Warning! Spoilers ahead for Road to Dark Crisis #1
In DC’s Road to Dark Crisis, Wally West’s Flash proves he deserves the ring of a Blue Lantern (just like Barry Allen did). In the wake of the Justice League’s demise, Wally West is doing all he can to keep the world safe and keep spirits up at the same time. Serving as a symbol of optimism, Wally proves that he isn’t going to stop fighting or fall into despair, staying positive and hopeful despite the dark times that have come to the DC Universe.
In DC’s classic Blackest Night event which saw all the different Lanterns across the emotional color spectrum coming together to fight the Black Lantern Corps, each ring was able to deputize a non-corps member during the prophesized Blackest Night. As such, the original Flash Barry Allen was chosen by a Blue Lantern ring due to his great ability to instill hope in others. While he was only a Blue Lantern for 24 hours, the fact that he was chosen proves that he was a great source of hope even in the darkest of times.
Now, it seems being a source of hope runs in the Flash Family. In the story ‘Life of Purpose’ by Jeremy Adams and Rosi Kämpe featured in Road to Dark Crisis #1, Wally West’s Flash is racing the globe with Kid Flash by his side. As they help those in need and remind villains that there are still heroes working to keep the peace, Wally helps Wallace realize that not giving up and having faith is key, even when it’s widely believed that the heroes of the Justice League have all died. Wally does everything he can to bring optimism as “the hope guy“, proving that one day he’ll be ready for a Blue Lantern ring of his own (when and if the time comes).
Wally West’s determination to keep fighting and desire to uplift those around him is quite admirable. Not only does the Flash’s hope help those who are running low to become hopeful once more, but Wally is also following in Barry’s fast footsteps as the current Scarlet Speedster on Earth. As such, a Blue Lantern ring coming Wally’s way at some point down the line would certainly be warranted (and would also be pretty exciting).
At the present moment in the DC Universe, things are looking pretty bleak. The Justice League is dead and the Great Darkness is coming to consume the entire multiverse. That being said, it’s good that the surviving heroes have someone like Wally West’s Flash to offer hope and keep spirits up. They’re going to need his hope as they prepare to face what’s on the horizon with the imminent Dark Crisis.
