Sorry, But It's True: The Flash's New Power Is Making Him a Way Worse Hero

Warning: Spoilers for The Flash #17The Flash's new duplication power is a good idea in theory, but in practice, it's been extremely harmful. After splitting into two Flashes, Wally West has attempted to keep his cloning a secret from his family, and that secret currently threatens to tear them apart. Once a trusted hero, the Flash is now causing major problems for himself, his loved ones, and the DC Universe as a whole - and his latest upgrade is to blame.

In The Flash #17 by Simon Spurrier, Vasco Georgiev, Matt Herms, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, the Flash is using his duplication to juggle his family time with his Justice League duties. When the version of Wally West vacationing in Skartaris with his family transports his wife to safety, Linda Park-West finds herself face-to-face with another Wally moments later.

The Flash's family now knows the truth about his duplication and is none too pleased about it. Wally West's plan to separate into two heroes has officially backfired, and though he's justified it before, it's become clear that this Flash power-up is more trouble than it's worth.

The Flash Betrays His Family’s Trust With His Latest Upgrade

Wally West's Duplication Ability Is Tearing His Family Apart

While one Flash has been enjoying quality time with his family in the mystical realm of Skartaris, the other - the original who performed the duplication, to be precise - has been operating alongside the Justice League. Upon discovering that she's been with a fake version of her husband all along, Linda immediately starts berating Wally for hiding this upgrade from her. The two erupt into a full-blown argument as Wally tries to defend himself, and even after the heat dies down, Linda expresses disappointment in him. The Flash's marriage could be on the verge of collapse thanks to his misguided superpower.

In addition to the interpersonal conflicts brewing as a result of Wally's deception, he also must wrestle with more tangible consequences of his actions. Skartaris' Flash has learned that Eclipso is harvesting happiness from the Earth by replacing their bliss with anger, which afflicts the Justice League's Flash with Red Lantern-like anger. Fueled by rage, that original Flash is now turning against his clone by blaming him for the sudden disappearance of his son. To make matters worse, the Skartaris clone is unaware that he isn't the one and only Flash, complicating an already difficult situation.

The Flash’s Inability to Be Everywhere At Once Is His Greatest Weakness

Even The Fastest Man Alive Has Trouble Balancing His Two Lives

If the Flash had just traveled to Skartaris with his family rather than dividing himself between them and the Justice League, every problem he's facing would not have been exacerbated to this alarming extent. Unfortunately, Wally West's biggest struggle as a character is accepting that he can't spin every plate at once. Throughout Spurrier's run, Wally has failed to balance his superhero and civilian lives, culminating in a breakdown at the end of The Flash 2024 Annual. Believing he can never be enough for the people he loves, Wally hides away in the Gallery to avoid letting them down further.

Thankfully, Wally's exile from his family doesn't last forever, because Linda reaches out to him via her spirit form and helps him realize that he doesn't need to pull himself in every direction to make her and their kids happy. The Flash's love for Linda grounds him as she assuages his insecurities. Moving forward, her only request from him is that he communicates his feelings with her instead of bottling them up until they overwhelm him. Wally concedes to her terms at first, but judging by the predicament he's caught up in, he has slipped back into his past self-destructive habits.

The Flash’s Duplication Proves He’s Learned the Wrong Lesson From Failure

Instead of Slowing Down, Wally West Pushes Himself Harder

At the start of the Flash's family vacation, he confesses to his family that he has brought them there as part of a Justice League mission. Linda isn't upset about his dishonesty, but she does warn him to not keep any more secrets from her and their kids. As it turns out, the Flash has been doing exactly that under her nose the entire time. Despite everything he's endured and the reassurance he's gotten from his wife, Wally is still spreading himself thin for others' benefit, repeating the behavior that drove him to a breaking point in the first place.

In The Flash #15, when Wally's daughter finds out about her father's duplication, he explains his choice by saying, "This is exactly why I split myself in two. This game - concentration's key, sweetie. Get distracted, things escalate." Wally believes that if he steps back to spend time with his family, people could get hurt, and he would be at fault. What he doesn't understand is that he can't be everything for everyone, and that it's normal - healthy, even - to put his needs first and relax. As it stands, the Flash's refusal to give up either of his two worlds is putting the DC Universe at risk.

The Flash Clones Will Cause More Problems If They Don’t Reunite

The Flash #20 Variant Cover Art by Vasco Georgiev

As mentioned before, the Flash's division is a damaging course of action in more ways than one. By enabling his worst impulses, Wally has decided that he's better off being everywhere at once, which will inevitably culminate in the formation of more duplicates. Vasco Georgiev's artwork for The Flash #20 hints at an entire army of Flash clones that appear to be attacking each other as Eclipso's rage infects them all. Wally is letting his frustration with his shortcomings get the better of him as he abuses his duplication ability and creates hundreds of rampaging Flashes.

It can't be denied that the Flash's new power can come in handy on occasion. The main problem here, though, is that his attempt at being present with his family is actually driving a wedge between them. In his mind, sending a copy off to his loved ones while he works with the Justice League will satisfy them, but Linda's dismay proves this isn't the case. All they want is to be with the real Wally West, plain and simple. The Flash needs to limit his duplication and finally see the bigger picture, or else he might push his family away for good.

The Flash #17 is available now from DC Comics!

The Flash

Created By

Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert, Carmine Infantino

First Appearance

Flash Comics

Alias

Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West, Bart Allen, Avery Ho

Alliance

Justice Society of America, Justice League, Teen Titans

Race

Human

Franchise

D.C.

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