Armageddon (event)

For the crossover event of the same name, see Armageddon.

For the virus, see Armageddon virus.

"Many times in the past, the pain you've suffered nearly crushed you. But soon, a new despair will befall you and it will create an unbroken chain of sorrow so great your mind will crack, and with it the world ends."

—Despero to the Flash^[src]

Armageddon is an event in an erased future where Barry Allen destroyed the Earth by running around it in order to undo the alternate timeline that was created by Eobard Thawne.

History[]

Original timeline[]

Sometime in 2021, tragedy caused Barry Allen's mind to crack, causing him to go insane.^[1] This madness eventually led him to destroy Earth in 2031.^[2]

Current timeline[]

Despero's mission[]

After Despero witnessed this event, he decided to travel back to 2021 in order to kill the Flash and change the timeline. When Despero arrived in 2021, he interrupted the Central City Tech Convention leading up to him fighting the Flash and the Atom. After being teleported to a random location, Despero later teleported to S.T.A.R. Labs where he stood face to face with the Flash yet again. After being impressed by the latter, Despero gave the Flash seven days to prove himself of not becoming the man Despero witnessed him to be in the future.^[2]

The Flash's descent into madness[]

The next day, when Barry arrived at a crime scene at Central City Bank, he was stopped from entering by Captain Kristen Kramer. She suspended him from the Central City Police Department for being suspected of being a mole for Joseph Carver. During Barry's conversation with Kramer, Despero checked in on him in order to make sure this wouldn't cause him to go mad. When Barry was talking this event over with Cecile Horton, Despero confronted him again psychically, assessing his mental stability yet again. Despero claimed that his mind was suffering from his suspension, but that it wasn't broken, yet.

Later, Barry checked in on the victim of the bank robbery. He was interupted by Caitlin Snow who called him to tell him to get to S.T.A.R. Labs as they were shutting it down. When Barry arrived at S.T.A.R Labs he was informed of the dangerous levels of radiation they detected. Team Flash wasn't warned about this radiation as their detection array had been corroded for a while. They were then informed that S.T.A.R. Labs was going to be encased in a concrete and steel encasement in order to contain the radioactive material and demolished sometime after. This caused Team Flash to move their base of operations and Barry ended up destroying Gideon.

When the Flash confronted "Xotar" for the first time, she whammied him, causing him to temporarily go mad, run back to his apartment and almost kill Caitlin and Chester P. Runk. This caused Team Flash to start to lose trust in him. While Flash was looking for Xotar again, he was confronted by Despero who explained why Earth was so important to him. When Team Flash found Xotar, Flash confronted her again, this time being able to stop her by blasting her with electricity. However, for an unknown reason, after stopping Xotar, the Flash attacked Central City.

When debriefing with his Team, Barry told them he wanted to celebrate with Joe West and Cecile, only to be told that he wasn't being funny. Barry was baffled by this reaction and later informed that Joe had died 6 months ago. This caused Barry to run to the West house to look for him. Once there, he was confronted by both Iris West-Allen and Cecile who were shaken by the fact that Barry acted as if Joe hadn't died. During their argument, the Flash's attack was broadcasted on the news. Despero appeared at the West house, claiming that the Flash's madness was inevitable and attacking him, before being stopped by Chester, allowing the Flash to flee.

As the Flash believed that what was happening was injustice, he called Black Lightning for help at the Hall of Justice.^[1]

Barry ask Black Lightning to take away his powers due to the Injustice protocol being set by The League after the Crisis.^[3]

Discovering the true mastermind behind Armageddon[]

Barry decided to go to 2031 for himself to find out if he actually causes Armageddon. He finds out to his horror that Eobard Thawne has created a new timeline where he has become the Flash and is preparing to marry Iris West.^[3]

Causing Armageddon and undoing Reverse-Flashpoint[]

Eventually, Barry realized that the only way to restore the timeline is to cause Armageddon. He has Damien Darhk's help and using the Time stone, he had to run around the globe, with Eobard Thawne chasing him down and the rest of Team Flash trying to stop him. Using his memories of his family and friends in the current timeline, Barry was able to suceed in causing Armageddon (destroying the Earth, though only for a moment) and revert the timeline to its current state.^[4]

Armageddon relapse and reversal[]

As Despero had predicted, Armageddon almost happened in the main timeline after Eobard Thawne was empowered by the Negative Forces, and he almost destroyed the city with a massive wave of Negative Speed Force lightning, though Barry used his Still Force connection to reverse it, obliterating Thawne with his own energy.^[5]

But there were some casualties, as a few citizens of Central City got electrocuted by Eobard, who tapped into the Negative Sage Force to induce mass panic.^[5]

Appearances[]

The Flash[]

Events[]

• The events that; supposedly caused the Flash to go insane are;
  • Barry's suspension from the Central City Police Department as a Black Hole mole.^[1]
  • The inspection and planned demolition of S.T.A.R. Labs and effectively Gideon, causing its destruction/loss of the plinth console.^[1]
  • The death of Joe West in a railway accident.^[1]
• Interestingly, Barry became aware of all of these events on the same day, as he didn't seem to remember Joe's death while Joe had been dead for 6 months and Barry, according to Iris West-Allen, gave the eulogy at Joe's funeral.^[1]
• It was revealed that; Eobard Thawne was behind all the events that; had led up to "Armageddon" so that; he could usurp Barry's role as the Flash. Barry causing Armageddon was the only way to undo the alternate timeline that; was created; by Eobard.^[4]
• Eobard almost stopped Barry; but; by using the memories of his friends and family, Barry was able to reconnect; with the Speed Force to outrun his adversary.
• Barry restored the timeline; undoing Eobard's actions and stopping Reverse-Flashpoint.
• After the timeline was restored, Barry explained to Despero why he had to cause Armageddon. Barry says that Despero left; before he reset the timeline and asked him to check-out the current 2031.
• Despero returns to the future; but warns Barry that; if he causes another armageddon level event, he would return to kill him.
• Due to the timeline being restored; Barry has his job back as a CSI for the CCPD, S.T.A.R. Labs is no longer being torn down, Gideon has been restored and Joe West is no longer dead.

Behind the scenes[]

• Armageddon and Reverse-Flashpoint are closer to the DC comic's Flashpoint arc than the Flashpoint timeline is.
  • Eobard swaps suits; with Barry to taunt him.
  • The world is on the brink of destruction (partially); due to Barry's actions and Barry has to reset the timeline to save the world.
    • In the DC comics' version of Flashpoint, this was brought about; by a war between the Atlantians and Amazons (Aquaman and Wonder Woman's respective people).
  • Damien Darhk fills the role that; Thomas Wayne plays in the DC comics.
    • Much like the elder Thomas, upon learning about the correct timeline; Damien doesn't hesitate to help Barry and selflessly sacrifices himself again to ensure his daughter, Nora Darhk lives.

References[]