Tonight’s episode of The Flash finally answered the question fans have been asking for weeks: who is Savitar?
The self-proclaimed Speed God turned out to be none other than an older, evil version of Barry Allen, validating quite a few online fan theories but no doubt leaving some people owing their roommates a beer come time for Comic Con International: San Diego in a couple of months.
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On TV, of course, he gained access to a variety of supervillains as a result of Barry’s adventures in the Flashpoint universe, and used them to free himself from a prison — and take aim at Barry Allen, who will eventually imprison him again if Savitar is unable to stop it.
How that plays into the backstory we’ve seen in the last almost-three seasons for Barry is still up in the air at this point. Expect more on that soon.
In the comics, Savitar’s true name was never known; he was an Eastern Bloc military pilot who came to power after Jay Garrick’s retirement and before Barry Allen’s debut. Elected to test an experimental supersonic plane, Savitar became the fastest man alive — and in that moment was infused with Speed Force energy that gave him super-speed.
A vicious and cruel man, Savitar believed that his power was a divine gift. Curious as to the nature of the Speed Force, Savitar extorted knowledge from other speedsters, including a younger Max Mercury, before Max defeated him by shunting him into the future.
Having studied ancient texts, Savitar knows more about Velocity’s potential than any other speedster. Unlike other speedsters, Savitar can absorb speed and motion, slowing objects down at will — something that Wally (The Flash in the comics at this point) learned after battling him.
The Flash airs on Tuesday nights at 8 p.m. ET/PT on The CW.
More The Flash news:
- Why Harrison Wells Could Be Savitar on The Flash
- Teddy Sears Interested In Returning to The Flash
- David Dastmalchian Explains How Abra Kadabra Could Return
- The Flash Gets an Easter Egg Right in the Title As Time Runs Out to Save Iris
