Speed Force

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Speed Force (神速力)
Species/Race	Cosmic force; collective consciousness formed from the Speed Forces of countless universes 65
Gender	Female-presenting when manifested in human form 39 176
Occupation/Role	Source of Speedsters’ power; guardian and regulator of Speed Force-related timelines 6 65
Status	Active; remains within the universe after Zhang Tianran departs 206
First Appearance	Referenced in Chapter 2; first human manifestation in Chapter 39 2 39

Background / History

Nature and origin

The Speed Force is not a single universe’s energy source. It describes itself as a single consciousness composed of all Speed Force across countless universes—including the Negative Speed Force—like cells forming one body. It grows as worlds are born and bears witness when they die. 65

Barry Allen is identified as the being whose existence created the Speed Force, while the running of Speedsters continually generates further Speed Force. The force both grants Speedsters their power and eventually reclaims it from them. 6

Although it extends through endless worlds, the Speed Force cannot cross a distant yet unreachable boundary beyond them. It considers Zhang Tianran, who came from beyond that boundary, capable of inheriting its power and eventually surpassing that limit. 65

Connection to Zhang Tianran

The Speed Force first appears directly before Zhang in the form of Barry Allen’s mother. It calls him its child, distinguishes him from ordinary Speedsters, and tells him that he is also the Speed Force in some sense; he must reclaim his own power to understand why. 39

It later confirms that Zhang received its permission when he first obtained Speed Force, and that his unique nature caused that power to merge with him. Despite their separate development, Zhang’s Speed Force and the greater Speed Force share the same essence. 206

The Speed Force repeatedly assists Zhang by replenishing his energy, repairing damage to his Speed Force Space, and healing injuries caused by Darkseid’s Omega Beams. 120 121 176

Crisis, rebirth, and new forces

During the Crisis on Infinite Earths, foreign power from the Spectre damaged the Speed Force. When Zhang, Zero, and the Speed Force intensify the turbulence inside Speed Force Space, the process leads to the birth of the Strength Force, Sage Force, and Still Force. 176

The Speed Force is weakened after this rebirth. Its newly born forces resist it, later attack its human manifestation, and become a continuing threat to Zhang as well. 179 181

Though the Speed Force considers destroying the rebellious forces, it leaves their fate largely to Barry Allen and permits Zhang to deal with them as he chooses. Its immediate priority is recovering from its Crisis-related damage, for which it needs Barry. 179 181

Appearance

The Speed Force is fundamentally formless, appearing as an immense concentration of energy rather than a conventional body. When communicating directly with Zhang Tianran, it most often assumes the appearance of Barry Allen’s mother. 39 176

• Its human manifestation is female-presenting and described as more complete than Zero’s artificial body. 179
• During its instability, its manifested body appears pale and disheveled. 176
• Zhang can perceive the true Speed Force behind its borrowed human face. 176
• In another encounter, it appears only as an indistinct human silhouette. 192

Personality

The Speed Force speaks to Zhang with a patient, maternal gentleness and consistently refers to him as its child. It expresses happiness at his growth, provides him power and guidance, and warns him when excessive world-hopping or timeline interference may endanger him. 39 65 121 176 193

It is deeply protective of temporal stability. It does not interfere with time directly, dislikes alterations to the past, and refuses to reveal Zhang’s future because such knowledge could change it. 65 121

Despite its caring treatment of Zhang and reliance on Barry Allen, the Speed Force can be coldly pragmatic. It views the Strength, Sage, and Still Forces as expendable byproducts when they become troublesome and is willing to let Zhang destroy them. 181

Abilities & Powers

Bestowal and reclamation of Speed Force

The Speed Force grants Speedsters their power and can influence, withdraw, or restore the Speed Force within their bodies. 6 39 63

• It can supply Zhang Tianran with additional Speed Force when necessary. 64
• It restores Barry Allen’s connection to Speed Force after Farooq absorbs his lightning. 10
• It forces Zoom to choose between retaining Speed Force and preserving his life. 64
• It can replenish Zhang’s reserves and reinforce damaged Speed Force Space. 121 176

Temporal protection and traversal

Speed Force protects Speedsters from many consequences of time travel and allows them to move through time without fixed coordinates. 25 60

