DC Just Made An Overlooked Flash Character Cool Again (& Convinced Me He Needs His Own Series)

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For 85 years, The Flash has remained a consistently popular character, and over that time, the various heroes who’ve taken on the mantle have become one of DC Comics’ most impressive families. The Flash family offers a diverse group of heroes with fantastic costumes and incredible powers. Whether you’re looking for an experienced leader, a former sidekick, or exciting young heroes with unique personalities, you’ll find them within the Flash family. Over the years, many amazing teenage heroes have been introduced through The Flash, but one of the best has recently faced difficulties.

Bart Allen, also known as Impulse, first appeared in The Flash comic book in 1994. He was the first new teenage speedster since Wally West took on the mantle of The Flash and quickly gained his own series. Impulse was a popular hero during the 1990s, embodying the spirit of the era. While his character has faced challenges over time, a recent issue of The Flash is reminding fans what makes him so great.

Impulse’s Return Shows Why He’s so Great

In The Flash #26, which is part of the DC K.O. event, Impulse comes up with a risky plan to defeat Darkseid: travel back in time using the Speed Force. Unfortunately, his plan goes wrong and he accidentally erases himself from existence. This forces Wally West to journey back to the events of DC All-In #1 to understand what happened and fix the timeline. It’s a very typical, impulsive move for the character – acting first and thinking later, which causes a lot of problems. Co-written by Impulse’s co-creator, Mark Waid, this issue perfectly captures what makes Impulse such a compelling and memorable character.

I always loved Impulse! He was introduced as this incredibly fast hero, basically the grandson of the Flash from the future. He trained using some really cool virtual reality tech to master his speed, and then just showed up in our time wanting to be a hero. Honestly, he lived up to his name – he was always rushing into things! It was amazing to watch him grow, though. He teamed up with older speedsters like Max Mercury and Jay Garrick, and they helped him learn to control his powers and think things through. He really became a key part of DC’s new group of teen heroes in the ’90s, and his unpredictable nature always made him so much fun to read.

A major reason readers connected with Impulse was watching him develop as a hero. However, a turning point – and a mistake – was turning him into Kid Flash in Teen Titans. This change made Bart Allen less interesting and stripped away what made him special. While fans were initially happy when he became the Flash, the comic didn’t sell well, and the character was killed off. He was briefly brought back during Final Crisis: Legion of Three Worlds, but the New 52 reboot significantly diminished his character, along with many others of his generation. He hasn’t been the same hero since.

Issue #26 of The Flash (Vol. 6) marks a welcome return to the authentic Impulse. He’s true to his name – quick to act – but also clever and genuinely funny. As a young hero, he’s a bit reckless and sometimes needs help, but that’s part of his charm. Some believe the previous issues with the character stemmed from his development, but the real issue was trying to force him into the role of Kid Flash. This recent appearance shows that Impulse can work as a more grown-up character, and it’s definitely time for a new Impulse series.

A New Impulse Series Could Show a New Generation of Readers What the Character is All About

The 1990s saw a resurgence of teen heroes in comics, with characters like Tim Drake and Superboy leading the way. But among all those series, Impulse stood out as the best. He was a genuinely funny and engaging character who managed to develop and grow while staying true to what made him special – his quick, impulsive personality. While the character hasn’t always hit the mark in recent years, he’s now poised for a fun comeback with his own comic series again.

Issue #26 of The Flash (Vol. 6) perfectly captures what made Impulse such a beloved character: his sheer fun and energy. Over time, the biggest issue with Impulse wasn’t that he grew up, but that he became predictable and lost his impulsive spark. This issue proves that the heart of the character is still strong, even with his development. DC Comics is doing fantastic work right now, and a new Impulse series could really revitalize the teen and young hero genre. It’s definitely overdue! Those of us who loved the original Impulse want to see more of this young speedster, and a new book could bring back other forgotten young heroes from DC’s past.

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2025-10-26 01:47