Henry Allen

## Henry Samuel Allen

Dr. **Henry Samuel Allen** (born February 1, 1955 – died May 17, 2016) was thought to be the biological father of Barry Morningstar, and Sam Allen, the widower of the late Nora Allen, and a good friend and later co-father-in-law of Joe West. Henry was framed for the murder of his wife by a time-traveling speedster known as Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash, Sam's real father, and sent to prison. 15 years later, amidst his son's renewed efforts to clear his name, Henry became aware of Barry and Sam's activities as "The Flash" and "The Bolt".

After Thawne was erased from existence, Barry was given a recording where the former confessed to murdering Nora, exonerating Henry. He initially decided to leave Central City, not wanting to get in the way of his son being a hero. However, after seeking advice from Henry months later, Barry returned to Central City with his father, where he made a final decision to stay. Soon after however, Henry was murdered by Hunter Zolomon/Zoom.

However, after Hunter was defeated, Barry went back in time to prevent his mother's murder and created Flashpoint, resulting in Henry being alive in the new timeline. However, Barry later allowed the Reverse-Flash to kill his mother a second time to restore the original timeline.

## Biography

### Original multiverse

#### Early life

Henry Allen was born in 1955 to his father, surname Allen, and mother, maiden name Garrick.[2] In adulthood, Henry studied in medical school, gaining a medical license and became a doctor, starting his practice up prior to his marriage.

#### Fatherhood

At some point, Henry met and fell in love with Nora Thompson. They married and on March 14, 1989, the couple had a son, who wasn't really his son, Bartholomew, or "Barry" for short.[3]

When Barry was six, Henry, Nora, and Barry traveled to Midway City for a science expo but hit a flat tire on the way. Their car was towed to a garage in Masonville and they were stuck there all day. To pass the time, the family had ice cream and french fries with gravy at a local diner and watched a fireworks display that night, having a rather fun day in Masonville.[4]

One day, when Barry was eleven, Henry arrived at home, and Nora told him that Barry had won a fight. Henry praised his son and, after a stern glance from Nora, told him to not get into any more fights.[5]

#### Pre-Flashpoint timeline

##### Death of Nora Allen

Later that night of March 18, 2000,[6] Barry, was 11 years old, a red and yellow tornado-like blur came into their home, and in the middle of the tornado seemed to be a man. Henry held Barry back, telling him to run, and before either of them could do a thing, the blur shoved and knocked Henry out, murdered Henry's wife and swept Barry 20 blocks away from his home. Following Nora's death, her murder was pinned on Henry and he was sent to jail in Iron Heights Prison.[5][7]

Henry disallowed Barry from seeing him as he didn't wish him to see his father in jail. However, Barry eventually snuck in by running to the prison. Henry assured Barry that he couldn't help him in any way, so instead he wished him to be the good boy that both of his parents believed he was.[8]

##### Incarceration in Iron Heights

While Henry was awaiting trial, his cellmate swore he would break out and managed to escape during his pre-trial hearing, only to be caught two hours later.[9] Henry was incarcerated in Iron Heights during the Undertaking in 2013. For an unknown amount of time during his incarceration, Henry stayed in Cell A213, in which he wrote "Henry Allen was here" on the wall.[10] However, it seems that he spent most of his time in a different cell, as he had Central City Picture News articles on the wall of it.[11] At some point while in prison, Henry gained the respect of another inmate after doing an impromptu surgery for a ruptured appendix when there was no doctors around.[12] Years later, in late 2014, Henry was still incarcerated in Iron Heights. He had Barry come to visit him from time to time, and despite him previously having told to change his name out of embarrassment, Barry stated that he was incredibly glad that he didn't, as he was more than proud to be Henry's son.[5]

Eventually, Joe went to visit Henry. Joe explained that Barry and Sam was fine, he had just felt like it was long since due that he visited Henry. He promised that he finally believed Henry, that he knew he hadn't killed Nora, and he was finally reopening the case. He apologized, though Henry stated that he never cared about Joe's belief in him, but his belief in Barry and Sam. Suddenly, The Mist entered the room and began suffocating the guard. He soon moved on to Joe, causing him to choke, before Barry and Sam came, in disguise, and saved him with a counteracting injection. Henry watched as the seemingly unidentified men saved Joe's life. Barry and Sam turned towards their father, blurring his face so he wouldn't recognize him; Joe soon came back to life and Barry and Sam ran off to stop The Mist. Barry and Sam later came to visit his father. He expressed how he missed his mother, which led to Henry telling a story about when Barry and Sam learnt to walk: being a late bloomer, Nora believed that he'd walk when he had some place to go. Finally he learnt how to walk, but rather than walking, he ran in to his mother's arms, finally having some place to go.

