- NOTE: This article is about the incarnation of Godspeed from the Arrowverse. The mainstream version can be found here: Godspeed (DC).
| “ | Yes, I am a god. The God of Speed. | „ |
| ~ Godspeed's most famous quote. |
| “ | August Heart: You're too much of a hero to sell me out. Now, Impulse, that's a different story. Barry Allen: I said leave my son out of this. August Heart: Oh, but I can't. He's the one who helped me realize the truth. That artificial speed would always be a pale imitation of the real deal. Spoiled little brat. He's not just reckless, he's unworthy. All the times we fought. He was so cavalier with his gift; a gift that should have been MINE!!! Now it will be... thanks to you.
|
„ |
| ~ August Heart explaining his motives and obsession with obtaining organic speed to the Flash. |
| “ | Don't you two get it? You can't kill a god! | „ |
| ~ Godspeed before fighting the Flash and Reverse-Flash. |
August Heart, also known as Godspeed, is a major antagonist in the 2014-2023 superhero television series The Flash, which is part of DC‘s Arrowverse.
He is a promising young physicist from 2049 in the future who secretly operated as a villainous speedster after obtaining artificial speed powers through the recreated Velocity-9 serums. After seeing Impulse in action, he became jealous of the heroic speedster and desired to obtain true organic speed at all costs to become the fastest speedster alive. He is the archenemy of Nora West-Allen/XS and of Bart Allen/Impulse.
While masked, he is voiced by B.D. Wong, who also played Hugo Strange in Gotham, Henry Wu in the Jurassic Park film series and Whiterose in Mr. Robot. While unmasked, he was portrayed by Kindall Charters in Season 5. From Season 7 onwards, he was portrayed by Karan Oberoi, both masked and unmasked.
Biography[]
Original Timeline[]
Little is known about August Heart's backstory or why he turned to a life of crime. What is known, however, is that he had a brother named Jorge who died under unknown circumstances.
Prior to the year 2049, he began experimenting on people with tachyons so he give himself speed. Eventually, August successfully became a speedster dubbed "Godspeed" and began stealing chemicals so that he can ensure his Velocity-9-enhanced powers will become permanent.
At some point, August visited the Flash Museum where he saw how Zoom used Velocity-9 in his crime spree. He also met Nora West-Allen. Nora would go on to attempt to stop Godspeed's robberies, but he knocked her down the first time with a lightning bolt, indirectly revealing her hidden speedster powers that her mother secretly dampened.
Later, he was confronted by Nora and was surprised by her newfound powers. He then easily defeated her the second time in speed combat, and after which, he murdered her friend Lia for taking what he aimed to steal before zooming off.
After learning about the speedster's weakness from Eobard Thawne, Nora fought and defeated Godspeed by tricking him into getting in the way of some radio waves that disrupted the V-9 in his system. Heart's actions were exposed and he was then taken into custody by the C.C.P.D.
Current Timeline[]
Backstory[]
Although a new timeline was created, August still existed and obtained his powers through artificial means at some point, needing to frequently be recharging his powers. However, in this timeline, he becomes a personal enemy towards Bart Allen (the Flash's son) to the point that Bart compares their relationship to that of the Flash and Reverse-Flash. August's hatred for Bart becomes so intense that at some point he captures Bart's mentor Jay Garrick and forces Bart to watch as he murders Jay.
Clone Attacks[]
Desiring more power for himself, August began creating an army of Godspeed drones through unknown means and sent them to attack the Flash in the summer of 2019, causing chaos throughout Central City on at least three occasions and being defeated each time by Time Flash. After every drone was defeated, they were unmasked as imposters and were incapable of speaking, instead making strange modem-like noises. The fourth Godspeed drone attack took place on October 8th, 2019, and the imposter was quickly apprehended by the Flash and sent to Iron Heights like the three others speedsters. At this point, the team had no evidence about the drones, their powers' origins or who was sending them to cause havoc, but they did suspect August Heart.
After the Crisis, a fifth Godspeed drone arrived in 2020 and attacked Team Flash, this time being fully capable of speaking. He demanded the Flash's speed or suffer the consequences, and even killed the incarcerated Godspeed clones for their speed as well. Upon taking hostages to enforce the Flash's cooperation, the drone was defeated thanks to the combined efforts of the Flash and Pied Piper. Afterwards, the Flash questioned the drone at Iron Heights and he claimed that "the one who sent him" wanted infinite velocity, who was August Heart himself. But he lost his ability to speak just like the previous drones; thus once again, any connection to Heart was not discovered nor confirmed.
Godspeed War[]
In 2049, Bart and Nora fought August and managed to defeat him. However, he escaped and they chased him to the Flash Museum. Once there, they were too slow to stop him from using the Cosmic Treadmill to disappear and retreat to the past. Following his departure, his drone army split into two factions: one that seeks to find August to become his acolytes and give him more speed, and another that seeks to kill him to gain their freedom and live their own lives. The war escalated and was taken to the past, with the rebels seeking August to kill him while the acolytes siphoning the Speed Force for power and attacking Team Flash.
Eventually, August was found by Cecile Horton, John Diggle/Spartan and Frost. However, for unknown reasons, he was amnesiac and couldn't remember his own name. He was taken to STAR Labs, where Caitlin Snow administered a dark matter solution to him. This enabled August to remember at least his identity, but not enough to remember his own past or life. Eventually, with drone war worsening and the arrival of Bart and Nora from the future, Flash projected his consciousness into August's mind in hopes of helping him regain his memories. Once inside, he found himself at Zauriel Cathedral, except it had been redecorated into a Godspeed sanctum. There, August awaits him, clad in his Godspeed suit.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This version of Godspeed's origin bears no similarities with his comic book counterpart's.
- Although the character was praised for his costume's appearance, fans were largely disappointed that he was only a one-off villain.
- He or rather his many clones appeared and it was stated that Godspeed is hiding at an unknown location and that Team Flash has caught his clones he sent after them in Season 6 of the series, mainly due to the timeline change after Nora West-Allen's tragic death.
- Post-Crisis, his actor was changed to Karan Oberoi, who reprised the role of Godspeed in Season 9. Though B.D. Wong continues voicing him while masked.
- While costumed, Godspeed was portrayed by Australian stuntman Ryan Handley who previously portrayed Zoom before his identity was revealed.
- Godspeed is the sixth villainous speedster to appear in the show. The first being Eobard Thawne, the second being Zoom, the third being Trajectory, the fourth being The Rival, and the fifth being Savitar. Additionally, he is the fourth one to be a main villain.
- Showrunner Eric Wallace has confirmed that the real Godspeed, August Heart, will return in Season 7.
- It was later confirmed that Heart would be portrayed by Karan Oberoi and would replace Kindall Charters. However, it is unknown about whether or not the recast is connected to the Crisis, similar to Morgan Edge/Tal-Rho in Superman & Lois.
