Warning: Spoilers for The Flash #13The Flash is about to become twice the hero he is now - literally. DC's iconic speedster has a variety of mind-bending abilities at his disposal, from intangibility to time travel, but an unexpected transformation will soon elevate Wally West's powers to a whole new level. The Fastest Man Alive turns into the Fastest Men Alive as the Flash gets a lore-changing upgrade that redefines his powers - and his place in the DC Universe - forever.

In The Flash #13 by Simon Spurrier, Ramón Pérez, Matt Herms, Pete Pantazis, and Hassan Otsmane-Elhaou, Wally West with help from the Flash Family and then restores them to their plane of existence. As the dust settles from his cosmic excursion, Wally shares that he had a vision during the Deep Change's "childbirth," where he saw two different Flashes who call themselves Wally West.

The Flash's vision of the future reveals that he will split himself into two heroes, a surprising twist that no one could have seen coming. Little is known about what this means for Wally and the rest of the Flash family, yet one thing is certain: his powers are about to get more complicated than ever before.

A Second Flash Is Coming to DC's Continuity (Not the Way You Think)

The Flash Family Will See Double After Absolute Power

Readers have already gotten a preview of the Flash's eye-catching new costume, but Wally's vision teases that it's not an ordinary redesign. Alongside its debut comes the Flash's shocking transformation into two Flashes, a critical shift in Flash lore and the structure of the Flash Family. It's true that the DC Universe is no stranger to having multiple Flashes; Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Avery Ho, and Wally West all currently use the Flash mantle within DC's main continuity. However, these Flashes from Wally's vision referring to each other as "Wally West" indicates that there's something deeper going on with the Scarlet Speedster.

This update to the Flash's powers coincides with the Lois Lane becoming Superwoman, await in the aftermath of this blockbuster event. DC's heroes are facing a massive upheaval to their status quo, and the Flash is no exception as his future promises an intriguing addition to his abilities.

The Flash's Cosmic Powers Unleash His Full Potential

The Speed Force Could Be the Key to Understanding His Evolution

The Flash's new power isn't the first upgrade he's received in recent memory. In the story "Between Love and You" from The Flash #800 by Spurrier and Mike Deodato Jr., a collision with an atomic mirror unlocks the Flash's ability to phase between layers of reality. Wally can step out of a dimensional plane by using his super-speed to "accelerate sideways," and in The Flash #2 by Spurrier and Deodato Jr., he discovers that he can also step back in at will. With this remarkable skill at his disposal, Flash ascends beyond the average speedster, proving he has untapped potential that deserves to be explored.

The Flash's mitosis is the latest step in his cosmic evolution, and it's his most astonishing development yet.

The Flash's mitosis is the latest step in his cosmic evolution, and it's his most astonishing development yet. There's a high likelihood that this transformation stems from the Flash's encounter with the Deep Change, the godlike being that emanates the Speed Force. The Deep Change gives Wally his speed through its connection to him, and since Wally's vision occurred while the Deep Change gave birth, it may have granted Flash the ability to split into a separate entity during its own delivery of a new life. In any case, this second Flash couldn't arrive at a better time for Wally.

The Flash Just Found the Perfect Solution to His Biggest Problem

Wally West Can Now Be in Two Places at Once

Wally West has long struggled to balance all of his responsibilities, a problem that retreats to the Gallery to avoid burdening his loved ones with his failure. Even the Fastest Man Alive can't be everything for everyone, which Wally learns the hard way. Luckily, the Flash's new form might be able to help him overcome this tragic obstacle.

Despite the Flash being faster than the speed of light, his world often moves too fast for him. As such, he's in desperate need of a way to keep up. Wally already feels like he's split in two, so physically splitting in two could be the perfect solution. Dividing himself into different heroes will make it possible for Wally to run in every direction without getting overwhelmed. The Flash can finally be in two places at once, and he'll have plenty of use for that power now that there's about to be even more on his plate.

The Flash's New Transformation Will Change Everything

Two Flashes Bring Twice as Many Challenges for Wally West

The synopsis for The Flash #15 by Spurrier and Vasco Georgiev, unveiled in DC Comics' November solicitations, hints at the reasoning behind Wally West's duplication. The Flash is ing the Justice League, so he'll need to juggle his responsibilities with the team and his responsibilities with his family. The ability to fulfill both roles at the same time would therefore come in handy here. Dynamic cover art by Mike Del Mundo shows the two Flashes racing back and forth from Wally's family vacation to his Justice League duties, suggesting that each Flash will carry out his own purpose to allow Wally to do it all.

Follow the Flash's adventures with the Justice League in Justice League Unlimited #1 by Mark Waid and Dan Mora, available November 27th, 2024 from DC Comics!

Of course, the Flash's transformation isn't all sunshine and rainbows. Wally mentions that the Flashes from his vision don't seem to get along with one another, hinting at friction between his two selves. Furthermore, based on the above synopsis, Wally plans to keep this change a secret from his family. Hiding things from them is what led him astray before, so hopefully he'll reconsider and come clean about it sooner rather than later. Regardless of what conflicts arise, the Flash - and the entire DC Universe - will never be the same once Wally West undergoes his mysterious new evolution.

The Flash #13 is available now from DC Comics.