Editing Reverse-Flash (section)

====Fictional character biography====
Although not called the Reverse-Flash, Dr. Edward Clariss was a professor at the [[university]] attended by the [[Golden Age of Comic Books|Golden Age]] Flash, and had recreated the formula which was behind [[Flash (Jay Garrick)|Jay Garrick]]'s speed. He hears Joan Williams (Garrick's girlfriend) talking about how the Flash's own speed was given to another student, which helped him develop the formula. Bitter at the scientific community's rejection of his claims, Clariss becomes a criminal. A darker version of the Flash with a mask over his head, he gives the formula to other criminals. The Rival's version of the formula is temporary, and he is captured and jailed (later stories have indicated a possible link between the Clariss formula and the Velocity 9 created by [[Vandal Savage]], but thus far no such link has been conclusively proven).<ref name="rival">{{cite web |title=The Flash Season 3: Who is The Rival? |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/the-flash/258963/the-flash-season-3-who-is-the-rival |website=Den of Geek |access-date=1 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=1 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190501190849/https://www.denofgeek.com/us/books-comics/the-flash/258963/the-flash-season-3-who-is-the-rival |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''JSA'' #16 (November 2000) contains a flashback to a battle between the Rival and the Flash several months after the former's first appearance. Now that he has inexplicably regained super-speed, Clariss reaches light speed during the fight and vanishes into the [[Speed Force]]. After the [[Justice Society of America]]'s reformation 50 years later, [[Johnny Sorrow]] retrieves Clariss from the Speed Force and invites him to join the [[Injustice Society]]. Driven insane in the Speed Force, the Rival races across the country on a killing spree. The Flash realizes that the Rival's path across the country spells out Clariss's name and the final murder victim will be Joan; Jay absorbs the Rival's speed before he can kill Joan.<ref name="rival"/>

The Rival returns in ''Impulse'' #88 (September 2002), posing as Joan's doctor. Now pure speed energy, he possesses fellow Golden Age speedster [[Max Mercury]]. After battling Jay and [[Bart Allen|Impulse]], Max time-travels to an unknown destination. In ''[[The Flash: Rebirth]]'' #4, Max escapes from the Speed Force and is rejuvenated by Wally West's energy; this allows him to return to Earth in a new body. Another Golden Age Reverse-Flash is a robot whose only appearance was in one panel of ''[[The Flash (comic book)|The Flash]]'' #134 (February 1998), where he is defeated by Garrick.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shiach |first1=Kieran |title=Dark Reflections: The History Of Zoom And The Reverse Flash |url=https://comicsalliance.com/history-zoom-reverse-flash/ |website=ComicsAlliance |date=26 April 2016 |access-date=2 May 2019 |language=en |archive-date=2 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502142527/https://comicsalliance.com/history-zoom-reverse-flash/ |url-status=live }}</ref>