The Flash: Could Eddie Thawne Be Cobalt Blue?

The strange secret of Eddie Thawne’s bling continues.

After we spotted a ring dangling from Eddie’s neck during The Flash's season finale, we sent the Internet into a tizzy with a theory on what ring might entail. While we originally speculated that the ring was a Reverse Flash ring, many readers chimed in and offered another idea.

As many guessed, the jewelry on Eddie’s neck may not be a ring at all, but a talisman. And there’s only one character in the Flash universe with a talisman to their name—super villain, Cobalt Blue.

But who is Cobalt Blue, you ask? As DC Comics have it now, Cobalt Blue is Malcolm Thawn, Barry Allen’s secret twin brother retconned into existence (because, comics). Malcom was introduced during Mark Waid’s run on The Flash during the nineties, when Barrry’s successor, Wally West, wore the mantle. As the story goes, Norah Allen actually gave birth to twin boys the night Barry was born, but the doctor reported Barry's twin, Malcolm, as a stillborn and gave the baby to the Thawne family (jerk move, man). After a steady upbringing filled with hatred and corruption, Thawne eventually discovered who his true family was. Enraged that Barry received the life of privilege and love that he was denied, Malcolm vowed revenge on his brother. Malcolm secretly tracked Barry down, discovered he was the Flash, and waited for the right moment to strike.

All the while, Malcolm tinkered with sorcery and witchcraft to make a nifty little talisman, customized to steal anything it’s wearer desired. And what Malcolm desired most was Barry’s life—and by extension—super-speed. But then Barry had to go die saving the universe before Malcolm could actually use the talisman. Denied his true revenge, Malcolm decided that the next best option was torture upon Barry’s descendants. So, one spiffy blue costume later, and Malcolm declared himself Cobalt Blue and used the Talisman to steal Wally West’s speed (for a little while, anyway). 

With Malcolm's comics history in mind, it’s easy enough to think that Eddie is Barry’s long-lost brother on The Flash. The two appear to be close enough in age, and Henry Allen has a pretty good reason to not tell Barry that he has a (presumed) dead twin. And that…whatever it is around Eddie’s neck seems to have the appropriate size and shape of a talisman. Then there’s the “Thawne” name, tying Eddie to the corrupt family that raised Malcolm. But considering what a nice guy Eddie was on the Flash, the show would have to do some work to make him want to attack Flash—after they bring him back from the dead, of course. Given the The Flash's love for the supernatural, however, the show's writers could easily create a tidy explanation for both Eddie's resurrection and transformation to mystical superbeing.

What do you think of this theory, readers? Could Eddie Thawne actually be Malcolm Thawne—and Cobalt Blue? Let us know in the comments.

The Flash returns for its second season this fall on The CW.

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