Wally West
Wally West is a male comic superhero who features in DC Comics.
Contents |
Biography
Origin
Wallace Rudolph West was the son of Rudolph West and Mary West where he lived in the modern age. It was noted that he spent a decade of his early life in Blue Valley, Nebraska. (The Flash v2 #62)
Flash
Wally took Barry's uniform and declared himself the Flash, just until Barry returned. However, the rest of the population did not share Wally's feeling that Barry was still alive, and they also did not appreciate Wally's attempts at filling Barry's boots. After being publicly embarrassed in a fight with Doctor Alchemy, Green Lantern declared that he would protect Central City. For about a week, Wally donned his Kid Flash costume again. However, during the next fight with Doctor Alchemy, it finally dawned on him that Barry was not coming back. He saved Green Lantern and Jay Garrick from Doctor Alchemy leading him to be accepted as the Flash. (The Flash Annual v2 #8)
After the alien invasion of Earth, during which Wally fought Durlans in Cuba, the aliens set off a gene bomb that robbed Wally of his superspeed. His friends, Jerry and Tina McGee, set up a device to restore his speed. It sprayed him with the chemicals that had gifted Barry and himself with superspeed while sending an electrical charge through him. However, with his new speed, Wally burned a deep trench across America, stretching from New York all the way to New Mexico. His aura, which had previously served as an energy collector, began to feed directly on him, starving him and affecting his brain, and also sending his consciousness to another energy level. He grew long spines around his body, and stalked around Swainsville, New Mexico, confused and looking for food, contributing to the citizens' belief in a local myth, the Porcupine Man. Luckily, Chunk was able to restore his essence to this dimension by using his singularity powers. (The Flash v2 #27)
However, the tragedy was not averted and Wally was forced to enter the Speed Force, where he traded Linda's fate for what he thought would be his. However, he managed to return from the Speed Force and quickly defeated Kobra. This trip beyond the light gave Wally the power to tap directly into the Speed Force itself which granted new abilities, which consisted on projecting the speed force onto objects and many others. (The Flash v2 #100)
Soon, a new contender to the title of "fastest man alive" made himself known--Savitar. He had found a way to siphon energy from the Speed Force, cutting off its access to several speedsters, including Jay Garrick, Jesse Quick, Johnny Quick and Bart Allen; this power drain also resulted in the death of Kapitalist Kouriers speedster/delivery man Cassiopeia. (The Flash v2 #108) Wally became aware of the power drain among the other speedsters and he learned about Savitar from a group of ninjas that were sent to attack him. When the speedsters regrouped, they met Jenny Ognats who was a cousin to both Bart and Wally and a descendant of Barry Allen. (The Flash v2 #109)
Soon a new foe called the Suit showed up in Keystone, looking to kill the Flash. Wally performed a time feat which allowed him to survive the first encounter with Suit, but soon an explosion caused by the criminal broke both of Wally's legs. (The Flash v2 #130) Confined to a wheelchair, Wally came up with the idea of having Max, Jay and Impulse pretend to be him and confuse The Suit. Wally then tried to focus his energy and made himself a suit made out of pure Speed Force. (The Flash v2 #131) Clad in the new, golden Speed Force suit, Wally confronted The Suit, saved Max Mercury, pulling him out of The Suit and when The Suit returned pulled Wally inside him, Wally started to vibrate in order to atomize The Suit, whose particles became one with the Speed Force. (The Flash v2 #132) Right after this, Wally was attacked by the Mirror Master, who transported Flash into a mirror world. After a series of weird encounters, Wally finally caught the Mirror Master within his speed-stream and hauled him off to prison. (The Flash v2 #133)
Eventually, Wally met Linda's fellow reporter, Billy Batson. When there was a sudden emergency, Wally suited-up while Billy transformed into Captain Marvel and they worked together to avert the crisis. Soon, Wally, Billy and Linda located the man most likely responsible for the "accident": Felix Faust. Flash and Wally teamed up again to stop Faust and afterward, Wally and Linda bid Billy farewell as he boarded a train headed for Fawcett City, Indiana. (The Flash v2 #162) After the Wests received a bomb as part of their wedding presents, Wally investigated and learned that someone has targeted members of the JLA. After learning the information about the upcoming attacks, Flash saved Superman, Batman, Green Lantern and finally Aquaman from the attacks. Flash soon learned that the enemy threatening him and his allies was none other than the Turtle, the slowest man alive. Flash managed to defeat the villain without any trouble and he soon returned home to spend the night with his lovely wife. (The Flash v2 #163) After this, Wally found himself in a strange world in which he was a normal human, a criminal and where Aquaman has been dead for 10 years. He was soon arrested by none other than Mick Rory. Wally woke from a nightmare and met a woman named Fiona, who told him she was the resident social worker for the police department. After a quick interrogation, Fiona left Wally alone in his cell and after a few seconds, Wally heard a familiar voice near his cell. When he turned to the window, he saw Barry Allen. Wally tried to escape prison, but his efforts were futile. At that moment, Officer Rory entered the room, but he was attacked by Captain Cold. (The Flash v2 #164)
