The Flash
Overview
After a freak accident grants Barry Allen incredible speed, he becomes The Flash and takes on crime in Central City. The series mixes comic book spectacle with noir tinged action and drama
Synopsis
Barry Allen, a Central City police scientist, is transformed by an accident that leaves him able to move faster than anyone alive. With guidance from S.T.A.R. Labs and a growing circle of allies, he forges a new identity as The Flash. Each episode blends case of the week action with ongoing conflicts against colorful, dangerous opponents. Barry balances duty, personal loss, and the strain of keeping his secret while trying to protect the city. The show’s darker mood, practical stunts, and stylized visuals set it apart from many superhero series of its era
Cast
John Wesley Shipp — Barry Allen / The Flash
Amanda Pays — Tina McGee
Alex Désert — Julio Mendez
Paula Marshall — Iris West
Biff Manard — Leonard Wynters
Mike Genovese — Lt. Garfield
Richard Belzer — Joe Kline
Trivia
Think early-1990s network TV trying blockbuster-level superhero visuals. One clue involves a major comic-book artist behind the show’s look.
Q1: Which comic-book artist served as a key visual consultant/producer influence on the 1990 series, helping shape its darker, cinematic style?
Answer: Tim Burton
His involvement signaled an attempt to bring a big-screen comic aesthetic to weekly television.
Q2: What was the original U.S. network for The Flash (1990)?
Answer: CBS
The network context explains the show’s budget ambitions and why it struggled in a competitive schedule.
Q3: Which feature-length pilot presentation helped launch The Flash (1990) on TV?
Answer: A two-hour pilot episode
The oversized pilot reflected the era’s strategy of event-style premieres to sell expensive genre shows.