Although Wally West started as Barry Allen's Flash sidekick, he actually helped his mentor out before he got powers. Fans know that Wally received his powers in an accident similar to Barry’s, but early during Mark Waid’s seminal run on The Flash, he retold the story of Barry and Wally’s first meeting, and revealed that Wally helped Flash on a case before the accident. It showed that Wally had heroic tendencies early on and hinted at the hero he would become.
Wally West, Barry Allen’s nephew, first appeared in 1959’s Flash #110. While visiting his uncle’s laboratory, history repeated itself: the same accident that gave Barry his speed powers befell Wally, giving him similar powers. Wally adopted the Kid Flash persona and became one of DC’s quintessential teen sidekicks. As Kid Flash, he was one of the founding members of the Teen Titans. After Barry Allen was killed in Crisis on Infinite Earths, Wally took up the mantle of the Flash and was given his own series. In 1992, Mark Waid took over writing The Flash and embarked on a historic run with the character. Under Waid, Wally finally came out from underneath Barry’s shadow, becoming a great hero in his own right.
Early in his run, Waid revisited Wally’s first year as the Flash in Flash #62 in the “Born to Run” storyline (written by Waid and illustrated by Greg LaRocque). In this issue, Wally is visiting his aunt Iris in Central City. Wally is looking forward to seeing her, as it gives him a shot at meeting his hero: the Flash! As Iris gives Wally a tour of the city, promising to take him to the Flash Museum, they spot the Flash running into action, on his way to foil a bank robbery. Iris leaves Wally so that she can cover the story for the newspaper. Wally watches the Flash dispose of two of the bank robbers, but when a third manages to catch him off guard, the Flash goes down. Wally understands that if the Flash does not get up, the robbers will get away. Thinking fast, he unscrews the top off of a fire hydrant and sprays the robber. It knocks the crook off balance and buys the Flash just enough time to put the robbers away once and for all. Afterwards, the Flash thanks Wally for his assistance. The star struck Wally tells the Flash he’s his hero, and the Flash replies, "Not today, pal! Today you’re my hero!" When Wally catches up with Iris, he can barely contain his excitement. Shortly after, Wally meets the Flash at Barry’s lab, still unaware of his uncle’s secret identity, and is soon subjected to the same chemicals that gave his uncle speed powers.
Wally West Was Always A Hero
Mark Waid’s tenure on The Flash redefined Wally West as a hero. Waid showed that Wally had heroic tendencies even before gaining powers. He helped the Flash take down a gang of dangerous criminals, effectively functioning as his sidekick on this adventure. The Flash thanked Wally for his help, not knowing that in a few hours Wally would gain powers himself. The exchange between the two after the criminals were hauled off predicted the tight personal and professional relationship Wally and Barry would share; it also presaged the contributions Wally would make as the Kid Flash.
As the Kid Flash, Wally West was one of the greatest sidekicks in comic book history, one that would eclipse his mentor. Yet fans got a sneak peek at the hero Wally West would become when he served as the Flash’s sidekick—before getting his powers.