Warning: SPOILERS for The Flash #786!The Flash can use his super-speed powers in a variety of different innovative ways, but his kids can use their superpowers in a way that Wally West can’t. In fact, they can cause destruction in a way that no other members of the Flash Family can accomplish. And given how large that cast of characters has grown, that is rather impressive.
While the Bat-Family is often heralded as the largest and greatest supporting cast of characters focused around a major DC hero, Flash’s family and supporting cast have been growing to rival it in recent years. There have been many speedster heroes throughout the history of the DC Universe, many taking on the mantle of Flash, but also others like Jesse Quick and Max Mercury. In the most recent run of The Flash, Wally West’s entire family have all developed powers connected to the Speed Force. While his daughter Irey and his wife Linda have more standard super-speed powers, his son Jai can use the Speed Force to increase his strength and durability. This power, combined with his sister’s speed, lets Jai perform feats that no other Flash can do, as shown during the events of the ongoing Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths.
In The Flash #786, written by Jeremy Adams with art by Amancay Nahuelpan, the Flash family gathers to help various groups of heroes to fight Deathstroke’s dark army across the world as part of a tie-in to DC’s latest crossover event, Dark Crisis on Infinite Earths. Since Jai doesn’t have super speed, his sister has to transport him on piggyback from battle to battle. This often causes him to be painfully thrown off when she stops unexpectedly, but that gives him an idea. Using Irey’s momentum to propel himself forward when she stops, Jai uses his powers to turn himself into a human cannonball and smash into the enemy forces. When he first uses this technique, the impact is so powerful it leaves a large crater that impresses even Power Girl, who is no stranger to great feats of strength.
Wally West's Son Can Turn Himself Into a Devastating Human Cannonball
What makes this power even better is that it’s an ability using the speed force that not even the Flash can pull off. Wally has the deepest Speed Force connection of any speedster, which has enabled him to accomplish some incredibly impressive feats, but he has never been able to use the Speed Force to give himself superhuman strength. This sets up the next generation of Speed Force users to accomplish something that their predecessors can not. On a more personal note, it must be extremely exciting for Jai who was once bereft of powers to now have the most unique abilities of the Flash Family.
Part of what enabled Jai and Irey to discover this unique ability is their childlike creativity and the joy they get out of exploring their powers. Wally has always been the Flash who has had the most fun with his powers, and it is great that this extends to his children as well. This makes it very exciting to see what other new applications the Flash’s kids will discover for Jai’s unique powers going forward.
The Flash #786 is now available from DC Comics!