Barry Allen

Few characters embody the sweep of comics history quite like this Barry Allen — a Silver Age figure whose debut landed in 1966 courtesy of the legendary duo Bill Finger and Bob Kane, and who has kept remarkable company ever since, sharing pages with the likes of Superman, Batman, Bruce Wayne, Green Lantern, and the Flash across a publishing life stretching an impressive six decades. With 32 catalog appearances spanning titles as varied as Flash, Spécial DC, and the wonderfully named Captain Carotte et son fabuleux Zoo Club, this is clearly a character whose presence runs through the distinctive world of Arédit-Artima's French-market comics in a way that rewards the curious collector. At least one of those appearances carries key-issue status, making the hunt all the more worthwhile. Whether you're a devotee of Franco-Belgian comics history or simply drawn in by that stellar roster of co-stars, Barry Allen is a name worth tracking down on your shelf.