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The Flash (1987) (Old Editions) #16
The Flash: The Wild Wests
Wally (the Flash) and Linda Park-West return home to Keystone where the Flash resumes the role of city protector and must balance his time between the Justice League and raising his two preteen children with their unwieldly powers.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2008
3 people are currently reading
137 people want to read
About the author
Mark Waid
3,181 books1,271 followersMark Waid (born March 21, 1962 in Hueytown, Alabama) is an American comic book writer. He is best known for his eight-year run as writer of the DC Comics' title The Flash, as well as his scripting of the limited series Kingdom Come and Superman: Birthright, and his work on Marvel Comics' Captain America.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 24, 2015
The Good News: This one’s written by Mark Waid and not Geoff Johns.
The Bad News: It doesn’t make that much of a difference.
The Speed Force, that mind numbing made-up super science defying idea that makes the Flash so fast, is something I have a hard time getting my head around, like bidets or Jeff Goldblum fans or tofu or Cheez Whiz on a cheese steak. It just hurts my head to read about it. Wally West, Flash #3, has twins, who are linked to it, so now it’s double my pain. Add an invasion by a race of tentacle creatures brought on by some Speed Force mumbo jumbo and I’m reaching for some pain meds.
This volume isn’t an excruciating read all the time. Waid explores West’s family dynamic and shines a spotlight on his wife and two children, Jai and Iris. The twins are chronologically aged one, but because of their odd connection to the Speed Force (Ouch!) they’re physically around eight years old. Jai can bulk himself up and Iris can move through solid objects (she reaches through her brother to steal his breakfast bacon). By using the Speed Force (GAH!) Wally can pull his kids out along with him.
Waid’s humor and characterization and an appearance by the Justice League make this bearable.
The Bad News: It doesn’t make that much of a difference.
The Speed Force, that mind numbing made-up super science defying idea that makes the Flash so fast, is something I have a hard time getting my head around, like bidets or Jeff Goldblum fans or tofu or Cheez Whiz on a cheese steak. It just hurts my head to read about it. Wally West, Flash #3, has twins, who are linked to it, so now it’s double my pain. Add an invasion by a race of tentacle creatures brought on by some Speed Force mumbo jumbo and I’m reaching for some pain meds.
This volume isn’t an excruciating read all the time. Waid explores West’s family dynamic and shines a spotlight on his wife and two children, Jai and Iris. The twins are chronologically aged one, but because of their odd connection to the Speed Force (Ouch!) they’re physically around eight years old. Jai can bulk himself up and Iris can move through solid objects (she reaches through her brother to steal his breakfast bacon). By using the Speed Force (GAH!) Wally can pull his kids out along with him.
Waid’s humor and characterization and an appearance by the Justice League make this bearable.
June 13, 2022
This was certainly fun I guess!
So we see Wally with kids and we get his return post crisis and the explanation with his kids is fun too and I like how Waid is able to explain their powers and also give a foreboding sense of danger when these alien beings come into out planet from water and well they attack Keystone city and so wally jumps in to stop them with his children and also JLA cameos in and we see how personal it is for wally!
And then we see the origin of the planet Savoth and the connections of the flashes to this and like how it began with Jay Garrick saving it and then Barry and Iris travelling here or Bart and later Linda and how they helped this planet and prevented an invasion from some "Swamp Invaders" and how in the present these are the only ones invading and how Flash has to sacrifice his connection to the planet Savoth and it sort of is an emotional moment I guess and the person narrating it aka "Gorflack" is okayish I guess!
And then in the present we see how wally saves the day and also a focus on Wally trying to get the job and how his kids meet Superman and go against Livewire, which was a fun, cute and short story and just showing how great this family is!
So overall not the greatest Flash story ever but I like the way we see Wally as a father and how protective he is and also Linda and her maternal instincts and well a new element added to Flash mythos which is great I guess.
