Wally West
Outside of Iris West, Kid Flash was the first person to whom Flash revealed the secret of his double-identity (The Flash #120 (May 1961)). In that story, the two speedsters are inadvertently thrown 25 million years into the past, where they battle a race of golden humanoids. It is only the first of many time-trips for the pair, who teamed up next to try out Flash's Cosmic Treadmill.[2]
Shortly after meeting Flash's friend Elongated Man,[3] Kid Flash receives his own unique costume.[4] The Flash, who had been toying with a new design for Wally, is inspecting an alien mind over-matter machine when, in a burst of light, the new costume springs from his mind and onto the body of his protégé.[5] Since the new outfit exposes Wally's red hair, Flash provides his costume-storage ring with a special instant-dye spray with which he could easily change his hair color to brown.[6]
Wally first meets Robin and Aqualad in The Brave and the Bold #54 (June–July 1964), in an adventure that would predicate the formation of the Teen Titans shortly thereafter. Kid Flash remains a member in good standing of that team, though his participation limits his involvement in solo adventures considerably. At 18, Wally revealed his alter-ego to his parents Bob and Mary for the first time, chooses his university (Taggart), and confides to the Flash his intentions to retire from heroics upon graduation to live a normal life.
Prior to his retirement, Wally leaves the Teen Titans for personal reasons, including a desire to devote more time to studying, to his new girlfriend Frances Kane, and because, as a result of his changing metabolism, he was beginning to lose his powers.[7] He comes out of retirement to fight in Crisis on Infinite Earths, and is deeply impacted after Barry Allen sacrifices himself to save the multiverse.[8] A blast from the Anti-Monitor reduces Wally's top speed to that of sound, but cures his metabolism. This, combined with the desire to honor his mentor and friend, causes Wally to discard his Kid Flash identity and adopt the name and costume of Flash. Wally becomes faster than Barry and acquires unique abilities such as sharing and stealing speed and accessing the Speed Force itself, allowing time travel. When Barry is resurrected, Wally takes on his own version of the Flash costume, fighting alongside Barry and Barry's grandson Bart Allen.
Bart Allen
Bart Allen is Barry Allen's grandson from the future, known as the hero Impulse. He was brought to the present day to cure his metabolism, which caused him to age rapidly. After Max Mercury disappears into the timestream, Bart takes up residence in Keystone City with Jay Garrick, the original Flash, and Jay's wife Joan.
A mysterious android from the future known as Indigo attacks the Titans and Young Justice, resulting in the deaths of Donna Troy and Omen. At Donna's funeral, Nightwing disbands the Titans. The members of Young Justice, especially Wonder Girl, feel responsible for Donna and Omen's deaths.[9] This leads Wonder Girl, Robin, Impulse and Superboy to form a new group of Teen Titans under the guidance of the more experienced Cyborg, Starfire, and Beast Boy.[10] Despite Wally West's misgivings, Bart accepts an invitation to join the new Teen Titans.[11]
