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The Flash film features two versions of Barry Allen, one wearing a modified Batman suit. In the movie, The Flash uses his speed powers to travel back in time to prevent his mother’s death. His actions radically changed his universe, which includes two versions of himself existing at the same time. The Flash drags his alternate self to save the world from Zod’s invasion; the pair team up with Michael Keaton’s Batman and a new version of Supergirl. The Flash movie trailer shows Alternate Barry wearing his own suit to match Barry Prime’s costume.
Why Is Alternate Barry Wearing a Batman Suit?
In the new timeline that Flash created in The Flash movie, Barry Allen never got hit by lightning and gained his superspeed powers. However, both versions of Barry Allen exist concurrently in the new timeline. There’s Barry Prime from the original timeline, who still has his superpowers and suit, and Alternate Barry, who lacks abilities.
Barry Prime takes his alternate self to the Batcave, where they meet an older Batman. Alternate Barry decides to get his own superhero costume by spray painting one of the Batsuits red and using caution tape. He also paints a yellow lightning bolt on the chest to copy Barry Prime’s costume.
Alternate Barry tries to shave the bat ears off the suit, but the ears remain mostly intact. While it is sometimes hard to tell in The Flash trailers and footage, Alternate Barry’s costume still has remnants of the Batman suit. The Batman insignia is visible underneath the paint, and the suit still has a lot of the black from the Batsuit.
The McFarlane Flash action figure makes it clear it is a Batsuit.
The Importance of The Flash’s Suit
The Flash can’t wear any typical superhero spandex. He needs a special kind of costume, one that can handle his unique powers.
The Flash’s superspeed causes a lot of friction and electricity, destroying or igniting most types of fabrics. Normal sneakers get decimated when Barry goes superspeed while wearing them.
Barry has to build his suit to withstand all the friction created by running, using anti-friction material and armor that can withstand all the heat. Batsuits are typically made out of resilient material, usually bullet-proof armor. Since Barry Prime can’t hand over a replica of the Flash suit for Alternate Barry, a Batman suit has the strongest chance of withstanding the friction created by Superspeed.
Related:
The Flash: Who Is Dark Flash?
The Flash movie hits theaters on June 16.