Comics 101
The Flashes' Secret Ids Going Public: Part Ten - Barry's Parents
By SNW21
May 6, 2003 - 13:21:00 PM

I have some interesting news about Barry telling his parents his secret identity. I did some research and found something very interesting indeed.

As Hol pointed out, Barry told his father his secret identity when the Top took over his father's body. This happened after his father and mother were in a car accident that happened in The Flash#297. In The Flash#302, Barry reveals his secret identity to his father, who's body was possessed by The Top at the time. Barry's father got back into his body by the end of The Flash#303 issue. It turns out that Barry's father still knew Barry's secret identity once his astral form went back into his body. This happened after Barry got The Top's astral form out of his father's body. In short, even though Barry's father wasn't in his body at the time when Barry revealed his secret identity, his astral form was probably around and heard the whole thing. How can we assume this? Because once Barry's father's astral form went back into his body, he called The Flash, Barry and by the next panel, son.

This takes care of his father. What about his mother? Well, in The Flash#303, Barry decides to wait until she's stronger to tell her his secret identity (as Barry says to himself on page 2). Here's where it gets interesting. I looked through every issue after that and by The Flash#312, page 2, we hear Barry's mother say the following to Barry over the phone:

"Well, son, it does seem like we haven't heard from you much since our recuperation from that nasty accident last year! But Henry and I aren't complaining! Ever since you told us during our recovery that you're The Flash, we've understood how busy you must be!"

Now, based on this statement, we know that both his parents know his secret identity now. When did Barry tell his mother though? My guess is it happened off panel between the end of #303 and the beginning of The Flash#304. Why? For two reasons. The first reason is because there's no mention of it nor do we see his parents from the end of The Flash#303-312. The second reason I think it was between the end of #303 and the beginning of The Flash#304 is because of a few lines in #303. On page 12, Barry wonders, "What am I going to say to mom when she asks me why dad hasn't been by for a visit for the past two days?" This alone tells you Barry was gonna have to say something the next time he saw her. Finally, on page 19, after Barry's father comes about he says, "We'd better get over to the hospital, son--your poor mother must be worried out of her mind! Barry replies, "Now that's my dad!" And keep in mind that Barry was going to tell his parents after the accident, but didn't end up finding the right time to tell them. I think after everything that happened in that storyline (from The Flash#297-303), I think Barry was ready to spill the beans to his mother. If not, then just by looking at Barry's father's face when he said those words and Barry's response (and Barry's big smile at the end of the issue), you'd just have to assume that if he wasn't going to tell her then his father would. Based on what was said in The Flash#312, Barry told his mother and she assumed Barry was telling both of them about his secret identity for the first time (which we all know isn't true based on the end of The Flash#303).

In conclusion, Barry told his father his secret identity in The Flash#302 and his mother probably between the end of #303 and the beginning of The Flash#304. Unless there are anymore questions, I think we can safely say the identity questions have been answered.

SNW21

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