Flash Surpasses Superman as DC's Best Hero Thanks to New Power

Published Jul 30, 2026, 8:07 AM EDT TJ Mills is an editor on ScreenRant's Comic team, where she combines her lifelong passion for DC with her analytical background as a former Intelligence Analyst. Since joining ScreenRant in 2023, she has specialized in covering major DC storylines, character evolutions, and industry developments. Sign in to your ScreenRant account The Flash has officially mastered a new power that will give Scarlet Speedster fans some serious ammunition in the debate over whether Superman or the Flash is the better hero. This isn't just a superficial argument either, as the speedster’s new power has already produced results that no one, not even the Man of Steel, has achieved or can compete with. If you’ve been following writer Ryan North and artist Gavin Guidry’s The Flash, then you know that Wally West recently unlocked a new power he calls "Flashes of Insight." At first, the ability gave him random glimpses into the future, helping him to prevent incidents before they even happened. Now, after conducting a multitude of experiments with the help of Mr. Terrific, Wally has mastered the ability and controls it just as well as his other powers. Not only can he now use his Flashes of Insight at will, but he has also developed them to the point that the Scarlet Speedster has accomplished a feat not even the Man of Steel can claim: the eradication of not just crime, but all bad things. How The Flash Accomplished What Even Superman Couldn't Comic Pages from Ryan North's The Flash #35 (2026) - Art by Gavin Guidry North and Guidry’s The Flash #35 sees Wally confront Heat Wave during the Rogue’s latest bout of troublemaking. During this encounter, Wally has a breakthrough with his Flashes of Insight, realizing that he can make his predictions more accurate if he has more data to work with. For example, The Flash’s prediction about the weather ended up being wrong because he failed to factor in Heat Wave’s actions. From this, Wally concludes that if he knows what everyone is doing, then he can make his predictions 100% accurate. Right off the bat, knowing what everyone is doing sounds like an impossible task, something that Mr. Terrific is quick to point out. However, Wally explains that the Speed Force solves this problem because it fills in the blanks. To test his theory, Wally combines the Speed Force with lightspeed passes throughout the city to gather more data. He then pairs that information with his Flashes of Insight, allowing him to accurately predict the future and stop incidents before they even happen. On the very first day Wally tries this approach, he accomplishes the impossible by giving Central City its first day where absolutely nothing goes wrong, not even a minor incident like a ball rolling into the street. It's a feat unlike anything seen before, and one that not even the Man of Steel himself has accomplished. However, The Flash isn't satisfied with stopping there and instead decides to “scale up.” Wally’s wife questions just how he could possibly improve an already perfect system. The final page of the issue answers that question by showing the Flash running toward Metropolis. The implication is that, after eradicating not only crime but all bad things in his own city, Wally is now going to apply his powers to Metropolis, effectively protecting and improving the city in a way that not even Superman can match. What's Next for Wally West and His Flashes of Insight Main Cover by Gavin Guidry for The Flash #37 (2026) With The Flash #35 ending on that cliffhanger, readers will have to wait to see just how effective Wally’s Flashes of Insight system is when applied to a city outside his own. The Flash’s time in Metropolis continues on August 26 with issue #36. However, for those who are impatient, early solicitations for future issues already give readers an idea of just how well Wally’s intervention goes. The official synopsis for The Flash #37, releasing September 23, 2026, confirms the success of Wally’s efforts, stating: “Wally West is now the savior of three cities, depending on how you count: Central, Keystone, and Metropolis. And for once, it's going great! In fact, it's going better than great, because Wally's Flashes of Insight are now letting him see even further into the future, so he can stop accidents (and crimes!) well before they happen—including a simultaneous attack on three bridges in three cities!” However, it also looks like things will take a turn for the worse, as the solicitation teases: “But there are some forces that really don't like what Wally is up to—and they intend to stop him whether Wally likes it or not.” With the Flash more overpowered than ever, it feels like it is only a matter of time before something happens to nerf him back to his standard power set. Until then, Flash fans might as well enjoy this unprecedented, powered-up version of Wally West while his Flashes of Insight last. Metropolis · Daily Planet Edition SupermanTrivia Challenge 🌏OriginsLast son ☠VillainsKneel! ⚡PowersInvincible 🎥FilmsBelieve 💫LegacyHope UP, UP AND AWAY! → 01 Before he was Clark Kent, Superman was born Kal-El on a distant planet doomed to destruction. His parents Jor-El and Lara placed him in a rocket ship as an infant, sending him across the cosmos to Earth. What is the name of Superman’s home planet? AThanagar BKrypton CApokolips DOa ✓ Correct! Krypton was a scientifically advanced planet that exploded due to its unstable core. Jor-El, Superman’s father, was the only scientist who foresaw the catastrophe and managed to save his son by launching him toward Earth in a small spacecraft. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Krypton. Thanagar is Hawkman’s homeworld, Apokolips is Darkseid’s domain, and Oa is the headquarters of the Green Lantern Corps. Krypton’s destruction is the defining event of Superman’s origin story. NEXT → 02 Superman’s greatest love is a fearless, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist who works alongside Clark Kent at the Daily Planet. She’s known for her relentless pursuit of the truth and for being one of the few people who sees both the hero and the man. Who is she? ADiana Prince BLana Lang CLois Lane DCat Grant ✓ Correct! Lois Lane has been Superman’s primary love interest since her debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. A brilliant investigative reporter, she’s as iconic as Superman himself — tough, smart, and unafraid to chase the biggest stories in Metropolis. