The Flash: Now Could Be a Great Time to Introduce Cobalt Blue

Barry Allen’s life is pretty damn good at the moment on The Flash. He is back from the Speed Force, engaged to Iris, has a family and has a handle on being a superhero.

As we inch closer to his wedding to Iris, I think it could be time for The CW series to give Barry some family problems courtesy of Cobalt Blue.

In the comics, Malcolm Thawne is the individual who becomes the supervillain Cobalt Blue. He’s Barry’s biological brother who is reported stillborn to the Allens, but actually given to the Thawne family. While he is initially unaware of his connection to Barry, he eventually learns the truth, and in the end, hates his biological brother.

The timing could be perfect for this villain considering where Barry is in his life. He has lost both of his parents, so previously unknown family history would make for a powerful emotional arc. It would also be nice to see Henry Allen again in flashbacks, who was incredible in those first couple of seasons.

With a life with Iris on the horizon, this would be quite the first obstacle for Iris and Barry.

Speaking of the early days of The Flash, Harrison Wells/Reverse Flash was a powerful enemy because it tapped into Barry’s past. It was an emotional start to the series that has not be seen with its Big Bads since.

The other great aspect of Reverse Flash’s story was the mystery with a shocking twist that worked. Malcolm secretly working in Central City Police Department, like his comic book counterpart, would be a fantastic twist when viewers discovered he was Barry’s brother.

Cobalt Blue goes into the police department by taking a low profile to get closer to Barry in the comics. On television, having a villain embedded in the CCPD will bring a bit of the story back to the precinct, which is missing from The Flash.

Then there’s the Thawne of it all.

During the first season of The Flash we mat Eddie Thawne, boyfriend to Iris West and partner to her father Detective Joe West. His connection to season villain Reverse Flash was his shocking twist, but we never learned about any of his family.

Eddie’s family in the comics uses powerful forces to get what they want. Imagine a family of metahumans who get their powers during the particle accelerator explosion. Instead of robbing banks, they use their powers to get richer by manipulating people.

Plus, having metahumans with an empire would make use of Detective West’s investigative skills.

The Thawnes are described as vile, manipulative and corrupt, which is a side of Central City we haven’t seen. The Flash villains have come from the future, other Earths and the future, but current Big Bad The Thinker is evidence that there serious villains brewing in Barry’s present.

We’ve met Captain Cold, Heat Wave, the average metahumans, but a season’s Big Bad has yet to come from the present. I’m sure present day Central City can do bad all by itself.

Making a villain Barry’s brother and a Thawne makes it personal for both Barry and Iris. Since Iris West has joined Team Flash Candice Patton has been giving more do to and she’s been doing it brilliantly.

The beginning of the current season made that even clearer as Iris took a leadership position while Barry was in the Speed Force. The Flash is great when it places Iris right alongside Barry instead of the sidelines.

Cobalt Blue would be a great addition to introduce now and would complicate things for the characters in amazing ways. It’s personal, messy and allows for reflection, the makings of an incredible season.