Who Would Win: Barry Allen and Wally West vs Quicksilver and The Runner

The debate over who would win in a fight between Barry Allen and Wally West, or between Quicksilver and The Runner, is a popular topic among comic book enthusiasts. This article delves into the strengths and abilities of each character, aiming to provide a comprehensive analysis based on their most prominent characteristics and histories.

Understanding the Opponents

The question is often reduced to a simple ranking of power levels, but the analysis must consider several factors, including the sources of their speed, their understanding of the Speed Force, and their history.

The Speed Vector

Quicksilver is known to be able to move at 4-5 times the speed of sound, which is impressive but not the top speed possible. His powers are derived from his mutant abilities and are not directly linked to the Speed Force, meaning his speed is limited by a ceiling.

The Flash (Barry Allen) is the speedster par excellence, whose powers are entirely derived from the Speed Force. The Speed Force allows him to maintain any speed he wishes, given sufficient conservation of energy and without physical boundaries, making him significantly more powerful in this regard.

The Speed Master: Wally West

Wally West (The Flash of the Cosmic Era) is a more nuanced character. Despite being initially weaker than Barry, his understanding of the Speed Force and his usage of it far surpass Barry's. Wally has broken the barrier of faster-than-light travel multiple times, demonstrating his superior grasp of the Speed Force and his ability to utilize it more efficiently.

Conversely, Barry Allen has admitted that Wally is faster than him and is the "fastest man alive." Despite Barry's incredible speed, Wally's mental and tactical superiority allow him to utilize his speed more effectively.

Master Manipulator: The Runner

The Runner (or Hal Jordan in his Yellow Lantern persona) is an Elder of the Universe, a being of immense power. His mastery of speed is derived from his cosmic origins and his abilities go far beyond the Speed Force. The Runner can manipulate and control the fundamental forces of the universe to a degree that surpasses humanoid speedsters like Barry and Wally.

Direct Confrontations

Barry Allen and Quicksilver: In a direct confrontation, Barry easily overpowers Quicksilver. Quicksilver's maximum speed of 4-5 times the speed of sound pales in comparison to Barry's ability to move at the speed of light. Barry could even use his Infinite Mass Punch, which would likely cause instant death to Quicksilver, who has no defenses against such a powerful strike.

Wally West and Quicksilver: Wally, with his true understanding of and ability to manipulate the Speed Force, would have an advantage over Quicksilver. Wally's ability to break the FTL barrier and his understanding of the Speed Force make him a formidable opponent. However, Quicksilver's inherent speed is formidable and would put up a significant challenge.

The Runner's Uphill Battle

The Runner vs Quicksilver: The Runner is a different kind of opponent altogether. His powers are cosmic and derive from his status as an Elder of the Universe. While Quicksilver is limited by his speed ceiling, The Runner's abilities can manipulate the very fabric of reality, making the fight more complex and less strictly about speed.

Conclusion

Ranking these characters in a fight, we can conclude that the order from weakest to strongest would be:

While Quicksilver is certainly powerful, Wally's true understanding of the Speed Force and his mental prowess give him a significant edge. Meanwhile, The Runner's cosmic origins and vast abilities provide him with a unique advantage that puts him at the top of the hierarchy.

The lack of equal figures in the DC and Marvel universes makes a matchup between specific members of differing universes less straightforward, but based on the information available, The Flash (Barry Allen), Wally West, and The Runner emerge as the strongest among these characters, with Quicksilver lagging behind in terms of sheer power.