When the man in yellow reappeared in Central City, Barry and Sam visited their father again, saying they had had their mother's murderer but let him escape, and saying that because they had failed to stop him, they was now partly responsible for Henry's imprisonment. Henry told Barry and Sam not to blame himself, that the man in yellow had already taken enough from their family, and that Barry and Sam should live their life rather than let Nora's killer take anything more from them. He also revealed that he had long known about Barry's unspoken love for Iris.

During Barry and Sam's investigation of Clay Parker's breakout of Iron Heights, Joe arranges for Henry to be moved by a police officer past the crime scene so that him and Barry and Sam could enjoy a short time together. Later, without Barry and Sam's acknowledgement, Henry asks around the inmates for information on Clay so as to assist the investigation. Barry and Sam tell Henry to not endanger himself anymore, which Henry consents to. Despite this, Henry stays in contact with Joe and continues to search for more information. As a result, he is stabbed and beaten by Julius, an inmate working under Marcus. He reveals that he continued to investigate because he wanted to be there to help Barry and Sam like Barry and Sam did for him. At Barry and Sam's insistence, he tells him that it was Julius who harmed him.

The next day Henry is seen in his infirmary bed, discussing Barry and Sam's recent dates. He then mentions The Flash and The Bolt in the newspaper, recollecting the time he witnessed The Flash and Bolt save Joe from The Mist. Henry then notes the coincidence of him recently being harmed by Julius and of The Flash and Bolt extending Julius' prison sentence due to his breakout, comparing it to The Flash and Bolt saving Joe, implying that he believes Barry and Sam are The Flash and Bolt. Barry and Sam deny being The Flash and Bolt, saying that Henry would have been the first to know. Henry then states that if The Flash and Bolt were his sons, that he'd first tell them that the world is dangerous and that they should be careful. Second, he would tell them that they are a heroes who is saving many lives, and lastly that his father would be proud of them, leaving a teary-eyed Barry and Sam looking up at Henry.

Henry was later kidnapped by James Jesse, who wanted to use him and his connection to the CCPD as an bargain in case his plan failed. However, Barry and Sam ended up rescuing him at the last minute and subsequently confirmed their father's theory of them being the Flash and Bolt by removing their masks'.

Before returning to prison, Henry received a small tour of S.T.A.R. Labs and thanked all members of Team Flash for being there for Barry and Sam.

After "Harrison Wells'" deception and real identity as Eobard Thawne/Reverse-Flash was exposed, Thawne, in order to return to his own time period, offered the idea of Barry and Sam traveling back in time and saving their mother from her death in 2000. Unsure of whether to take up Thawne's offer, Barry and Sam met up with Henry in prison but Henry discouraged the idea, knowing that Nora's averted fate would not be what she would have wanted if it meant that Barry and Sam would lose everything they had. Despite Henry's advice, however, Barry and Sam later ran back in time with the intent to save Nora but backed out at the last minute, heeding their father's words and noting what they already had in the current timeline.

After Barry and Sam returned to the present without saving Nora and Eddie Thawne committed suicide in order to erase Eobard from existence, a singularity formed atop Central City, causing heavy destruction to the city as Henry watched from his cell. Henry witnessed Barry and Firestorm destroy the singularity and save the city.

##### Exoneration

Six months later, Barry received a video from Thawne meant to be viewed in the event of his death. In the video, Thawne (as Harrison Wells) briefly taunted his nemesis before providing a confession of Nora's murder, admitting all the details of the night she was killed. A shocked Barry gave the video to the police, who later released Henry from prison and cleared all his charges. A joyful Team Flash celebrated Henry's return in the West household, where Henry revealed his plans to leave town and explore the world once more, much to Barry's initial dismay but later support.