So yeah a good one time read for sure! I definitely recommend it! ;)
So we see Wally with kids and we get his return post crisis and the explanation with his kids is fun too and I like how Waid is able to explain their powers and also give a foreboding sense of danger when these alien beings come into out planet from water and well they attack Keystone city and so wally jumps in to stop them with his children and also JLA cameos in and we see how personal it is for wally!
And then we see the origin of the planet Savoth and the connections of the flashes to this and like how it began with Jay Garrick saving it and then Barry and Iris travelling here or Bart and later Linda and how they helped this planet and prevented an invasion from some "Swamp Invaders" and how in the present these are the only ones invading and how Flash has to sacrifice his connection to the planet Savoth and it sort of is an emotional moment I guess and the person narrating it aka "Gorflack" is okayish I guess!
And then in the present we see how wally saves the day and also a focus on Wally trying to get the job and how his kids meet Superman and go against Livewire, which was a fun, cute and short story and just showing how great this family is!
So overall not the greatest Flash story ever but I like the way we see Wally as a father and how protective he is and also Linda and her maternal instincts and well a new element added to Flash mythos which is great I guess.
So yeah a good one time read for sure! I definitely recommend it! ;)
April 29, 2019
Mark Waid returns to write Wally West. I was really excited about his return as he basically established the foundation of the "modern day Flash" mythos. There's something familiar in the story which of course comes directly from Waid 's involvement.
Obviously there is a major change that Waid has to deal with , and that's the two kids. He explains their powers and advanced age with more speed force antics, but it works. If you can suspend your disbelief for everything else in this book, accelerated aging isn't too far a jump. So we get the family dynamic and how each member of the family contributes in their own way to their adventures. Even Linda is now a speed force expert using advanced mechanics to harness and interact with her children.
I really enjoyed the backstory in each issue, both the over reaching plot, as it runs through the history of the flash, and the art, which is very similar to Alex Ross. The art gives it the feeling of historical record, which lends itself well to the purpose of the backstory.
I did feel the changing artists hurt the book. It made it feel uneven and sometimes less cohesive. Also, the family dynamic does feel heavy handed sometimes. On occasion, the book reads like a family sitcom because of the kids.
Being that this is the last Wally story for a while, I'm sad to see the mantle go back to Barry. I
know he is the most well known Flash, but Wally is my Flash. The way his character changed and evolved and LEARNED as his adventures went on was amazing. I hope newer volumes can capture what made the Wally adventures great, and I look forward to continuing reading the Flash.
Obviously there is a major change that Waid has to deal with , and that's the two kids. He explains their powers and advanced age with more speed force antics, but it works. If you can suspend your disbelief for everything else in this book, accelerated aging isn't too far a jump. So we get the family dynamic and how each member of the family contributes in their own way to their adventures. Even Linda is now a speed force expert using advanced mechanics to harness and interact with her children.
I really enjoyed the backstory in each issue, both the over reaching plot, as it runs through the history of the flash, and the art, which is very similar to Alex Ross. The art gives it the feeling of historical record, which lends itself well to the purpose of the backstory.
I did feel the changing artists hurt the book. It made it feel uneven and sometimes less cohesive. Also, the family dynamic does feel heavy handed sometimes. On occasion, the book reads like a family sitcom because of the kids.
Being that this is the last Wally story for a while, I'm sad to see the mantle go back to Barry. I
know he is the most well known Flash, but Wally is my Flash. The way his character changed and evolved and LEARNED as his adventures went on was amazing. I hope newer volumes can capture what made the Wally adventures great, and I look forward to continuing reading the Flash.
July 30, 2020
It's nice to have Wally back although wish it was not at such a high cost...
July 18, 2019
This is what I miss about the new Flash, the family dynamic has gone it’s just all about Barry. Don’t get me wrong I like Barry but I prefer the legacy dynamic they set up before the new 52 happened.
So far I’ve only read this and Born to Run which is also written by Mark Waid. It’s weird because Born to Run is written as a old timey comic full of waffle where as this is streamline like a modern comic.
