10 Comic Book Supervillains Improved Through Retcon
4. Professor Zoom/Reverse Flash - Eobard Thawne
Eobard Thawne discovered a time capsule with one of Barry Allen’s uniforms and a tachyon device amplifying the Speed Force residing in the suit inside. Calling himself Professor Zoom, he used it to commit crimes but the Flash time-traveled to stop him. Thawne became obsessed with Barry and traveled back in time to replace him. Zoom killed Barry’s wife. And later, when Zoom attempted to kill his new fiancé, Barry snapped Thawne’s neck.
The Reverse Flash that emerged from the Crisis is a Barry Allen groupie who changed his appearance to look like him and found the Cosmic Treadmill in an antique store. Recreating Barry’s accident, Thawne used the Treadmill but arrived after Barry’s death. Zoom fought Wally West, the second Flash. Thawne believed that Barry was destined to kill him and later believed he was Barry until Wally tricked him into traveling back to his native time period.
After Rebirth, Zoom murdered Golden Age hero Johnny Quick and attempted to kill Impulse, Max Mercury, and Wally’s children, who also had speed powers. Thawne also revealed that he was behind the death of Barry’s mother in his youth. Barry and Zoom battled throughout the Speed Force and Jay Garrick disconnected Thawne from his connection to the Force, robbing him of his powers.