolution. 46 60 83 175

Abilities & Skills

Speed Force Physiology

Zhang Tianran is an exceptionally advanced Speedster whose body and Speed Force Space distinguish him from ordinary speedsters.

• Perceives the world as nearly frozen when moving at high speed. 2
• Can transform his body into Speed Force, ignore air resistance, and move at his maximum speed without sonic booms. 76
• His Speed Force replenishes and grows through use. 49
• Does not require food or sleep to remain in peak condition; he eats and rests for recreation instead. 77
• Sustains himself with the Speed Force Space, granting him an effectively inexhaustible combat energy reserve. 78

Time Manipulation and Time Travel

Zhang Tianran possesses extensive control over temporal phenomena.

• Slows, accelerates, reverses, and jumps through time. 5
• Travels between timelines and worlds using his speed, stolen technology, or the Time Ship. 5 56
• Creates and merges Time Remnants. 3 174
• Freezes time and acts freely within the stopped interval. 111
• Can preview the futures of other universes and later becomes less concerned with changing them himself. 224

Molecular Vibration Phasing

Rather than vibrating his own body through objects like the Flash, Zhang Tianran transfers his speed and vibration into an obstacle, causing part of it to “disappear” long enough for him to pass through. 5

• Can bypass solid barriers. 5
• Can remove people from powered armor or pass through battlefields without conventional obstruction. 217 248
• Uses concentrated vibration as a hand blade capable of damaging Savitar’s armor. 78

Speed Force Space

Zhang Tianran maintains an internal Speed Force Space that functions as a personal dimension, laboratory, vault, and prison.

• Stores artifacts, equipment, genetic samples, and living entities. 60 112
• Confines enemies; Doomsday is retained within it as a guardian. 56 112
• Contains collected past timelines and resonates with his memories. 139
• Expands through absorbed power, including the half-wing’s energy and Alioth. 170 246
• Supports experimentation, simulation, and the creation of temporary matter and structures. 96

Solid Speed Force

After prolonged experimentation, Zhang Tianran learns to condense Speed Force into a stable physical form. 76 84

• Forms the basis of his armor and other constructed tools. 79 84
• Can be used to create weapons and reinforce his equipment. 79
• Initially required enormous Speed Force expenditure and could not be synthesized reliably. 76 79

Magic

Zhang Tianran studies magic after recognizing its effectiveness against enemies who cannot be handled through speed alone. 84 86

• Uses mind magic to incapacitate Kryptonian soldiers. 104
• Learns demon-control magic and captures demons for study. 87
• Uses the Book of Destiny to block Constantine’s magic and support his own magical research. 87

Perfect Speed Force Body

Zhang Tianran integrates Speed Force into every cell of his body, treating each cell as an individual Speedster. 140

• Gains invulnerability and limitless energy. 140
• His body contains countless worlds and timelines according to Zero’s examination. 140
• Later fights Hulk at full physical strength, with their clashes repeatedly shattering surrounding space. 254

Matter, Space, and Reality Control

Zhang Tianran develops the ability to directly manipulate physical reality.

• Controls size, mass, gravity, and other material properties. 163
• Shrinks living beings without causing immediate timeline damage by extracting their time fragments first. 164
• Creates matter, ecosystems, pocket spaces, and a universe referred to as the Miniature Universe. 164 172 226
• Replicates objects by splitting timelines, including two Infinity Gauntlets. 229
• Can disintegrate incoming nuclear missiles and transform a building into sand. 188 236

Simulation

Zhang Tianran can reproduce or manifest abilities through analysis and imagination.

• Recreates Ares and Diana with Speed Force using Zero’s recorded data. 96
• Simulates divine power after studying gods and their abilities. 96
• Ultimately masters Simulation as a technique capable of manifesting any imagined ability. 215

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Time Ship — Used for time travel, interdimensional movement, and upgrading Zero. 39 47 56
• Silver-white armor — Solid Speed Force-based suit designed with Zero; inspired by Savitar’s armor. 84
• Spear of Destiny — Timeline-rewriting artifact; Zhang Tianran uses it to erase Reverse-Flash and later entrusts it to Zero. 83 88
• Book of Destiny — Reality-altering artifact used in magical research and defense against Constantine’s spells. 60 87
• Cosmic Treadmill — Stored within Speed Force Space. 60
• Savitar’s broken short blade — Recovered after their first major battle and analyzed to understand Solid Speed Force armor. 78 79
• Infinity Gauntlets — Two replicated gauntlets created for reversing the Snap. 229
• Lantern Rings — Collects and studies multiple emotional-spectrum powers, including rings associated with willpower, fear, rage, love, hope, compassion, and greed. 197 202
• Mechanical Tyrannosaurus — A combat construct deployed against Ultron’s forces in Sokovia. 248

