It takes a lot to be able to stand up to a speedster, especially someone like the Flash, the Fastest Man Alive. While over the years Barry Allen's always found a way to face down and best some of his more iconic and feared foes, there always seems to be some way for them to make a comeback in his life.
Although the villains vary in strength, intimidation, and fear factor, they all have a place in the Flashes pantheon of foes. From members of the nefarious Rogues to other speedsters and metahuman-like creatures, the Flashes villains are everlasting.
Rainbow Raider
Not every villain that's created is a winner. Some may see some good development while others may get gritty reboots that work. And then there are guys like Rainbow Raider.
Gaining different powers from each color of the rainbow, Rainbow Raider is seen as one of the worst rogues and villains of all time and yet still finds a way to come back in mainstream comics. If only for a short while.
Captain Boomerang
Out of all the foes the Flash has faced down, the Rogues are among his most iconic. A group of criminals armed with tech and metahuman powers, the Rogues roster has shifted over the years and the likes of Captain Boomerang have faded from their ranks.
Starting out as one of the Rogue's first members, Boomerang is definitely a lesser feared villain. Even when he joined the Suicide Squad, a guy running around tossing Boomerangs at the Flash doesn't do much on a fear level. Digger Harkness is always trying to land his mark but never seems to be able to.
The Turtle
It's worth mentioning that Barry Allen wasn't the first Flash. Before him, there were the likes of Jay Garrick and when Allen became the Flash, he ended up inheriting some of his foes like the Turtle.
A metahuman who can slow down everything around him, the Turtle could be a worthy foe of the Flash but despite a few shining moments over the years, has fallen flat compared to the others, with his powers affecting not just his surroundings but himself as well.
Abra Kadabra
Everyone knows about Barry's perchance to mess with the timeline. Of course, he's not the only one such as Abra Kadabra, a science user from the 64th century with a grudge against the Flash.
Over the years, Kadabra's become a bit of a joke to the Flash, always losing, never truly getting an upper hand on him. Even when he faced off against the third Flash, Wally West, Kadabara never made much of an impact despite his constant recurrence in comics.
Doctor Alchemy
As the years have worn on, many a villain have passed the mantle onto different characters. The title of Doctor Alchemy has been held by three different villains but Albert Desmond's the most notable.
Utilizing the Philopshers stone, Alchemy's able to transmute one substance into another. Although a decent ability, Alchemy never left much of an impact on the Flash and fell out of the world of comics for a good while.
The Trickster
Like with Alchemy, the mantle of the Trickster has been passed on from one character to another over the years. Originally starting with Jesse James, the mantel was handed over to Axel Walker.
Both Tricksters, new and old, have managed to cause a decent amount of trouble for the Flash. From plaguing him across Central City with their tricks and traps to even annoying their own Rogues, the Trickster isn't that dangerous of a foe but is still pretty noteworthy.
Pied Piper
While most of the Flash's villains stay on the path of villainy, some do find redemption. Starting out as a villain, the Pied Piper was a foe who, like his fabled counterpart, utilizes a flute that can hypnotize and emit high-frequency sounds to control anyone or anything.
However, following Barry Allen's heartbreaking death, Piper ended up turning away from a life of crime and became a reluctant hero. Eventually marrying Captain Singh, Piper has since remained a hero despite his villainous past.
Weather Wizard
A number of different villains are a part of the Rogues and the list goes on and on. Some have goofy and weird abilities whereas others, like Weather Wizard, stand out to an extent.
Originally utilizing a piece of tech, a pole nicknamed "weather wand", Mark Mardon would gain similar metahuman abilities in the New 52. No matter what kind of powers he possesses, Weather Wizard is a noteworthy yet easily beaten villain of the Flash.
Mirror Master
Given all the crazy gadgets and tools the villains of the Rogues, Mirror Masters mirror gun is one of the coolest. Allowing Sam Scudder and the other incarnations of Mirror Master to travel into a whole other world, the concept of Mirror Masters pretty cool.
Add to that the fact that he gained similar powers like Weather Wizard during the New 52, making him even more powerful, and Mirror Master does stand out to an extent.
Hunter Zolomon
Speedster villains are more common in Flash comics than this list makes it out to be. While villains like the Black Racer and Savitar deserve a mention, Hunter Zolomon, Zoom, needs a tad bit more of a mention.
A former friend of Wally West, Zolomon became a speedster after using the cosmic treadmill against Wally's wishes. Becoming the second Reverse Flash and later on Zoom, Hunter became a notorious foe for both Barry Allen and Wally West, taking them on multiple occasions and almost succeeding several times.
Heat Wave
Most of the rogues the Flash faces are dangerous and psychotic. However, Mick Rory, the villain Heatwave, is probably one of the more vicious of the Rogues. A pyromaniac obsessed with fire, Rory became a constant threat to the Flash.
From watching his own house burn to the ground rather than get help to using his enhanced flamethrower and later metahuman powers to turn anything to ash, Rory is a villain not to be trifled with.
Gorilla Grodd
On the surface, a giant telepathic gorilla doesn't sound all that intimidating. In fact, it sounds kind of goofy. Yet, Gorilla Grodd has slowly become a violent and vile foe for the Flash.
From constantly assaulting Barry on a mental and physical level, Grodd's able to work his way into his mind and either control or torment Barry via his telepathic abilities. Grodd has had plenty of schemes and plots over the years that have mostly paid off and he doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Captain Cold
The concept of the Rogues is overall silly. A group of guys trying to stop the Fastest Man Alive with special guns? Kind of stupid. And yet, that's what makes the Rogues and more specifically their leader, Captain Cold, so fascinating.
Before New 52, Leonard Snart didn't have any big powers. He was an underdog, a loser criminal who loved his city but wanted to profit with his sub-zero gun. So even then Snart isn't a speedster or metahuman, he's taken down the Flash just as many times, not to mention his strange moral code elevates his status as a villain.
Reverse-Flash
Truth be told, the Flash has a great number of villains. From the Thinker to Cicada, Killer Frost, and Golden Glider, not everyone was gonna make the cut, and yet, there was no doubt the Reverse-Flash wouldn't.
A speedster from the far future, Eobard Thawne has beaten death itself to torment and plague the Flash. Always fifteen steps ahead and responsible for the death of Barry's mom, Iris West, and many others, Thawne has proven himself to be the most deadly and vicious of the Flash foes.