Origin
The bitter feud between the Allen family and the Thawne family would span generations. Even in the 30th century, President Thaddeus Thawne of Earthgov sought to recruit Bart Allen in his revenge campaign against the Allens, since Bart was half-Thawne himself. When that failed, Thawne mixed Bart’s DNA with Thawne genetic material to create a speedster clone whom he named Thaddeus Thawne. Whereas Bart grew in a hyper-accelerated world, Thaddeus’ childhood was the exact opposite; His development was super-slow, which led the young speedster to become more calculating and methodical. Thaddeus was also taught to hate the Allen family, and Impulse in particular.
After years of indoctrinated hatred for the Allen family, Thaddeus traveled to the past and began to observe Impulse with the help of his technological servant, Craydl. Taking the name Inertia, Thaddeus fashioned a green “reverse-Impulse” costume and confronted the young hero. After meeting with failure, Inertia insisted the first encounter was merely a recon mission; After all, Thaddeus was Bart’s superior in every way.
Inertia later ambushed Bart and held him prisoner in a virtual reality, while he assumed Impulse’s identity on earth. Once gaining Max Mercury’s trust, Inertia led him into a dangerous trap within the speed force, intending to kill him. When Impulse raced to save his mentor, Inertia witnessed the love and trust between the speedsters. At that moment, Inertia realized that his whole life had been dedicated to a centuries-old hatred – leaving his own life cold and empty as a result. Now enraged, Inertia bolted from the scene.
Creation
Inertia was created by Todd DeZago and Mike Wieringo. Inertia made his first comic book appearance in the pages of Impulse #50. He made his first appearance in his alternate perona as Kid Zoom in Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge #1.
Character Evolution
Impulse Villain
Inertia began as an Impulse villain. He had the same powers as Bart (being that he was clone of Bart).
Flash Villain
When Bart took the mantle of the Flash he contained the whole speed force. So Inertia had to use a toxin, similar to Velocity 9, given to him by Deathstroke to get his super speed.
Kid Zoom
In his Kid Zoom persona Inertia is able to control time having being taught by Zoom.
Major Story Arcs
Titans East
For More Information: Teen Titans
In the wake of the Infinite Crisis, Inertia realized that Bart Allen – as the new Flash – had completely co-opted the Speed Force. Jealous that Bart has once again usurped him, Inertia gained super-speed from the speed drug known as Velocity 9. The supplier of this drug was none other than long-time Titans adversary, Deathstroke. In exchange for his super-speed, Inertia agreed to join Deathstroke’s Titans East team. As a member of the villainous team, Inertia became romantically involved with the hot-tempered Sungirl.
Titans East set up their own Titans Tower on the East River, the very same location of the old tower. Deathstroke had his own agenda, which was to reclaim his children, Ravager and Jericho. Titans East was nearly successful in that mission, until Nightwing, Flash, Troia and Beast Boy helped turn the tide and reclaim their island headquarters. The members of Titans East dispersed, unaware of Deathstroke’s true objective; By cementing his offspring as trusted members of the team, Slade knew the Titans would provide his children with a better family than he ever could.
Arch Nemesis Of The Flash
For More Information: Flash The Fastest Man Alive, One Year Later, All Flash
Inertia tried to take Flash down the new Flash, Bart Allen, a number of times. The first confrontation they had with Bart in his new Flash persona was when Inertia kidnapped Bart’s girlfriend,
After failing to defeat Bart Allen by himself, Inertia began to gather a Rogues Gallery of villains to team up against Flash. Meanwhile, Iris Allen returned and warned Bart that if he fought the newly formed league of Rogues, he would not survive. Inertia, in a plan to steal the speed force energy for himself, manipulated the Rogues into battle with Bart. As a depowered Bart fought valiantly against the combined might of the Rogues, he saw the spectre of the Black Flash, and died as Iris Allen and Valerie Perez were left to mourn him. Wally West went after Inertia, hunting him down. As Inertia antagonized him, Wally restrained himself from killing the one responsible for the events that caused Bart’s death, and instead reduced his Inertia’s speed to the point that he is completely immobile, becoming a living statue. Inertia was then placed in the Flash Museum facing the tributes to Bart Aleen, forced to look at the man that he could never be.
Rogues’ Revenge
For More Information: Final Crisis Rogues’ Revenge, Final Crisis
Zoom frees Inertia from his frozen state. He teaches him how to tap time as a power source. The Rogues come after Inertia for misleading them into killing Bart, as he was just a kid. Libra shows up and creates a hostage situation, using Weather Wizard’s son Josh. Inertia grows sick of the whole thing, and kills Josh right then and there. Inertia decides he is Kid Zoom. When Zoom objects Inertia removes his powers by “unraveling” time, leaving Zoom as paraplegic Hunter Zolomon. He also hurts Libra. The Pied Piper freezes Inertia, which leaves him vulnerable for the Rogues to stop, and kill, Inertia in a similar way that Bart died.
New Inertia
A new Inertia appears as part of the group Superboy Prime leads against the Teen Titans. Robin notes that this Inertia is two inches taller than the original, and has no connection to either Inertia or Bart Allen. He is merely another speedster given his costume (which he very much dislikes…calling the green more of a turtle color) by Superboy-Prime and spoiling for a fight. This Inertia is easily taken out by Bart Allen.
Powers & Abilities
As Inertia is a clone of Bart Allen, he has abilities similar to his other self.
Super-speed; Ability to vibrate through objects. Thaddeus Thawne is more methodical than Bart, which can give him an advantage in battle.