New Flash Or Old Flash?
Comic book fans will be hard pressed not to notice the return of Barry Allen as the Flash, after a 24 year absence since the original Crisis On Infinite Earths back in 1985. Just like they brought back Hal Jordan as Green Lantern, Barry is returning in a mini series called “Flash: Rebirth”, which has already sold out, according to the new DC blog.
I was born in 1984 and only got into comics in 1997, and read the original Crisis On Infinite Earths maybe in 2005, and so the only Flash I’ve interacted with, is Wally West, who to me, is the Flash. Barry was long “dead” in the comic book world, though his legacy lived on. So why bring him back now? The biggest reason I can think of, is that the comic creators who are currently holding a high profile at DC Comics, were those who grew up in the ’70s and ’80s, and are used to Barry as the Flash. However, is this representative of what comic fans in general think?
Here’s an excerpt from the Weekly Crisis:
It wasn’t bad would probably be the nicest way to describe this issue, which amounted to, more or less, 40 pages of everyone, save Bart Allen, praising Barry Allen as if he was the second coming of Christ. In between the blatant Barry lovefest scenes, the book does a good job of building up a decent mystery around Barry’s return to the land of the living along with his new powers.
Let’s look at more data. A poll on Newsarama (a leading comic book and pop culture website) asked readers who they felt was their Flash.
This is the screenshot I took yesterday:
Flash Poll: April 2nd
And here is the screenshot I just took:
Flash Poll: April 3rd
Even though the number of respondents doubled during the two time periods, the data stays roughly the same, with 63% preferring Wally and only 21% preferring Barry.
So why the change? As someone who saw Wally grow into his boots during Grant Morrison’s JLA and Geoff John’s Flash, it’s sad to think Barry is back to “steal” the show, and I wonder if Wally will be more than a supporting cast, a la Kyle Rayner after Hal Jordan came back.
I hate how there seems to be a need in comics to move back to previous continuity – like OMD for Spidey and now the return of the Flash. We’ve moved on, why do we keep looking back?
I suppose the past always seems better.
@Piper: Yeah totally agree! And it’s not like Wally was a *bad* Flash. I consider Geoff John’s writing of him as the Flash as one of the best superhero comics ever!
[...] Tay wonders, New Flash or Old Flash? — contrasting the quick sell-out of Flash: Rebirth #1 with Newsarama’s [...]
But we never did move on.
What DC did was take the characters that had lasted for decades, and replaced them with “kewel” 20-somethings. These characters were then put through all the same stories the old guys were. They wore similar costumes, hung out with the same superheroes, and fought the same villains. Wally West essentially became Barry Allen over time.
It’s the illusion of change. And it ain’t “moving on” at all.
So if you like Wally, you’ll probably love Barry. The difference being, instead of Wally becoming Barry, it’s just Barry.
@Seve.Ride: Yes I guess I don’t have anything against Barry per se, I just wonder why DC wanted to change that, when clearly people are used to Wally as the Flash for the last 20+ years. I mean I liked Kyle, but obviously the stories told with Hal are great too, so it’s not really the person behind the mask. But I just wonder if it’s because of nostalgic reasons on Johns/Didio’s/whoever’s part that wants to bring them back.
I’ll have to disagree with the last 2 posts. I’ve been collecting comics for 36+ years and grew up with Barry and Hal. However I prefer Wally and Kyle to both of them while Jay and Alan are my favorites. Imo it does matter whoe’s behind the mask as their personalities are different and can manifest in how they use their powers.
Wally was responsible for so much of what we think of as Flash now: speed force, new villains, upgrading of old villains, Iron Heights, etc. Barry was never this cool nor were his villains, trust me, I was there. The Rogues are miles better than they were when Barry was around because of Wally. They way Wally uses his superspeed is superior imo to the way Barry would. And it stands to reason Wally would be better at it having gotten his speed at a much younger age. He should be the master, not Barry. For example, take a kid and try to teach him a sport/skill at age 8 and age 21. After 10 years, the younger one’s skill will blow away the older person’s.
Look at Kyle and Hal. Kyle used his power ring in much more imaginative ways, including power armor, mutliple constructs to fight for him, no vulnerability to yellow, etc. All stuff Hal inherited. It stands to reason as a graphic artist would be superior in imagination and ring constructs to a Test Pilot.
All imo but I do think some of this stuff is going backward.
@IronFist: Nice to hear from someone who has actually experienced both Flashes (and GLs). I like that perspective, that their backgrounds actually play into who they are and manifest their powers. I am of the mind that it’s going backward too, which in itself is fine, just that I’m wondering *why*.
Daryl Tay, thanks. I was trying not to sound too harsh in my comments. I really do like Barry, I just don’t agree with the reasons they are bringing him back.
I want a strong Flash franchise (he’s my favorite character from any company) and I think he deserves to be a premiere franchise for DC like G.L., Batman, and Superman. If it takes Barry coming back to do it, so be it. I just feel Wally is the better all-around candidate. And if I’m totally honest, the deep down Flash fans wants Jay Garrick but I know that’ll never happen. I’m content with him in the JSA.
I grew up with Barry The Flash was always my Favourite Character next to Superman and Batman and I was very disappointed when they killed him off. So disappointed in fact I stopped reading and buying Flash comics after that. For Me though there’s nothing wrong with Wally he will always be Kid Flash the original. Now Barry is back which I caught purely by accident I’m back to reading him again. I cant see why tehre cant be more then 1 Flash just like Green Lantern I’ll read them all if thats the case I am glad Barry is home.
Ironfist brings up two great points.
1.) There is a difference in how each character manifest their powers. Their personalities and experiences are a huge factor in their decision making. Not sure if this a poor analogy, but that is like saying Obi Wan and Anakin wield their light sabers and use the force the same way.
2.) I am not a fan of reviving a character either, but I agree, if that’s what it takes to strengthen the franchise then do it. As a GL fan and a New Krypton fan all I can say is “In Johns We Trust.” He has an awesome resume and has revived a lot of books. Go with it!
@Matt…I didn’t read the Barry Allen run on Flash, but at least he died honorably saving the world and wasn’t taken down by a sniper on the steps of City Hall (that pissed me off!). I just hate when they kill a character just to sell books, and then a year later, they are brought back to life.
Hal’s and Barry’s rebirth were handled respectfully and done the right way.
“In Johns We Trust”