Wally's First Appearance

[shankie]

From either The Flash (volume one) #110, or The Flash Archives, Volume Two, where it was reprinted, Barry's girlfriend Iris introduces him to a plucky little boy in a bow tie, making his debut to the comic book world in 1959.



I will never, ever, get over how freaking adorable Wally is in these old comics.

But I have a first question, here: why is Barry going "Hmm!" before he says hello? Or maybe, "Hmm! I just don't know what to think of you, boy! Stealing my fashion sense are we?" I mean... who does that? Was he expecting another chick for a threesome and is trying to contain his disappointment? Does that weird smile and "Hmm!" equal bad touch thoughts? I don't know, it's weird. Especially since it's got an exclamation point, what the hell?

Anyway, onward!



It continues to be painfully obvious that Iris knows Barry is the Flash. When he does finally get the balls to out himself to her in #174, after they've been married a year, she's all like, "Yeah, I know." She gives him some excuse like he talks in his sleep every night, but seeing how she's been faking ignorance for a year at that point, at the very least, it wouldn't be a stretch to have her telling him something like that so he'll feel better. She's like that sometimes.



You know what Wally's face is saying there? "Flash better be in that room, 'cause if he isn't, Iris is dating a pedo. I'm scared." Or just plain incredulous doubt that Flash is just going to be hanging out in some random room in this guy's house.



D'awww! "Mr. Flash!" So adorable!



So, if you know anything about Wally's origin, you may see where this is going. Barry arranges the beakers so they're just the way they were when he got his speed, then random lightning strikes, and bing bam boom, pint-sized speedster, and one of the laziest origin stories ever written.

"Let's just write what we did before, that worked, right?"



As mentioned in this estimate of Central City's size and population, everything in that town is friggin' huge. One room in that apartment has enough space for lab benches, shelving units, and two speedsters racing each other? That's one friggin' big-ass apartment.



So Barry tests out Wally's speed by doing stuff like tossing balls and running around for a few minutes, then promptly decides to take him on as a sidekick, complete with mini uniform. (Just to spite Batman's need to train kids for at least a year before they get to wear a costume. Or so I suspect.) Seriously, though? A ten-year-old boy has just become a teeny version of the man he's obsessed with, and upon knowing him for almost an afternoon, Barry thinks he can trust the kid to not go tell every other ten-year-old in the country?

Luckily, Wally's obsession runs deep enough that apparently he'll follow Flash's instructions to the letter, and Barry has enough sense to at least follow Wally around for a little while and keep an eye on him. Which amazes me, because Barry has this tendency to be trusting to the point of silly.



The man promptly dies of a heart attack.

Well, not really, but that would sure scare the hell out of anyone, or at least make them paranoid about the forces of nature taking an active hand in controlling their lives. On the other hand, this is the DCU, maybe that old guy would just wave off the whole thing and just mutter about "those damned aliens" now and again.



"It's okay Mr. Allen, you're really boring, anyway."

And is it just me... or are the Wests a bunch of elves with ears that become spontaneously pointy, but only for a second?



Wally is thinking: "WTF Aunt Iris, do you really think I'd tell?"

Iris is thinking: "Oh, those boys are so adorable. Thinking they can hide anything from me is a hoot."

Comments

[cmer.livejournal.com]

Good god, looking at these is like looking at old baby pictures or something. Oh Wally...

I kinda wish they'd go back to this and yet I'm annoyed Barry's back right now and I hope he won't be taking Wally's place. He'd better not, like Hal did with Kyle, sorta. :\

[victoria-wayne.livejournal.com]

Old baby pictures! That is such a good way to put it, I so know what you mean. I just got done reading Wally's run (again, for like, the twelfth time) and jumping to this has such a heavy nostalgia feeling, a level I don't even get reading the old-school World's Finest and stuff.

One thing that does make me happy about Flash: Rebirth is Bart going "So what? He's my grandpa, but Wally earned being Flash, he just didn't appear out of no-where to get it!" and Barry himself being "Seriously, though? I have no idea wtf I'm doing here."

