Bart Allen... *Spoilers*

[Sharcque]

I just realized how much I'm gonna miss Bart. I'll admit, when he first came out, I wasn't so much a fan of his. Then Young Justice formed, and he got my attention. I realized how funny he was, as well as how intersting he was. When I think about him, I think of 2 things:

1 -- In Sins of Youth, at the end when he's "lip reading", and he's getting nothing right.

2 -- When he became Kid Flash, how he went and read every book in the library so that way he would be smart and be able to help out more.

I hope he's not gone for too long....

[dancj]

Is he dead or something?

[mohammedali]

Is he dead or something?
Read IC4

Mohammed Ali

[Shellhead]

Anybody who thinks Bart is dead hasn't read enough comic books. That was a Marvel "death" if I ever saw one. He will be back in less than a year, because he isn't even dead.

[Cayman]

I wouldn't count him out yet. Someone's a Flash when the book is relaunched.

Cay

[Violently Apathetic]

*hold hands over ears* LalalalaI'mnotlisteninglalalala

Bart is fine. So is Wally. So are the twins. Everyone's fine. They'll be back with a few issues happier than ever before. Barry will become a friendly ghost that no one can see but Bart and will give him sage advice on everything from crime fighting to girls. Everything will be gumdrops and kittens!

....While I'm dreaming, I'd like a pony...

[The Wayner]

I've got to agree with Shellhead that this is a "Marvel" death, and that Bart will be back within the next 12 months.

Of course, I don't care much for Bart, so if he wants to stay gone...

[Agentum]

I have never understand this character, but that may be because he is supposed to be very young and childish, and often has been drawn in a mangalike styling.

What makes him more intresting than the other speedsters?

Who would want a child running around and play superhero anyway?
Come back as a little older version and try again.

[Violently Apathetic]

I don't think it's a matter of him being more interesting than the other speedsters (Wally's actually the object of my Flash affection) but all the things you mentioned, being young, childish, having a different design, etc...make him different than a lot of characters. Plus I think 'playing superhero' is actually a pretty identifiable trait for many comic fans. That said, a maturity boost would be good, but I'd like to see him retain what makes him Bart. The DCU doesn't need more brooding heroes, or even ones with dry wit, a powerful kid with ADD is sometimes just what the Doctor ordered.

[Expletive Deleted]

I miss Impulse. Kid Flash, not so much.

[Sir Tim Drake]

I'll miss Bart a little, but I really hope we see Jenni again someday. I think she's my favorite Legionnaire who doesn't appear in the current series.

[hmnut73]

I miss Impulse. Kid Flash, not so much.

The first few issues of Impusle were classics. Nothing Kid Flash did was that great.

[mohammedali]

I agree they're coming back. After all, they didn't even enter the Speed Force, they just went to another place/time like Wally suggested.

[Agentum]

I don't think it's a matter of him being more interesting than the other speedsters (Wally's actually the object of my Flash affection) but all the things you mentioned, being young, childish, having a different design, etc...make him different than a lot of characters. Plus I think 'playing superhero' is actually a pretty identifiable trait for many comic fans. That said, a maturity boost would be good, but I'd like to see him retain what makes him Bart. The DCU doesn't need more brooding heroes, or even ones with dry wit, a powerful kid with ADD is sometimes just what the Doctor ordered.
ok, fair enogh, things that i don't like is what someone else likes.

[G.O.K.I.]

I miss IMPULSE too. I liked Impulse, Kid Flash was trying to hard, but I admired that as well. I'll always think Impulse > Kid Flash as much as I think YJ > TT...but ahh, I don't make the book, so...

[Leebenhouse]

Bart's not gone.

The other speedsters grabbed Superboy Prime and dragged him into the force. We didn't see Bart go in with them. And even then, he's just in the speed force. All he needs to escape, ala Wally about a dozen times during Waid's run, is to home in on his anchor. Jay's anchor is his wife, and Wally's was Linda, and since he lacks a romantic partner, the only ones I can think of for Bart would either be Max Mercury's daughter, or his grandmother, Iris Allen, who was last seen dating Officer Chire and helping to raise Weather Wizard's baby.

After all, Superboy-Prime is going to escape, so in all likelyhood Bart will be able to break out and return the Speed Force to Jay. Wally on the other hand took his anchor with him...