Mirror Master explains that somehow they were double-crossed by another criminal, but now that they have found the truth, they must work together to get back to their own world. Cold, Mirror Master and Flash tried to find a way back, but they were stopped by Plunder. Flash, Captain Cold and Mirror Master ran into "Mirror Master's Mirror Maze", trying to outrun Plunder's laser bursts. Preparing to defend himself, McCulloch unsheathed his mirror gun, trying to absorb Plunder's lasers--unfortunately, the lasers activated his gun, creating evil mirror duplicates of Flash, Captain Cold and Mirror Master. (The Flash v2 #166) During the fight, Captain Cold and Mirror Master were defeated, leaving Wally to fight alone against Plunder. Using every resource in the environment, Wally managed to stall Plunder long enough to escape the twisted mirror dimension along with Cold and Mirror Master. Back in the real world, Wally's powers fully returned. Wally and the Rogues soon resumed their rivalry, but they were shocked to see that Keystone City was somehow gone. (The Flash v2 #167)
The Flash was then ambushed by the new Rogues who were brought together under the Blacksmith. In the fight, Wally was infected with the Frenzy virus whilst the Thinker also made his own bid to take over Keystone City. However, part of his plan involved the Flash and aided him in finding a cure for the virus. The Thinker then used his cybernetic tentacles to capture the Flash and use him as a living processor. (The Flash v2 #185)
Faced with the death of his unborn children, Wally still tried not to succumb to Zoom's goading with the villain nearly crippling him. However, a side effect of Zolomon's powers created windows into the past and he was shown the day his father-in-law died leading to him leaving the scene. Jesse Quick managed to recover Wally who was taken to the hospital where he met Linda briefly. Whilst there, Jay briefed Wally on the nature of Zoom's powers that were tied to time itself after his failed attempt to use the Cosmic Treadmill to go back in time. Thus, he was not a speedster as his powers stemmed over his linear manipulation of time and that this could affect time itself over prolonged use. Wally thus decided to confront the villain again with Jesse wanting to help him as she regretted not being there for him. However, West refused and stated that Zoom was too dangerous for another speedster to fight and that he needed to do so alone. He confronted Zoom at Kansas City where Hunter was reliving the moment his father-in-law died again but then battled the Flash where he overpowered Wally again. It was only Jesse Quick's arrival that saved him where she urged him to accept her help and not to make her mistakes. Zolomon then caught up with the pair but Jesse then lent the power of her speed equation to Wally thus super-charging him to the point that he could fight in the same time instance as Zoom. Impressed at his power, Zoom though came to still see that Wally lacked the willingness to do what must be done and thus decided to kill Linda to goad him further. Thus, he raced to Linda's hospital with Wally in pursuit where their fight went all across the planet in the matter of seconds. In this time, Zolomon urged him to do what Barry did namely to kill him and only then would be embrace his true potential but West refused to do so. As their fight dragged on, the increased speed the Flash had was dissipating as they reached Keystone City. Wally then managed to latch onto Zolomon who expected the Flash to snap his neck but instead West pushed Hunter into one of the time windows that his time manipulation powers had created incidentally. This was with the hope that this would lock Hunter in the current part of the timestream but it locked him in a state of stasis where he could not move and instead was replying the death of his father-in-law constantly. The Flash then allowed the authorities to take Zoom to Iron Heights though he felt that he had not achieved a victory but only a defeat as he had lost his unborn children as well as his close friend. (The Flash v2 #200)
He along with his wife and children were later brought back to Earth by seven members of the Legion of Super-Heroes who had journeyed to the present to use their lightning rode devices. Upon his return, he was offered membership by Hal Jordan into the new incarnation of the Justice League of America which he accepted. (Justice League of America v2 #10)
Wally had ignored much of his responsibilities to the Justice League as he instead devoted his time to his own life leading to Wonder Woman having a quick talk with him about returning to his duties. (Justice League of America v2 #20)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
During the Darkseid War, the conflict between the powerful cosmic beings weakened the barriers between dimensions. Whilst attempting to evade the Black Racer, Barry Allen could hear the voice of Wally West but could not make it out. (Justice League v2 #50) Following the conflict, Wally West managed to escape from the Speed Force but found that the changes to the time-stream meant that no one remembered his existence. (DCU: Rebirth v1 #1)
