The Flash: How Wally West Went Through DC's 'Spider-Verse' | CBR - CBR - Comic Book Resources

There are so many different incarnations of the Flash, from Barry Allen to Wally West. These speedsters extend beyond the mainstream DC Universe, across space and time. This wide variety of speedsters made a great team when they all met in "Chain Lightning," DC's version of "Spider-Verse." "Chain Lightning" began in The Flash #145 by Mark Waid, Brian Augustyn, and Paul Pelletier. The events of this story involved a plot by Cobalt Blue, a villain who held a grudge against Barry Allen. Cobalt Blue was Barry's twin brother, separated at birth and given to the Thawne family.

Growing up in a criminal family, Malcolm Thawne learned to wield the mystic power of the blue flame, becoming Cobalt Blue. Thawne's power could sap the Flash's speed, making him a formidable opponent. Recently, Wally West, the Flash at the time, defeated Cobalt Blue. From the mystic gem, however, Wally discovered a prophecy stating that two Flashes would become possessed by the blue flame before Cobalt Blue killed Barry, who was living in the 30th century.

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In order to save his mentor, and Flashes everywhere, Wally tied the gem to The Speed Force, using its energy to pinpoint the location of various speedsters across time. In his own time, Wally gathered Jay Garrick, Jesse Quick, Max Mercury, and Bart Allen to help him track down and save future Flashes from Cobalt Blue's descendants. Splitting up, the Flashes went across time to save their fellow speedsters. On this time-spanning journey, the Flash Family encountered a variety of different Flashes. Jesse met Jace Allen in the year 2764, Wally encountered John Fox of the 853rd century, Max met Sela Allen in the year 2231 and Bart went to another future where he encountered Thondor Allen. Jay, however, might have met the most important of these future Flashes: Iris West, Wally's future daughter. These were only a small few of the many speedsters who helped in the fight against the Thawne family.

During the recruitment drive, Wally was shocked to encounter Eobard Thawne, the Reverse-Flash, in the 25th century. The biggest surprise of this meeting was when Thawne turned out to be working with the police against Simogyn Allen, who was possessed by the cobalt gem. Working with Thawne, Wally rescued Simogyn from the gem's influence. Unfortunately, Thawne got a hold of the gem, time-traveling to the far future. There, the Thawne family was about to use their power to wrest control of the galaxy. The Reverse-Flash attempted to take this power for himself, but Wally put a stop to Thawne's plans, returning the Reverse-Flash to his own time.

Meanwhile, in the present, Cobalt Blue had escaped his imprisonment. When Jay tried to stop Thawne, he became possessed by the cobalt gem. Although all of Thawne's other descendants were beaten, Jay manifested in the 30th century, in an attempt to kill Barry Allen. The power of the gem possessed every speedster except for Wally, since he was the only one not holding a fragment of the gem. Wally was brutally beaten by all of the other Flashes until the timely intervention of Barry Allen. Wally's old mentor saved him, and the two of them fought off the other Flashes long enough to retreat. The two speedsters found cover in the Flash Museum. There, Barry and Wally had a heart to heart, where Barry told Wally how proud he was of his nephew.

Afterwards, Barry and Wally used the weapons from the Flash Museum to fend off the other speedsters, snapping Jay out of his trance. Together, all three Flashes vibrated at just the right frequency to destroy the cobalt gems and free their fellow speedsters. Everyone except Wally and Barry left, believing the danger to be over. Unexpectedly, Cobalt Blue appeared, incinerating Barry with his mystic flame. With Barry murdered, Wally had to take his place during the legendary "Crisis on Infinite Earths."

No matter how he tried, however, Wally couldn't replicate Barry's success in destroying The Anti-Monitor's anti-matter cannon. Realizing he couldn't be Barry, Wally simply went back in time and saved Barry from his premature death. Wally then took Cobalt Blue and overpowered him by holding him against the edge of the Speed Force. This surge of power overloaded the blue flame, destroying Cobalt Blue. It took the help of every Flash across time, but Wally West was finally able to save his mentor from Cobalt Blue.

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Nabeel Gaber (278 Articles Published)

Nabeel Gaber is a longtime reader of a plethora of comic books. He's based in Houston, Texas, following all of the latest comic book media from movies to television. Nabeel is a graduate of Trinity University, working now as a freelance comic book features writer. In his spare time, Nabeel enjoys running, improv comedy, and all the comics he can get his hands on!