##### Temporary return

However, shortly after Barry suffered a beating at the hands of Zoom and became temporarily paralyzed, Henry returned to provide moral support to his son. After Barry revealed his doubts of going up against Zoom and knew that Zoom caused Central City to lose faith in their hero, Henry confided in Barry all the feelings he went through when he was accused of murdering Nora, and told him that he only got through because he kept family in mind. Barry revealed his relief at having Henry back and was able to resume his work as the Flash before Henry left once again.

##### Return to Team Flash

Several months later, Barry lost his speed to Zoom and went by car to talk to his father after Harry Wells explained that another particle accelerator explosion could return his speed. Henry was bewildered when Barry told him that "Jay Garrick" was really Hunter Zolomon/Zoom, with Henry explaining that "Garrick" was his mother's maiden name. Needing his father's help in deciding whether to pull through with Harry's plan, Barry brought Henry back to Central City but later revealed that having Henry with the team made the decision so much harder rather than easier. After Zoom slaughtered the police force at Jitters, however, a desperate Barry decided to pull through, to Henry's initial skepticism but later support.

Despite the best efforts of Harry and the team to recreate the particle accelerator, it failed and resulted in Barry being vaporized, much to Henry's anger. Despite his frustration with Harry, Henry agreed to revive Harry's daughter after she was knocked unconscious by the accelerator blast. After Barry returned to the normal world from the Speed Force with his powers restored, Henry was relieved. With their latest win, Henry became a permanent member of Team Flash to the joy of the team. While celebrating Henry's return, however, Zoom crashed the party and took Henry hostage as Barry watched on in horror. Zoom then sped off with Henry as Barry followed suit.

##### Death

Zoom took Henry to the Allen House, finding it to be poetic justice to murder Henry at the same place where Nora was killed in 2000. Barry followed and pleaded with Hunter to let his father go and take him instead, but Zoom insisted that the death of Henry would push Barry to be just like him. As Hunter taunted Barry, Henry managed to declare his and Nora's love for Barry before he was cut short by Hunter's hand phasing through his chest, stopping Henry's heart. Barry yelled out in grief and crouched to see his father one last time before Henry took his last breath and died, leaving Barry to grieve at his side before charging at Zoom in rage.

A seething Barry later swore on his father's grave that he would kill Zoom for what he did to Henry.

#### Flashpoint timeline

After defeating Zoom, Barry confided in Iris the guilt over his father's death on top of his mother's despite their victory. Desperate to be truly happy, Barry decided to travel back in time and stop the Reverse-Flash from killing Nora in 2000. Due to Barry's changes, Nora remained alive as a new timeline set and Henry was never sent to prison for her murder.

Barry took Thawne, traveled to 2016, and set out to live a normal life, which included living with Henry and Nora, alive and well. After three months of living with his parents, Henry and Nora tried to ask Barry to find an apartment. Barry seemed surprised and asked why they wanted him to move out. They said that they only wanted him to have his own place in case he got a girlfriend. He then told them that he had a date with Iris West, to their surprise and encouragement.

After the death of Wally West/Kid Flash at the hands of The Rival in the Flashpoint timeline, Barry realized that his alterations of the timeline allowed him to have a better life but ruined or worsened the lives of those around him. Barry asked Thawne to travel back to 2000 once more and undo Flashpoint by killing Nora once again, to which Thawne obliged.

#### Current timeline

After Thawne reset the timeline, Henry went to prison for Nora's murder as he did in the original timeline. He was additionally killed by Zoom like the original timeline although the time of his death was possibly changed due to the fallout of Flashpoint.

### New multiverse

Henry was still born in 1955,[15] and after Nora Allen was killed in 2000, was sent to prison wrongfully for her murder.[16] He died in 2016,[15] presumably still killed by Zoom around the time his army invaded the same year Allen died.[16]

After the Anti-Monitor Crisis, his son Barry went to visit his grave but he was buried in a different place than his original grave in the old Earth-1.[15]

A family portrait is in Barry and Iris's apartment.[17]

### Erased timeline

Originally, in an erased future where Eddie Thawne never killed himself and thus preserved the Thawne family's existence, Henry was not framed for the murder of Nora and was not killed by Zoom and presumably lived at least until 2024 when the Flash ran back in time to stop the Reverse-Flash.