Imprisoned for his actions, he came to be visited by Tempus Fuginaut who recruited Wally's aid to help protect the Multiverse from the encroaching Dark Matter that had emerged from the Dark Multiverse. (Flash Forward v1 #1)
After Perpetua's defeat, the Multiverse was restored and expanded into an infinite frontier. In this time, Wally was invited to the House of Heroes by Barry who had become their Earth's representative in the Justice Incarnate. Allen had decided to help chart the new Multiverse but not before passing on the mantle of Flash to Wally. (Infinite Frontier v1 #0)
Returning home, he was re-united his Linda and his children where they came to be a family once again. Though happy, he quickly realised that they were financially struggling which necessitated Wally in finding a job. He tried to apply for a position as a mechanic but most places refused as he could not explain his gap in his employment history nor could he use computers. This was until one place accepted where he began to work when on his first day he was visited by Michael Holt. Holt revealed that he owned the garage and fired Wally but only because he had another job for West. He wanted Wally to serve as a mechanic at the Terrifitech headquarters at Central City. From there, he was to help in experiments to study changes in the Multiverse and from here he could continue to operate as the Flash whilst he was paid for his work. (The Flash v1 #772)
Overview
Personality and attributes
For a brief moment, he came to be known as Kid Lantern when he operated as a Green Lantern. (Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold v1 #2)
He first met Wonder Woman when he was 13 years old possibly where he thought she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen and wanted to impress her along with wanting to get her respect. This position did not change even when he grew up as he was always amazed when he saw her helping people. A compliment from her made him grin that was similar to a first grader that had a crush on their homeroom teacher. (Justice League of America v2 #20)
Wally's aunt Charlotte was the eldest of the West siblings and he noted that she used to talk down to him. His grandfather was Ira West was a noted professor who had won the Nobel Prize. It was said that his father and grandfather never had a close relationship. (The Flash v2 #62)
Powers and abilities
As a speedster, it was said that he had a high-velocity brain. (JLA v1 #16) Whilst able to heal, the super-fast metabolism meant that viral infections were only accelerated to spread faster in his body if he attempted to use it to recover in such conditions. (JLA v1 #32) He could vibrate the molecules in objects such as statues placing their status as hyperspeed in order for them to generate heat making them a kind of radiator. (JLA v1 #55)
On an instinctual level did he vibrate his body if he felt the pressure of a bullet allowing him in an instant allow bullets to pass through him. (JLA v1 #44)
Among his Speed Force derived abilities included the:
- Infinite Mass Punch : by using the Speed Field and accelerating towards approaching lightspeed, his body's mass began to increase towards infinity with him being able to strike with an incredibly powerful punch able to send powerful superhumans flying across continents. (JLA v1 #3) Thus, as the faster he went the more mass he generated until he reached lightspeed whereupon his fists could strike with the force of a white dwarf star. (Flash v2 #148)
He could impart some of his super-speed to another person to accelerate their metabolism thus increasing their natural healing process. (JLA v1 #16) Wally could steal the speed from the metabolisms of wounded people in order to control any bleeding. (JLA v1 #80)
It was possible for other speedsters to lend their own super-speed to Wally where he could reach a super-charged state where he was incredibly fast. In this state, he could even fight people that operated by manipulating time in the span of seconds. This power was only temporary though and wore off over time which meant that he needed to defeat his foes before it ran out. (The Flash v2 #200)
His speedsuit was noted to be able to absorb the kinetic energy from bullets. (JLA v1 #16) As his suit was molded out of the Speed Force itself it meant that there was nothing metallic to polarise on it thus preventing it from being manipulated by those who could control metal. (JLA v1 #59)
When he briefly lost his powers, Hal Jordan provided him a Power Ring that tapped into his own abilities as a Green Lantern. Thus, he could fly and also create constructs so long as his will was strong enough. (Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold v1 #2)
For a time, he came to be in possession of the Mobius Chair that was imbued with the power of Doctor Manhattan. (Flash Forward v1 #6) It was only through his indominable will and the power of the Speed Force that prevented Wally from being overtaken by it. (The Flash v1 #750)
Notes
- Wally West was created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino where he made his first appearance as Kid Flash in The Flash v1 #110 (December, 1959) and debuted as the Flash in Crisis on Infinite Earths v1 #12 (March, 1986).
