A couple of years ago, the only major superhero that could be genuinely compared Barry Allen AKA The Flash had was Marvel’s Quicksilver. But thanks to the popularity of Amazon Prime series The Boys, DC’s red speedster has someone new and exciting to worry about. Or does he?
Most of the Supes in The Boys are modelled after popular mainstream superheroes, but while the heroes fans grew up loving care about making the world a better place, the Compound V consumers only care about fame and fortune. So, does A-Train really match up to The Flash? Here’s how the two are similar, and how they are different.
Similar: Superhuman Speed
The biggest similarity between A-Train and The Flash is that they are both able to move at lightning speeds. However, The Flash happens to move a little quicker than A-Train.
Before racing Shockwave, A-Train overdoses on Compound V and during the competition, he is able to reach speeds in excess of 1,000 mph (1,609.34 kph or Mach 1.3). This is his highest speed ever recorded. Barry’s speed, on the other hand, is unlimited. He is able to reach Mach 3.3 on his own in the Arrowverse. And after increasing his Speed Force connection, he reaches speeds of Mach 13.2.
Difference: What Makes Them Fast
A-Train’s speed is all thanks to Compound V, which he keeps abusing to maintain his status as the “fastest man in the world.” A-Train’s obsession with being the fastest man stems from the fact that he cherishes fame and wants the public to keep worshipping him.
The Flash is able to move quickly, thanks to the Speed Force. This is an inter-dimensional dark matter energy source that provides speedsters with their special powers. Barry Allen was able to access this force after being struck by thunder from a cloud formed by the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator.
Similar: Enhanced Metabolism
Being able to do everything quickly doesn’t come without a price. The work that A-Train and The Flash put into running and dodging things requires plenty of energy. Luckily, they are both gifted with an enhanced metabolism that prevents their bodies from burning out.
Barry Allen once mentions that he eats fifty times his bodyweight in order to keep functioning. It would be interesting to take a peek at his grocery and takeout shopping list. A-Train also had to consume 3,000 calories during a single workout session to keep his body functioning properly.
Difference: Appearance
While other members of The Seven have similar appearances to the Marvel or DC heroes that they mimic, A-Train and The Flash don’t look alike. A-Train wears a blue costume while The Flash wears a red costume. A-Train also uses modified sunglasses to see (which makes him look a bit like MCU’s The Falcon) while The Flash doesn’t need any.
The Flash has a mask that covers most of his face while A-Train doesn’t. The Flash’s body suit also has long sleeves, while that of A-Train is short-sleeved. There no symbol on A-Train’s chest either, except in the comics, where there is the letter A.
Similar: Regenerative Healing Factor
A-Train is able to heal from his injuries quite quickly. After fracturing a femur during a fight, his bones fused back together in about three days and by the sixth week mark, he was fully recovered.
Molecules in The Flash’s body also move at accelerated rates, thus making him able to mend damage caused by external forces far quicker than ordinary humans. When he gets injected with 2,000 milligrams of horse tranquilizer, he only slows down momentarily but is back to full functionality within seconds.
Difference: Morals
Perhaps the most obvious difference between A-Train and The Flash is that former is villainous while the latter is heroic. Like other members of The Seven, A-Train finds joy in doing bad more than good. The Flash, on the other hand, is all about defeating the baddies.
A-Train’s list of sins is quite lengthy. He kills Hughie’s girlfriend by accident but is unapologetic about it. He even finds it funny. He also murders his girlfriend Popclaw in order to protect a secret. That’s something even a mind-controlled Barry Allen would probably never do.
Similar: Part Of A Superhero Team
Both speedsters have been part of two major superhero team-ups. Before becoming a member of The Seven, A-Train was in another group, also managed by Vought International. The group of consisted of superpowered teenagers and was known as the Teenage Kix.
The Flash is a member of the Justice League in the DCEU where he teams up with Batman, Superman, Aquaman, Wonder Woman, and Cyborg. In the Arrowverse, the Flash is part of a superhero team-up known as the Crisis Team. It consists of him, Supergirl, Black Lightning, Batwoman, Superman, Martian Manhunter, White Canary, and, Green Arrow.
Difference: Strength & Durability
A-Train’s strength and durability are far above those of normal humans, but they don’t match those of other Supes. The Female AKA Kimiko manages to break his leg fairly easily during a fight. He also struggles to withstand direct blows from The Boys and Starlight.
The Flash’ toughness cannot be put to doubt. He has engaged in fisticuffs with Superman and left without a scratch. He also rebounds from Zombie-Girder’s blows quite easily. Normally, Zombie-Girder injures people with a single blow.
Similar: Accelerated Perception
A-Train’s high speeds allow him to perceive the environment around him as though everything is standing still. Thanks to this ability, he manages to see and dodge Starlight’s energy blasts before they hit him.
The Flash is said to think, feel, and move in picoseconds and attoseconds. In the past, he has dodged lightning bolts that generally move at a speeds of 200,000 miles/ 300,000 kilometers per hour. He has also performed a variety of tasks in just one trillionth of a second.
Different: Number Of Powers
This is where ‘the boys’ are separated from the men. A-Train can move fast, heal fast, live longer and that’s it. Without Compound V, there isn’t much he can do. The same can’t be said of Barry Allen with basket full of superhuman abilities.
To list just a few, Barry has Intangibility. This is the ability physically pass through solid objects while in a universe of varying vibrational nature. He also possesses the power of Invisibility, an ability that A-Train can only admire from Translucent. Barry can vibrate his body so quickly that that he wont be able to be perceived by the naked human eye. He uses this ability to trick Clifford DeVoe into releasing him. He also has the powers of Electorkinesis and Aerokinesis.
