Wally West Proves Why He’s the Flash Fans Actually Want—Sorry, Barry Allen!

by

The Flash, a cherished component of the DC Multiverse, made its debut in 1940 in “Flash Comics” #1, with Jay Garrick donning the iconic yellow lightning bolt emblem. Jay was well-received, but it was Barry Allen who would truly shape the identity of the Flash – his introduction in “Showcase” #4 marked the beginning of the Silver Age and made Barry a symbol of the era. Barry later acquired a sidekick, Wally West, in “The Flash” #110, who started as Kid Flash before joining the highly popular New Teen Titans. In “Crisis on Infinite Earths”, Wally experienced his most significant promotion following Barry Allen’s demise, becoming arguably the greatest version of the Flash ever. Although Bart Allen also assumed the mantle of the Flash, it’s best to gloss over that. Avery Ho may surpass Bart in terms of ability, but Wally still stands out as the best, plain and simple.

Certainly, DC chose to reintroduce Barry Allen in the 2000s, during a period when they were heavily embracing the nostalgia of Silver/Bronze Age comics. Yet, this decision sparked protests from Flash fans who yearned for Wally West’s return. As Barry regained popularity and headlined a successful CW series, so did the clamor for Wally and the waning interest in Barry stories lead to the comeback of the undisputed greatest Flash character. While Barry Allen is indeed captivating at times, it’s hard to argue against Wally West being the best Flash – a fact that remains indisputable.

Wally West’s Tenure as the Flash Changed the Mantle Forever

Let’s discuss what makes Wally stand out as the superior Flash, but first, we need to address why Barry falls short. Unlike Wally, Barry hails from a different comic genre – the Silver Age Barry was somewhat dull and unremarkable, yet in an endearing way, if you understand my drift. Barry was the epitome of responsibility, utilizing his scientific acumen to excel as a superhero. He was deeply committed to his job, his wife Iris, and mentoring Wally. These traits are commendable, but they can make for engaging stories. The problem lies in that there wasn’t much room for Barry’s character development. To put it bluntly, Barry is as plain as white bread – tasty and useful for making sandwiches, but there are more enticing options available. Even after his return to prominence, DC writers infused Wally’s personality and humor into the character of Barry. Barry isn’t on par with Hal or Ollie; these characters have evolved over time and possess intrigue that Barry lacks. Barry couldn’t evolve in the same way, and that’s why he can’t be the best Flash. Barry’s traditional crew cut is a clear reflection of his character.

Barry’s best deed was his death, as it paved the way for Wally to take center stage. Initially, Wally was just another typical Silver Age character, but that all changed with “New Teen Titans.” Marv Wolfman and George Perez’s groundbreaking series revitalized every character it encountered. Wally was depicted as growing increasingly disillusioned with his superhero existence, eventually retiring due to his powers diminishing. He made a comeback during “Crisis,” and his abilities became stable after Barry’s demise. This marked the start of Wally’s journey, but it almost didn’t get off the ground. The Flash hadn’t been popular for quite some time by the time “Crisis” introduced a new Flash. It was a challenging proposition, with creators essentially replacing Barry stories with Wally, and Wally’s tenure could have ended before it even began. However, DC persisted until the character who would transform everything for Wally emerged — Mark Waid. Waid and Greg LaRocque’s debut story, “The Return of Barry Allen,” is still a standout, over three decades old and better than 90% of current comic books. Mark Waid’s tenure on “The Flash” sculpted Wally West from clay into an intriguing character, reimagining the potential of the Flash.

The primary reason Wally outshines Barry is because he appears more authentic as a genuine human character. Unlike Barry Allen, who embodied the ideal superhero of the Silver Age, leaving little room for change, Wally West was always portrayed as a more human character. From his relationship with his future wife Linda, to his budding friendship with Green Lantern Kyle Rayner, and his interactions with the Rogues, Wally had flaws, made mistakes, but persevered. This relatability endeared him to readers. During Brian Michael Bendis’ run, Wally continued to evolve, becoming a great hero while still following in Barry’s footsteps but forging his own path. Lastly, the Speed Force played a significant role in Wally’s development as well.

Initially, Barry served as the driving force of the Speed Force, but it was Wally who first unearthed this phenomenon. As Wally mastered the lessons imparted by Barry, Jay Garrick, and Max Mercury, he emerged as the most powerful Flash. The influence of the Speed Force significantly shaped the Flash lore, with Wally playing a pivotal role in its definition. He forged a new path within this realm. The narratives surrounding the Speed Force felt organic and authentic with Wally, whereas they seemed contrived when associated with Barry.

While Barry had some exceptional creators contributing to his storylines, Wally underwent three defining arcs from Mark Waid, Geoff Johns, and Jeremy Adams. Each of these writers captured different aspects of Wally’s development. Mark Waid molded Wally into the hero he was destined to be. Geoff Johns reshaped Wally’s status quo and his relationship with the Rogues. Jeremy Adams rekindled the love for Wally, reminding readers why they initially adored him. Adams also crafted a narrative similar to Grant Morrison’s work on “Animal Man,” elevating Wally’s family as crucial elements of his character.

Moreover, Simon Spurrier’s current run delves deeper into the Speed Force and the Flash’s history than ever before, creating a chilling horror narrative. Recently, Spurrier has shifted towards more conventional Wally stories, leveraging the tools provided by numerous writers to construct engaging superhero family tales. The Rogues also gained depth during Wally’s tenure as the Flash, a trend that aligns with the evolving comic book industry’s focus on developing complex villains.

During his time as the Flash, Wally propelled the mantle to new heights, which it could not achieve under Barry. Barry was competent, but he lacked the charm and relatability of a typical everyman hero – a role that Wally has since embodied, transforming into DC’s equivalent of Spider-Man.

Barry Allen Is Great, but Wally West Is the Best

Barry Allen is an endearing character with his lovable slowness in speed, but there’s only so much growth he can display. Compared to Wally West, Barry seems to lack potential for development. Wally being back on the scene was exciting, yet the prolonged absence of Wally for almost a decade is often seen as an enormous oversight by DC Comics. Wally has been the Flash for numerous generations of DC fans, and that’s simply a fact. The reason the compilation Absolute Flash features Wally as its lead character, despite him being the third Flash, lies in the fact that readers are more interested in following his storylines.

Barry has produced some remarkable tales since his comeback, yet he can’t match up to Wally. The narrative of the sidekick surpassing the mentor and shining brighter will always outrank Barry’s exploits in our eyes. Sure, we enjoy seeing Reverse Flash attempting to kill Barry repeatedly, but that’s about it. What captivates us with Wally is his family life, his powers, his everyday experiences. We want to see him interacting with the Justice League. We crave Wally in all his flawed, authentic splendor. Wally West donned the Flash suit when the mantle was at its weakest and revitalized the character’s popularity. Throughout the ’90s and ’00s, The Flash series was a pinnacle of superhero action with Wally as the main protagonist. His return in the 2020s has continued this trend, offering readers the most exhilarating Flash adventures possible. Barry is charismatic, but Wally? Wally is The Flash.

Read More

2025-05-02 15:12