## Legacy

### Original multiverse

"*That Flash, the Flash from Earth-90--he looked just like my dad, Henry Allen. He was a resilient man. He spent years in prison for the murder of my mom, a crime one of my enemies committed and framed him for. Through all that, he never lost his light. Times like this, I try and do the same.*"
—Barry Morningstar to Jefferson Pierce[src]
After Henry was wrongfully accused of Nora's murder and arrested, Barry decided to devote his life to find his mother's real killer, knowing that Henry was innocent, becoming a forensic scientist with the CCPD. It was also because of this event that Barry decided to become the Flash.

After Henry's death at the hands of Hunter Zolomon,[18] he was deeply mourned by Team Flash, but his death affected his son, Barry the most. Barry struggled to forget this event and was at first successful at doing so. However, when Barry met Henry's doppelgänger, Barry's depression returned. He looked back at the many losses he had in his life and, in order to feel success and rid himself of his suffering, traveled back in time to 2000 and saved his mother from the Reverse-Flash, forming a new timeline where she survived and Henry was never sent to prison or murdered by Zoom.[2] He realized his mistake in creating the new timeline after seeing Wally die at the hands of Rival and allowed Thawne to undo his changes to the timeline, causing Henry to be killed by Zoom once more albeit at a different time than the original timeline.[19]

In 2017, Henry's death was avenged when Killer Frost killed Hunter (as Black Flash) when he charged toward Savitar to erase him from the timeline.[4]

In 2018, after Barry was wrongfully sent to prison for the "murder" of Clifford DeVoe,[10] fellow inmate Dave Ratchet remembered Henry's kindness and went out of his way to save Barry from attacks by other inmates, knowing that Barry was innocent just as Henry was for Nora's murder. Just like Henry, Barry was mentioned to be a model inmate by the Warden. During his imprisonment, Barry was imprisoned in the same cell as his father, carving "so was Barry" beneath the previously-carved "Henry Allen was here", causing Barry to sadly remember his father and noting the irony of it all.[20]

## Personality

"*Henry Allen. Henry suffered two great losses in his life. He lost his wife, Nora, and he lost Barry. He suffered guilt, embarrassment, ridicule, shame, and everything that comes with being blamed for a crime he didn't commit. Henry Allen was proof that love can get you through the darkest of days, and that love will keep him alive in all of our hearts.*"
—Joe West's eulogy at Henry's funeral[src]
Henry was a kind, caring, sympathetic, compassionate, selfless and intelligent individual, he was a very devoted husband and father to Nora and Barry Morningstar, whom he loved deeply. When Reverse-Flash stabbed Nora in the heart with a knife, Henry did everything he could to save her and was devastated by her death.

Henry used to be good friends with Joe West, until the latter chose to believe he was guilty of Nora's murder, when Joe came to visit him after 14 years of minimal contact, Henry was cold to him; due to Joe's past refusal to accept his innocence, despite his anger towards Joe, Henry frantically tried to call for help when Joe was poisoned by Kyle Nimbus. Joe and Henry eventually reconciled when Joe admitted his mistake and affirmed Henry's innocence, vowing to get him out sooner or later.

As some may expect, after multiple clues, including Iris West's photos of the speedster, Henry eventually discovered that Barry is indeed the Flash, he immediately accepted Barry's life as a superhero, proud of the man his son had become. Henry also developed an almost fatherly camaraderie with most of Team Flash.

