Comic Book Bin 
 
 Comics
 Comic Reviews
 Manga Reviews
 Comic News
 Spotlight (226)
 Phil's Bubble
 European Comics
 Canuck
 Comics 101
 Black Astronaut
 Web Comics
 
 Action Figures
 
 Games
 
 Movies
 
 Fan Films
 
 Books
 
 Interviews
 
 About
 Classifieds
 Newsletter
 RSS
Search

Comics : Spotlight
Last Updated: May 16, 2008 - 8:58:45 PM


The Flashes' Secret Ids Going Public
By Cury
May 6, 2003 - 10:05:00 PM

Email this article
 Printer friendly page

Add to Del.icio.us     Add To Reddit
Add To Digg     Add To Stumbleupon


The Flashes' Secret Ids Going Public

This article is the most thorough account of the secret identity aspects of the lives of Barry Allen and Wally West, the Flashes. It is an authorized republication from a message board posting. The Comic Book Bin hopes you enjoy it as much as we did. By Marcelo Cury

After reading Green Arrow #17- which was very good- I decided to check some facts on the moments when Barry Allen and Wally West had their identitie revealed. The result was a bit too big, but I'll try to post it here anyway in several smaller posts (under this topic). (I guess I'll be stealing SNW21's thunder as über-poster & Flash reference here, but I swear it's just this time, hehh)

A Flash-fact if there is one: The Flash doesn't have a secret identity- since he ditched his "Kid Flash" persona and took on the mantle of Barry Allen (his late predecessor), Wally West's life is an open book to the public.

But it didn't begin that way- as anyone who has read the first couple of issues into Wally's run as the Flash (Flash v.2 #1 & 2), and the "Legends" mini-series as well- will attest, the Flash did have a secret identity, at least for a short time.

Also, Barry Allen never revealed his identity to the general public, but after he died (in the Crisis), everyone knew his secret. So how did that happen?- or better yet, did it happen?

The answer is no. There were a few hints here and there, but no actual revelation... or at least till the November, 2002 issue (#17) of Green Arrow, where newcomer writer Brian Meltzer did us Flash-fans a favor by telling us about Barry. Or rather, Oliver Queen himself did:

Green Arrow: "It actually started with Barry. When he died, we all lost a friend. But Hal [Jordan, Green Lantern] lost a brother. It was Hal’s idea to gather Barry’s keepsakes. Not just to honor him... but to protect his identity and those close to him. Unlike Barry, though, we weren't fast enough. The [Flash] Museum opened its newest exhibit six months later, and the whole world knew. Take it from me... that's the real reason Wally went public." 1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9   10

Read related reviews such as:

Captain Cold
Mirror Master
Justice league Flash
Silver Age Flash and Kid Flash Set



Related Articles:
Kill or Be Killed
Who Killed the Electric Car?
Who Killed JFK and Marylin



View last 10 articles by Cury


© Copyright 2002-2008, Coolstreak Cartoons Inc. - All rights Reserved. All other texts, images, characters and trademarks are copyright their respective owners. Use of material in this document(including reproduction, modification, distribution, electronic transmission or republication) without prior written permission is strictly prohibited.

Top of Page


Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow
Classics Illustrated #1: Great Expectations
Wizzywig Volume 1: Phreak.
Women's Month 2007 Round up
Dark Horse Month 2007 Round Up
Top Shelf Month Round Up
Chalk It Up - Star Wars
Essex County Vol. 2: Ghost Stories
Why Do Comic Book Readers Exist?
DC Disappoints
It’s All about Sales Stupid!! – The Business of the Comic Book Industry
Comic Book Publishers' Websites Suck
Top Shelf Reviews Round up
Marvel 2007 in review
2007 @ The Comic Book Bin