• It can bring a Speedster to a desired time and place. 25
• It protects Speedsters’ bodies and grants resistance to timeline-related damage. 25
• It conceals Zhang Tianran’s personal timeline from broader alterations, preserving him through events such as Flashpoint. 81
• It can pull Zhang into Speed Force Space without his deliberate entry. 64

Manifestation and communication

The Speed Force possesses self-awareness and can communicate through thoughts, voices, energy fluctuations, or human avatars. 39 65 97

• It assumes human form to speak directly with Zhang and Barry. 39 176 181
• It sends warnings through Time Wraith activity and refuses to answer questions it considers dangerous or premature. 97
• It can perceive Zhang’s development and communicate across worlds and timelines. 65 192

Creation and force genesis

The Speed Force can create Speedsters and generate new forces from turbulence within itself. 176

• The birth of the Strength Force, Sage Force, and Still Force follows its collaboration with Zhang Tianran and Zero. 176
• It can harvest large amounts of new Speed Force through the creation of additional Speedsters. 176
• Its power can condense into physical form; an unleashed manifestation is stated to be capable of destroying a timeline. 75

Healing

The Speed Force can heal both Speedsters and Speed Force-derived spaces. 120 121

• It heals Zhang Tianran’s Omega Beam injuries after drawing him into Speed Force Space. 120
• It fills cracks in Zhang’s Speed Force Space with additional energy. 121
• Its healing and replenishment have limits when Zhang’s own Speed Force Space becomes too large. 176

Limitations

• The Speed Force cannot reach beyond the boundary outside its endless network of universes; Zhang Tianran’s existence is significant because he may surpass it. 65
• It avoids directly interfering with time and resists changes to established futures. 65 121
• Crisis-related damage and the birth of new forces weaken it substantially. 176 179 181
• Its human manifestation requires Barry Allen’s connection to recover properly. 181
• Even as a collective existence, it cannot freely reveal Zhang’s future without risking changes to that future. 65

Relationships

• Zhang Tianran — Regards him as its only child because he inherited and fused with its power; repeatedly guides, heals, and replenishes him. Zhang remains wary of its intentions but ultimately aids it during its crisis. 39 65 121 176 193 206
• Barry Allen / The Flash — Barry is closely tied to the Speed Force’s origin and recovery. His presence supports its human manifestation, and the Speed Force needs him while injured. 6 181
• Zero — Works alongside the Speed Force and Zhang to control turbulent Speed Force outside Zhang’s body during the birth of the new forces. 176
• Reverse-Flash — Though he uses the Negative Speed Force, he remains part of the Speed Force’s greater system. His negative emotions infect a portion of it. 6 59 65
• Strength Force, Sage Force, and Still Force — Newly born forces created from turbulence within the Speed Force; they resist their originator and later attack its manifested form. 176 179 181

Story Role / Major Arcs

• Origin of Zhang Tianran’s powers — The Speed Force’s permission allows Zhang to obtain Speed Force, though he does not understand the full implications until much later. 2 206
• Identity revelation — It manifests before Zhang, calls him its child, and reveals that he must reclaim a power connected to his future self. 39
• Collective-consciousness revelation — It explains that all Speed Force across all universes, including the Negative Speed Force, constitute one consciousness. 65
• Crisis recovery — It heals Zhang after his conflict with Darkseid and later relies on him and Zero to intensify the turbulence that births three new forces. 120 176
• Conflict with the new forces — Following its weakened rebirth, it becomes a target of the Strength, Sage, and Still Forces, while Zhang captures and studies them. 179 181 182
• Farewell — Zhang leaves the Speed Force and the universe, realizing that his own independently developed Speed Force has already fulfilled the possibility of extending beyond the Speed Force’s original limits. 206

Notable Quotes

“Only you are my child.” 39

“We are growing. With every passing moment, we become stronger. Whenever a world is born, we appear. Whenever a world dies, we bear witness.” 65

“You inherited everything from me, so naturally, you are my child.” 193

Trivia

• The Speed Force includes the Negative Speed Force within its collective existence. 65
• It favors Barry Allen’s mother as its human appearance when addressing Zhang Tianran. 39 176 179
• Despite calling Zhang its child, it initially withholds the exact nature of their connection to prevent changes to his predetermined future. 65
• The Speed Force considers Speed Force Space a derivative formed by concentrated energy; the force itself is the essential source of power. 162 176