okay i got so inspired by @starsapphire’s brilliant post-flashpoint comic rec list that i decided to make my own but for the flashfam!! there might be a little overlap but that just means that comic is even better 😜 so without further ado here’s what you should read if you want to get into the flashfam:
new teen titans (1980) but only for wally content. donna & kory & pretty much everyone else are really mischaracterized :/ so read at your own risk for that…however it’s known really widely as a super feminist run and for good reason!!! even though most characterizations are for some reason pretty off, it treats all its female characters and characters of color with respect, and if nothing else is a must-read for wally!!!
the flash (1987) but ONLY baron’s & johns’ runs 🤩🤩🤩 the runs that introduced linda and hartley!! built wally up as a character in his own right and showed him maturing!!! johns’ run especially is so meaningful and awesome…especially the hartley betrayal reveal and linda going into pre-med and joan’s character growth (she was centered so much more in this run)!!! and gosh i haven’t even started on bart or iris or jesse or jay or even wally yet :)
teen titans (2003) was also incredible for bart!!! one of his best series i’d say, and probably The best team one!! johns really gets the flashfam sooo much okay.
the flash: the fastest man alive is one of the other most important flash runs!!! bart & his relationships - with his mom, with iris, with the teen titans, with the rest of the flashfam - are written so so well. truly a run that’s impossible to skip for him. it also treats bart, as a character, really well in general, and has an amazing blend of seriousness and humor. i really enjoyed the running gag of bart being the token straight of the teen titans, made even funnier by it being true, and i loved his girlfriend, valerie!!
the flash: rebirth (2009) by geoff johns. THIS IS THE RUN THAT RETCONNED BARRY’S BACKSTORY TO BE COOLER NEED I SAY MORE. his mom dying really added so much depth to barry’s story, and i loveee how much he has in common with batman now 🤩😍🤩 also his relationship with the flashfam and the world changing after his death is so poignant!! this is also the run that canonized trans jay garrick sooo
which leads us to FLASHPOINT. this ongoing really firmed up barry’s sweet friendship with batman!!! and who doesn’t love a timeline change for the better? :) he really went i can save my mom and fix the world too and he was right :)
the flash (2011) is the next rec because it made the flashfam feel so fresh again!! restarting with a clean slate truly was the best option :) and barry’s messy love life is always good for a laugh haha. who will he choose, patty spivot (😉) or iris west? and actually shoutout to annual #3 for introducing a new, updated version of wally west, now called “ace”, that fits so much better with our changing world!!! love how barry gently guides him into the light they get along sooo well. that issue also handled how racist sooo many adults were to ace in a really good way!!!
HEROES IN CRISIS (2018) BY TOM KING MY GOD. theee wally west (OG) story ever!!! i always recommend this run for his beautifully depicted relationship with jesse, and the prominent anti ai message!! wally’s struggles with his self worth, his humanity, and his morality are delicious to read and his final solution-slash-reveal is so fun :))) i definitely recommend this run to anyone looking for fun well-written time travel stories as well :))) the follow up, flash forward (2019) by scott lobdell, is just as good too :)))
teen titans (2016) is also brilliant when it comes to handling race, gender, and intersectionality!! very important writing for “ace”/the second wally west, and honestly even if it wasn’t i’d recommend it anyway!! it’s so crazy how good every teen titans comic is for the flashfam haha
finally, Jay Garrick: The Flash (2023) by jeremy adams!!! this run introduced the coolest new character in the form of judy garrick, and gave jay&joan the biodaughter they always deserved!!! i would rate this as a little mid compared to the other recs, but it’s still okay!! and judy’s potential was grabbed onto with both hands and used so well; i’m so glad i got to see the young justice society develop as well as her various fluffy flashfam relationships!!!
anyway that’s my full total flashfam rec list :)) i’ve definitely read all these comics don’t worry at all. i might make a wonderfam comic rec list too, lmk if you’re interested!! grant morrison’s wonder woman: earth one and tom king’s trinity: daughter of wonder woman would absolutely be on it by the way ;)))
THIS IS AN APRIL FOOLS POST ‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️
disclaimer almost everything i said above is the opposite of what i mean
also i haven’t read all these comics not even close & tbh i do not really want to :] or even want to reread :] imo these comics are. on a scale from bad to very bad*. read what you want of course but yk Be Warned.
*the exceptions here are ntt (from what i’ve heard) & jay garrick: the flash? i have read the latter and it’s kind of a cute story but also biokid judy & jeremy adams as the writer ugh. the former i’ve just heard not to read if you’re reading for good wally content, although it’s pretty good for, like, everyone else.
anyway if you do want to get into flashfam comics for real read impulse (1995) The Comic Ever & messner-loebs’ and waid’s flash (1987) runs and the flash (2016) (okay but had Some good content)(issue #66 <3333) & i’ve also heard good things abt the speed force (2023) mini so!!! enjoy!!! please read any of the above april fools list with Caution!!!!
snowghoul
titsay
baratheonpilled
dailybridgerton
gummygunk
yousharknotpass
prguitarman
