Hunter Zolomon, otherwise known as Zoom and the Reverse-Flash, is a supervillain appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. Created by writer Geoff Johns and artist Scott Kolins, the character first appeared in The Flash: Secret Files & Origins #3 (November 2001). The second character to assume the Reverse-Flash mantle, he serves as the archnemesis of Wally West and an enemy of Barry Allen. In 2009, Zoom was ranked as IGN's 37th-greatest comic book villain of all time. Zoom appeared in the live-action Arrowverse television series The Flash, portrayed by Teddy Sears and voiced by Tony Todd.
Publication history Created by Geoff Johns and Scott Kolins, Hunter Zolomon made his debut in The Flash: Secret Files & Origins #3 in November 2001. He first appeared as Zoom in The Flash (vol. 2) #197 in June 2003.
Fictional character biography
Origin and transformation into Zoom
Hunter Zolomon is the son of a serial killer who is inspired to become a criminologist and psychologist after learning of his father's identity. He later joins the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) with his wife Ashley, where he quickly makes a name for himself as a criminal profiler. His life changes after an encounter with the Clown. Zolomon assured Derek Fox, Ashley's father, that the crook would not be armed. Despite Ashley urging caution, Zolomon and Derek directly confront The Clown, and are caught off-guard when he pulls a gun. The Clown kills Derek and shoots Zolomon in the leg, permanently crippling him and forcing him to walk with a cane. Ashley divorces Zolomon, he is fired from the FBI, and he subsequently becomes a profiler in Keystone City. During his time working with Keystone City's Metahumans Unit, he became close friends with Wally West. Zolomon is later injured in an attack by Gorilla Grodd and rendered paraplegic. He begs Wally to use the cosmic treadmill to change his history for the better, but he refuses, fearful of what will happen to the timestream. Zolomon breaks into the Flash Museum and attempts to use the treadmill himself. The resulting explosion cures Zolomon's paralysis and gives him superhuman speed. Zolomon becomes the supervillain Zoom and Ashley assumes his old job.
Rogue War Zoom is freed from imprisonment by Cheetah (Barbara Minerva), seeking to recruit him into the Secret Society of Super Villains. Although the two share a minor attraction and romance, Zoom still considers himself married to Ashley. Zoom infiltrates the Rogue war between Captain Cold's Rogues, the Trickster's reformed Rogues, and the Top's brainwashed Rogues. After spiriting Ashley out of danger to Linda's home, Zoom returns to the battlefront to dispatch Captain Cold whom he believes is wasting the Flash's time. As Wally and Kid Flash (Bart Allen) attempt to contain the battle, Zoom threatens to snap Bart's neck in a manner reminiscent of what Barry had done to Eobard Thawne. Before Zoom can kill Kid Flash, however, Thawne arrives on a cosmic treadmill with Jay Garrick chained to it. A battle ensues between the three Flashes and the two Zooms. Zolomon and Thawne capture Wally and jump onto the treadmill. Zolomon forces Wally to repeatedly experience their first fight in which Linda was severely injured, feeling that West should be made to focus on feelings of sorrow and loss to become a better hero. However, Barry arrives on his own cosmic treadmill in search of Thawne. Barry subsequently saves Wally and returns Thawne to the predecessor's proper place in the timeline. The enraged Zoom then begins running around the world, building up speed to collide with and kill Linda. Wally catches up with Zoom and pushes him, causing the villain to fall forward into the sonic boom that he himself used to kill Linda's twins, thus creating a "fissure in time" that restores Linda's pregnancy. Wally grabs Zoom and uses the treadmill to return to the present. Zoom recognizes his mistreatment of Wally and briefly apologizes before slipping into the timestream. He is later seen as a ghostly figure apologizing to Ashley. Zoom returns during the 2005–2006 "Infinite Crisis" storyline as the Secret Society of Super Villains' chief speedster. He serves as a member of the Society's strike force, scarring Damage with super-speed punches and massacring the Freedom Fighters.
"One Year Later" During the 2007 story, "One Year Later", Zoom appears at the sacking of Rome. It is unknown whether he travelled to this time period himself, or if he became stranded there after his last encounter with Wally. Zoom is asked by Bart's grandmother to help protect Bart from a tragedy plotted by the villain Inertia. He is also pursued by the Justice League who seek to locate Sinestro after Batman and Green Lantern learn of the Sinestro Corps' existence. Zoom is chased by the Justice Society of America to Atlanta. Damage, seeking revenge on Zoom, takes the villain hostage during a scuffle until being talked down by Liberty Belle. Disappointed that Damage is not "improving", Zoom throws a sharp pipe to kill Damage. Liberty Belle uses super-speed to catch it and toss it back, knocking Zoom unconscious. Zoom later becomes a member of Libra's Secret Society of Super Villains.
Final Crisis
In the 2008 story Final Crisis: Rogues' Revenge, Zoom frees Inertia from the paralysis inflicted by Wally, hoping to make an apprentice out of Inertia by teaching how to "improve" both his own life and the lives of others by inflicting tragedies. Kid Zoom learns this lesson too well and ultimately betrays the Flash's Rogues and Zoom himself, revealing his own desire to make the heroes suffer whereas Zoom wanted them to work through their pain. Inertia then uses his mentor's time-manipulating powers against him, unraveling Zoom's timeline and reverting him to the crippled, powerless Zolomon.
The Flash: Rebirth Zolomon makes a cameo in the 2009 - 2010 miniseries The Flash: Rebirth when he approaches the resurrected and imprisoned Thawne at Iron Heights Penitentiary, stating that they can help each other to be better.
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