There’s a new Flash running around in the DC Universe, and her outfit proves that superhero costumes are overrated.
Although things are pretty hectic and crazy in the DC universe, things are actually going pretty well for Wally West and his family. Wally West is happy to be back as the Flash and his children, Irey and Jai, are actually utilizing their powers too. Along with other speedsters, the West family traveled the multiverse in order to rescue Barry Allen, who was missing and presumed dead because of Dark Crisis. They were successful in their mission, which will help in their battle against Pariah.
However, as seen in The Flash #786 by Jeremy Adams, Fernando Pasarin, and Amancay Nahuelpan, Wally West and his children aren’t the only speedsters in their family. Somehow, Wally’s wife Linda is now a speedster too. In this issue she actually gets her own superhero costume, which was custom-made by Mr. Terrific. However, it’s extremely distinctive from other Flash and speedster costumes; her outfit just consists of pants that appear to be jeans along with a shirt that has a lightning bolt on it and goggles.
The superhero costume is kind of a rite of passage. It’s a staple of any origin story that a superhero eventually emerges into their heroic identity by having an outfit that separates them from average people and civilians. This was seen in the Netflix Daredevil show as well as in Spider-Man in the MCU, as both heroes underwent trials in order to get their signature looks. This is also especially true for speedsters considering there are so many of them in the DC universe that a costume is needed to tell them apart.
Linda completely disproves all of that by simply wearing what appears to be a regular outfit. In fact, the jeans and shirt are so casual that she could wear them in her civilian identity and simply keep her goggles in her back pocket. Then, she could put them on whenever she’s needed to be a speedster. The outfit also makes sense for her character. She’s not really a superhero first as Linda is primarily a mom and an author. That means the Flash would probably be first to respond when needed and Linda would only don her outfit in emergencies. Wally’s suit is rather eye-catching, but because Linda’s superhero costume can double as street wear, having a flashy costume might not be all that necessary, proving that costumes might be a bit overrated. In her inconspicuous superhero costume, Linda is certainly making a statement about what it means to be a Flash in the DC Universe.
The Flash #786 is now available from DC Comics.
