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Kid Flash is the name of several appearing in published by DC Comics, originally created by John Broome and Carmine Infantino, as a junior counterpart to DC Comics superhero The Flash. The first version of the character, Wally West, debuted in The Flash #110 (1959). (2025). 9781465453570, DK Publishing. ISBN 9781465453570 The character, along with others like the first Donna Troy, Aqualad, and Speedy, was created in response to the success of Batman's young sidekick Robin. These young heroes would later be spun off into their own superhero team, the Teen Titans. As Kid Flash, Wally West made regular appearances in Flash related comic books and other DC Comics publications from 1959 through the mid-1980s until the character was reinvented as the new version of The Flash.
Later, well after Wally West had made a name for himself as the new Flash, the character of Bart Allen, grandson of the Flash Barry Allen, was brought into the past from his home in the future and served as the young hero Impulse. In 2003, with writer Geoff Johns' relaunch of a new Teen Titans volume, Bart donned the mantle of Kid Flash after being nearly killed by the assassin Deathstroke. As Kid Flash, Bart appeared in Teen Titans and The Flash (vol. 2) regularly until the Infinite Crisis event, where he became the fourth Flash after Wally West's disappearance. Bart was killed by the Rogues, but was resurrected in the 31st century by Legion of Super-Heroes member Brainiac 5 and retook the mantle of Kid Flash. Following a 2011 reboot, DC introduced a new interpretation of Wally West as its latest Kid Flash in 2014, who was later established as being the original Wally's younger cousin Ace West.
The Wally West Kid Flash was first adapted for live action in the Arrowverse series of TV shows, portrayed by Keiynan Lonsdale.
Shortly after meeting Flash's friend Elongated Man, The Flash #130 (August 1962) Kid Flash received his own unique costume. The Flash, who had been toying with a new design for Wally, was inspecting an alien mind over-matter machine when, in a burst of light, the new costume sprang from his mind and onto the body of his protégé. The Flash #135 (March 1963) Since the new outfit exposed Wally's bright red hair, Flash provided his costume-storage ring with a special instant-dye spray with which he could easily change his hair color, as Wally, to brown. The Flash #138 (June 1963)
The boy speedster first met Dick Grayson and Aqualad in The Brave and the Bold #54 (June–July 1964), in an adventure that would predicate the formation of the Teen Titans shortly thereafter. Kid Flash remained a member in good standing of that team, though his participation limited his involvement in solo adventures considerably. At 18 Wally revealed his alter-ego to his parents Bob and Mary for the first time, chose his university (Taggart), and confided to the Flash his intentions to retire from heroics upon graduation from college so that he might live a normal life.
As it happened, he left his crime-fighting career behind even before that, The New Teen Titans #39 (February 1984) when he retired from the third incarnation of the Teen Titans for personal reasons, including a desire to devote more time to studying, to his new girlfriend Frances Kane, and because, as a result of his changing metabolism, he was beginning to lose his powers.
Kid Flash came out of retirement to fight in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and was hit harder than anyone after Barry Allen sacrificed himself to save the multiverse. Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 (November 1985) However, even though a blast from the Anti-Monitor reduced Wally's top speed to that of sound, it cured him of his metabolic malady. This, combined with the desire to honor his mentor and friend, caused Wally West to discard his Kid Flash identity and, instead, adopt the name and costume of Flash. However, after fully accepting that Barry was not returning, West removed a mental block, unlocking his true powers, making him faster than Barry. He also acquired unique abilities such as sharing and stealing speed, and accessing the speed force itself, allowing time travel. When it was eventually discovered that Barry Allen was, in fact, alive, Wally took on his own version of the Flash costume, fighting alongside Barry and his grandson, Bart Allen (Impulse or for a time Kid Flash).
A mysterious android from the future known as Indigo attacks the Titans and Young Justice, resulting in the deaths of Donna Troy and Lilith Clay. At Donna's funeral, Dick Grayson disbands the Titans. The members of Young Justice, especially Cassie Sandsmark, felt responsible for Donna and Omen's deaths. Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day #1-3 (2003) This led Wonder Girl, Robin, Impulse and Conner Kent to form a new group of Teen Titans under the guidance of the more experienced Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy. Teen Titans (vol. 3) #1 (July 2003) Despite Wally West's misgivings, Bart accepted an invitation to join the new Teen Titans. Teen Titans (vol. 3) #6 (December 2003)
Bart was later injured after being shot in the leg by Deathstroke. His accelerated healing enabled a handful of surgeons to replace his kneecap with an artificial one, and Bart was back on his feet in a matter of hours, but the effects of this encounter were much more than physical. Feeling unsure and tired of being underestimated, Bart went to the local public library and read every single book in the building. He retained that knowledge and balanced it with lack of experience. With a renewed sense of confidence, Bart left his impulsive rep behind and returned to the team as Kid Flash. Teen Titans (vol. 3) #4 (October 2003)
When Superboy-Prime ran amok during Infinite Crisis, Kid Flash and the super-speedsters raced to stop his rampage. While running to subdue Prime, Wally West disappeared in a burst of lightning (later to return). Meanwhile, the speedsters' combined might defeated Prime, but severed their connection to the Speed Force in the process. Bart returned to warn the heroes of Prime's escape. But while mere moments had passed in the present, Bart returned from his time-bending journey four years older. Bart handed his grandfather's costume to Jay Garrick, claiming he used up all his speed powers during the final battle. Infinite Crisis #7 (May 2006)
Bart still had his powers, but faced with the guilt over Superboy-Prime's escape, he initially decided to retire his costume. He took a job as a factory worker in Keystone City, but soon realized he must use his abilities to protect innocents. Although Bart found new challenges in harnessing the speed force, he accepted his destiny as the latest Flash in the Allen family tradition. In his efforts to tame the speed force inside him, Bart turned to S.T.A.R. Labs intern, Valerie Perez, and their relationship quickly blossomed into a full-blown romance. The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #1 (June 2006)
Once accepting the mantle of the Flash, Bart moved to Los Angeles, California and enrolled in the Police Academy. Robin asked him to join the Titans but Bart declined, saying he'd rather work towards membership in the Justice League. Shortly after resuming the mantle, Iris Allen warned Bart that if he fought the newly formed league of Rogues, he would not survive. Inertia, in a plan to steal the speed force energy for himself, manipulated the Rogues into battle with Bart. As a depowered Bart fought valiantly against the combined might of the Rogues, he saw the spectre of the Black Flash, and died as Iris Allen and Valerie Perez were left to mourn him. The Flash: The Fastest Man Alive #13 (July 2007)
Later on New Earth, during the Final Crisis storyline, Superman was called to the 31st century to assist the Legion of Super-Heroes in fending off Superboy-Prime, who was thrown to the future in the aftermath of the destruction of Earth-51 and the Sinestro Corps War. Prime, raging about his minor place in history as a Superman rival, released the Legion of Super-Villains from the prison planet Takron-Galtos and waged war on Earth and the Legion. In response to this, Brainiac 5 summoned the Legions of Three Worlds (alternate earths) to combat Prime's forces. Revealing that the Legion had captured "living lightning" in the Legion's last trip to present Earth in The Lightning Saga, Brainiac 5 had Legionnaire XS run on the cosmic treadmill while the three activated the "lightning rod" to release the living lightning, bringing Bart back to life. #3 (February 2009)
When the New 52 universe began, the Kid Flash working with the Titans was known as Bart Allen. He ended up with a different backstory, and eventually was written out of the storyline. He was later replaced as Kid Flash by Wally's cousin, Wallace West.
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