Flash’s New Duplicate Power Explained

Though DC’s Flash is well known for exactly one superpower, super speed, the Scarlet Speedster’s real power set is so much more diverse than that. Time travel, phasing through objects, and traveling between dimensions are all powers that DC has given the fastest man alive. While those are all impressive on their own, DC has actually expanded Flash’s powers even further.

Thanks to one recent comic, Flash can actually separate into two heroes now, unveiling a shocking ability that rewrites his powers forever. After a lore-changing interaction with the source of Flash’s Speed Force, Wally West is stronger than he’s ever been before, and his new duplication ability hints at his god-tier potential as he controls the multiverse itself.

The Flash #15 – written by Simon Spurrier, with art by Vasco Georgiev – showcases Wally West’s unexpected transformation. When the Flash’s daughter Irey sneaks away from their family vacation to visit the Justice League Watchtower, she discovers that Wally is already there – while simultaneously still being on their trip. The Flash, it appears, is in both places at the same time.

The Flash reveals that he has divided into two versions of himself who are both equally him, and the explanation he gives about how he accomplished this feat proves that it is undoubtedly his most impressive power in DC lore. More than just a simple new ability, Flash’s new duplication powers might be the character’s biggest power-up in decades.

The Flash Splits Into Two Versions of Himself, In A Massive Power-Up That Changes His Role In DC Lore

The Flash #15 – Written By Simon Spurrier; Art By Vasco Georgiev, Matt Herms, & Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou

Simply put, the Flash is able to split into separate entities by manipulating time. The central idea of multiverse theory is that every choice one makes creates a branch in the timeline that spawns a parallel universe. Now, with the multiverse officially closed off to DC’s heroes, that temporal energy formed from choices is left with nowhere to go. By harnessing the Speed Force, Wally has channeled the energy of those branches in time to create a second self who can make his own choices. The Flashes are essentially two different possibilities of the same person, co-existing in a single timeline.

The Flash’s duplication is successful thanks to a suit designed by Inspector Pilgrim, the future version of his son. His new costume is a conduit that stabilizes his parallel selves and lets them operate in two places at once, with one Flash spending time with his family and the other assisting the reformed Justice League. Wally’s inability to be fully present in any aspect of his life recently led him down a dark path, so he’s now found a way to juggle his responsibilities with ease.

The Flash Can Manipulate Time Due To His Bond With The Deep Change

The Speed Force’s Source Fuels Wally West’s Temporal Abilities

Wally’s newfound control of temporal energy is the byproduct of his strengthened connection with the Deep Change, the living being that emanates the Speed Force. In The Flash #13, he comes face-to-face with the Deep Change and learns that the Speed Force he and his fellow Speedsters draw their power from is made of time. If the Deep Change dies, time stops flowing, as Wally discovers when the Arc Angles try to coerce him into killing the Deep Change. This otherworldly creature nourishes the Flash with its gift of time, and in return, the Flash nourishes it with his love.

When the Flash encounters the Deep Change, it’s on the brink of death as a result of the Arc Angles’ plot. Wally learns that it’s trying to create some kind of new life, so he and his family channel their love to help it give birth. Whatever the Deep Change produced through this process imbues Wally with unprecedented control over time as his understanding of his speed grows. The Flash now has access to an infinite well of energy through his bond with the Deep Change, though he acknowledges to Irey that this power has some terrifying implications.

The Flash’s Duplication Power Could Have Destructive Consequences

Wally West Risks Tearing Time Apart With His Latest Power Feat

The Flash’s uncertainties about his cosmic power-up aren’t unfounded, as it isn’t without downsides. During the duplication, Inspector Pilgrim informs Wally that if the two Flashes fail to merge back together properly, they could cause “a temporal implosion” capable of unraveling the space-time continuum. After all, the Flash is basically playing god by creating an alternate self that’s fueled by the energy of an entire parallel world, thus interfering with time’s natural course of cause and effect. The fabric of reality could fall apart with one misstep, making the Flash a danger to his world and countless others.

