Shots have officially been fired by a Marvel legend, and the target is none other than one of the Justice League’s founding heroes. According to this longtime Marvel editor, the greatest thing this DC icon ever did for their legacy was die. Harsh words, but surprisingly, he might actually have a point.
Thanks to Reddit, an April 2025 newsletter posted by Marvel editor Tom Brevoort on his Substack has started circulating again, and it’s easy to see why. The newsletter mostly features Brevoort responding to fan questions, but one exchange in particular has fans buzzing.
When asked, “Do you have any legacy characters from the Big Two that you prefer to the original?” Brevoort’s response wasn’t as straightforward as one might initially assume and also included him delivering a somewhat harsh, yet valid, roast of Barry Allen in the process.
Tom Brevoot on Barry Allen: “The Best Thing He Did for His Own Legacy Was to Die”
Why Barry Allen’s Death May Have Been the Best Thing for His Legacy
In response to the question, Brevoort said, “I don’t think that it’s really true any more, given developments over the past two decades for both characters, Jordan, but I think that Wally West as the Flash was a huge step forward from Barry Allen.” He then elaborated on Barry, offering a mix of praise and pointed critique.
Brevoort continued, “Barry was my guy growing up, but there’s no getting around the fact that he wasn’t all that psychologically complex. He was a creation of a different era, and the best thing he did for his own legacy was to die, becoming in the process the patron saint of DC superheroes.”
Considering the full context, it’s clear Brevoort isn’t insulting the hero, but instead offering a deeply insightful take on Barry’s legacy. While many fans still adore him as the Flash, there’s no denying that Barry’s death marked the start of one of the greatest eras of the Flash mantle, making Brevoort’s hot take both provocative and legitimately valid.
Marvel Editor Explains Why Wally West Was a Huge Step Forward From Barry Allen
How Wally’s Complexity Elevated the Flash and Why Today He’s Lost His Edge
After weighing in on Barry, Brevoort shifted focus back to Wally, praising him for being a more emotionally and psychologically complex character. He explained that Wally’s depth helped elevate the Flash mantle, giving the hero far more “character grist” than his mentor, and ultimately showing why Wally’s run as the Fastest Man Alive left such a lasting impact.
However, Brevoort concluded that Wally in today’s comics has “become an almost carbon copy of Barry,” with the only real differences being a wife and a family of super-fast children. This perceived loss of complexity has led him to no longer prefer Wally over Barry as The Flash.
But Wally, a sidekick character who now had to step into the shadow of his former mentor, one who had become that patron saint, provided a lot more character grist, more for him to grapple with and have to live up to. Today, he’s become an almost carbon copy of Barry, though, with a wife and an extended family of super-fast kids. So he can’t quite be that any longer.
- Created By
-
Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert, Carmine Infantino
- First Appearance
-
Flash Comics
