Flash Theory Reveals New Killer Is Arrowverse Fans' Oldest Villain Wish - Screen Rant

According to a new theory, The Flash season 8’s serial killer mystery is about to grant Arrowverse fans their oldest villain wish by turning Eddie Thawne into a DC Comics villain. Going all the way back to season 1 when Rick Cosnett’s character was still alive, there were theories that he would evolve into Cobalt Blue, one of many powerful villains in Barry Allen’s rogues’ gallery. Even after Eddie’s death in the finale, speculation persisted that The Flash would eventually find a way to move in this direction.

If the latest Cobalt Blue theory is true, the character could be linked to Central City’s newest threat. The Flash season 8, episode 8, titled “The Fire Next Time”, saw Barry try to solve two murders in an effort to exonerate the Hotness. In the end, he was able to prove the season 4 villain’s innocence, but he never did catch the real killer. As a result, this mystery is sure to linger on for the next few episodes. Due to a casting announcement, a key suspect has already emerged. Some think that an evil version of Ronnie Raymond’s Firestorm is the one who burned the two victims to death. While it is true that Robbie Amell’s character is coming back for a two-episode arc, that’s far from confirmation that he’s the show’s metahuman serial killer.

Instead of connecting the murders to Firestorm or introducing a brand-new villain, The Flash season 8 has a chance to introduce a new version of an entirely different Arrowverse character. if so, the serial killer could be a foe who will challenge Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and his allies both physically and emotionally. Here’s how The Flash season 8 can bring back Eddie Thawne as Cobalt Blue, and how he fits what’s known about Central City’s serial killer.

Cobalt Blue In DC Comics Explained

Flash villain Cobalt Blue has a ridiculously complicated backstory

Having first appeared in a 1997 comic, Cobalt Blue is Malcolm Thawne and the long-lost twin brother of Barry Allen. Unlike Barry who grew up in a stable household in Central City, Malcolm was raised by con artists who used a mystical ability linked to their bloodline. Malcolm’s adopted parents controlled the Blue Flame, which had strange healing qualities. Under their care, Malcolm grew up as a criminal. After seeking out Barry Allen, Malcolm was disgusted to discover that his brother had such a happy existence and a much better upbringing. By spying on him, Malcolm also learned about Barry’s secret life as the Flash.

Later on, Malcolm was able to convince his adoptive grandmother to teach him about the Blue Flame. Apparently, the Blue Flame is strengthened by strong emotions like hate. Following this realization, Malcolm stored all of his hatred for Barry into a talisman and channeled power from it as Cobalt Blue. Using his new abilities, Malcolm became an enemy of the Flash. Since the Blue Flame enabled Malcolm to drain the Speed Force of others, Malcolm was able to fight Barry as a speedster. With his powers, he served as a formidable adversary to multiple versions of the Flash, including Barry, Wally West, and Jay Garrick. Supposedly, his conflict with Barry in modern times was the very beginning of the hero’s feud with the Thawne family. Malcolm is the ancestor of Barry’s greatest enemy, the Reverse-Flash aka Eobard Thawne.

Why Cobalt Blue Could Be The Flash Season 8’s New Villain

For a reason that no one on Team Flash understands, season 8’s serial killer murdered two people at a bar by burning them with fire. Charred corpses were found on the scene. Based on their findings, they were able to determine that the killer’s powers are related to nuclear and cold fusion. On the surface, this sounds like Firestorm, but it may be a misdirect. The fact that the villain used fire on his victims at least raises the possibility that Cobalt Blue is involved. By weaponizing the Blue Flame, the Arrowverse’s Cobalt Blue could have killed both people to frame the Hotness and get Barry’s attention. In the comics, Cobalt Blue knows Barry’s history, so it stands to reason that the Arrowverse version could also be aware of his identity. If he does, he’d know that Barry would take a personal interest in the Hotness’ predicament. He could have known that Barry would sympathize with the Hotness due to the similarities between his case and Henry Allen’s wrongful imprisonment.

How Eddie Thawne Can Become Arrowverse’s Cobalt Blue

Rick-Cosnett-As-Eddie-Thawne-In-The-Flash-Season-8

As for who Cobalt Blue would be, it makes sense that he’d be played by Eddie Thawne actor Rick Cosnett. As many have been pointing out since the beginning of the series, Malcolm doesn’t exist in the Arrowverse’s continuity, but Eobard Thawne does have an ancestor on Earth-Prime. Since both Eddie and Malcolm share the same relationship to Reverse-Flash, Eddie is the best candidate to be The Flash’s Cobalt Blue.

Fueling the Cobalt Blue theories was the news that Cosnett will have a recurring presence in The Flash season 8. He popped up once already in a standalone time travel episode set in 2014, but the idea that he has more appearances coming suggests that his role may be tied to a multi-episode arc. Given that Eddie is dead in the Arrowverse, The Flash using him heavily in season 8 indicates that the series plans to spend a significant amount of time in the past, use time travel to change his fate, or introduce a new Eddie Thawne doppelganger. If the latter is what The Flash intends for Rick Cosnett’s Arrowverse future, this may be the season where the show finally introduces Cobalt Blue.

The Flash could launch a Cobalt Blue story by building off Nora and Bart’s time travel shenanigans. The two already created some timeline disturbances, and more could eventually follow. Since time travel is such an important part of the show, it is plausible that a different version of Eddie Thawne could be created. Rather than give his life to beat Reverse-Flash, season 8’s Eddie could become Cobalt Blue. And, that can work without the villain being Barry’s brother. His love for Iris can provide Eddie with a different reason for developing a deep-seated hatred for Barry. If the timeline is changed and Eddie ends up with the Blue Flame, his Arrowverse fate could be averted, thus leading to some catastrophic consequences for Barry and his friends in The Flash season 8.

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Nicholas Raymond (3329 Articles Published)

Nicholas Raymond is a staff movies & TV features writer for Screen Rant. He has a degree in journalism from the University of Montevallo, and is the author of the psychological thriller and time travel novel, "A Man Against the World." Nicholas' love for telling stories is inspired by his love for film noir, westerns, superhero movies, classic films, and ancient history. His favorite actors are Tyrone Power and Eleanor Parker. He can be reached by email at cnrmail@bellsouth.net and on Twitter at @cnraymond91.