Relationships

• Zero — His artificial-intelligence companion, research partner, and closest confidante. Zhang supports her growth into an energy-based lifeform capable of physical and energy forms; she assists in research, combat, and safeguarding timelines. 46 175 254
• Barry Allen — Fellow Speedster and frequent source of frustration. Zhang mentors Barry in Speed Force use, criticizes his timeline alterations, yet repeatedly helps him against threats such as Savitar and Earth-X. 7 29 83 124
• Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash — Initially an adversary, then a wary prospective ally. Zhang cooperates with him briefly, erases him with the Spear of Destiny, later extracts his memories, and eventually sends him to a timeline where he can live as the Flash. 28 83 124 208
• The Speed Force — An uneasy but increasingly significant connection. The Speed Force reveals that Zhang’s future self became an existence like itself, later teaches him more refined control and asks for his help birthing new forces. 39 176
• Cisco Ramon — S.T.A.R. Labs colleague who enthusiastically supports Zhang’s research, though Zhang’s dismissive attitude later causes resentment. 3 140
• Caitlin Snow — S.T.A.R. Labs colleague with a cool, professional relationship with Zhang. 3 6
• Diana / Wonder Woman — A recurring ally across worlds. Zhang assists her during Ares’s return and later encounters alternate versions of her while observing other timelines. 93 96 195
• Constantine — Magical tutor and occasional manipulator. Zhang realizes Constantine influenced him with magic, retaliates with electrotherapy, then studies magic through Constantine and the Book of Destiny. 35 86 87
• Tony Stark — A curious acquaintance whom Zhang exposes to magic and troubling knowledge about possible futures. 223 224
• Bruce Banner / Hulk — A subject of Zhang’s interest and one of the few opponents capable of pushing him into a full-strength physical battle. 223 253 254

Story Role / Major Arcs

Becoming a Speedster

Zhang Tianran gains the Permanent Ultimate Speed Serum from his future self and becomes a Speedster. Soon afterward, he confronts Reverse-Flash in the Time Vault, tests Time Remnants, and begins independently mastering Speed Force techniques. 2 3 5

S.T.A.R. Labs and Central City

While working around S.T.A.R. Labs, Zhang researches metahuman abilities, guides Barry Allen, creates Speed Force Bombs, and develops a conflicted relationship with Reverse-Flash. His increasing distrust of Barry’s timeline changes eventually leads him to make a deal with Reverse-Flash. 7 28 29

Savitar and the Spear of Destiny

Zhang studies Savitar’s armor, develops Solid Speed Force, and faces Savitar in a battle where the armored speedster briefly exceeds him in raw speed. He ultimately uses the Spear of Destiny to erase Reverse-Flash, but spares Savitar and sends him to another world to resolve his Time Paradox. 78 83 84

Hell, Angelic Power, and the Perfect Body

After learning magic and wreaking havoc in Hell, Zhang gains Angelic Power and begins uncovering the true nature of his body and soul. He enhances every cell with Speed Force, attaining a “flawless” body with invulnerability and limitless energy. 88 136 140

The New Forces

When the Speed Force asks for aid during the birth of the Strength, Sage, and Still Forces, Zhang helps stabilize the process. After the three forces ambush him, he captures and synthesizes all three into his Speed Force Space. 176 180 182

Multiversal Traveler

Zhang leaves the original world with Zero, visits alternate DC worlds, clashes with Batman and Superman, and warns the Justice League against altering their future. 183 188 201

Marvel World

In the Marvel world, Zhang studies mutant powers, meets the Ancient One, assists or observes major conflicts involving the Avengers, and develops connections with Tony Stark, Thor, Hulk, and Doctor Strange. 215 223 233 257

Notable Quotes

“I'm naturally not a good person, nor am I a superhero. I'm merely a traveler from another world.” 49

“You can think of me as God, that all-powerful guy.” 201

Trivia

• Zhang Tianran’s original long-term goals were to expand his Speed Force Space and determine how his past self could develop one as well. 76
• He eventually travels to his own past and injects his younger self with the standard Ultimate Speed Serum, closing the loop that created his powers. 174
• He is immune to Grodd’s telepathy because Grodd cannot sense his existence. 29
• He can lift Mjolnir effortlessly, though Zero cannot overcome Odin’s magic to do the same. 219