Since Wally is gone I think it's time for the legacy to be actualized again, this time with Bart inheriting the mantle. Hopefully he won't be treated as an immature jerk like Wally was in the Mike Baron days.

Mind you I'd prefer Wally stay the Flash, but if he has to be replaced, who else is there? I guess it's an Allen's turn to continue the legacy. While on this note, anybody realize that during the Cobalt Blue storyline the only other West-flash was Wally's daughter Iris West...? All the future Flashes, with the exception of John Fox were Allen's but this may have had more to do with the Thawne feud than much else.

[Ms. M]

I will give the powers at DC some credit. Usually I can figure out where they're headed, but I have no idea what they intend to do with the Flash series. Bring Bart back as an adult Flash or the way he was? Bring Wally or one of Wally's grown kids back to be the Flash? Revive Barry Allen permanently as the Flash? Bring all of the speedsters back? Someone else?

Beats the hell out of me. But at least it will probably be pretty easy to bring any of the lost characters back at some point.

[shyguy]

As is the case with Sueprboy and Wonder Girl, I loved Bart before Geoff Johns got his hands on him. I'd be all over a book that returned his unique Impulse spin on things instead of just making him another Kid Flash with an ugly costume.

[Max_Dillon]

Bart is one of my favorite characters in the DCU, hopefully when he returns he isn't changed -too- much, even if he's forced to be The Flash

[THE OG GL]

My prediction is that Kid flash will be in the speed force soo long that it accelerates his aging. When he comes out he will be twentysomething all the powers of the speed force will leave the other speedsters and enter bart. Making him the most powerfull speedster yet.

^dont take me seriouly

[Sabrinaset]

My prediction is that Kid flash will be in the speed force soo long that it accelerates his aging. When he comes out he will be twentysomething all the powers of the speed force will leave the other speedsters and enter bart. Making him the most powerfull speedster yet.

^dont take me seriouly

I was thinking maybe he could have a different costume when they do that. Maybe have a lightning-bolt like scar on his face, perhaps. :)

[Leebenhouse]

I was thinking maybe he could have a different costume when they do that. Maybe have a lightning-bolt like scar on his face, perhaps. :)

They already did that. See the "dark" Flash storyline that was the sequel to the Cobalt Blue story. Walter West had a black and silver Flash costume and a lightning scar on his face. The costume wasn't bad, but it wasnt really great either. He's the one that taught Wally about the healing factor effect of the Speed Force. At least I think so.

[Sharcque]

Bart's not gone.

The other speedsters grabbed Superboy Prime and dragged him into the force. We didn't see Bart go in with them.
What book did you read? I have it right here in fron of me:

Barry: Wally's waiting for you, Bart.
Max: Don't be afraid.
Bart: I'm not, Max.
Bart: Let's go (and he gives the final push that sends SP into the Speed Force and disappears with them all.

[Watery Tart]

I started missing Bart back when Geoff Johns decided to drop him off the face of the earth during Teen Titans :-( Seriously, though, Bart becoming Kid Flash had the potential to be a really interesting development for the character. But instead we got, "Yay, Bart's Kid Flash! Aaaand now we never have to give a crap about this character again."

(Warning: tangential rant) Don't even get me started on how Cassie went from being someone who could hold her own against freakin' TIM DRAKE in terms of intelligence and leadership in Young Justice to being little more than Superboy's Girlfriend Wonder Girl in Teen Titans. The subplot with the lasso, Ares, her anger, etc. looked so promising, but never panned out. I mean, I don't hate Johns - I don't really mind his Superboy, but then I was never as attached to Kon as I was the others. And I'll admit that I really love his depiction of Tim. But I'm just frustrated with Johns because it feels like the "core four" YJers (sorry Cissie & Greta) aren't getting the spotlight they deserve.

(I should mention as a a disclaimer that Young Justice and Impulse are the reason I got into DC in the first place, so I may be incapable of being objective on this matter, especially regarding Bart. Tim and Bart are one-two on my favorite characters list - Tim for his general Timmishness, and Bart for his fun goofiness and the innocence underlying that.)

[Be Stiff]

They'll be back by the end of Crisis, I betcha.