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lois Lane. Diana Prince is Wonder Woman, Lana Lang is Clark’s high school sweetheart from Smallville, and Cat Grant is a gossip columnist at the Daily Planet. Lois Lane is Superman’s iconic partner. NEXT → 03 Despite being nearly invulnerable under Earth’s yellow sun, Superman has one famous weakness — a radioactive mineral from the remnants of his destroyed homeworld. Exposure to it drains his powers and can even kill him. What is this substance called? AKryptonite BVibranium CNth Metal DRed Sun Ore ✓ Correct! Kryptonite is the irradiated remnants of planet Krypton. Green Kryptonite is the most common and deadly variety, but there are many other types — Red Kryptonite causes unpredictable behavior, Gold Kryptonite can permanently strip his powers, and Blue Kryptonite affects Bizarro. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Kryptonite. Vibranium is from Marvel’s Black Panther universe, Nth Metal is tied to Hawkman, and Red Sun Ore isn’t a real DC substance. Kryptonite is the iconic green-glowing mineral that is Superman’s ultimate weakness. NEXT → 04 In 1978, a then-unknown actor donned the cape and made the world believe a man could fly. His portrayal of Superman became the gold standard for superhero films and he starred in four Superman movies. Who is this legendary actor? AHenry Cavill BBrandon Routh CTom Welling DChristopher Reeve ✓ Correct! Christopher Reeve’s portrayal in Superman: The Movie (1978) is widely regarded as the definitive live-action Superman. His performance perfectly balanced the heroic confidence of Superman with the endearing clumsiness of Clark Kent, setting the template every Superman actor has followed since. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Christopher Reeve. Henry Cavill played Superman in the DCEU starting with Man of Steel (2013), Brandon Routh starred in Superman Returns (2006), and Tom Welling played young Clark in TV’s Smallville. Reeve was the original big-screen Superman. NEXT → 05 Superman’s greatest enemy isn’t a superpowered alien — he’s a brilliant, ruthless human billionaire who believes Superman is a threat to humanity’s potential. This bald-headed genius has been Superman’s archenemy for over 80 years. Who is he? ABrainiac BLex Luthor CDarkseid DDoomsday ✓ Correct! Lex Luthor is the ultimate foil to Superman — where Superman represents hope and selflessness, Luthor represents ambition and ego. Despite having no superpowers, his genius-level intellect and vast resources make him Superman’s most persistent and dangerous adversary. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Lex Luthor. Brainiac is an alien android who collects cities, Darkseid is the god-like ruler of Apokolips, and Doomsday is the monster who famously killed Superman. But Lex Luthor is the definitive archenemy — Superman’s dark mirror. NEXT → 06 After crash-landing on Earth as a baby, Kal-El was found and adopted by Jonathan and Martha Kent, a kind farming couple. They raised him with strong moral values in a small rural town. Where did Clark Kent grow up? AGotham City BMetropolis CSmallville, Kansas DCoast City ✓ Correct! Smallville, Kansas is the quintessential American small town where Jonathan and Martha Kent raised Clark with heartland values of honesty, compassion, and humility. It’s the foundation of who Superman is — not the powers from Krypton, but the character instilled by his Kansas parents. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is Smallville, Kansas. Gotham is Batman’s city, Metropolis is where Clark moves as an adult to work at the Daily Planet, and Coast City is Green Lantern’s home. Smallville is where the Kents raised Clark on their farm. NEXT → 07 As Clark Kent, Superman disguises himself as a mild-mannered reporter working at Metropolis’s most famous newspaper, alongside Lois Lane and photographer Jimmy Olsen. Their editor-in-chief Perry White runs the newsroom. What is the name of this newspaper? ADaily Planet BDaily Bugle CMetropolis Star DGotham Gazette ✓ Correct! The Daily Planet, with its iconic globe on the rooftop, is one of the most recognizable fictional newspapers in pop culture. Working there gives Clark Kent both a cover identity and a way to stay informed about threats to the city and the world. ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is the Daily Planet. The Daily Bugle is Spider-Man’s Marvel universe newspaper, the Metropolis Star and Gotham Gazette are lesser DC publications. The Daily Planet — with its spinning globe — is Superman’s journalistic home. NEXT → 08 This Kryptonian military commander was banished to the Phantom Zone for treason before Krypton’s destruction. He escaped and came to Earth seeking vengeance, famously demanding that others “Kneel before” him. His iconic portrayal by Terence Stamp cemented him in pop culture. Who is this villain? ABizarro BParasite CMetallo DGeneral Zod ✓ Correct! General Zod is one of Superman’s most terrifying foes because he has all of Superman’s powers but none of his morality. Terence Stamp’s portrayal in Superman II (1980) made “Kneel before Zod” one of the most quoted villain lines in film history. Michael Shannon later reimagined the role in Man of Steel (2013). ✗ Not faster than a speeding bullet on that one! The answer is General Zod. Bizarro is a flawed clone of Superman, Parasite drains powers through touch, and Metallo is a cyborg with a Kryptonite heart. General Zod is the Kryptonian military leader whose cry of “Kneel before Zod!” echoes through decades of Superman stories. REVEAL MY SCORE → Mission Complete Your Kryptonian Record / 8 Are you the Man of Steel — or still stuck in a phone booth? ↻ FLY AGAIN The Flash #35 from DC Comics is now available to read! Created By Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert, Carmine Infantino First Appearance Flash Comics