Warning: Spoilers for Jenny Sparks #3!
He is one of the strongest members Justice League not a fan of his former teammate. The Leaguer in question – or former member – is Captain Atom. Captain Atom is confirmed to be stronger than Superman and immune to his powers. The Warden's turn saw him reveal his true feelings about the world and its heroes, including a certain speedster named Wally West.
In Jenny Sparks #3 by Tom King, Jeff Spokes and Clayton Cowles, Captain Atom reveals that he has no respect for The Flash and why. He is particularly surprised by the fact that Wally West is not only the third generation of heroes to share the same mantle, but also the third generation of speedsters.
Captain Atom's rejection of Wally for being the third Flash speaks to a larger, almost meta issue: legacy heroes get little respect from critics, either in-universe or in real life.
Captain Atom has no respect for Flash, his former Justice League teammate
Or the legacy of other heroes
The series centers on Jenny Sparks, leader of The Authority, as she teams up with her former flame, Superman, and the Justice League to defeat a mutual threat: Captain Atom. Suddenly, he becomes aware of god-level prowess that eclipses even Superman, inspiring him to change the world's view of Atom. On the way, Atom finds himself holding hostages inside a bar. Sparks and Superman hatch a plan to end Cap's feud with the Justice League. The rescue mission requires the presence of The Flash, specifically the Wally West iteration of the character.
His job is to use his super speed to chase down the bar with one hostage after another, and when the coast is clear, the League will finish off the Atom. Things don't go as planned, and the next thing they know, Wally is thrown into the ocean. When Hostage questions him, Atom is quick to point out that he threw the Flash, not the Flash. “and not even one of the first two.” Atom even asks what the word is “super” in a superhero, it can refer to someone of the caliber of Wally West's Flash.
The Problem with Legacy Heroes
Wally West becomes the third person to call himself The Flash after Jay Garrick and Barry Allen, making him a traditional legacy hero. Although the concept of a legacy hero has been distorted recently, it is a character who takes on an identity and namesake based on a previously established superhero. Some fans are divided on the idea of a legacy hero, with most preferring the original, and most not considering the new hero to be the same as the original. A meta-evaluation of Captain Atom suggests that this sentiment holds true for characters in the actual canon as well..
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It seems that both in real life and in the panels, the legacy hero is often not held in the same regard or respect as the original wearer of the mantle. Of course, there are exceptions to the rule, and there are some DC heroes who improve on the original. Wally West has carved a successful path for himself. That being said, the fact that his stories center around him while he is still worthy of carrying the mantle of The Flash shows that he is still overshadowed by the heroes who came before him. something that legacy heroes often struggle with.
Is this Justice League member a Convict?
Is there hope for Legacy Heroes?
While Captain Atom's take on The Flash isn't very convincing of how the rest of the world thinks about legacy acts, it's not the end of the world for the idea of legacy acts. Still, there are exceptions for legacy heroes who are as respected in canon and in real life as their predecessors, sometimes more so. More people associate Hal Jordan with being a Green Lantern than Alan Scott, and sticking with The Flash, most people think of Barry Allen before Jay Garrick. At Marvel, the heroes prefer Miles Morales as Spider-Man over Peter.
When it comes to Wally West in particular, Wally continues to gain respect from all over the universe as he continues his return to fame. He has plenty of opportunity to change the minds of critics, and most importantly, characters like Captain Atom, who may think less of Wally for wearing the mask that once belonged to another man. No matter what Justice League member turned villain, think about him, Wally West is still one of the best iterations of The Flash to enter the DC Universe and has earned his rightful place in DC Comics history.
Jenny Sparks #3 is on sale now from DC Comics