Among DC Comics' pantheon of superheroes, the comic book publisher has created a plethora of great interpersonal dynamics, friendships, and rivalries. Given the all-star cast of characters comprising the Justice League, this also leads to some friendly rivalries between some of the most iconic heroes that the publisher has to offer. After all, any comic reader would love to see their favorite characters get into some friendly competition no matter who it's between.

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Superman and the Flash are two characters with such a dynamic, and it's easy to see where the duo's duels would stem from. The former is the Man Of Steel, who boasts speed amongst his myriad of powers, and the latter is, quite literally, known as the Fastest Man Alive. Over the decades of comic history, fans have seen multiple clashes between the pair.

Barry Allen Wasn't The Only Flash To Race Superman

Split image of Superman racing Wally West through tall grass and Jay Garrick outside of a city in the comics

Superman has a famous friendship with Batman in comics, but the Barry Allen iteration of the Flash is also close with him. However, while Barry is the most famous version of the Scarlet Speedster, he isn't the only one to race the Man of Steel.

Superman has been part of a superspeed race with most of those to hold the Flash mantle to varying results. In 2016's The Flash series, Superman has to catch both Wally West and Barry to stop some potentially damaging Speed Force waves. The Last Son of Krypton was unable to catch either of them. He's also lost against the original Flash, Jay Garrick.

Superman & The Flash's First Race Dates Back To The '60s

Superman and the Flash on the cover of Superman #199

Superman and the Flash's friendly rivalry goes back to Superman #199, published in 1967. The premise for the two superheroes taking each other on in a test of speed was for a United Nations fundraiser. To win, Superman or the Flash had to race around the globe three times, with American and European gangs betting on Superman and Flash winning, respectively.

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With the rival gangs competing against each other behind the scenes, they each placed traps against the opposing hero to tip the odds in their favor. However, this race ends up resulting in a tie after the two agreed to cross the finish line simultaneously.

Multiple Races Were Done For Charity

Superman beating the Flash in a charity race in Superman: Up in the Sky

As with the initial race between them, several of their races were done for charity. It's the friendliest of cases between the two competing against each other, with one of the following races involving Lex Luthor in a capacity. Superman and Lex Luthor are a notorious rivalry on their own. This time the villain claims he would donate $1 billion to building new homes for impoverished children if Superman wins.

But knowing Luthor, he was just doing this out of spite against Superman. Though, once the Man of Steel catches wind of this plan, it motivates him to win the race to help those children and force Luthor to make good on his word. It's also a testament to how genuine, sincere, and good Clark Kent is.

The Flash Has Won More Than Superman

The Flash outpacing Superman in 2004's The Flash comic series

Throughout Superman and the Flash's history over the decades appearing together in DC comic books, they've raced each other ten times (including both friendly and life-threatening situations).

While both are two of DC's greatest superheroes, the Flash masters speed despite it being another one of Superman's many strong suits, leading to the former having the majority share of wins. Superman came out on top twice, Flash five times, and three draws. The Flash's five wins also include races involving the likes of Wally and Jay with the mantle.

Flash Gladly Takes It Easier On Him

Flash implying to Superman he's taken it easy on him in past races

Superman's victories over the Flash can be occasionally compared to some of Batman's wins over the Man of Steel. In cases like the aforementioned 2016 Flash run, the titular hero noted to Clark that his wins came in charity events. Barry implies then that he takes things easier on him in more friendly settings.

It's important to note that this isn't out of bitterness, like with the race to force Luthor to fulfill his promise to help children in need. This is a great example of the two DC icons having a great friendship akin to the Batman/Superman "World's Finest" dynamic.

Wally West Has Given Superman The Most Trouble

Split image of Wally West as the Flash and racing against Superman in DC's Titans series

Canonically, the Wally West incarnation of the Flash is the fastest one among the Scarlet Speedsters. Speaking literally, this makes Wally the proper holder of the epithet "Fastest Man Alive."

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Unsurprisingly, this means Wally is the one who's given Superman the most trouble when it comes to a test of speed. When Barry and Wally were engaged in a potentially disastrous chase, one where only Superman could hope to catch up to them. Unfortunately, the Man of Steel couldn't hope to keep pace with either of the Scarlet Speedsters, but it was especially true in the case of Wally.

Bart Allen Is The Only Flash Not To Race Superman

Bart Allen in his Impulse suit in the comics

Of all the characters to don the Flash persona, Bart Allen is the only one of the Speedsters not to have raced Superman in the comics. The young Flash typically ranks below Wally and his grandfather Barry but is still faster than the original holder of the mantle, Jay.

Considering the first Flash has beaten Superman in a race before, it's possible that Bart could stand toe-to-toe against the Kryptonian. And while they've never had a run-in in the comics, attentive DC fans may have caught the Flash's appearance in Smallville.

Depending On Perspective, Jay Garrick Technically Cheated

Jay Garrick sapping Superman's speed in the Flash/Superman comic

Jay Garrick was able to beat Superman. Depending on a fan's perspective on the two's abilities, the argument could be made that the original Speedster technically cheated. It was for a greater cause, though, as both Superman and the Flash were racing to save Wally. The caveat was that whoever caught up to save Wally would inherit the aging curse he'd been afflicted with.

Clark and Jay argue over who should make the sacrifice for Wally, but Jay uses the Speed Force to sap the Man of Tomorrow's kinetic energy and slow him down in the process. Both heroes would've done the same for each other, but Jay "cheated" in one of the noblest ways possible.

Superman Beats A Mind-Controlled Flash

Superman catching up to the Flash to free him from mind control in 2011's Superman series

In one of the few instances where Superman technically beats the Flash in a race, he was saving the Speedster from Kryptonian mind-control technology. During a 2011 run on the Superman series, a speeding blur is spotted racing around Boulder, Colorado. The blur is quickly building Kryptonian structures. Superman discovers it's the Flash under control of a headband forcing him to mimic Krypton's buildings.

Being the closest person who could ever hope to catch Barry, he pulls out every stop he can and manages to save him. Given the circumstances, it doesn't qualify as a race in the traditional sense, but it's nonetheless a great demonstration of Superman's metahuman feats.

Enough Motivation Could Be The Key To Superman Beating Barry

Superman and the Flash crouched and ready to race in the comics

While it's partially speculation on some fans' part, there could also be a valid argument made that Superman needs some extra drive to edge out the Flash in a race. By and large, it's established that the Flash is faster than Superman. Like the Big Blue Boy Scout that he is, however, all he needs are dire stakes to be on the line to find his second wind.

The prior charity race to get Luthor to donate $1 billion could be evidence of this. Thinking about the countless children he could help by beating Barry may have been a case of Superman digging deeper to find something within himself that he wouldn't find under "normal" circumstances. Clark's internal drive to do what he does is among the purest in the superhero genre.

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