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Current circumstances have left the perfect opening for the Flash to reassert his place at the heart of the DC Universe.
One of the major superhero identities in the DC Universe is the Flash. There have been multiple heroes to bear the title over the years, only to be shifted out of the spotlight due to unforeseen circumstances. But one of the most powerful might have the perfect opportunity for a comeback.
Wally West might have spent the last decade more or less on the sidelines or consumed by drama. But recent and upcoming events in the DC Universe might leave the perfect opening for Wally to reassert himself as one of DC’s most important heroes.
In the 1990s, Wally West was one of the foundational heroes of the DC Universe. Despite the Post-Crisis DC Universe largely being a reboot, one of the lingering elements following Crisis on Infinite Earths was the fact that Barry Allen had been the original Flash, had died in the line of duty, and that his old partner (and former Kid Flash) Wally took up the mantle. Wally West wasn’t the first (or the last) legacy hero of the DC Universe, but he might be one of the most important. His stint as the Flash saw the former Teen Titan rise in terms of raw power beyond Barry’s upper limits, eventually leading to Wally joining the Justice League. By the time of Flashpoint — which formally removed the Post-Crisis Wally from the board for a period — he’d become a mentor, a husband, a father, and a leader in the DCU hero community.
Wally’s return to prominence has been a mixed bag since his return in DC Rebirth. Although Barry helped bring him back to the world, the events of Heroes in Crisis, Flash War, and Flashforward pushed Wally to the margins of the universe. However, Wally has been slowly regaining his position in the greater world. He’s aware of the top-secret team the Totality, has been reunited with his family, and is even serving as the Flash again while working for Mister Terrific. Although he hasn’t been at the center of the universe, it’s been exciting to see Wally West moving back into a comfortable position within the superhero community. But given recent events, he might have a perfect opening to reassert his importance.
The upcoming Death of the Justice League will leave the world largely unprotected, resulting in whatever heroes remain having plenty of slack to pick up. Meanwhile, two other powerhouses have been removed from the board: Shazam has been tasked with guarding the Four Horsemen within the Rock of Eternity. Meanwhile, Barry Allen — the other primary Flash — is trapped in Multiverse-2. This will likely leave the door open to younger heroes like Jon Kent, Damian Wayne, Naomi, Jo Mullein, and Jackson Hyde to step up and protect the world. It’s in this situation that Wally West might find himself invaluable. As an experienced hero who’s survived multiple end of the world scenarios, he might suddenly be one of the most experienced heroes available on the planet.
His time working with the Teen Titans — and his connection with the Titans Academy — makes him an ideal figure to serve as outreach between the grown former sidekicks and the next generation of young heroes. His amicable personality has already earned him some new friends, with his meeting of Jon Kent being a positive one that teased a possible friendship. Wally’s deep bonds with Dick Grayson, Donna Troy, Roy Harper, and Garth means he’ll have connections to pretty much every corner of the DC Universe. If a new Justice League or defensive line is formed in the wake of the League’s demise, Wally could become the lynchpin for the group — experienced enough to lead, powerful enough to perform, and wise enough to be a mentor. The DC Universe is perfectly poised to make Wally West a fixture again.
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