DC Has Found Way to Make the Flash Family Their Version of The Incredibles - CBR - Comic Book Resources

WARNING: The following contains spoilers for The Flash #779, now on sale from DC Comics

The Flash family of heroes are usually some of DC's most potentially powerful, with their bond to the Speed Force often elevating them beyond their peers. But now, that idea of family is becoming more literal in a very exciting way.

Linda and Jai West just got some Speed Force powers in The Flash #779 by Jeremy Adams, Fernando Pasarin, Matt Ryan, Brent Peeples, Jeremiah Skipper, Peter Pantazis, Jeromy Cox, and Rob Leigh -- and it could effectively give DC their own version of The Incredibles.

The Flash #779 has major consequences for the West family. Although Wally has reaffirmed his place as one of DC's strongest speedsters -- and his daughter Iris has showcased her own speed -- his son Jai was still contending with some physical problems. But by infusing his son with some of the Speed-Force, Flash is able to fully empower him once again. But back at the West household, Wally's wife Linda's attempts to write fiction prove difficult. Eventually getting out of bed and looking for her missing family, Linda accidentally moves at super-speed -- catching herself by surprise and staring down at herself in shock as the issue comes to a close.

Family has long been at the center of the Flash. Both Barry Allen and Wally West's tenure in the role included the pair of them growing their personal families. Wally in particular has shifted well into his position as a father, with a pair of superpowered children under his guidance ready to grow as heroes in their own right. But with Linda now also potentially empowered, it'll be interesting to see how DC embraces having their own fully heroic family. In theory, they could even give the DC Universe something it's actually been lacking: a genuine family unit at the heart of a franchise. While most DC properties -- especially in outside media like the DC Extended Universe -- have embraced a dark version of the superhero universe, there's always room for a more optimistic and heroic take on the superhero concept.

Having an entire family of speedsters could be a fun development for the DC Universe, effective giving the setting their own version of the Fantastic Four's dynamic. In essence, they could become basically the DC answer to something like Pixar's The Incredibles, a fun and poignant look at family through the lens of a superhero setting. By infusing Linda with powers and restoring Jai's full potential, DC has quietly set the stage for an entire speedster family -- especially with Barry Allen off the table and Wally West likely forced to step up in light of the coming demise of the Justice League. As a family unit, the Flash family could explore the world as a whole and go on all sorts of adventures, serving as a perfect all-audiences exploration of the universe.

In fact, it might be the ideal way to keep some lightness and levity in the universe. With the pending demise of the Justice League and the likely subsequent story-arcs focusing on legacy characters like Jon Kent, Jace Fox, Yara Flor, Jo Mullein, and Jackson Hyde stepping up, having Wally and his family of speedsters run around the world on fun adventures might be the perfect cure for the dour elements likely playing out in the forefront of the Dark Crisis. Having the literally Flash family around might also give the heroes a group of speedy allies to rely, and could provide a unique new way to explore the setting as it rapidly evolves.

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Brandon Zachary (4513 Articles Published)

Brandon Zachary is an Associate Writer with Comic Book Resources and has written for CBR since 2018. He covers breakouts on comics, film, television, video games, and anime. He also conducts industry interviews, is a Rotten Tomatoes certified film critic, and knows SO MUCH about the X-Men. For requests, comments, or to hear his pitch for a third Avatar series that incorporates robots, you can contact him through bs.zachary@gmail.com.