Alternate Versions
- In Kingdom Come v1 #1 (1996), an alternate version of Wally West appeared in the Kingdom Come reality that was designated as Earth-22 in the Multiverse.
- In Justice Riders v1 #1 (1997), an alternate version of Wally West appeared in the Justice Riders reality that was designated as Earth-18 in the Multiverse.
- In The Flash v2 #150 (1999), an alternate version of the character named Walter West from an alternate future appeared in the Multiverse. He was shown where his wife Linda Park had died leading to succumbing to grief and brutally stopping criminals. He later went back in time to the modern day in order to replace the Wally West from that era and take his life so he could be with that world's version of Linda Park.
- In Justice v1 #7 (2006), an alternate version of Wally West appeared in the Justice reality that was set on a world within the Multiverse.
- In Flashpoint: Citizen Cold v1 #1 (2011), an alternate version of Wally West appeared in the altered timeline of the Flashpoint that was set on a world within the Multiverse.
- In Teen Titans: Earth One v1 #2 (2016), an alternate version of Wally West appeared in a reality that was designated as Earth-One in the Multiverse.
- In Future State: The Flash v1 #1 (2021), an alternate version of Wally West appeared in the possible future setting of Future State in the Multiverse. Five years before Bart Allen's death, Wally West changed, developing an hunger for Speed Force and taking away the connection of Barry Allen with it. After doing that, he proceeded with an attack against Titans Academy, where he found and killed his cousin, Wallace West, draining him of both his Speed and his life. In the five years which followed, he kept on killing around the world, because he had to: Famine, the rider of Apocalypse, was possessing him. But his mind still lived, isolated, in the Speed Force: he did what he had to do to restrain his master from killing the members of the Flash Family, hoping they might find a way to save him. After killing members of the Global Guardians in Kahndaq, he was reached by Barry and other speedsters thanks to a particular network able to contact the minds of people connected with the Speed Force. While there, he revealed to Barry that he was a slave of another force, called Famine. He also told them he could not free himself up, and that connecting them back with the Speed Force would just condemn them to certain death. He also tried to explain his friends what Famine really wanted, but before he could do it, Famine took full control and killed Jay Garrick.
In other media
Television
- In the DC Animated Universe, the Flash made multiple appearances in the shared continuity setting.
- In Superman: The Animated Series, the Flash first appeared in the animated television as a guest star in the episode "Speed Demons" where he was voiced by actor Charlie Schlatter.
- In Justice League, the Flash returned in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Michael Rosenbaum. It was revealed in the "Starcrossed" cross-over that this version of the character was Wally West.
- In Justice League Unlimited, the Flash appeared in the animated television series where he was once again voiced by actor Michael Rosenbaum.
- In Teen Titans, Kid Flash appeared in the animated television series as a guest star where he was once more voiced by actor Michael Rosenbaum.
- In Young Justice, Wally West appeared as Kid Flash in the animated television series where he was voiced by actor Jason Spisak.
Films
Video games
- In Young Justice: Legacy, Wally West as Kid Flash appeared as a playable character in the video game where he was voiced again by actor Jason Spisak.
Appearances
- The Flash v1: (1959)
- Teen Titans v1:
- Crisis on Infinite Earths v1:
- Flash v2:
- JLA v1:
- Flash & Green Lantern: The Brave and the Bold v1:
- Justice League of America v2:
- The Flash:
- Titans:
- Flash Forward v1:
- Infinite Frontier v1: (2021)
- The Flash v1:
External Links
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