Highlights
- The portrayal of Barry Allen in the DCEU as a nerdy and awkward version has left the audience wanting more.
- Wally West, who became the third Flash after Jay Garrick and Barry Allen, could be a potential replacement for the mantle of The Flash.
- James Gunn's new direction for the DCU, which includes a vibrant and optimistic tone, aligns well with Wally West's character and could redeem the Flash character.
The DC universe has seen several speedsters take up the mantle of The Flash. The first Flash, Jay Garrick, emerged during the Golden Era of DC comics. Later, the role passed to Barry Allen, undoubtedly the most famous Flash, who was also part of the DCEU. However, his portrayal in the DCEU left much to be desired, as it presented a more awkward and nerdier version of Barry Allen.
While there were reports suggesting that James Gunn and Peter Safran were open to bringing back Ezra Miller as Flash, it's become evident that the audience has grown weary of Barry Allen, especially after the poor reception of The Flash. It may be time for DCU to consider passing the Flash mantle to Wally West.
Who Is Wally West?
Starting as Kid Flash, Wally West became the third-ever Flash after Jay Garrick and Barry Allen. Although not related by blood, Wally is the nephew of Iris West, who was married to Barry himself. Being a huge admirer of Barry's Flash, Wally also became a speedster after getting exposed to the same chemicals that gave Barry his powers. Kid Flash then served as Flash's sidekick but later joined the Teen Titans, a superhero group for teenagers. As Wally's journey as the Flash progressed, his connection with the Speed Force increased, making him much stronger and faster compared to his predecessors.
After Barry sacrificed himself to save the multiverse in the Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, Wally West donned the Flash suit from the years 1986-2009 before Barry was reintroduced as Flash in the Final Crisis storyline. Currently, both Wally and Barry coexist as the Flash.
While Barry Allen has typically been the primary Flash in animated and live-action adaptations, Wally's appearances were mostly as Kid Flash. Despite being killed off later, Wally was one of the most beloved characters in the Young Justice series. However, Wally did appear as Flash in some instances and the most notable one was in Justice League: Unlimited.
The DCEU and CW's Flash have already explored all the essential Barry Allen stories, leading to the logical decision to shift the focus to the next speedster. Additionally, the DCEU failed to capture Barry Allen's character accurately, arguably making him one of the least faithful adaptations in the universe. Although the CW Flash concluded the character arc on a positive note, not all viewers are familiar with this particular iteration of the character. James Gunn, however, has the potential to redeem the Flash character by introducing Wally West.
How Can Wally West Fit In The New DCU
While many thought that The Flash was supposed to fully adapt the Flashpoint storyline, a few changes to the story were made, and Barry's journey back in time occurred in an altered timeline where Bruce Wayne was George Clooney instead of Ben Affleck. It is safe to assume that The Flash was the last time audiences got to see Ezra Miller as the speedster on the big screens combined with the underwhelming response to the movie.
In the original Flashpoint comics, Barry creates an altered timeline featuring various versions of superheroes and villains with different histories, a concept similar to what is seen in The Flash movie. However, The Flash movie simply provides the audience with a blueprint for how the DCU might begin, suggesting that Flash will traverse the multiverse, potentially kickstarting the DCU. Nevertheless, due to the Flashpoint event, Wally West's Flash is erased from the timeline, leaving only Barry's Flash in existence. The DCU could potentially take a different path, erasing Barry and replacing him with Wally as the Flash.
James Gunn has previously mentioned that the DCU will take a completely different direction compared to the DCEU, opting for established superheroes rather than adopting the year-one approach of the DCEU. Both Batman and Superman would have entered the later stages of their superhero careers, now operating with intermediate levels of experience. The Brave and the Bold will also focus on Batman, who will be joined by his third son, Damian Wayne as Robin, and the rest of the Bat Family. It's worth noting that Dick Grayson, the first Robin, would also have adopted the mantle of Nightwing by then.
Since Dick and Wally were of the same age, this implies that Wally would also have become the Flash by then. Just like the Bat Family, the DCU could also have an established Flash family, with Jay Garrick as the retired Flash. However, the storylines would have been altered without the mention or existence of Barry Allen as Flash in the particular universe, given that Wally only becomes Flash after Barry's death.
James Gunn's DCU will also be more vibrant and optimistic compared to the darker and grittier tone of the DCEU. Wally West's character also best aligns with the new theme of the DCU. In the comics, Wally West has a more vibrant, fun, and humorous personality that fits perfectly with James Gunn's vision for the new DC universe.