Is DC still treating Wally West badly?

[Atlanta96]

Ok, we were all excited when Wally West returned last May, especially since he was the star of the hugely important Rebirth Special and got to reunite with the original Titans. But it's almost 9 months later, and now that the hype has died down let's look at how he's actually being used.

His only recurring role is in Titans, where he is now a supporting character and no longer the main focus. I think it's a pretty damn good book but it's been rightfully criticized for pacing issues, characterization issues, and artistic failings. Many readers understandably dislike it, so for many Wally fans there isn't a single good book featuring the character at the moment.

For some reason Wally is relegated to a single monthly book while Barry is in 2 bimonthly books, and even the less popular Nu Wally West gets to appear in 3 issues a month on average. Ginger Wally has only been in 2 issues of the main Flash so far despite his name actually being the Flash, and a very big deal being made of his return and reunion with Barry. If he's supposed to have an expanded role in the DCU they're not doing a very good job setting it up, he's gotten very little development since his return.

In outside media, the only notable adaptation of the character is on the Flash TV show which, in my opinion, fails to live up to the greatness of the character and is arguably more of a Nu Wally adaptation anyway. Ginger Wally has little to no presence in cartoons, videogames, live action films, and animated films. Yes Young Justice season 3 is coming up but it's a long ways off and who knows how he'll actually be treated this time? The DCEU Barry Allen, based on the ComicCon footage, seems to be at least partially inspired by Wally's personality, making me fear he won't appear in the DCEU either unless it's another radically different adaptation.

It's nice that the character is back at all, but looking at how he's being treated he still doesn't seem to be valued at DC the way Barry and Nu Wally are. He still seems like an afterthought only around to appease longtime readers while they don't actually do anything with him. Is anyone really satisfied with Wally West at the moment?

[byrd156]

Things are turning around for Wally, he was in a very bad place (all the Titans were) but fixes for these characters take time.

[MajorHoy]

Is DC still treating Wally West badly?

Which one?

[HandofPrometheus]

Not as bad as Donna Troy and Garth. DC realizes they made a mistake with him and is fixing it. He might pop back up everywhere in the upcoming years.

[Atlanta96]

Not as bad as Donna Troy and Garth. DC realizes they made a mistake with him and is fixing it. He might pop back up everywhere in the upcoming years.

No disrespect to Donna and Garth, I like those guys, but they were never as big as Wally. Not even close. They've done Wally a much worse disservice overall.

[Green Goblin of Sector 2814]

I meant the CURRENT DCAU. The animated films, the old DCAU is over.

I think you should repost this in the Wally West thread I just started, it would be more on topic there.

Well, like I was saying, Wally is going to be in the Judas Contract movie and the voice actor who voiced Wally for YJ has also teased that he is returning for YJ season 3.

[Atlanta96]

Well, like I was saying, Wally is going to be in the Judas Contract movie and the voice actor who voiced Wally for YJ has also teased that he is returning for YJ season 3.

Yes, he's going to be in TJC for about 10 minutes and an unknown amount of time in YJ season 3. Compare that to Barry who has a million leading roles and there's still a big problem. Are you happy with his exposure right now?

[C-Dot]

No disrespect to Donna and Garth, I like those guys, but they were never as big as Wally. Not even close. They've done Wally a much worse disservice overall.

Meanwhile on a milk carton in Manchester, Alabama.....

[sakuyamons]

Meanwhile on a milk carton in Manchester, Alabama.....

This poor boy has been mistreated since Graduation Day.

[Assam]

Meanwhile on a milk carton in Manchester, Alabama.....

At the very least, when Bart DOES return, since NuWally is Kid Flash, Bart will get to be Impulse again, and hopefully with his old personality and giant hair in toe.

Honestly, its been 14 years since I got to see my 10th favorite DC hero and favorite speedster be himself. I can wait a little longer.

[Lord Kira]

I'm liking Titans so far. The first arc was 'all Wally, all the time,' but it was necessary and I liked it well enough. Now that his re-introduction is over I think he'll be treated like just another team member.

But compared to a decade ago, yes it is a huge demotion for Wally. But for now I'm grateful he's back at all.

[SlimeStack]

I'm still holding out for a secondary Flash title once the Flash family gets big enough again. Have the Flash focus on Barry, Wally II, Meena, Godspeed, Daniel West, etc while the second book could focus on Wally, Jay, Bart, Jesse Quick, Max Mercury, etc.

[Atlanta96]

I'm still holding out for a secondary Flash title once the Flash family gets big enough again. Have the Flash focus on Barry, Wally II, Meena, Godspeed, Daniel West, etc while the second book could focus on Wally, Jay, Bart, Jesse Quick, Max Mercury, etc.

That would be great but for a secondary Flash title to sell, the characters would need a lot of exposure beforehand. Ginger Wally isn't getting that exposure, he hardly shows up outside his supporting role in Titans. That's the reason so many Marvel books are failing, they don't properly set up the characters and just carelessly send the books to print. DC doesn't seem interested in making a 2nd Flash book, especially not one that will actually last.

[Atlanta96]

Which one?

Pre-Flashpoint. The redhead.

[Stanlos]

Ok, we were all excited when Wally West returned last May, especially since he was the star of the hugely important Rebirth Special and got to reunite with the original Titans. But it's almost 9 months later, and now that the hype has died down let's look at how he's actually being used.

His only recurring role is in Titans, where he is now a supporting character and no longer the main focus. I think it's a pretty damn good book but it's been rightfully criticized for pacing issues, characterization issues, and artistic failings. Many readers understandably dislike it, so for many Wally fans there isn't a single good book featuring the character at the moment.

For some reason Wally is relegated to a single monthly book while Barry is in 2 bimonthly books, and even the less popular Nu Wally West gets to appear in 3 issues a month on average. Ginger Wally has only been in 2 issues of the main Flash so far despite his name actually being the Flash, and a very big deal being made of his return and reunion with Barry. If he's supposed to have an expanded role in the DCU they're not doing a very good job setting it up, he's gotten very little development since his return.

In outside media, the only notable adaptation of the character is on the Flash TV show which, in my opinion, fails to live up to the greatness of the character and is arguably more of a Nu Wally adaptation anyway. Ginger Wally has little to no presence in cartoons, videogames, live action films, and animated films. Yes Young Justice season 3 is coming up but it's a long ways off and who knows how he'll actually be treated this time? The DCEU Barry Allen, based on the ComicCon footage, seems to be at least partially inspired by Wally's personality, making me fear he won't appear in the DCEU either unless it's another radically different adaptation.

It's nice that the character is back at all, but looking at how he's being treated he still doesn't seem to be valued at DC the way Barry and Nu Wally are. He still seems like an afterthought only around to appease longtime readers while they don't actually do anything with him. Is anyone really satisfied with Wally West at the moment?

I have felt that all DC did was pull a NetherRealm/MortalKombat on Wally, i.e., they merely changed his name to Barry and put a buzz cut on. It was kind of weird with both Barry and Hal in that they were "brought back" only to be interpreted nearly exactly the same as Wally and Kyle. It was kinda bizarre.