Wally West

"He's got your values. He's got your inner drive to help people do what's right. We're supposed to think we're something we're not until we become that thing. That's that path that Wally's on. I'm not gonna stop him from being the hero he's gonna become. I really don't think you should, either."

- Barry Allen describes Wally to Joe

Wallace "Wally" West is the son of Joe and the late Francine West, and the younger brother of Iris West. He is a champion drag-racer under the alias "Taillights".

In the alternate "Flashpoint" timeline, Wally West was the meta-human speedster known prominently as The Flash, nicknamed Kid Flash by his friends and some members of the media. As the protector of Central City, he fought against his archenemy Edward Clariss/The Rival. He later regained his speed in the Post Flashpoint timeline

Biography
Francine West gave birth to Wally 8 months after leaving her family. Francine and Wally lived in Keystone City, where Wally started participating in street races and gained a reputation as a winner. Other racers stopped wanting to face him, so he started racing in Central City in order to pay for his mother's medical bills due to her being sick.

Visiting his father and sister
During a Christmas party in 2015, Wally stopped by to visit Joe and Iris. He realized they had company and apologized for the timing but was invited into their home.

Iris and Joe showed Wally around the Central City Police Department earlier before their plans to have dinner that night, where it became evident that Wally held bitter resentment towards Joe for not being in his life. However, Wally stood Joe up and was later found by Joe participating in a street race, which he won. Wally told him that he has been doing street races in order to pay for his mother's medical bills, as he had had to be the man of his household all of his life due to Joe's absence. Joe offered to dip into his bank account to help Wally but he angrily rebuffed the offer. Later that day, he visited Joe and reassured him that an apology wasn't coming, before letting him know he was returning to Keystone City. Joe apologized for trying to push the "father-son" thing so hard before they sat down to a meal of Chinese food.

When Francine's state worsened and she was about to die, she told Iris she would like Wally to visit her so she could see the whole family together. Iris went to see Wally to talk about her and he said he was angry because his mother never told him he had a father and a sister. Iris mentioned she never had the opportunity to say goodbye to her fiancé before he died and told Wally he should go see his mother while he still could. Wally decided to follow her advice and asked Iris to go see Francine with him.

Francine died soon after and Wally grew closer to Joe and Iris. Iris started to worry about the dangers of Wally's street races and complained that Joe was acting more like a "buddy" than like a father to Wally though Joe explained that he wanted to give Wally some space and not be strict with him to avoid jeopardizing their relationship. Iris tried to talk some sense into Wally and even threatened to publish an article about street racing. She and Joe were at one of the races when a metahuman able to merge with asphalt attacked one of the racers. Wally was saved by The Flash, but Iris got injured by a glass shard and had to be taken to the hospital. Wally visited her there and Joe had a serious conversation with him, saying they were worried about him because they were his family and that he should have treated Wally as a son instead of as a friend. Wally decided to stay with Iris at the hospital and told her he liked street racing because it reminded him of the times when his mother would take him for a drive, which is why he did not want to stop racing.

Joe attempted to help Wally and Barry bond by having him help Wally on a technical project to enter college. Wally became annoyed with Barry's revisions to his project and after being questioned by Barry if he had a problem with him, Wally revealed his jealousy over Barry's perfect life, getting to be raised up in Joe's home and being bragged about so much by Iris and Joe but they are interrupted by King Shark ripping the roof of the West home open in search of The Flash. When Barry stumbles back down the stairs after fighting King Shark and to cover his tracks as The Flash, Wally calls him a coward for hiding during the attack and leaves when Joe stops the altercation. While at CC Jitters, Joe tells Wally about Barry's mother being murdered when he was eleven and his father being wrongfully accused of her murder and that he had given Barry all the love and care he deserved and that while Barry is flawed, the reason they brag on him so much is because it could have been worse and that he is loved just as much as Wally and is also his son too.