I think this one was much better, the flash family was awesome. I have never read them before but now I want more, I like the fact they're not just fast like Wally as that’d be pretty dull.
My only real negative with this is that the art is fantastic then sudden dips, I know another artist took over but still it was very different one is super realistic the other is like a cartoon. It happens about 4 times altogether, each with a different artist they could just have 2 going back and forth.
So far I’ve only read this and Born to Run which is also written by Mark Waid. It’s weird because Born to Run is written as a old timey comic full of waffle where as this is streamline like a modern comic.
I think this one was much better, the flash family was awesome. I have never read them before but now I want more, I like the fact they're not just fast like Wally as that’d be pretty dull.
My only real negative with this is that the art is fantastic then sudden dips, I know another artist took over but still it was very different one is super realistic the other is like a cartoon. It happens about 4 times altogether, each with a different artist they could just have 2 going back and forth.
June 22, 2014
I just finished reading this run, in single-issue format. I've really lost track of what's been done with the Flash over the last 20 years or so. There have been so many reboots and changes. This series starts yet another reboot, bringing Wally West back. The mechanics of how that happened are a bit beyond me, but if you ignore all that, and just enjoy this story on its own terms, it's not bad.
This run was written by Mark Waid, and illustrated (initially) by Daniel Acuña, and (later) by Freddie Williams II. And there was a backup feature, which eventually tied in with the main story, written by Waid with John Rogers, and illustrated by Doug Braithwaite.
The writing throughout was well-done, as I'd expect from Mark Waid. Some nice humor, good character development, and lots of action. On the art, I like all three of the artists who worked on this, but their styles are very different. It's OK to have that difference between the main feature and the backup, but the switch from Acuña to Williams in the middle of the main story was awkward.
Waid left the series after just this one story, and I don't think this run lasted much longer before yet another reboot. (I've really lost track.) But it you're looking for a fun Wally West Flash story, this is a good one.
This run was written by Mark Waid, and illustrated (initially) by Daniel Acuña, and (later) by Freddie Williams II. And there was a backup feature, which eventually tied in with the main story, written by Waid with John Rogers, and illustrated by Doug Braithwaite.
The writing throughout was well-done, as I'd expect from Mark Waid. Some nice humor, good character development, and lots of action. On the art, I like all three of the artists who worked on this, but their styles are very different. It's OK to have that difference between the main feature and the backup, but the switch from Acuña to Williams in the middle of the main story was awkward.
Waid left the series after just this one story, and I don't think this run lasted much longer before yet another reboot. (I've really lost track.) But it you're looking for a fun Wally West Flash story, this is a good one.
September 7, 2014
I've never actually read any Flash comics and this was a great read to start off with. The Flash/West family is too adorable for words. Needless to say I really like how this was put together. The twist away from your typical superhero comic is nice. Albeit it's not as action packed or exciting but the element of family thrown into the story is an endearing break from the usual superhero-kicks-antihero antics.
September 29, 2014
¡Hola, Wally! Qué bueno verte de vuelta como Fla-...
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>szhiummm>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
¡Chau, Wally! Fue un gusto, volvé pronto.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>szhiummm>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
¡Chau, Wally! Fue un gusto, volvé pronto.
December 22, 2024
3.5 stars for Daniel Acuña's art (which is only in the first third of this collection)
This is all about Wally West and Linda being parents to Iris & Jai, their twin children, who were exposed to the Speed Force as babies and are aging in an accelerated fashion.
I am a big fan of Mark Waid's writing and this squeezes in a heck of a lot, including retconning into the history of the various Flashes, the existence of Savoth a world where their highest tech is based on Beyond the Speed of Light energies; this is all revealed in the penultimate 'issue' (#236) with art that appears to be uncredited (annoyingly).
It all feels a bit rushed, with too much squeezed in, with none of the characters really getting a chance to breathe or develop; I mean, for goodness sake, even the Justice League also feature here in fighting back against a watery, alien invasion. Disappointing.
