Jay Garrick originated the "Flash" role, Barry Allen refined it, but Wally West made it special again. When Wally took over as Flash, the mantle was in need of a major upgrade. West brought it back to prominence and starred in what was consistently one of DC's best solo titles for most of the '90s and into the 2000s.
Not everything worked out well for Wally West, with DC seemingly going out of their way to mess with him in the 2010s. On the other hand, DC intentionally crafted storylines which allowed the hero to grow. If any doubt remained as to Wally's lasting impact, one only needed to look toward's the speedster's vocal legion of fans.
10 He's The Fastest Flash
During writer Mark Waid's formative run on The Flash, he introduced a new concept to the character's mythos: the Speed Force. This extradimensional energy powered the speedsters of the DC Universe and became a key ingredient from that moment forward.
In continuity, Wally wasn't the first speedster to discover it, but he quickly became its most powerful user. He'd soon become the fastest Flash ever, which was a huge change for the character. It represented throwing off Barry Allen's shackles, and it allowed Wally to surpass his mentor, truly coming into his own.
9 His Friendship With Kyle Rayner In JLA Was A Great Remix Of The Barry-Hal Friendship
Wally West benefited from having some of the greatest writers work on his adventures. His time in JLA, written by Grant Morrison, was a perfect example of this. Morrison's work on Wally West in JLA introduced one of the most beloved aspects of the character's career: his friendship with then-Green Lantern Kyle Rayner.
West and Rayner's friendship was a nod toward the one between their predecessors, Barry Allen and Hal Jordan, but it was completely different. Tailored to their unique stories, Morrison depicted younger men trying to escape their predecessors' shadows while ribbing each other in friendly competition. The friendship did wonders for both characters.
8 His Marriage To Linda And His Children Really Illustrate How Much He's Grown
One of the great things about characters who've been around for a long time is watching them grow. Wally starts out his career as the wide-eyed sidekick and grows from there, becoming an adult over the decades. One of the best character developments for Wally is his relationship with Linda Park.
Wally and Linda's marriage brought their relationship to the next level, as did the birth of their children Jai and Irey. It not only set Wally apart from his mentor, but showed how much he matured and provided even more opportunities for him to grow.
7 He's Proved To Be A More Versatile Character Than Barry Allen
Barry Allen is a beloved character, but his pre-resurrection version wasn't exactly the most multi-faceted superhero, leading some readers to become disenfranchised with him as time went on. Writers seemed to learn a lesson from that and produced many versions of the character, each one demonstrating why West was such a great character.
Whether it be alternate universe versions or the way the mainline Wally grew and changed, West proved more versatile in his stories than his predecessor ever was. In fact, upon Barry's return, writers added much of Wally's personality onto him.
6 His Time In New Teen Titans Put Him In The Hottest Book Of The Early 1980s
Wally West was a founding Teen Titan, but it wouldn't be until writer Marv Wolfman and artist/co-plotter George Pèrez relaunched the book as The New Teen Titans that the concept really took off. Wolfman and Pèrez made huge strides with each character in the book, and it quickly became a bestseller rivaling Uncanny X-Men.
West's time in the book was formative to his character. It put him in the hands of two gifted creators and thrust him on a larger stage than before. West would outgrow the team as the years went on, but he wouldn't be who he was without the Teen Titans.
5 DC Spent Years Saying He Was The Best
When reading old Wally West issues of The Flash —as well as any other book he was in at the time, one finds pretty direct advertisement that Wally West is the best Flash ever. Characters constantly marvel at how far he's come and how he's done things Barry never could.
DC loves its legacy characters, but it's extremely rare that they ever come out and say that the legacy is better than their predecessor. By the time Wally West's popularity reached a significant level, DC shifts gears and has no problem throwing their support behind the newest Flash.
4 Geoff Johns' Run On The Flash Brought The Rogues Into The 21st Century
While Geoff Johns' more recent work has been hit or miss, there was a time in the 2000s when he was straight fire on every book. His run on The Flash remained a perfect example of his writing talents. Working with artists Scott Kolins, Howard Porter, and more, he did wonders for Wally and his supporting cast.
Where Johns' run really shines is in his treatment of the Rogues. Flash had some of the best villains, but Johns took them to the next level. The writer would put out issues dedicated to fleshing them out, and later introduced Zoom — Wally's very own Reverse Flash.
3 Making Wally The Star Of The Flash In 2021 Paid Off
Wally West returned to continuity in 2016, but DC still dragged their feet with the character. 2021 changed all of that. West was put back into the red union suit and was made the star of The Flash. Written by Jeremy Adams with art by Brandon Peterson, Fernando Pasarin, and more, it became a must-read DC ongoing for the first time in years.
The Flash's creative team established a new status quo for Wally, reintroduced the West family, and pit him against threats new and old. Bringing in Wallace West's Kid Flash and allowing Wally to mentor him, made The Flash one of the best superhero books on the market.
2 Mark Waid's Flash Run Made Wally A Star
DC was firing on all cylinders in the '90s. Among the publisher's writer corps, Mark Waid stood out. He did great work across the board, but his run on The Flash consistently delivered, making the character into a fan favorite after years of middling returns from his time as the Flash.
Waid made a splash with "The Return Of Barry Allen," with artist Greg LaRocque, and never looked back. Working with artists like Mike Wieringo, Pop Mhan, and more, his time on the book made Wally into a star, introducing characters and concepts everyone loved.
1 Killing Barry Allen Made It All Possible
Barry Allen's death was a shocking event for DC. In 1985, publishers didn't kill big name characters. Even more rare was replacing a hero of Barry's stature. Wally may have been popular as Kid Flash, but it took time for him to connect with fans after becoming the Flash.
Once Wally did, he quickly eclipsed Barry in popularity. This transition was only made possible by Barry Allen's death, allowing the publisher to focus on Wally as a solo character. It might not have been an overnight success, but it paid off in the long run.