April 25, 2024 was the date a future newspaper in The Flash’s 2014 series premiere said the hero would disappear. It was a fictional forecast, not a real-world event. The CW show ultimately brought its Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover forward to 2019, then ended in May 2023—before the date named in that newspaper.
What was the date in The Flash newspaper?
The newspaper pointed to April 25, 2024, as the day the Flash would go missing. The date supplied a long-range mystery in the series premiere, which launched in October 2014. A 2024 retrospective by James Whitbrook for Gizmodo/io9 revisited the prediction on its anniversary, noting that the show’s later story no longer followed the newspaper’s timing. Read the retrospective.
Why did the Crisis happen before 2024?
The series developed its time-travel and Speed Force mythology over time, and its version of Crisis on Infinite Earths arrived in 2019—five years earlier than the newspaper’s forecast date. The retrospective frames that change as a temporal revision that also echoed the original prediction: the crisis storyline did happen, but not on the schedule the premiere appeared to promise.
That is an interpretation of how the show’s premise and later timeline fit together, not a documented statement of the original writers’ intent. The available account does not establish why the creators first chose that date or later shifted the story’s timing.
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#1 Best Overall
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How the fictional forecast compares with the real series timeline
| When | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 2014 | The Flash premiered, introducing a future newspaper that pointed to the hero’s disappearance in 2024. |
| 2019 | The series’ Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover took place, five years ahead of the newspaper’s forecast, according to the 2024 retrospective. |
| May 2023 | The television series ended, before the in-story date arrived. |
| April 25, 2024 | The date associated with the newspaper’s fictional prediction—not a report of a real disappearance. |
What “Crisis on Infinite Earths” refers to
Crisis on Infinite Earths is the name of a major DC Comics event as well as the television crossover discussed in the retrospective. The comic collection offers context for readers interested in the comics event; it is not the television episodes or a required substitute for watching the show. DC lists a collected Crisis on Infinite Earths Box Set.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Revisiting the first season
For viewers who want to revisit the newspaper’s introduction, DC announced The Flash: The Complete First Season on DVD and Blu-ray for September 22, 2015. The announcement specifies all 23 first-season episodes and three hours of bonus material. It is a dated release announcement, not confirmation of current stock, price, edition details, or playback-region compatibility; check a current retailer listing before buying. See DC’s 2015 announcement.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
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Rank #3
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Rank #2
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