DC Legacies continued

Well this time it's Flash.

You’d think that the legacy of the Flashes would be much more complicated than the legacy of Aquaman. I happen to believe that the Flash legacy is fairly easy to understand. It’s a tight group of allies bound around a central family and its many branches. Let’s visit the past, present and future of the Fastest Legacy Alive.

DC Comics LEGACIES: A Field Guide #3: FLASH FACTS is a good read on some Flash facts.

Pre-Crisis: Your original Flash was Jay Garrick, who debuted in “Flash Comics” #1 in 1940. He got super-speed thanks to hard water fumes (just go with it) and adopted the look of Mercury (winged hat). Flash became a member of the Justice Society at their founding, and, along with girlfriend/later-wife Joan, was present during the battle with Ian Karkull that gave most of the JSA and their wives energy that prevented them from aging at a normal rate.
You can blame Jay, in part, for the DC multiverse, if you like. I explained that all back in 2005, which you can still read by climbing on our cosmic treadmill here. As you now understand, when the Silver Age began, Jay and the other original heroes became the denizens of Earth-2, and would frequently visit the heroes of the then-current DCU, Earth 1. Earth 1’s Flash was, of course . . .

Barry Allen: Barry Allen became The Flash of Earth-1 in “Showcase” #4 (1956) when a lightning bolt struck the rack of chemicals that he was standing next to, bathing the police chemist in speed (actually, the likelihood that speed is on a police evidence shelf is fairly high). Barry made his mark as the hero of Central City, and was a founder of the Justice League of America. Barry later married his girlfriend, Iris West. Iris had a nephew named . . .

Wally West: Wally happened along in “The Flash” #110 in 1959. On a visit to Barry’s lab, Wally experienced the same exact accident as Barry, and the young man gained super-speed powers of his own. It’s been suggested that the lightning bolt that caused Wally’s accident was actually Barry traveling back in time after the events of “Crisis on Infinite Earths”. As it was, Wally became Kid Flash. He adventured for years, helping found the Teen Titans, until afflicted with a disorder that was slowly killing him when he used his powers. Then came . . .

Crisis on Infinite Earths: After a lengthy trial fueled in part by the machinations of Kadabra, Barry and Iris retired to the 30th Century, from whence Iris had actually originally come. The couple had twin children, Don and Dawn. When the red skies and crazy weather of Crisis began, Barry went into action. Pulled through time, Barry became the prisoner of the Anti-Monitor. He eventually broke free and destroyed the villain’s anti-matter cannon at the cost of his own life. At his death, Barry’s image travelled back through time, allowing him to be seen briefly by others, like Wally. Wally went along with the heroes that went to confront the Anti-Monitor for a final battle. During the conflict, Wally was hit with a blast of energy that cured his disease. At the close of the Crisis, Wally became the new Flash.

Can't wait for part 4