As the fastest heroes in their respective universes, Flash and Quicksilver will always be compared by fans. And while Flash is definitely faster, the result is generally more complicated than that, not least because Quicksilver’s powers are genetic, while Flash depends on his connection to the Speed Force – an energy field which can be disrupted, and which isn’t present in every dimension. There’s also the fact Quicksilver is a former villain compared to Flash’s squeaky clean outlook, and is more than prepared to seize any advantage to win. However, there is one flaw Quicksilver possesses that guarantees Flash will always be the true master of speed.
In a preview of Gerry Duggan, Javier Garron, Morry Hollowell, and Travis Lanham’s Uncanny Avengers #2, Captain America’s new Avengers Unity Division team take on Captain Krakoa’s Mutant Liberation front. Having broken Captain America’s arm in a show of power and skill, Captain Krakoa readies the kill, only to be stopped by an ally no-one saw coming. Meanwhile, Quicksilver mops up the rest of the villainous team, falling afoul of a non-powered Orchis grunt for one reason: he’s so overconfident, he runs face-first into a gas grenade.
Quicksilver’s Arrogance Makes Him Vulnerable (In a Way Flash Isn’t)
Quicksilver’s speed is immense, and has grown throughout his tenure in Marvel lore. Originally racing around as a blur, Quicksilver can now accelerate to near-light speed, and can effortlessly run at thousands of miles per hour from a standing start – once punching out Magneto at Mach 5. However, Quicksilver is also prone to dangerous levels of arrogance, expecting that he’ll be able to rush in and deal with whatever threat he finds on the fly. In the case of the new MLF, Pietro is badly mistaken, assuming he’ll be able to quickly beat up Captain Krakoa’s soldiers, only to breathe in a dangerous gas-based weapon before he can recognize what he’s up against.
Related: Flash Officially Became “The Fastest Man Alive” Thanks to 1 God-Tier Feat
Quicksilver has always been a brash person, and there’s a simple explanation for why – in Peter David and Joe Quesada’s 1993 comic X-Factor #87, Quicksilver revealed that in his day-to-day existence, his thinking speed is heightened beyond normal human levels. Quicksilver therefore experiences every interaction as taking longer than it actually does, and is constantly irritated by the comparatively slow pace with which other people think, act, and make decisions. When he is finally free to act, his patience has elapsed, and he refuses to waste more time scoping out the situation.
Quicksilver Is Fast, But Flash Understands Speed
While Flash can speed up his perception in the same way as Quicksilver’s, it’s not his base state, making his powers far less frustrating. Barry Allen and Wally West are also way more scientifically minded than Pietro – they’ve received training from other speedsters, and constantly face villains who have found ways around their powers, meaning they have an exhaustive knowledge of all the ways speed can be used, and all the ways it can be turned against them. Before Flash actually begins a fight, he’s examined the environment and his opponent exhaustively, searching for advantages and potential traps. Barry and Wally also understand a lot more of what they’re seeing – as a forensic scientist and genius-level engineer respectively, no version of the Flash could fail to spot the gas grenades that Quicksilver falls to here.
Even if Flash and Quicksilver were restricted to the same speed, the Justice League’s speedster is simply more observant of the world around him, seeing threats coming from miles ahead. This perceptiveness means that Flash can adjust to an obstacle or enemy at the most convenient time, while Quicksilver is constantly caught unawares, and has to disentangle himself from problems after they’ve already hit him in the face. The Flash may be faster than Quicksilver, but he’s also just better at being a speedster – exposing the weakness that just stopped Pietro from being able to save his fellow Avengers.
Uncanny Avengers #2 is coming from Marvel Comics September 20.
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