Superman and The Flash have a long history of racing against one another, but their very first race took an interesting turn in the last way anyone would expect. Especially the inhabitants of the Canadian prairies.
While fans will always debate which of DC's heroes would win in a head-to-head conflict, Superman vs. any other hero will always be the most controversial. And given the nature of both Superman and Flash's super-speed, a race between the two is truly the only way to settle the issue. Even though Superman and Flash have raced plenty of times over the years, DC first decided to tell the story fans wanted to see in Superman #199, aptly titled "Superman's Race with The Flash."
The story begins with both Superman and Flash being invited to participate in a race by the United Nations, in an effort to raise money to help underdeveloped countries worldwide. Obviously both agree to take part in a race would span the entire globe, with various obstacles being placed along their route to make the event more competitive. However, two gangs catch wind of this race, and while one places a large bet on Superman, the other places a large bet on the Flash, with each planning to sabotage the other hero (completely unaware of the other gang's plan). On the day of the race, a large crowd gathers to watch the two competitors, including the entire Justice League, with Green Lantern using his ring to generate a monitor to observe the race.
Once the race starts, both heroes are seemingly matched in speed, reaching destinations like Egypt, India, and the Soviet Union neck and neck. Both heroes stumble at certain points along the way, and rely on the other hero secretly helping them avoid disaster -- Flash using his speed to bury kryptonite that slows Superman, or Superman using his super-breath to ensure Flash isn't overtaken by massive ocean waves. However, the entire race's outcome is determined when the speeding heroes run straight into a Canadian winter.
When the two heroes reach the icy flats of Saskatchewan, The Flash's feet fail him, accidentally fumbling, falling, and knocking himself unconscious. Superman -- immune to the ice thanks to his "super balance" -- notices The Flash's accident and once again, shows why he's a hero like no other. Deciding the race wouldn't be fair if his competitor was incapacitated, Supes decides to turn around and take care of him. But realizing The Flash might not appreciate being so overtly helped by his rival, Superman changes back into his Clark Kent identity, and pretends to have stumbled across the speedster in need of some help. When The Flash awakens, he thanks Clark Kent for his help and continues on with the race, unaware Superman was the one who helped him get back on his feet.
Shortly thereafter, the gangsters who were betting on the race make their attempts to sabotage the racers, successfully capturing both of them with special bindings Flash can not break, and kryptonite gas to weaken Superman. Continuing the theme of teamwork despite their separation, each manages to piece together the scheme each gang has crafted for the other. Superman, using his enhanced vision, finds that the Flash was also captured by a similar gang and uses his heat vision to free him. Once Flash is free, he notices Superman's situation and uses his speed to remove the kryptonite gas, restoring Superman's strength. The duo beat up the gangsters and, just to add an even greater sting for the criminals, decide to finish the race in a tie, crossing the finish line at the exact same time, so that neither group of gangsters can collect on their winnings.
Though the race officially ends in a tie, there is no doubt that in this instance, Superman could have easily won the race, had he not stopped and helped The Flash. Going into the race, both heroes knew that there would be obstacles, and were under no obligation to assist the other in any manner. Prior to the scarlet speedster's slip-up in Saskatchewan, both heroes did help the other, despite doing so in secret (meaning Superman had no reason to think he 'owed' Flash for helping him, either). Of course, fans know that Superman was always going to help The Flash recover in Saskatchewan, for the simple reason that it was the right thing to do. And most importantly, if Superman had not helped Flash, he would have been trapped by the gangsters who ambushed him, and their scam would have gone uninterrupted.
The bad news for fans both then and now is that the heroism of the heroes leaves the question "who is the fastest man alive?" unanswered. The two would subsequently have many races over the years, in different circumstances. While Superman would Superman would occasionally beat Flash, the Man of Steel's victories still make up the minority of the outcomes. Current write of The Flash comics for DC has gone on record supporting The Flash's superiority in speed over Superman, saying "He's the fastest man alive...it's right there."
Though DC seems to have made their official stance on the matter clear, that The Flash is the faster hero, it should be noted that Superman can hold his own against the Flash in most circumstances, which is more than most DC characters can claim. Still, for historians who wish to count every shred of evidence, this comic shows Superman did have the opportunity to win his first ever race with The Flash in Saskatchewan... but then, if he left his friend behind to claim the victory, he wouldn't be considered "Super" in the first place.
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