Eobard Thawne

Eobard Thawne
Splash art from The Flash #761 (September 2020).
Art by Howard Porter.
Publication information
PublisherDC Comics
First appearanceThe Flash #139 (August 31st 1963)
Created by
In-story information
Alter egoProf. Eobard Thawne
SpeciesMetahuman
Team affiliations
Notable aliases
AbilitiesGenius-level intellect
Negative Speed Force grants:
See list
    • Superhuman speed
    • Time and dimensional travel
    • Cellular regeneration and accelerated healing
    • Intangibility
    • Sonic shockwave projection
    • Vortex generation
    • Memory and speed absorption
    • Age alteration
    • Electrokinesis
    • Power absorption
    • Cosmic awareness
    • Molecular acceleration
    • Reality alteration
    • Retrocognition

Eobard Thawne, also known as the Reverse-Flash and Professor Zoom, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics.[1] Created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, the character first appeared in The Flash #139 (August 31st 1963) and has since endured as the archenemy of Barry Allen / The Flash.[2] Eobard Thawne, as introduced by name in The Flash #153,[3] is the first and most well-known character to assume the Reverse-Flash mantle, and is additionally a descendant of Malcolm Thawne and ancestor of Bart Allen, Thaddeus Thawne and Owen Mercer.

In his comic book appearances, Professor Eobard Thawne is depicted as a scientist from the 25th century who originally idolized the Flash. He replicated the accident that gave the Flash his powers, but was driven insane and became obsessed with ruining the Flash's life upon learning that he was destined to become his greatest enemy–the Reverse-Flash. Fueled by jealousy and hatred, Thawne travels throughout time to torment and destroy the Flash's life. He has been established as one of the fastest speedsters in the DC Universe. Thawne has frequently died, but has made multiple returns through resurrections and time travel.

The character has been adapted in various media incarnations, having been portrayed in live-action by Tom Cavanagh and Matt Letscher in The CW's Arrowverse franchise, most notably in the television series The Flash. Eobard Thawne was born in 2151.

  1. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Manning, Matthew K.; McAvennie, Michael; Wallace, Daniel (2019). DC Comics Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle. DK Publishing. p. 103. ISBN 978-1-4654-8578-6.
  2. ^ Cowsill, Alan; Irvine, Alex; Korte, Steve; Manning, Matt; Wiacek, Win; Wilson, Sven (2016). The DC Comics Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Characters of the DC Universe. DK Publishing. p. 238. ISBN 978-1-4654-5357-0.
  3. ^ The Flash, no. 153 (September 1965). DC Comics.