Wally Facts

Are you a fan of the Flash's successor? Because we got One Dozen Wally West Facts!

1. Wally was created in 1959 and was introduced as Iris West's nephew and Flash's biggest fan. After Barry Allen told Wally he was The Flash, Barry sent up his lab to have the same chemicals exposed as the night he was struck by lightning and given powers. What he could not predict was another lightning bolt striking at that moment and giving Wally access to The Speed Force too.

2. When Wally first became Kid Flash, he wore a costume identical to Barry's. He later changed into a yellow and red Kid Flash costume that would become more iconic. Ironically, Wally would don a Flash costume again years later when he took the Flash mantle.

3. Wally is originally from Blue Valley, Nebraska. He moved to Central City to work with Barry, but later moved to Keystone City-the hometown of the original Flash Jay Garrick-after he became The Flash.

4. Wally was a founding member of The Teen Titans, first appearing in "The Brave & The Bold #54" with Robin and Aqualad, and later inviting Wonder Girl and Speedy onto the team. As The Flash, he became a member of The Justice League in the 90's and a member of The Titans.

5. In the 80's Wally became diagnosed with a Speed Force side-effect that caused him to age faster the more he used his super speed. This was because he got Speed Force powers as an adolescent and so his body's development was still in progress, whereas Barry Allen was already an adult. Wally was cured of his aging during "Crisis on Infinite Earths" and was stuck in his early 20's. After Barry sacrificed himself to save the Multiverse, Wally took up the mantle.

6. As The Flash, Wally gained the ability to steal and share speed with other people and objects (such as stealing the speed from a bullet or giving someone's natural healing process a boost in speed), and he could vibrate at a speed that allowed him to phase through solid objects, but those objects would combust afterwards. He can also time travel, create tornados, and manipulate electricity. He can also seemingly teleport by running so fast.

7. Wally once won the lottery and bought a mansion.

8. Wally West was the first Flash who had to eat large amounts of food to balance all the carbs he burnt running.

9. Wally eventually married reporter Linda Park and had twins Iris and Jai, who in the future would become known as The Tornado Twins. Iris West II became Kid Flash in the "Kingdom Come" universe, sporting a costume similar to her father's. He reappeared as a member of The Teen Titans in the late 2000's. After the events of DC Rebirth, Wally's marriage was undone and his kids were unmade, this led to a conflict where Wally wanted to use The Speed Force to brings his children back, but Barry couldn't risk him using time control.

10. When The New 52 reboot began, Wally West was nowhere to be seen in the DCU and barely ever mentioned. When Wally West showed up in "The Flash" series he was African-American. The characters's racial and personal changes didn't gel well, so when "DC Rebirth" happened the red-headed adult Wally returned to the DCU and reminded The Flash and The Titans what the world used to be before The New 52. Wally also warned Barry and Batman of a God-like entity who changed their universe (Doctor Manhattan). It was also established that both Wallys were cousins named after the same grandfather. Wally joined The Titans as The Flash II, and Wally II joined The Teen Titans as Kid Flash.

11. During a crossover between The Titans and Teen Titans, Wally West's past self was punched in the heart by Damian Wayne/Robin. This cut off Wally's connection to The Speed Force long enough to turn off Deathstroke's stolen connection. As a result, Wally-in the present-had a pacemaker installed to his heart, but if he used his powers too much his heart would give out. And in fact it did, but his heart was given a jumpstart by his cousin and his condition was cured.

12. Wally West was faster Barry Allen, but rejected the truth because he was afraid entirely replacing his mentor. But after the return of The Reverse Flash, Wally outran Barry's speed and is credited as the Fastest Man Alive by Max Mercury-a Flash from the future-and the first Flash to outrun Death itself.

Thanks for reading!

Is there such thing as going too fast?