When finding a villain to match the likes of the Fastest Man Alive, the Flash, the options are limited given his immense powers. And yet, fighting fire with fire always seemed like the right option, and the Reverse-Flash, the other fastest man alive and a deadly foe for the Flash, ends up being a worthwhile one.
Having woven a bloody rivalry between the pair of them, Eobard Thawne has risen to be seen as one of the Flash's best rogues. However, it could be said that a few other foes are better rivals for the Flash than the likes of Thawne.
Reverse-Flash: Obsessed With The Flash
Every villain in some way is obsessed with their hero. For the Joker, it's Batman. Lex Luthor, Superman. And for the Reverse-Flash, it's the Scarlet Speedster himself. Yet Thawne's obsession with Barry runs deep and colder than others, largely due to the years of comics.
Originally just a simple time-traveling villain who modeled himself after the Flash, Thawne was shown over the years to have a twisted "love" for the Flash. Whether it was to be his greatest foe or out of jealousy for not being respected as an equal, Thawne's connection to the Flash runs deep.
Alternative: Hunter Zolomon
While Thawne may be one of the more prominent Flash villains thanks to the CW show, he wasn't the only one to wear the mantle of Reverse-Flash. Following Barry's death during the Crisis and Eobard's demise, Wally West and Hunter Zolmon took on both of their predecessor's names.
Like with Thawne, Zolomon had a connection and almost obsession with the Flash. While he and Wally were friends, when Wally refused to give Hunter powers after he was severely injured, Zolomon ended up breaking off his friendship and gaining speed powers. In the years since, Zolomon has plagued Wally and Barry as a deadly foe bent on destroying the Flash.
Reverse-Flash: Influence
All villains affect their heroes in some way but the Reverse-Flash has taken that to an extreme. It could be said Eobard is responsible for creating Barry by killing his mom and setting him on his CSI path. And while that could be the end of the influence, it instead deepens and even leads to some great memes.
Killing Iris West, turning Barry into a weapon against other Speedsters and in more recent comics, manipulating events around the lives of Hunter Zolomon, Godspeed, Jay Garrick, Bart Allen, Wally, and other Flash family members just to spite Barry shows how insane and dedicated Thawne truly is.
Alternative: Savitar
Truthfully, there are way too many speedster villains out there. From multiple Reverse-Flashes and other speed-powered baddies, the list goes on and on. Still, it's worth noting the speed villain Savitar, a baddie who ended up calling himself the God of Speed.
Originally an air force pilot, Savitar ended up getting speed-force oriented powers, ones that he would use to take on Barry Allen, Wally West, and Jay Garrick. Forming a cult dedicated to the speed force, Savitar soon faded into the background but not before serving as a dangerous Flash foe.
Reverse-Flash: Resurrections
Villains always die and yet, they always seem to find a loophole or clause that allows them to return. Like with most villains, Thawne has faced death time again, and somehow, he always manages to find a way to escape the grave.
Having his neck snapped by Barry, turned into a Black Lantern, lost in the time stream by Wally, disintegrated by Iris, and burned alive by Doctor Manhatten, Eobard has found a way to outrun death itself on every occasion and many more.
Alternative: The Trickster
Now, a lot of the Flash's villains are seen as jokes. Like with his friend Batman, Barry has faced down some truly legendary and some truly terrible villains. And while the Trickster seems like a joke villain, he actually manages to rise above the rest.
Although the mantle has been worn by a few over the years, whether it be James Jesse or Axel Walker, the Trickster always has a prank to pull. From briefly joining the FBI to constantly plaguing the Flash and eventually taking over Central City, the otherwise joke villain ends up being quite the foe.
Reverse-Flash: Intellect And Powers
It is definitely worth noting a villain's strengths. For Eobard Thawne, that strength lies not just in his speed-force powers. Sure, those held him along on his journey of evil against the Flash but Thawne's true strength lies in his intellect.
In the 25th century, Thawne is seen as one of the smartest men of his time. Although he's insane, Thawne utilizes that madness and intelligence to drive his plots forward. Almost always five steps ahead of Barry, Thawne has a backup plan for the backup plan.
Alternative: Gorilla Grodd
As it is with a lot of lists, fans may not agree with some of the characters are chosen. They may have other villains who they love or respect more. That being said, not many can argue that Gorilla Grodd doesn't deserve a place on this list.
A lifelong Flash villain, Grodd's connection runs deep. While he originally starts out as a telepathic gorilla intent on destroying the Flash, Grodd was later revealed to have ties to the speed force. Beyond that, Grodd's proven himself to be a deadly rival for the Flash in intellect and strength.
Reverse-Flash: Counterpart
Oftentimes, villains are dark reflections of heroes. They show the evil potential and who the hero may have become if they'd gone a different route. In that same sense, the Reverse-Flash is totally the dark mirror of Barry Allen.
With the same powers and almost the same goals at times, Barry does end up equally and matching Thawne's nature. From snapping his rival's neck to rewriting the timeline just to get his mom back, Barry and Eobard aren't as different as Barry might think, a fact Thawne knows and uses to his advantage.
Alternative: Captain Cold
Not every villain is going to have fancy powers to aid them. Maybe at some point they might get them for a short period of time. But the likes of Leonard Snart, Captain Cold, has never been a flashy, metahuman villain. He's always been the underdog and that's what makes him great.
Beyond a brief stint in the New 52 where he got ice powers, Cold has always fought against the Flash with a sub-zero ice gun. Aided by a group of baddies similar to him, the Rogues, Cold, and his team have managed to stand out as one of the Flash's best villains.