Moving in
At a later night, Wally came over to see Joe and watch Formula 1, and to do some laundry. He told Joe and Barry that he had moved out of him campus because the rent became too expensive. Joe offered to pay for some of it but Wally claimed it was fine. Later when watching the formula 1, Harry came over and wanted to speak to Joe, Wally claimed he looked like Harrison Wells, but Harry denied being him and Wally left. The next day Wally came back and Joe offered him a place in his house, which Wally quickly accepted. Later, Zoom raided the house and took Wally to his base on Earth Two, who claimed the only person able to help him, is The Flash. After The Flash struck a deal with Zoom, Wally was taken back to Earth One, and taken away from Zoom.

After being saved by the Flash, when the Flash traded his powers for Wally's life, Wally was inspired by the Flash's sacrifice and figured out that Joe had a way to contact the flash from what Zoom told him while he was in captivity. Wally asked Joe if he could arrange a meeting with the Flash so that he could thank him. Later on during a night, Joe brought Wally to the rooftop so that Wally could thank the Flash for saving him in person.

When Zoom reappeared on Earth One to instill fear into the CCPD, Joe and Harry had both of their children (Wally West and Jesse Quick) kept safe in the Time Vault at Star Labs since they were both kidnapped by Zoom before. Wally and Jesse quickly bonded during their time in the vault. While Wally was trying to break out of the Time Vault, Jesse stated the improbability of the wall just opening for him. Wally said that they should be outside trying to help the team rather than just hiding. Jesse, feeling hopeless, saw no way that they could actually be of use. Wally rekindled that hope by saying that she was smart enough to solve an unsolvable problem. Convinced, Jesse said that she will try to see what she could do. Later on, they were able to break out of the Time Vault just in time for an earthquake caused by the experiment to restore Barry's powers. Seeking the cause, Wally and Jesse went into the halls to investigate only to be blasted by a wave of Dark Matter energy from Barry's apparent death when he seemingly exploded by the attempt to restore his powers. They were both knocked out by the wave of energy.

Joe and Harry found the two of them moments later, while Wally quickly responded, Jesse’s heart momentarily stopped. Joe left and Iris mentioned that Barry ‘was gone,’ and the 2 left for home. That night, Joe was suspicious Wally was a Speedster due to Barry’s energy hitting him, to test this, he dropped a coffee mug, though Wally didn’t respond. After hearing a car alarm go off, he was told to leave.

Flashpoint
After Barry saved his mother from the Reverse-Flash, a new timeline was created. During this timeline, Wally drove illegal cars. While doing so, Wally tampered with the nitro formula to get his engine revving faster. One night, Wally was racing a thunderstorm but was unfortunately struck by lightning. As a result, Wally fell into a coma for nine months. After he woke up, he found himself with superhuman speed, believing himself to be the fastest man alive.

When a criminal speedster known as the Rival began terrorizing Central City, Wally faced him numerous times. During an encounter with the Rival, Wally rescued Barry from being hit by lightning which the Rival tossed.

Wally continued his battle with the Rival later on, ultimately coming short and falling on a dumpster. He was then unmasked by Barry, who was shocked to find him as the Flash. Wally then brought Barry to his base of operations, where he was told he should find a place more secure. Wally explained the origins of his powers. Wally and Iris then explained the two had been working together as a crime fighting unit. When Wally showed his doubts that he could defeat the Rival, Wally, Iris, and Barry looked to Cisco.

At Ramon Industries, Cisco was upset, as Wally had brought a civilian which the former never met, and told him that he worked with the Flash. Wally was later brought back to Ramon Industries, where Barry revealed himself to be a speedster as well. After tracking the Rival down at an abandoned sawmill, Wally and Barry ran over. The two planned to flank. After the Rival arrived and challenged one of them to face him first, Wally volunteered. Wally would ultimately come out on top, but was impaled once he turned his back. After Barry defeated the Rival and the latter was shot by Joe, Wally was taken back to Ramon Industries. Unfortunately, Wally's cells weren't regenerating as they should've. As a result, Barry set Eobard free to restore the timeline.

