On this week’s episode of The Flash, the big bad of the season has finally been revealed to us! Psych! It was not just Doctor Alchemy—although he is a pretty impressive threat in and of himself—it is a speedster named Savitar.

…I know the episode is called “Killer Frost,” but I just have to explore Savitar because he is such a weird and interesting character. Plus, he has a much longer history with a variety of Flashes than Killer Frost.

If you are looking for some reading you can pick up Savitar’s origin in THE FLASH (Vol. 2) #108 from 1995. It’s a pretty accessible issue and it’s easy to get your hands on since it’s available digitally.

Savitar came to us care of writer Mark Waid and artist Oscar Jimenez during Waid’s much beloved Flash series (which is, fun fact, my favourite Flash run of all time). To step outside of his comic book origins for just a moment, Savitar’s name is actually Hindu. The Hindu “God of Motion” was named Savitr and when a Cold War pilot—from an indeterminate third world nation—was struck down by a bolt of lightning and discovered his speed powers, that was whom he named himself after on a quest to unlock the secrets of the Speed Force (although he didn’t know about the Speed Force at the time of this accident).

Much like the deity he named himself after, Savitar’s obsession and conviction gained him followers and disciples over the course of many years, until he eventually became the leader of a speed cult. During this time, the only heroic speedsters operating in DC Comics continuity were Johnny Quick (perhaps there’s a hint there that on The Flash Savitar will be facing down our very own Jesse Quick?) and Max Mercury (someone we have not—YET! —met on screen in The Flash), who eventually forced him back into the Speed Force where he could no longer cause anyone any harm.

For several decades Savitar remained stuck in the Speed Force, and when he re-emerged he learned that his cult of speed had only grown and expanded in his absence. Like any good savior figure, his return had been foretold and anxiously awaited by his followers. During this appearance in the DC Universe, Savitar encountered a lot of other speedsters including Christina Alexandrova—known as Lady Flash at the time—and through associating with her, Savitar was able to harness speed force energy and focus it directly into his own followers (some of whom happened to be ninjas!). With an army at his back, Savitar set out to destroy those who would oppose him, including the Flash (who was Wally West at the time), Impulse (Bart Allen), Golden Age Flash (Jay Garrick), Johnny Quick, Jesse Quick, XS (Jenni Ognats), and his old foe Max Mercury.

Fun fact: Lady Flash would go on to change her name to Lady Savitar. This move in and of itself should tell you where Christina Alexandrova is going to end up.