Reverse-Flash

Biodata

Feature	Information
Name	Eobard Thawne 24
Alias(es)	Reverse-Flash; Wells / Harrison Wells identity 3 44
Species/Race	Human; originally from the twenty-fifth century 24 44
Gender	Male
Affiliation	Temporary ally of Savitar in the attempt to create a new Speed Force 80 81
Occupation/Role	Speedster, time traveler, future-technologist, and recurring adversary of The Flash 15 24
Status	Relocated by Zhang Tianran to an alternate timeline after being stripped of the Reverse-Flash identity; intended to become that world's only Flash 207 208
First Appearance	Chapter 3

Background / History

Origin and Wells Identity

Eobard Thawne originates from the twenty-fifth century and became connected to the Negative Speed Force, making him Barry Allen's “other side.” He explains that he cannot exist independently of Barry and is continually burdened by negative emotions, which fuels his hatred of The Flash 24.

At some point, Thawne assumed the identity of Wells and raised Zhang Tianran as his adoptive son for more than a decade. Zhang later discovers that the real Wells had adopted him, while Thawne had continued using Wells's identity 3 4 32.

Trapped in the Past

While posing as Wells, Thawne is trapped in the past by his connection to Barry and the Speed Force. He initially conceals his desperation, but admits that simply returning to the future would not solve his predicament 6 24.

After fighting Zhang in the Time Vault, Thawne recognizes Zhang's unusual talent with the Speed Force and Time Remnants. Their relationship becomes a wary partnership: Zhang seeks answers about the Speed Force, while Thawne waits for Barry and Zhang to become useful to his plans 3 6.

Thawne eventually reveals his immediate objective—to completely drain Barry Allen's Speed Force, then return to the future. Zhang agrees to assist to a limited extent, though he remains doubtful of Thawne's ability to overcome the Speed Force itself 28 32.

Conflict with The Flash

Thawne repeatedly fights Barry, manipulates events around S.T.A.R. Labs, and pursues plans involving the Particle Accelerator and his ancestor Eddie Thawne. His goal is not merely to defeat Barry, but to make him suffer and understand the source of his hatred 41 42.

During one confrontation, he deliberately holds back long enough for Green Arrow's nanobots to suppress his speed. Zhang then absorbs Thawne's Negative Speed Force and captures him, though the power's influence proves dangerous even to Zhang 42.

The Spear of Destiny and Time Wraiths

In 1942, Thawne seeks the Spear of Destiny as a means to take revenge on The Flash. Zhang intercepts him, warns that his plan will fail, and claims the artifact for himself 56.

When Thawne later attempts to seize the Spear, he creates an army of several thousand Time Remnants. Zhang uses the Spear to strip the remnants of their Negative Speed Force, leaving only the original Thawne behind 58.

Refusing to live as an ordinary person, Thawne chooses to face the Time Wraiths rather than abandon speed. He vanishes after they attack him, telling Zhang that they will meet again 59.

Revival, Betrayal, and Erasure

Thawne returns after Savitar's actions alter the timeline. The two invite Zhang to help create a new Speed Force, hoping to escape their predetermined identities and timelines 80 81.

The project is ultimately a trap centered on exploiting Zhang's power. Zhang uses the Spear of Destiny to erase Thawne after concluding that he has again become a threat 82 83.

A later version survives through a Time Remnant, merges with it, and continues operating across timelines. Zhang captures him on Earth-X and extracts a copy of his memories with the Memory Extractor before releasing him 123 124.

Final Choice

During another Flashpoint crisis, Thawne is forced into competition with Barry for access to the Speed Force. Although Zhang offers to free him from the Negative Speed Force's influence, Thawne repeatedly chooses speed over an ordinary life 197 199.

Before leaving the universe, Zhang gives Thawne a final choice: abandon the Reverse-Flash identity and live in another world, or rule over a world created solely for him. Thawne chooses the former, and Zhang transfers the Reverse-Flash identity to Daniel West before sending Thawne to a timeline where he is the sole Flash 207 208.

Appearance

While acting as Wells, Thawne presents himself as a calm, paralyzed scientist who uses a wheelchair. In combat, he manifests yellow lightning and red eyes associated with the Negative Speed Force 3 6.

• Assumes the appearance and identity of Wells for extended periods 3 44.
• Maintains a wheelchair-bound disguise even in private settings 6.
• Produces yellow lightning while using the Negative Speed Force 16 207.
• His appearance can vary due to Time Remnants, timeline changes, and identity manipulation 44 56 123.

