Sequential Awesome

An Open Letter to DC Creative, RE: Wally West,

I’d like this to be professional and not bring emotion into it, but, well, I can’t do that. You’re effectively brushing a character that’s shown more growth and publishing success than his replacement (and predecessor). Your flippant dismissal of questions - after saying, repeatedly, that Wally was only going on the bench for a year to let Barry find his way again - bothered many fans of the character and served to really upset a large amount of us.

I understand the appeal of Barry Allen, I truly do - at the end of the day, he’s the character that got me to read the Flash series in the first place. He’s also the character that got me to leave it. Wally brought me back with fresh story telling, an evolution of character, and a realistic approach to life that spoke to me more than Barry ever could, or ever will. 

I want to be very clear - I welcome a good Barry Allen story. I think the creative team in place for the relaunch of the DC Universe is, quite possibly, the strongest team we’ve seen since the Johns/Kolins and Waid/Wieringo runs - high praise, and not something I think should be lightly given, considering the pedigree of creative teams The Flash has had upon it. I’m excited to see what Francis and Brian can produce given their unbelievable artistic skills and story telling abilities.

I just wish it wasn’t with Barry Allen. To me, when you want to start your universe over with ‘young, fresh’ versions of the characters, you don’t start with someone who hasn’t evolved since 1960. Barry, at the end of the day - and no matter what clothes he wears - will always be a buzz cut in a bow tie.

I, along with numerous others, grew up with Wally West. As a kid, he was Kid Flash. As I grew into my formative years, Wally went from a brash, womanizing jerk, into someone deserving of the mantle thrust upon him by the death of Barry Allen. When I met my wife, Wally was in a full, serious relationship with Linda Park-West, a loving couple that stood against adversity and super villains to be a true unit - a rarity in comics, not often found outside of Clark and Lois or Reed and Sue. When my wife and I discovered we were having a son, it was around the same time Wally and Linda had Iris and Jai. This character, while completely fictional at the end of the day, is someone I came to rely on. I think you’ll find this is the case with the vast majority of Wally West fans.

No matter your desire to start fresh and relaunch this universe minus the baggage of the past, you can’t. Nor should you - especially in the case of the Flash family. If ever there was a definition of Legacy, it is the Flash. Jay was the original, Barry read his comics, Wally idolized Barry, and Bart…well, Bart was something different, but special and amazing. To sweep the legacy of the Flash family under the carpet is, frankly, insulting to not only your fans, but also to the creators who have come before and worked on the title.

I strongly wish you’d reconsider your position on Wally West, though I’m sure this is just one of many letters that you’ll receive.

Thank you for your time,

Jay Malone