[PatrickG]

What book did you read? I have it right here in fron of me:

Barry: Wally's waiting for you, Bart.
Max: Don't be afraid.
Bart: I'm not, Max.
Bart: Let's go (and he gives the final push that sends SP into the Speed Force and disappears with them all.

3 pages earlier.

Linda: Where are you running to? That dimension that gives you your powers? The Speed Force? Is that --?

Wally: No... Not the Speed Force... I think... Someplace else.

Bart is pushing Superboy-Prime to wherever Wally ended up which is apparently not the Speed Force.

[Sharcque]

3 pages earlier.

Linda: Where are you running to? That dimension that gives you your powers? The Speed Force? Is that --?

Wally: No... Not the Speed Force... I think... Someplace else.

Bart is pushing Superboy-Prime to wherever Wally ended up which is apparently not the Speed Force.
My point was that Bart did disappear with the rest of them. Whether they went in to the Speed Force or not was not the point of my post.

[dancj]

Read IC4

I will when the TPB comes out

[Shellhead]

My prediction is that Kid flash will be in the speed force soo long that it accelerates his aging. When he comes out he will be twentysomething all the powers of the speed force will leave the other speedsters and enter bart. Making him the most powerfull speedster yet.

^dont take me seriouly

Will we call him Man Flash?

[SpaceBooger]

Will we call him Man Flash?
there is something slightly disturbing about saying "man flash"

[handOFfate]

I don't want Bart to become the Flash (yet), but i'd like to see him taken in another direction. I think he's been getting the shaft in Teen Titans. He doesn't get the attention that Robin and Superboy do, which is a shame became he used to be part of the big three in Young Justice. But he's lost a lot of what made him interesting (his absolute lack of focus coupled with formidable powers) since he became Kid Flash. Maybe Mark Waid should start writing him again.

[Violently Apathetic]

there is something slightly disturbing about saying "man flash"

Mmm....Man flesh...no, wait...

[mohammedali]

I don't want Bart to become the Flash (yet), but i'd like to see him taken in another direction. I think he's been getting the shaft in Teen Titans. He doesn't get the attention that Robin and Superboy do, which is a shame became he used to be part of the big three in Young Justice. But he's lost a lot of what made him interesting (his absolute lack of focus coupled with formidable powers) since he became Kid Flash. Maybe Mark Waid should start writing him again.
Well, I don't think you need to worry about Bart being Flash. Let's just say Flash will remain West and not Allen.

Mohammed Ali

[Mainline]

No matter who they pick it'll be pretty unsatisfactory. The Golden Age had Jay, however his run was relatively brief and before the time/idea of a unified universe. The Silver Age had Barry who's sidekick, Wally, appeared some 5-issues into the run and been by his side until Crisis. This made the transition from Barry to Wally the most natural of its kind- having watched Wally literally grow up before our eyes- and a testament to legacy. This transition was meaningful in the Silver Age where continuity and a shared universe were important, as it still is today. Moving on to our Post-IC world, unfortunately whomever they pick will not have that pedigree.

Bart is the best candidate having come into the picture about 10 years ago... the major difference is that he spent a large portion of that time uninterested in the Flash Legacy and, for all intents and purposes, never served as a sidekick to Wally. This means that, while Bart fans may be familiar with him, people reading core Flash are only vaguely acquainted with the kid speedster who didn't want to be a Flash (up until very recently). Worse yet, advancing him to the role of Flash (not just chronologically in age, but in responsibility) makes not just one, but two gaps in his maturation as a person, which likely turns him into a person even unfamiliar to Bart fans... he'd be Bart-in-name-only.

The Twins, not only completely lack any meaningful characterization (much less value for us to care when they off/retire the "first one we see") and come from even further left field than Bart, with almost nothing invested into them as babies, much less as teens/adults.

Any of the other wacky suggestions, the same story.

IMO, the correct decision would be to accept that we really aren't entering a new age, no matter how much DC wants to force/contrive it... but if they want it to happen, for Wally to begin to seriously groom a succesor, the unspoken promise of being a sidekick. The fact is that the sidekick dynamic has been lost and their revamp should have been a restoration of that relationship... THEN for their move into the next age, audiences would have been prepared to accept the succesor designed to take on the role.

[DrthTater]

DrthTater hopes Walter West comes back



Speaking of Walter West, what's his place in all of this? Is Hypertime even around anymore?