New timeline
Wally, Joe, and Barry shared drinks, where Wally was confused when Barry embraced him. When Barry asked where Iris was, Joe was upset and Wally reminded Barry that Joe and Iris don't talk to each other.

Wally remains largely the same throughout this timeline maintaining a supportive and brave role on Team Flash while still longing for powers of his own. Upon Jesse's return Earth-1 he became jealous that she received powers and he did not. However he soon gets over these feelings and continues a close friendship with Jesse though it became clear Jesse wished to begin a romantic relationship with him Wally was afraid as he knew that Jesse would soon leave to return home to Earth-2. However, he soon realizes that he doesn't want to be scared anymore and the two share a kiss. Jesse then returns to Earth-2 and the two share a heart felt goodbye.

Wally then begins to have dreams of Flashpoint induced by Alchemy, and begins to believe that Joe doesn't trust him with having powers much to his annoyance. Wally eventually comes to his senses realizing that alchemy can not be trusted and allows himself to remain in the pipeline until Team Flash can deal with him, however when Wally's visions begin to become painful he attempts to escape but is thwarted by Iris. Wally recommends setting a trap for Alchemy and agrees to act as bait. He succeeds in baiting Alchemy and Flash and a SWAT team led by Joe capture him (Alchemy) and his followers. However Savitar intervenes and frees the acolytes, kills the SWAT team, and pins The Flash down. Alchemy, free of interference, reaches out to Wally urging him to take his powers by touching the philosopher's stone which Wally does entrapping him in a cocoon. Joe frees him from the pod as he is afraid of Wally ending up like Caitlin (who had begun transforming into Killer Frost) however Wally's mind cannot function on the level his body is moving due to the interruption in his metamorphosis. However this is quickly resolved by a serum created by Caitlin. Wally tests out his powers in the speed lab and questions when he can go out with Barry with Team Flash remarking he should take things slow.

Personality
At first Wally came off as a rather apprehensive and unsure young man when first exposed to his father and sister, but his full personality came to light in time; he is an eager, reckless, competitive, and somewhat angry young man. His anger came from having grown up with no father, having to be the man of the house from the very beginning, and taking on far more responsibility than he might have had to if he'd been raised by both parents. Despite his rage, Wally deeply loved his mom, being afraid to see her pass away and working constantly to both pay her medical expenses and to keep his mind off the pain of his impending loss and grief. Only once Iris talked him into it could he face his demons in the form of saying goodbye to his mother.

His competitive side is seen not only in his racing career, but also in his initial interactions with Barry, feeling jealous of the constant praise Barry received from Joe and Iris and envying Barry having been raised by Joe. This one-sided rivalry came to a halt after Joe revealed why Barry came to live with him and Iris and that Barry's tragedies are why Joe tried too hard to defend him from any criticism. After this, Wally made the decision to try to see Barry less like a rival for his father's affection and more like a brother. His competitiveness was also evident in his Flashpoint self, who groaned at being nicknamed "Kid Flash" by Iris and Barry and tried to prove to the other Flash that he doesn't need to follow anyone's lead to wing against the Rival.

With the Flash having saved his life, he had wanted to turn his life around and make up for the things he had apparently caused, he seems to have gone to a more heroic route, saving The Flash when overpowered by Black Siren.