This drawback may seem implausible, as both Flashes should have no trouble combining again if they’re aware of the stakes, but there’s one hiccup: one of the Flashes doesn’t have any memory of the duplication. The family version of Wally West has no recollection of the process and believes he’s the one and only Flash. As such, there’s a chance he won’t be too keen on giving up his life and re-merging with another Flash. The Flash and Inspector Pilgrim are taking a huge risk with their strategy – and that’s without mentioning the most troubling factor of all.

The Flash’s Shocking Power Source Makes His Upgrade Wildly Unpredictable

The Deep Change’s Newborn Throws Wally’s Duplication Plan Into Chaos

This profound change for the Flash is an exciting new premise through which DC Comics writers can quite literally explore different sides of the Flash, in what amounts to a unique storytelling opportunity, one that once more positions Flash as one of the most pivotal and most entertaining heroes in the publisher’s oeuvre. The Flash has perhaps the most dynamic power set of any major Justice League member, and the continued reinventions of his abilities remain an essential part of what makes the character compelling, as The Flash #15 emphasizes.

The Flash duplicate who’s vacationing with his family faces difficulties with his super-speed, and Irey uncovers the reasoning behind these fluctuations. Foxy, their pet dog, turns out to be what Inspector Pilgrim describes as “a source of unprecedented power.” When Wally runs too far from Foxy, he can no longer access his speed. Clues from past issues suggest that the Flash family’s new dog is the Deep Change’s newborn, which would explain how his presence affects Wally’s powers. Whether Foxy’s influence is positive or negative remains to be seen, but regardless, he’s an unpredictable variable in an already messy situation.

Wally West has been DC’s main Flash for quite some time now. After 2021’s Infinite Frontier relaunch, Wally stepped in to helm the main Flash book as opposed to Barry Allen. Wally taking on that role has led a whole host of DC writers to expand what the latest Flash is capable of.

Flash’s Power Set Makes Him One Of DC’s Strongest Heroes

Wally West’s latest power upgrade in mainstream continuity is his self-named “Flashes of Insight.” Writer Ryan North introduced this new ability in his current run of The Flash. These Flashes of Insight give Wally glimpses of the future, allowing him to arrive at the scene of an event before it happens. Thus far, these visions have occurred randomly, with Wally having no control over when they come or go.

However, in The Flash #33, Wally begins to believe this is a new power that, like a muscle, can be trained. He now believes he can eventually learn to control it and use it at will. Fans can expect future issues to focus on Wally learning to master these Flashes of Insight, with the official synopsis for issue #34 even teasing, “Mr. Terrific is helping Wally understand the new superpower he’s been experiencing and has come up with a way to test it.”

With this new ability, The Flash is on the verge of becoming more powerful than ever before, as he will be able to respond to events before they even happen. The real question then is if all that might be too much for the fastest man alive.

Torn between his role in the Justice League and his duties as a husband and father, Wally has a lot on his plate. Given this, it’s understandable why Wally would want to utilize powers like the temporal split or precognition to their fullest. Wally can generate over 7,000 of these temporal split clones. It has since been revealed that the clones can also cause problems, as two clones with mismatched Speed Force frequencies can trigger massive explosions when they collide. As tempting as the power to split himself up is, it’s clear that Wally unleashing that many copies of himself on the DC Universe would have massive consequences.

Wally’s division into separate heroes clearly isn’t the right way to balance his responsibilities. Not only is he posing a threat to the multiverse with his dangerous manipulation of time, but he’ll also end up breaking his family’s hearts when they learn he isn’t fully with them. The Flash must prioritize what really matters; he runs the risk of destroying everything he holds dear.

The Flash #15 is available now from DC Comics.

Alias

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

Created By

Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert, Carmine Infantino

Franchise

D.C.

Race

Human

First Appearance

Flash Comics

Alliance

Justice Society of America, Justice League, Teen Titans

The Flash is the superhero name given to the DC Comics character who utilizes unparalleled speed tied to a dimensional power known as the “speed force” to overwhelm their opposition. Premiering in 1939, the original Flash arrived as Jay Garrick. Still, it would be superseded by Barry Allen in popularity and featured status, but the Flash is one character that has met many of their alternate selves. The character is typically seen as a part of the Justice League in nearly all incarnations.