Heinous Henchmen Help Hooded Hoodlums

Professor Zoom aka the Reverse Flash and Captain Cold had numerous capers, which brought them into conflict with the Flash of Earth-One and his Justice League allies. Likewise, Sargon and Star-Spangled had scores of adventures alongside their colleagues in the All-Star Squadron, including the Flash of Earth-Two. But their counterparts on each others’ Earth only appeared a few times. This would be compensated by their similarly empowered henchmen.

Saigon’s doppelgänger Mister Element had his key lieutenants named Argon, Krypton, Radon, Xenon and two others. Zoom’s cosmic twin the Rival had a handful of hoodlums with superspeed powers like his and the Professor. Cold’s counterpart Icicle had similar clad henchmen, while former Justice League honorary member and Star-Spangled Kid analogue Snapper “Star Tsar” Carr had his stellar themed gang.

These thugs severed as proxies for the original rogues, and compensated for the deficiency of appearances which their bosses had compared to their correlating counterparts on the alternate Earth.

Terrific Trailblazer Thalfi/Thjalfi

The ancient hero known alternatively as Thalfi and Thjalfi was but a normal man of ancient Earth-S gifted with extraordinary speed. Not much has been revealed of him other than his aiding Norse men of his age, although in the modern era of the 20th century he would be called upon time and again by ally Kid Eternity through the lad's time travel abilities to assist him on cases. 

During the latest known adventure, Thjalfi aided Mary Marvel versus an adversary of hers known as Darkling, freeing her from the crippling shadow powers she manifested. In this way, Thalfi was the polar opposite of his counterparts on Earths One and Two in the sinister speedsters known as Reverse-Flash and Rival, who menaced Kid's counterpart the Flash on multiple occasions.

While Professor Eobard Thawne and Professor Edward Clariss used their super-science to mimic the mastery of motion manifested by Barry Allen and Jay Garrick, respectively, Thjalfi worked alongside Kid Eternity and his alter ego of Mercury to combat evil.

Flash of Two Worlds: Wherefore Art Thou Wives Part 5

After Professor Zoom, in his Reverse-Flash identity, journeyed with his cronies on the Secret Society of Super-Villains to various parallel planets in the Multiverse... including Earth-Two... he returned to his native Earth-One to once more grab the attention of Iris. However, she continued to spurn his advances, leading to his attempt on her life at a masquerade party she attending with her husband Barry "the Flash" Allen. Despite this seemingly being her untimely end, in fact due to her originating from the 30th century her parents of that era used advanced science to emulate her mental impressions, implanting them in a cloned body that would one day be reunited with her true love. However, before this was to happen, Flash would have to face off versus Zoom both immediately after Iris' apparent demise (when his own time travel device ended up sending the Flash to a limbo where he would meet its evil Lord, who would himself complicate the lives of Earth-Two's Flash and his wife later) and then several months later when Zoom attempted to replicate his nefarious feat upon Allen's fiancée Fiona Webb. 

On that occasion, it was Zoom who perished when his arch-foe out of self-defense protected Fiona at the cost of the Professor's existence. After leaving Fiona on the alter, quite literally, the Flash came to realize that he had to face justice for the slaying of his opposite opponent, even though it was unintentional. And, in fact, it was Iris herself who with the aid of an unsuspecting attorney successfully defended the Scarlet Speedster from the spurious charges lodged against him. Once the couple left the 20th century for Iris' time, they were able to settle down... albeit only briefly before the Flash gave his life during the Crisis on Infinite Earths for all Earths! But not before they would conceive twin children, Don and Dawn, who would carry on the Flash's tradition.

And yet, in-between the time Barry-Flash thought he lost his love and when he learned she was awaiting him elsewhen, he had to intervene in his counterpart's life, as Jay-Flash faced an equally dire threat facing his wife, Joan! For this, we come full circle in our final Flash of Two Worlds team-up, when once more an old ally of the Scarlet Speedsters was needed to save a wife of a Flash!

Flash of Two Worlds: Wherefore Art Thou Wives Part 4

Traveling 1000 years into the future, the Flash of Earth-One... Barry Allen... was finally able to locate his wife Iris. Having been negatively charged with radiation that would react to the Flash's superspeed aura in a dire way to their universe, Iris had been kept from her husband first by first being transported to Earth-Two where that Flash... Jay Garrick... and his ally Doctor Fate tried to cure her. Failing in that, Iris ended up in her parent's era of the 30th century, still plagued with the toxic energy implanted in her by Professor Zoom... the Reverse-Flash. Zoom's ploy was to end up marrying Iris in another time... however his arch-foe Barry- Flash succeeded in finding the means to rectify the situation. Nevertheless, Zoom would not stop in his schemes to obtain Iris.

Just as the case of Iris Allen's disappearance had wrapped up, another threat occurred to Jay-Flash's wife Joan Garrick. His old opponent, the Thorn, had attempted to use Joan as a hostage to lure the Scarlet Speedster into a trap. Like Zoom, the Thorn possessed both cunning and superspeed in the form of a spinning technique. However, also like Zoom, she was easily vanquished by the Fastest Man Alive on her Earth. Nevertheless, a greater danger laid ahead for Joan as well.

