
Following an accidental acquisition of Barry Allen’s powers through a potentially lethal test, Wally decided to leave. The covert operation known as Project Olympus dispatched their top operatives, the Rogues, to apprehend him. However, when he proved too formidable, they resorted to using their psychic gorilla, Grodd. To the detriment of the evidently malicious group, Grodd and Wally joined forces and departed on their own. In issue #4, this unconventional pair found refuge in Central City, where it was disclosed that Dr. Elenore Thawne was spearheading Project Olympus’s endeavor to create metahumans. Four of these metahumans escaped when Wally fled, an incident which the young Flash and his charming sidekick witnessed when Grodd guided him to Heatwave, claiming they needed to assist him.