Best Flash Costumes: Flash Halloween Costume Ideas
The best Flash costume ideas on the Internet.
Different Flash Costumes
The Flash is one of the most popular and enduring comic characters, always at the top of lists of favorite characters from any publishing universe. The Flash benefited from a popular but short-lived TV show in the 90s, and is slated for a feature film being shopped around currently. Look for the Flash to become even more popular after that film's release.
The Flash first appeared during the Golden Age of DC Comics, in 1940. No matter what the incarnation, Flash is always known for one thing--super speed. It isn't just running fast--Flash has super speed and dexterity in all kinds of ways, with superhuman reflexes that sometimes violate the laws of physics themselves.
The Flash was created when college student Jay Garrick accidentally
inhaled radioactive water vapors. As mentioned earlier, there have been
many different versions of the Flash with a few different genesis
stories, but this is the most widely accepted version. A member of the
Golden Age Justice Society of America, Flash was a big hit for DC
Comics, and remains a fan favorite.
How to Make Your Own Flash Costume
Lucky you--it isn't tough at all to build a Flash costume. He has a relatively simple costume, pretty much solid red. It was probably chosen because it is easy to draw moving at high speed, a literal red "flash" scooting across the pages of a comic book.
But making your own Flash costume is a commitment to awful fashion. Let's face it--you're gonna have to wear something form-fitting and very red.
Get the following materials together: a ski mask that can be painted
red, a red turtleneck, red sweat pants or red leggings, large yellow
tube socks, needle, thread, yellow fabric, white fabric, craft paint, a
pencil, scissors, 4 sheets of yellow felt material, paint brushes,
cardboard, and a small bag of pillow stuffing.
Draw a lightning bolt on the sleeves of the red turtleneck just below the elbow. Ideally, it should go all the way "around" the sleeve, like Flash's.
Stick some cardboard in the sleeve of the turtleneck to protect the fabric and help you paint. Using yellow fabric paint, paint in the lightning bolt.
Grab the ski mask and paint it red. This mask needs to fit really tight on your face. Underneath each eye of the mask, cut an upside down triangle. Then cut straight down to just below the chin. You do this to make the ski mask more form-fitting. Sew up the cut sides so the edges aren't too loose.
Sew a lightning bolt image on the top of the ski mask behind the spot where the ear would be. Do this for both sides of the mask.
Place more cardboard in between the front and back of the red long-sleeve shirt to protect the material and make your painting job easier. In the middle of the chest of the shirt, draw a circle the size of a small plate or coaster. Then draw another ring inside the circle, like you're drawing a ring. Paint this ring yellow and make sure to let it dry.
Next, draw two lightning bolts on the shirt so that the ends of the bolts meet around the belly button. It should look sort of like a big "M". These get painted (guess what?) yellow.
Now that your "ring" shape is dry, paint the center of it totally white. Then draw a lightning bolt through the middle of the ring and paint it yellow.
There should also be two lightning bolts on the back of the shirt that meet the bolts on the front. Sounds complicated? Look at a photo of Flash for reference. These should also be painted yellow.
You want to test out the turtleneck, red leggings, and ski mask to make sure they're form-fitting enough to suggest a superhero costume. The best way to make Flash's "boots" is to roll your bright yellow tube socks over your regular shoes. You may need two layers to make the look precise.
Okay, so I know I said this costume was relatively easy, but trust me--you'd rather spend time making a solid red costume than something complex like Captain America.
Store Bought Flash Costumes
Most of the Flash costumes available in stores are for kids. Flash is a kid favorite, and costumes are generally seen as "for kids." Modern Flash costumes are like other retail costumes you'll find--a simple body suit with built-in "muscles" and a few accessories. Usually, kid versions of Flash costumes come with big yellow boots and a red Flash headpiece.
Adult versions of Flash costumes are more difficult to find, but they exist. It's weird, but it's easier to find female versions of ready-made Flash costumes--they're a little bit "sexier", with tight leggings and a top designed to show cleavage. They also throw in a skirt, which I imagine would really be a drag when travelling at super speed.
Flash Couples Costume Ideas
What better way to hit your next costume party than as male and female Flash? After all, it is easy to turn Flash into a female character. Easy to turn any comic book costume into a female version . . . isn't the female version of any costume just a "sexy" version"? You know: sexy nurse, sexy librarian, sexy witch.
Jesse Chambers, daughter of Johnny Quik, a Flash incarnation, did briefly take over the role of Flash. That totally justifies a female Flash costume. Add a skirt and some sexy heels to the Flash costume of your choice and you've got the perfect female Flash costume.
Flash has gone through as many versions as any other classic comic book character and remains a total fan favorite. It can't just be his superpower--not the most amazing or useful superpower you can think of, is it? It must be how long Flash has been around and how adaptable his power is to all sorts of good comic book hero situations. If the Flash movie ever gets released, you can bet you'll be seeing lots of Flash costumes at parties.