The fastest speedsters ranked

Like many of you, I often ponder who the fastest on-screen superhero is. Our curiosity drives us to seek the speediest without the "furious." We have a need for speed, both on the small and big screens. We'll rank the ten fastest speedsters by their speed and feats, choosing only one candidate per franchise to keep it diverse.

10. Dash - The Incredibles

Dash can run incredibly fast and has quick reaction times for close-quarters combat. His legs pump so quickly that he can literally walk on water, needing a forward speed of 85 miles per hour. To place a thumbtack on his teacher's chair and return to his seat in 0.066 seconds, Dash would be moving at 475 miles per hour—an absolute nightmare to put to bed!

9. A-Train - The Boys

Amazon's "The Boys" presents a darker superhero world, highlighting the collateral damage they cause. A-Train's accidental run through Huey's girlfriend, Robin, set the show's tone. Clocked at 371 miles per hour in a race against Shockwave, A-Train can dodge Starlight's flares and fight solo, unlike Dash.

8. Slingshot - Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Elena "Yo-Yo" Rodriguez earned her nickname from her speed, snapping back to her starting position. In a shootout, she can disarm foes before they even think of their weapons. Her precision and mastery of her power place her on our list, as she acts before you finish a thought.

7. Shazam - DC Comics

The wizard Shazam granted Billy Batson the speed of Mercury, allowing him to keep up with major superheroes. In the 2019 film, Billy uses his speed to intervene in muggings and save lives. His speed, combined with super strength and lightning powers, makes him a formidable hero, even if he needs to mature a bit more.

6. Daphne Millbrook - Heroes

Daphne Millbrook, initially burdened with cerebral palsy, gains super speed and becomes vital in the fight against Sylar. She can move when time appears to stop, indicating her top-tier speedster status. Though she couldn't outrun a nuclear explosion, she later harnessed her powers to run backwards in time, if only for a few minutes.

5. Supergirl - DC Comics

Beyond her ability to fly, Supergirl has impressive foot speed. After an awkward encounter with Barry Allen, they race, showcasing her ability to keep up with the Flash, even when he's using his Tachyon-enhanced suit. Her speed and strength make her a key contender among speedsters.

4. Superman - DC Comics

Superman is renowned for his incredible speed, famously reversing Earth's rotation to turn back time. While his flight is as fast as the Flash, his foot speed is equally notable. He outran a train in 1978 and kept pace with the Scarlet Speedster in various animated series. Despite the ambiguous ending to their races, Superman's speed is undeniable.

3. Quicksilver - Marvel

Both the X-Men and MCU versions of Pietro Maximoff showcase his extraordinary speed. From pulling bullets out of the air to evacuating people from an exploding mansion, Quicksilver operates at nearly immeasurable speeds. Moving at Mach 5, or 3,681 miles per hour, he circles the globe in just three minutes.

2. Sonic the Hedgehog - Sega

In "Sonic X," Sonic outruns jet-powered racers, breaks the sound barrier, and even escapes a black hole at light speed. His speed allows him to pull off incredible feats, like saving his friends from falling or generating an EMP by running bases in a baseball game. Sonic's speed is virtually unstoppable.

1. The Flash - DC Comics

Faster and more powerful than other speedsters like Godspeed and Zoom, Barry Allen, aka The Flash, tops our list. He outruns Omega Rays, travels around the world to build momentum, and time travels to correct past mistakes. His ability to create Flashpoints and reset timelines showcases his monumental power, making him the fastest of them all. Will he be the one to defeat Darkseid in the upcoming Justice League Snyder cut? Only time will tell.

Watching these speedsters in action is exhilarating. What about you?