[mousezilla.livejournal.com]

After picking up and reading "Quiver" (Thank you so much for turning me on to that one), I'm kind of sad that they felt the need to bring Barry back. It looked like he was having a wonderful afterlife, poor guy.

[victoria-wayne.livejournal.com]

You're very welcome. :D

I totally know what you mean, it just doesn't seem right for so many reasons. No matter how well done the story might end up being... the concept will always be kinda lame to me.

[feyandstrange.livejournal.com]

Was this in the days where there were no periods, only ellipses and exclamation points? That might explain the conversation a little...! (Literally, I mean; they wouldn't use periods because print quality was so bad.)

I'm now imagining the Super-Hero girlfriends' club all having tea and sandwiches together somewhere, talking about how silly it is when the boys try to hide things from them.

"We have to humor them, of course, but sometimes it's all I can do not to giggle!"

"Well, that's our super-power, isn't it?"

"Teehee!"

"Oh, and before I forget, Iris, did you have a tip for us on how to get crime-solving stains out of those uniforms of theirs?"

"Well, Linda, the real trick is to sneak their uniforms away from them while they're sleeping off a caper or a sedative-laden dinner, but I did finally find a way to get those stubborn streaks out with Borax and baking soda!"

"Wonderful! Oh, and I saw Lois Lane the other day, she said to say hello."

"That poor girl. It's a wonder she can keep her job at the paper the way that darn Superman keeps super-hypnotizing her to forget his identity."

"I'm amazed she can think at all any more! If Superman doesn't take more care she's going to end up in a rest home. It seems like every other week she's almost figured it out until he scrambles her thoughts again with some childish prank!"

"Well, really, if any of these men of ours could keep a secret identity at all, it wouldn't be so hard on us."

"I just don't know how they manage. Sometimes I wonder if their bosses are humoring them as much as we are. I do worry that he'll get fired one day for running off all the time to stop criminals, and then where would we be? This super-heroing business is wonderful, but it doesn't support a family."

"Don't worry dear, I'd get you a job at Ferris! When I think of how much Ferris Aircraft money I waste sometimes dealing with Hal's crashes and cover-ups, it's the least I could do to hire you as my secretary if one of the boys' disasters made you miss the mortgage payment."

"Oh, Carol, thank you! I know we'd find a way, it's just that we girls aren't supposed to worry about our husbands' money management, even when I know darn well he can't balance his checkbook. But of course I have to pretend he's a good provider."

"Of course. We don't dare dent their fragile egos. Especially in the pocketbook. Never mind that I make more money than he does!"

"And even if they are independently wealthy, you never know if they've spent all their money on a Bat-rocket or an Arrow-copter or something else ridiculous."

"Not to mention they're too busy playing hero to manage their businesses! It's a good thing I learned to forge his million-dollar signature on his checks, or his bills would never get paid on time."

"Which reminds me! Girls, I know he's not *technically* a super-hero girlfriend or wife, but do you think it would be all right if I invited Batman's butler to our next luncheon? He's the dearest man, and has all sorts of gossip!"

"Alfred! Oh my goodness! Yes, please do, but don't tell him I've been bringing his recipe for macaroni salad to our lunches all this time and pretending it was my mother's!"

"Is *that* where I've had it before! Teehee!"

"Dinah, we all know you and your mother couldn't cook to save the universe, so don't worry."

"I just feel guilty. If it wasn't for Alfred's recipes I'd have nothing to serve but takeout and Oliver's dreadful chili."

"Carol gets the sandwiches made by a deli, Dinah, and I didn't bake those cookies from scratch myself. Why don't we order Chinese food next time?"

[victoria-wayne.livejournal.com]

I believe this was a period-less time, now that I think of it. Everything so over-the-top to begin with I suppose I didn't really notice.

Also... that is so made of win and awesome, for real. :D

Now that I think of that, it's really surprising more superhero wives aren't more like Alfred... in that they're not above the occasional sedative to keep their man from doing something stupid once in a while.

I'm now totally going to believe that they do all get together for a regular lunch to vent and gossip. Because that's great. XD