Powers

 * Speed Force connection/Meta-human physiology: Originally Wally gained his powers after being struck by a bolt of lightning in the Flashpoint Timeline, which he lost upon the timeline being reset to its near-original setting. Upon making contact with Alchemy's stone, Wally was encased within an ore-like substance. Upon emerging from his containment, Wally underwent a metamorphosis, granting access to the Speed Force, which allows him to handle extreme physical performances. At first, extracting Wally early from that cocoon left him in a fugue state, causing his synapses to not be used to functioning at super-speed, so his mind and muscles misfired. It wasn't until Caitlin Snow synthesized a neural compound that to get his mind and body running at the same speed.
 * Bodily vibration: Wally has the ability to vibrate any part of his body at different frequencies on command, with varying effects. One way he accentuated this ability, is distorting his whole body in a haze that normal people can't perceive properly and garble his voice to disguise it. While his mind and body where not running at the same speed, his body was constantly vibrating and he could not process normal time.
 * Electrokinesis: While moving at super speed, Wally's body generates large amounts of yellow electricity.
 * Superhuman agility: Wally possesses inhuman agility, coordination, balance, equilibrium, and dexterity, which allows him to not be tripped by great forces at super speed.
 * Superhuman durability: Wally possesses superhuman durability. This greatly increases his bodily resilience to inhuman levels, granting him inhuman resistance to lack of breathable air, exposure to toxins or sedatives, and impact with physical forces that would easily crush or kill normal humans. Users of the Speed Force can withstand great amounts of physical damage and sustain little, to no injury. This notably allowed him to fall from a building and only be briefly knocked out and though Barry briefly slowed his descent with a speed vortex and he landed in a dumpster, the height of the fall should have at least injured him. He was also knocked out and left bruised when a mind-controlled Supergirl flew into him and sent him flying into a wall, though he managed to not be fatally harmed by her.
 * Superhuman reflexes: Wally possesses reflexes that are also enhanced to inhuman levels. This allows them to react instantly to almost anything, including other speedsters.
 * Superhuman speed: Wally can run at incredible speeds. He is fast enough that he can easily run along the sides of buildings and structures. While it is unknown exactly how fast Wally was in Flashpoint only being noted as above Mach 2, in the current timeline Cisco notes he is much faster than Barry Allen was when he first gained his powers.
 * Superhuman momentum: Wally can generate great amounts of physical force through kinetic energy, simulating superhuman strength. His speed lets him channel the force into powerful strikes, propelling targets several feet. By knocking into Mick Rory, Thea Queen and John Diggle, he sent them flying into the air.
 * Superhuman stamina: Wally possesses stamina that enhanced to inhuman levels. He is able to withstand the stresses of moving at superhuman speeds without tiring or becoming weak.

Abilities

 * Drag racing: As a method to pay his late mother's medical bills and a solution to cope with his grief Wally took up the sub-hobby of participating in drag races and was well regarded and known to the field to the point where no resident residing in Keystone would challenge him to races any longer, and became rather popular and well known in Central City. He is referred to by the alias of "Taillights", most likely because his opponents see a lot of his taillights during drag races.
 * Skilled engineer: Recently it is revealed that Wally is currently working on a turbine supercar that that would run on biodiesel and human stool, and has a well-lit background with certain fields and branches of engineering and mechanics that he could hold an on par debate concerning both his project and the field in general with his adopted brother Barry Allen.
 * Skilled hand-to-hand Combatant: Though Wally doesn't have any experience or isn't trained in unarmed combat, like Barry, using his speed alongside his reflexes, he can fight the Rival as an opponent and hold his own, despite his losses before.

The Flash
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Trivia

 * His birth name is Wallace, which is what Joe and Francine were going to name Iris if she was a boy.
 * Wally and Eddie are the only main characters whose Earth Two counterparts haven't been introduced. However, Wally's double was mentioned by Joe.

Behind the scenes

 * In the DC multiverse, Wally West is the third person to take up the superhero mantle of The Flash, after Jay Garrick and Barry Allen. He was also previously the superhero Kid Flash.
 * In the DC comics, Wally and Barry are the fastest out of all the Flashes.
 * In the DC comics, the original Wally West is Caucasian, however this version is based on his cousin who is African-American and also named Wally. New 52.
 * In the DC comics, Wally is Iris' nephew, however, in the Arrowverse, he is Iris' younger brother.
 * Wally's rebellious nature is based on his New 52 counterpart.
 * The color of Wally's car is silver with red racing stripes, a reference to his suit in the New 52 comics.