Flash of Two Worlds: Wherefore Art Thou Wives Part 2

A few scant years after Barry Allen and Iris West married... narrowly avoiding a disasterous wedding day due to the matchinations of the Menace of Motion, Professor Zoom... the Sinister Speedster returned to bedevil the Scarlet Speedster and his wife. Ensnaring Barry in a seemingly full-proof trap that would wear him down into nothing, Zoom once more assumed the alias and appearance of Allen and pretended to be Iris's husband for the rest of the day. Would his scheme finally succeed where his previous had failed? Would the Professor finally obtain the object of his affection now that the Flash had perished?

As it turned out, Flash was able to find the means to escape Zoom's advanced weaponry. At the same time, Iris quickly realized from the watch worn by "Barry" that in fact he was an imposter, an imposter who would not accept no for an answer as to his proposal. 

Before he could attack Mrs. Allen, Zoom suddenly faced the owner of the home, and the real Mr. Allen once more proved he was not only the Fastest Man Alive but the Fastest Thinker as well... outsmarting Zoom. With regards to Barry's counterpart on Earth-Two, Jay Garrick, well Jay was at that time busy assisting his fellow Justice Socialites versus Vulcan, Son of Fire! However, after this encounter with Barry-Flash, Zoom would travel with his Secret Society of Super-Villain cronies to face Jay and his team over a period of several months (which ultimately ended the same for the bad Professor, in failure!).

Flash of Two Worlds: Wherefore Art Thou Wives Part 1

Thrice previous, the Flash of Earth-One faced his most persistent and deadliest foe, Eobard Thawne... also known as Professor Zoom or the Reverse-Flash. The villain gained that last alias by retrieving a spare Flash uniform in a time capsule, and extracting from it the residual speedforce of its former owner, thus gaining superspeed himself. Only he sought to use such abilities for crime instead of justice, in both his own 24th century and in the Flash's 20th century. Eventually, Thawne realized he was missing out on the "good life" of his arch-enemy, and so traded places with the Flash. With the Monarch of Motion now trapped in a futuristic prison, the Menace of Motion changed his appearence to that of Flash's alter ego, Barry Allen, and absorbed recent memories of Barry in order to assume both his civilian and costumed identities. Finally, he realized what a gem Allen had in his fiancee, Iris West... and so intended to marry her.

However, the Flash found away out of Zoom's prison, and returned to the 20th century to face off versus the Professor. Meanwhile, Thawne had now met Iris at the altar to marry her in front of her friends and family. However, the Flash arrived and grapped the groom, as both adversaries left behind a stunned audience. Zoom had a device in his possession that animated objects to bend to his will, which he used versus  the Flash, yet this was not enough for him to defeat the Fastest Man Alive. Barry knew how to draw out Eobard, by chasing after his foe and luring him to a body of water... where Zoom sunk into as he was not yet skilled in running across water. When the authorities from his native time retrieved the Professor, the real Barry Allen was able to return to the wedding gathering and complete his vows.

Interestingly, at this marital event, there was a notable absence... Jay Garrick aka the Flash of Earth-Two. Where was he at this time? Well, at approximately this same time, Jay and his fellow Justice Society of America allies journeyed to Earth-A instead of Earth-One... a fraudulent world created by that world's Johnny Thunder.  Okay, the Earth-A incident occured on September 1965 instead of November 1966 when the wedding took place, however given the different vibratory frequencies between Earths this would be around the same timeframe... and hence the reason Jay wasn't present to see his best friend Barry get married, and was thus unable to aid him versus Zoom. But he would aid him later on, years later into Barry and Iris' new life together, which had its share of twists and turns that would test the depth of their love for one another.

Corrupt Counterparts of the Fastest Men Alive

Eobard Thawne and Professor Edward Clariss, as previously mentioned, used their considerable intellect to artificially reproduce the superspeed manifested by their hated obsession, the Flash of Two Worlds. Their motivation being greed for ill-gotten gains was exceeded in Thawne's case by his lust for Iris West, the wife of Barry "Flash" Allen. 

Thawne adopted various aliases during his criminal career throughout the years. Not only did these include the Reverse Flash, but also Professor Adrian Zoom. On at least one occasion, Eobard even assumed the alter ego of the Flash himself, after temporarily ensnaring Barry Allen in a seemingly inescapable trap. Interestingly, there is evidence that Clariss also had another alter ego, prior to his appearance as the Rival.

By the time Clariss had encountered Jay "Flash" Garrick's girlfriend Joan Williams, he was of to advanced an age to notice her at that point. However, in the years leading up to his return to Keystone City, during the early 1940s Edward stated he moved to Europe to pursue his superspeed research. Feeling disenfranchised with the United States, whose scientists scoffed at his scientific theories, the German government would've supported for his passion project.