This is all about Wally West and Linda being parents to Iris & Jai, their twin children, who were exposed to the Speed Force as babies and are aging in an accelerated fashion.
I am a big fan of Mark Waid's writing and this squeezes in a heck of a lot, including retconning into the history of the various Flashes, the existence of Savoth a world where their highest tech is based on Beyond the Speed of Light energies; this is all revealed in the penultimate 'issue' (#236) with art that appears to be uncredited (annoyingly).
It all feels a bit rushed, with too much squeezed in, with none of the characters really getting a chance to breathe or develop; I mean, for goodness sake, even the Justice League also feature here in fighting back against a watery, alien invasion. Disappointing.
August 4, 2021
Simply put, this was not good. Mark Waid is obviously capable of much better especially with these characters. This entire story was lame. Terrible antagonists, abysmal plot, strange character choices, etc. It was a miss almost entirely. I honestly couldn't stand the twins and how they are introduced. Linda is also unrecognizable as a scientist?! Freddie Williams art was fun and pulled this up from a one star rating. Overall, a pretty terrible time.
January 2, 2024
Catching up to the Mark Waid Flash runs [see what I did there...} Had not read these, this return from Waid with good art by Daniel Acuna and Freddie Williams. I prefer the maturing Wally West, here as a father, to the adrift Wally West we have seen in some recent years. This mostly works.\, just not enough of Wally's wife Linda.
Thanks to Fulton County Public Library for the loan.
Thanks to Fulton County Public Library for the loan.
November 16, 2012
I haven't read Flash in a while so I wasn't aware of his family or anything but I was smiling all through the book. The family dynamic was just great (very the Incredibles), I generally liked the art though it's kind of a pain that the artist switches so often and in such different styles!
I don't suppose I should get attached to those kids as I understand Wally West has no part in the new 52...
I don't suppose I should get attached to those kids as I understand Wally West has no part in the new 52...
January 1, 2013
Mark Waid, creator of the Flash Legacy, gets to write about Wally West's kids, and this is what we get? Overly cute kids, a muddled storyline full of guest stars, and a silly menace. "The Fast Life", which sets up the previous storyline, is quite good, but everything else here is mediocre. Stay to the original Waid run for your Waid collection.
November 9, 2015
It was alright, maybe 3.5 stars
A bit choppy, but a fun story
So the whole freezing all the water in the city, even putting aside all the wonky science, what if somebody was in the shower? Not to mention if flash has to go so far underground to find liquid water shouldn't there be pipes burst all over the place, and all kinds of other damage related to flash-freezing the water?
A bit choppy, but a fun story
So the whole freezing all the water in the city, even putting aside all the wonky science, what if somebody was in the shower? Not to mention if flash has to go so far underground to find liquid water shouldn't there be pipes burst all over the place, and all kinds of other damage related to flash-freezing the water?
May 4, 2009
Not sure I totally get the whole thing with the kids, they're one year old, with accelerated growth, have lived their entire lives on another planet yet are begging for cell phones? hmmm. Beyond that I think this suffers from the DC superhero curse: choppy & nonsensical plots.
February 6, 2011
I really expected more from Mark Waid. There were some ok stories, but it was kind of choppy as a whole. The other planet/dimension stuff was interesting. But again, kind of disappointing. If you want a good Flash story check out Geoff Johns run on the character.
January 20, 2011
Mostly bad stories, bad dialogue, and bad art. The other-planet section is compelling, and some of the sequences are fun, but after the incredible run that Johns had with Wally West, this one's a big disappointment as the end of a major era.
March 17, 2010
Wally and Linda's speed-aging children who deserve to be heroes because they may die any day. I love the invading aliens and the Flash-worshipers, but not nearly as much as I love Jai and Iris.
March 26, 2012
I was so excited to have Wally West back as The Flash, and then this stink bomb was dropped.
October 7, 2012
Couldn't get into it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews