Zoom and Reverse-Flash: Exploring Their Differences

Reverse-Flash and Zoom have a complicated history that leads some to believe they are one and the same villain. Here’s how to tell the difference!

Many of Barry Allen’s comic book enemies have appeared in Flash, but his greatest challenges have been to face two villains–the Reverse Flash and Zoom. Although both characters are speedsters, they look very different on the show. If you’ve ever looked up the characters in comics, you might be surprised or confused.

The Reverse-Flash is often referred to in the comics as “Zoom” or “Professor Zoom.” In some comics, Eobard Thawne may be the Reverse-Flash, while in others, he is Zoom.

You can visually tell Reverse-Flash and Zoom apart by looking at their costumes. Although the difference is minimal, if you remember to look for it, it’ll be easy to tell which one is which. Zoom’s costume has his eyes covered in dark lenses with his eyes glowing red meanwhile Reverse-Flash’s costume does not cover his eyes.

Another difference between them is the hero they go up against. For the most part, Reverse-Flash went up against Barry Allen. Zoom, on the other hand, went against Wally West.

Let’s dig deeper and find out more about these two Flash villains.

Who is the Reverse Flash?

Eobard Thawne is known as the Reverse-Flash or “Professor Zoom.” He is the destined enemy of Barry Allen’s Flash.

Eobard Thawne is a 25th-century resident who becomes obsessed with Flash and travels back in time to see the Flash. He learns he’s destined to become the Flash’s greatest enemy and die at his feet. This causes Eobard to lose control of his already unstable mind and causes him to become the villain he has learned about.

Eobard would later kill Barry Allen’s wife and almost kill his new fiancée years later. He was then accidentally snapped by the Flash. This brought Eobard’s original discovery full circle and opened the door to a new interpretation of the character.

Who is Zoom?

Zoom is the villain name of the scientist and criminal profiler Hunter Zolomon. He is the arch-nemesis of Wally West’s Flash.

Wally was close to Hunter Zolomon when he discovered that his serial killer’s father had murdered Hunter’s mother. Unfortunately, Hunter would suffer many more tragedies.

Hunter was determined to find vicious criminals like his father and joined the FBI. He eventually married Ashley, a fellow agent. Ashley’s father was killed in a shootout with a supervillain. After that incident, Ashley split from Hunter and was eventually fired by the FBI. He ended up in Keystone City, where he joined the Police Department and made friends with Wally. Hunter was left with a broken neck after Gorilla Grodd attacked him.

Hunter asked his friend, the Flash, to help him travel back in history and stop the tragedies in his life. Hunter attempted to use the Cosmic Treadmill to accomplish the feat, but Wally declined. This allowed Hunter to change his relative time and make it seem like he was moving at incredible speeds. Hunter, now nearly insane, donned a costume based on Flash’s former nemesis Zoom and was christened Zoom.

How can we tell the difference?

Eobard Thawne is very similar to Hunter Zolomon, so how can you tell which one you are looking at?

Have a look at this table to know the difference:

Time is usually a good indicator. If you are looking at a comic book published before 2001, then you will be looking at The Reverse-Flash. Zoom is most likely the subject of a comic book from 2001 to The Flash: REBIRTH 2009. Any yellow speedster you see will likely be Eobard after Rebirth when Eobard was resurrected. Although Hunter didn’t disappear after Eobard returned, he was not used as often and has yet to appear in The New 52.

You can also use their enemy as an indicator. The Reverse-Flash was primarily a Barry Allen foe, while Zoom was a Wally West villain. One visual cue can be used to distinguish one from the next. Zoom’s costume hides his eyes. Red pupils and dark lenses often characterize these. Reverse-Flash’s costume makes his eyes visible.

The Reverse-Flash played a major role in FLASHPOINT, the miniseries that launched The New 52. This Flash storyline uses a yellow costume as the Reverse Flash. 

Who is faster: Flash vs. Zoom

If compared by speed alone, Zoom is definitely faster than Flash. This is because Zoom has the ability to slow time around him instead of just super fast, which is what Flash does.

If you’re a Flash fan, then it also goes without saying that Zoom carries much more powerful abilities than Flash himself. Some of these are:

• Superhuman strength
• Superhuman endurance
• Superhuman reflexes
• Intangibility
• Shock waves
• Enhanced Senses
• Enhanced Mental Process
• Energy Projection
• Power distribution

Zoom, despite his name, doesn’t have super speed. He can slow down time relative to him, making everyone around him seem to be standing still. On the other hand, the Flash’s ability uses Speed Force, which allows him to go fast.

However, that does not mean Flash cannot beat Zoom. He has, in fact, several times. But if we are to judge them based solely on who can finish a race first, Zoom would be dubbed the winner.   

Is Reverse-Flash evil?

Reverse-Flash is considered to be one of Barry Allen’s many villains and is considered to possess no moral code, so technically that makes him evil.

One example that showcases Reverse-Flash’s absent moral code is when he kills Barry Allen’s mother. He has also killed and discarded several people with no remorse, which sets him apart from the hero, Barry Allen.

Reverse-Flash is seen as the opposite of Barry Allen’s Flash, hence the name ‘Reverse-Flash.’ They have similar abilities in which they can go very fast, but Reverse-Flash can travel through time. He often uses his powers to travel through different time points to attempt to kill his nemesis, Barry, but since killing Barry would create a paradox in which he wouldn’t exist, the most he can do is make Barry suffer.

Conclusion

• Reverse-Flash and Zoom are both formidable adversaries of Flash. They have distinct identities despite their shared speedster abilities.

• Reverse-Flash is often called “Zoom” or “Professor Zoom” in comics. Eobard Thawne is sometimes the Reverse-Flash.

• On the other hand, Zoom is the villainous persona of Hunter Zolomon. It is the arch-nemesis of Wally West’s Flash.

• Visual differences between them include Zoom’s costume covering his eyes with dark lenses and glowing red eyes. While Reverse-Flash’s costume leaves his eyes uncovered.

• Time is key in distinguishing them. Comics before 2001 were likely to feature Reverse Flash. Zoom appears in works from 2001 to The Flash: REBIRTH 2009.

• Their respective nemeses also help differentiate them. Reverse-Flash primarily clashes with Barry Allen, whereas Zoom opposes Wally West.

• Zoom possesses unique abilities, including the power to slow down time, making him potentially faster than Flash.

• Reverse-Flash is considered evil. It had committed heinous acts without remorse, setting him apart from the hero, Barry Allen.

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