Warning: contains spoilers for Infinite Frontier #0
DC Comics’ Infinite Frontier event is all about bringing hope back to the DC Universe, and part of that means fixing some of their biggest mistakes with the Flash. Though the hero is one of DC’s biggest, many fans have been disappointed by the stories and creative choices taken with both the Barry Allen Flash and his successor, Wally West. However, Infinite Frontier is course-correcting for the Scarlet Speedster and the biggest change is making Wally West DC’s main Flash once again.
Originally the Flash’s sidekick, Kid Flash, Wally West proved to be a popular character. His arc going from an irresponsible kid to a world-saving hero was compelling to readers who had followed the character for decades. Seeing him become Flash after Barry Allen died solidified him as one of DC’s best characters. For more than twenty years, he was the DC Universe’s Flash. All that changed when Barry Allen came back to life in Final Crisis though. After the DC Universe was rebooted with the New 52, Wally was replaced by a completely different character bearing the same name. While Rebirth returned Wally to mainstream DC Continuity, it wasn’t a painless reunion.
All that is changing though with Infinite Frontier #0. In the issue’s Flash story from writer Joshua Williamson and artist Howard Porter, Wally meets Barry in the extra-dimensional House of Heroes. Barry tells his former protege that he’s going to be joining the multiversal Justice League, Justice Incarnate, to help explore and protect the multiverse. Unfortunately, this leaves a Flash-shaped hole in the new DC Omniverse, one which Barry wants Wally to fill. Though Wally is remorseful that he won’t be seeing much of his mentor and friend, he happily accepts the responsibility, making Wally the DC Universe’s Flash for the first time in over a decade.
What makes this a great solution to DC’s recent Flash problems is that it manages to please fans of both characters. Wally can reclaim his title and step back into the spotlight, while Barry is still alive and can make appearances as the Flash in other DC titles. More than just reinstating Wally as Flash though, this feels like DC trying to make amends for how the character was handled post Rebirth.
Rebirth might have returned Wally West to the DC Universe, but the character often wasn’t properly utilized. The most infamous example of this was the event Heroes in Crisis which saw Wally become a mass murderer. Despite a more prominent role in Dark Nights: Death Metal though, it seemed that DC still had it out for the character when they made him become the literal embodiment of famine in Future State.
Giving Wally the mantle of Flash once more is a signal from DC that they’re finally giving him the respect he deserves. Only time will tell whether DC will repeat the mistakes it’s made in the past, but Infinite Frontier is a positive sign that they’ve at least learned their lesson with the Flash.