Siegfried the Speedster aka Zyklon appeared in early 1942 working alongside Baron Blitzkrieg, and battled the Flash and Johnny Quick on one occasion. When he disappeared by 1943, the Flash assumed the Siegfried alter ego in a scheme to assist his Justice Society teammate Wonder Woman. So one may ask, are Zyklon and Rival one and the same*?

Just like Clariss, Thawne had a propensity to assume other identities to disguise his amoral agenda. Among these aliases Sorban, when Zoom pretended to be the alien Venturian gambler. Zoom along with a fake version of that Sorban’s partner Rokk fabricated a race involving Flash and Superman (Rokk was in reality another foe of the Flash, Abra Kadabra, and the pair were revealed following the conclusion of the heroes' race).

When Zyklon's superspeed was shown to be second best to America's twin speedsters, the Flash and Johnny Quick, apparently Clariss was encouraged to devote his time to other scientific pursuits. This left him bitter and disenfranchised, motivating him to resume a costumed career, as a mirror image of the original Flash. Which is ironic, since the Flash became a mirror image of Zyklon years earlier when he briefly became Siegfried the Speedster.

* While Zyklon spoke in a German accent including using distinct Germanic vocabulary, undoubtedly Zoom likewise mimicked the vocal cadence of Sorban's alien dialect.

Evil Elementals: Elemental Enemies of the Flash

As infants, Albert Desmond and John Sargent were each exposed to a powerful ruby which gave them mastery over the elements as adults. Both men flirted with good and evil in their costumed careers, each encountering the Flash.

As a scientist with criminal leanings, Albert devised an elemental gun which could transmute objects, and used this as the sinister mastermind known as Mister Element. Taking Central City of Earth-One by storm with his criminal gang, he faced the town's new hero the Flash. Despite quick thinking and awesome adaptability, Mister Element was no match for his fleet footed foe.

Soon after, Desmond discovered the Philosopher's Stone which gave him even greater abilities as Doctor Alchemy. After a rematch with Flash, he joined fellow villains of Earths One and Two to form the Crime Champions, battling the Justice League and Justice Society.  The Earth-Two Stone was first claimed by the criminal Slicer and later by Professor Zobar Zodiak. Slicer was his world's version of Albert's evil cousin Alvin, who also used the stone.

As a stage performer with heroic aspirations, John Sargent utilized his ruby of life to control matter to become the caped crusader known as Sargon. Travelling across America and to other countries on his native Earth-Two, Sargon battled a variety of foes. Using his quick thinking along with with adaptable abilities, he even earned a spot on the All-Star Squadron, working alongside the golden age Flash.

Unlike Desmond, who had his wife Rita to stabilize him with her love to become a law-abiding citizen, Sargent left the woman in his life, Flora Styles, who had been his moral compass when he eventually moved to Earth-One for a a few decades and turned evil.

In fact, an adverse influence to each of them was Eubard Thawne, also known as Professor Zoom or the Reverse Flash. Zoom brainwashed Desmond into resuming his Mister Element alias on two occasions, to further Thawne's own scientific research. Later, Sargon enlisted the aid of Zoom to assist him in learning the secrets of time travel.

Just as there were twin rubies on Sargon's world, so too they existed on Element's world. The one known as the dragon's eye ruby ring was owned by Desmond since his youth, just as Sargon's ruby was a childhood inheritance.The other Earth-Two ruby ring was possessed by police detective Jim Corrigan, and for a time by a common criminal, while the other Earth-One ruby ring was possessed by Latin America dictator Pedro Valdez. 

In fact, the rubies that Desmond and Sargent each owned were temporarily claimed by actor "Brick" Ford and Jerry "the Gyp" Swain, immediately after Albert was cured of his ruby's influence (thanks to Flash's help), and John's ruby was stolen from his apartment. Each ruby teleported to those "in need" of them after the former owner no longer had use of them. Eventually, one of the Earth-One rubies was destroyed by Wonder Woman, and Sargon's Earth-Two ruby returned with him there during the Crisis on Infinite Earths.

Fiends Face Fleet-Footed Week: Fast Foes

In 1949 on Earth-Two and 1963 (or thereabouts) on Earth-One, the Fastest Men Alive on two worlds encountered their most viable threat. They had built careers on the premise that they could outrun, and out-think, their opponents at superspeed. Only now, their latest foes had their superspeed!

Professor Adrian Zoom of the 24th century journeyed back to the 20th century to duplicate...and surpass...the success of the Flash. Using a process whereby he extracted the hero's powers from his costume, Zoom adopted the alias of the Reverse Flash, with the intent on stealing the love of his foe' Barry Allen's greatest love Iris West! Professor Edward Clariss was a scientist at the university where a young Jay Garrick gained his superpowers, and when he was scoffed for his theory on the basis of said powers he fled the country (and became Zyklon?). Returning years later having perfected a temporary means to replicate the superspeed, he and his gang of crooks used this speed to terrorize Keystone City.

Both men ended up in reported final clashes with the Flashes whereby Zoom was accidentally killed when his Flash prevented him from attacking Barry's new fiancee, and Clariss was consumed by the same force of speed that propelled him towards his former student, Jay.