Personality

Thawne is calculating, patient, and exceptionally skilled at concealing his true intentions. Even while influenced by the Negative Speed Force, he can speak gently and maintain a composed facade 4 42.

His defining trait is obsessive hatred of Barry Allen. He regards revenge as more important than safety, freedom, or an ordinary life, and repeatedly continues plans he expects to fail rather than relinquish his speed 57 59 124.

Despite this fixation, Thawne is not incapable of attachment or respect. His history with Zhang is complicated by their adoptive father-son relationship, and he repeatedly acknowledges Zhang's potential even when they become enemies 6 59 207.

Abilities & Skills

Negative Speed Force

Thawne draws power from the Negative Speed Force, a corrupted portion of the Speed Force linked to Barry Allen's negative emotions 59.

• Grants super-speed, accelerated reactions, rapid movement, and Speedster combat capability 3 16.
• Is described as slightly faster than the ordinary Speed Force, but depletes more quickly 196.
• Allows Thawne to steal or draw upon Barry's speed under certain conditions 198.
• Cannot sustain him independently of Barry; when Barry loses his speed, Thawne's speed can disappear as well 24 59.
• Continually burdens him with negative emotions and can drive emotional instability 4 6.
• Can be suppressed by nanobots, stripped through the Spear of Destiny, or disrupted by Zhang's intervention 42 58.

Time Travel and Time Remnants

Thawne has traveled through countless times and spaces, giving him extensive practical experience with timeline manipulation 3.

• Can create Time Remnants by repeatedly returning to the same moment in time 3 58.
• Created an army numbering several thousand Time Remnants during his conflict over the Spear of Destiny 58.
• Uses Time Remnants as survival contingencies, including merging with one to recover from near-fatal danger 123.
• Excessive time travel attracts Time Wraiths and worsens the Time Paradox pursuing him 19 58.

Speedster Combat

Thawne is a highly experienced Speedster combatant, able to overwhelm the inexperienced Barry Allen and contend with Zhang despite Zhang's superior Time Remnant speed 3 16.

• Uses high-speed movement to evade conventional opponents and attacks 5 16.
• Creates a vibrating hand blade capable of lethally striking enemies 3 56.
• Uses Time Remnants to overwhelm opponents through numbers 58.
• Is vulnerable when caught in prepared traps, deprived of the Negative Speed Force, or confronted by stronger Speedsters 42 58 123.

Future Knowledge and Technology

As a scientist from the future, Thawne possesses technological knowledge far beyond the modern era and has supplied Zhang with advanced designs 15.

• Carries Gideon, which he uses to investigate changes to the future 44.
• Provided Zhang with information on parallel worlds and advanced Speedster technology, including the Superluminal Particle Generator 15.
• Understands the Negative Speed Force more thoroughly than other known characters, though much of this knowledge is implicit rather than recorded in his memories 159.

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Vibrating Hand Blade — A high-frequency hand weapon used for close-range Speedster attacks 3 56.
• Gideon — Future artificial intelligence used to search altered futures 44.
• Time Stone — A concealed contingency item prepared during the confrontation with Zhang and Savitar 83.
• Future technology — Possesses or distributes advanced technological designs unavailable in the present era 15.

Relationships

• Zhang Tianran — Adoptive son, intermittent ally, and eventual adversary. Their bond is complicated by Thawne's years as Zhang's foster father and their incompatible goals concerning the Speed Force 3 6 59 207.
• Barry Allen / The Flash — Lifelong enemy and the source of Thawne's defining obsession. Their Speed Forces are intrinsically linked, preventing Thawne from existing independently of Barry 24 42.
• Savitar — Temporary partner in the attempt to invade or create a new Speed Force; their alliance ends when Zhang erases Thawne and spares Savitar 80 81 83.
• Zero — Zhang's companion and a serious threat to Thawne; she nearly kills him before Zhang intervenes 122.
• Eddie Thawne — Thawne's ancestor, whom he abducts as part of his plans against Barry 41.
• Nora — Receives Thawne's guidance in timeline manipulation, though he also intends to use her actions to hurt Barry 132 133.

Notable Quotes

“As the reverse side, I simply cannot exist independently of Barry Allen.”
— Reverse-Flash 24

“You said that my ultimate fate would always be failure. So before this failure comes, I want to live as freely as I can.”
— Reverse-Flash 58

“What I want most is to take revenge on The Flash. I want him to suffer worse than death!”
— Reverse-Flash 124