The Best DC Hero Family Isn’t Batman’s (It’s The Flash’s)

DC Comics’ Batman Family is as popular as it is extensive. People and fans have fallen in love with the various members of the Batman extended cast, with characters like Nightwing, Robin, Batgirl, and Catwoman spinning out to their own comic titles. Yet the family has suffered from being too overexposed. We’ve seen these characters too many times at this point; they’re no longer as special as they once were. The Batfamily is still great and we love them still, but we also believe other DC families deserve some of that limelight.

While the Flash Family is just as extensive as the Batfamily, there’s something more fun about Flash and his supporting cast. The Flash Family lacks the angst and darkness that drives the majority of Batman stories. Even though many find having too many speedsters lessens the impact of the power, the Flash Family overcomes that by being so likable. You want to read more about the Flash Family, not because of their superpowers, but because you like the characters. They are endearing in a way that not even the Batfamily can replicate.

The Flash Family Has Less Angst

The biggest detriment of the Batfamily is also its strongest superpower, secretly. The Batfamily is highly dysfunctional and comes from all walks of life. This dysfunctionality creates great drama at times, yet also leads to repetitive storylines and unnecessary angst. There are only so many comics where the family has a falling out with Bruce before the emotional weight loses meaning. The Flash family doesn’t have that problem. They are typically more welcoming and open with each other. Most of the drama from the Flash Family stems from each member’s eccentricities.

Each major Flash Family member plays off the other in unique ways. Jay Garrick is the stalwart veteran of the group, offering wisdom when the others need it and acting as the voice of reason. Bart’s over-energetic reactions put him at odds with the more thoughtful members of the family. Wally’s initial immature personality made him a hero with a lot to prove, especially once he became the Flash and had a family. Barry’s naturally altruistic personality grounds the family to always do the right thing, influencing everyone around him.

Rarely, the Flash family would have a falling out, with the most notorious split happening during Flash War. The Barry and Wally conflict in Flash War bled into the DC Event series Death Metal, with Wally suffering through his most angst-filled storyline during that period. The drama and conflict never sat well with fans, with the two lead Flashes quickly making up in Infinite Frontier. Since then, Wally has established his own family of superheroes, with his wife Linda temporarily gaining powers, while his twin children exhibit their own superspeed abilities. Children superheroes can be hit-or-miss, but Wally’s kids, Irey and Jai, have added a new dimension to the character. Wally retains much of his goofy personality that made him a standout teen and young adult hero, yet it is now juxtaposed with his being a father. Wally proves that a hero can evolve and grow without losing what made them appealing in the first place.

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The Flash Family Is More Fun

Superspeed is an inherently absurd superpower that works best in more light-hearted stories. Comic writers come up with more inventive stories for the Flash, creating a series that is overall more fun than other superhero comics. Although we love a well-crafted dark comic book starring the Batfamily, it’s much more uplifting to read about the Flash Family. Some of the best Flash stories feature the family coming together to overcome a major conflict. The recent One-Minute War story arc in the Flash comics emphasizes what works best about the group, with each member pulling through to contribute and overcoming great odds to save the Earth.

The Flash Family’s biggest hindrance is the same thing that plagues the Bat and Super Family; it’s too big. With so many speedsters in the same family, it’s hard for anyone to stand out when they all have the same powers. Superspeed is also a very overpowering ability, making the Flash Family’s excessive speedsters difficult to write around. This is why DC keeps Flash a solo hero for most of his run, as too many speedsters would dilute the Flash’s role. Nonetheless, the Flash Family is often overshadowed by Batman’s Family, which isn’t fair. Batman comics tell a specific type of narrative, whereas the Flash Family fills in a different niche. With so many Batman and Gotham-related comics on the stand, the Flash Family offers a nice break from the traditional grim and darkness of Batman. We need more comics focused on the Flash Family.

Agree with us that the Flash Family is better than the Batman Family? Comment below to share which DC Family of superheroes you like the most.