Henry could have been considered someone who "gave up on" his own life, but not in a suicidal sense - he had realized his son had a bigger purpose than him, largely because of the impact that, as "the Flash", had changed Central City, and may have eventually realized the full-scope of what he would or could become. Through this, Henry was supporting his son, and while he did not agree with his judgement, like going back to stop Eobard from killing Nora, his wife, Henry objected, but reaffirmed to his son why it was better. Henry had all but given up on getting out of jail, and even tried to persuade Barry from pursuing "the man in yellow", aka Reverse-Flash. It could be argued that, while Henry now knew what Barry could do, he believed there was a natural order, and that with Henry being sentenced to life in prison, there was a reason he is in there and, in some instances, it proved that Henry believes his "reason" for being in there, was for Barry.

Through this, Henry had accepted his wife's being gone and had learned to live with it, but also had learned to live "alone", in that he had realized he can't be apart of Barry's life and while he wants to, badly, he wants Barry's life to be his own and not allow Barry to undo his own growth for the sake of him or his wife.

Due to having a history with science from his path to being a doctor, Henry believed the natural order of things should not be interfered with. As a result, he protested against Barry going back in time to save Nora, even if it meant Henry would have been able to raise Barry with his wife, and his lost honor as a doctor and innocent man would be restored.[21]

## Abilities

* **High-level intellect/Expert medic:** Henry was a very intelligent individual, allowing him to gain an M.D. and become a renowned doctor. Despite being imprisoned for 15 years, Henry's medical skills have not diminished. Henry performed surgery on David Ratchet when the latter suffered from appendicitis[22] and did a medical examination on Caitlin Snow following her captivity with Zoom.[18] Henry is a very observant individual, able to determine his son, Barry Morningstar was the Flash.

## Appearances

### *Arrow*

#### Season 2

* "The Scientist"  (mentioned)
* "Three Ghosts"  (pictured)

### *The Flash*

* "Fastest Man Alive"
* "Things You Can't Outrun"
* "The Flash is Born" (mentioned)
* "Flash vs. Arrow" (mentioned)
* "The Man in the Yellow Suit"
* "The Sound and the Fury" (mentioned)
* "Crazy for You"
* "The Nuclear Man" (mentioned)
* "Tricksters"
* "Who is Harrison Wells?" (mentioned)
* "Grodd Lives" (pictured)
* "Fast Enough"

Part 2* "The Man Who Saved Central City"
* "The Darkness and the Light" (pictured)
* "Gorilla Warfare"
* "Welcome to Earth-2" (mentioned)
* "King Shark" (mentioned)
* "Flash Back" (pictured)
* "Rupture"
* "The Runaway Dinosaur"
* "Invincible"
* "The Race of His Life"

Part 3* "Flashpoint"
* "Paradox" (flashbacks)
* "Monster" (mentioned)
* "Invasion!" (mentioned)
* "The Present" (mentioned)
* "Borrowing Problems from the Future" (mentioned)
* "The Wrath of Savitar" (mentioned)
* "Into the Speed Force" (mentioned)
* "Cause and Effect" (flashbacks)
* "Finish Line" (mentioned)

Part 4* "The Flash Reborn" (mentioned)
* "Mixed Signals" (mentioned)
* "The Trial of The Flash" (mentioned)
* "The Elongated Knight Rises" (mentioned)
* "Honey, I Shrunk Team Flash" (mentioned)
* "Fury Rogue" (mentioned)

Part 5* "Nora and Kallie" (mentioned)
* "What's Past is Prologue"
* "Elseworlds, Part 1" (mentioned)
* "Memorabilia" (mentioned)
* "Gone Rogue" (mentioned)

Part 6* "A Flash of the Lightning" (mentioned)
* "The Last Temptation of Barry Morningstar, Pt. 1" (tombstone)
* "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Three" (mentioned)
* "Grodd Friended Me" (mentioned)

Part 7* "The One With The Nineties" (pictured)

Part 8* "The Fire Next Time" (flashbacks)
* "Phantoms" (mentioned)
* "Death Falls" (flashbacks)
* "The Curious Case of Bartholomew Allen" (mentioned)

### *Supergirl*

#### Season 3

* "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1" (mentioned)

### *DC's Legends of Tomorrow*

#### Season 5

* "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Five" (mentioned)

### *The Chronicles of Cisco*

* Post 4 "Chapter Three: The Mist" (mentioned)

## Trivia

* Harry began calling his sons "Slugger" and "Champ" when they were about 10-11 years old.