Speed Force # 1 First Appearance of Cobalt Blue Malcolm Thawne 1997 VG

Bottom staples lose from cover

Speed Force #1 (November 1997) is a 55-page anthology giant special published by DC Comics that explores the deep mythology of the Speed Force—the extra-dimensional cosmic energy source that powers DC's speedsters.

The issue is highly significant to Flash lore because it features the historic first appearance of Cobalt Blue (Malcolm Thawne), who is revealed to be the long-lost twin brother of Barry Allen.

The Five Anthology Stories

Instead of a single narrative, the comic splits into five distinct stories, each tracking a different member of the Flash family:

• "Burning Secrets" (Flash & Kid Flash): Written by Mark Waid. Wally West recounts a past adventure where he and Barry Allen fought the newly introduced Cobalt Blue. Cobalt Blue possesses a blue flame talisman capable of siphoning a speedster's momentum. This marks the only time Wally ever saw Barry show true fear.
• "Like Straws in a Hurricane" (Jesse Quick): Written by William Messner-Loebs. It explores Jesse Quick’s perspective and unique psychological struggles navigating her connection to the Speed Force.
• "Child’s Play" (Max Mercury): Written by Brian Augustyn. This tale features the zen-master speedster Max Mercury and reveals his late 1800s superhero persona, Whip Whirlwind.
• "A Stranger With My Face" (Jay Garrick): Written and illustrated by legendary creator John Byrne. It spotlights the original Golden Age Flash, Jay Garrick, as a grounded anchor in the speedster community.
• "The Sacrifice" (The Mystery Flash): Written by Mark Waid and Brian Augustyn. Set in the future on the planet Petrus, a futuristic Flash named Blaine Allen attempts to save his son, Jace, who has been poisoned by Cobalt Blue. Blaine sacrifices himself to become one with the Speed Force, which inadvertently grants Jace super-speed and saves the boy's life.