COMICS: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen Address Wally West's Race Change

COMICS: Robert Venditti and Van Jensen Address Wally West's Race Change

The recent race change of fan favourite character Wally West hasn't been well received by a lot of fans. What did writers Robert Venditti and Van Jensen have to say on the subject? Click here to find out.

By SonGoku - Apr 25, 2014 10:04 PM EST
Filed Under: DC Comics
Source: IGN



Many fans rejoiced when they heard that fan favourite character Wally West would be returning to the DC Universe. But what most fans didn't expect upon reading The Flash #30 earlier this week was that instead of being a white red head, the character would now be bi-racial (Half white, Half African-American).

In a phone interview with IGN, writers Robert Vendetti and Van Jensen were asked about this controversial race swap. 

"When the New 52 started, the entire universe was reset. Fans get upset because, understandably, fans have an emotional connection to these characters, but this is also a new Barry Allen, a new Iris West -- every character in this universe is a new character. Those old versions, they're still alive, they're still there, the books that they're in still exist. I still have those books on my shelf, so I can go revisit and re-read those books. But if we're introducing new characters and completely new versions of characters, it would be strange to not introduce some radical changes. Ultimately, what we hope is that people will respond to this version of Wally West the same way that people responded to the Wally West of the previous DC Universe, which is investing in a character and following his journey and really becoming more interested in what he's all about, what drives him," Jensen said.

Vendetti added that they "wouldn't have much interest in reintroducing the same characters with the same origins all over again," saying that "the challenge of something like the New 52 and introducing new characters is to try to tell new stories and get people engaged on an equal level with those new stories." The idea of changing Wally's race came from DC Comics, who asked Vendetti and Jensen to make this a part of the story.

"DC said they wanted us to re-introduce Wally West and they wanted him to be bi-racial, and I thought that was great," Venditti said. "I'm all for diversity and those kinds of things. It was a story that didn't derail us with what we wanted to do. Adding Wally into the series really expanded what we thought the series was going to be and has led us to take some really cool, very character-focused turns that really gave us a look not just at Wally but also Barry. Some of the most fun I've had so far is those scenes where Wally and Barry are playing off each other."

So, what do think about Wally now being bi-racial? Do you belive these are solid reasons for the change? Leave your thoughts down below.

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LEEE777
LEEE777 - 4/25/2014, 10:40 PM
We kinda know why, its all about the bigger picture, TV and movies, I think DC (WB) don't give two hoots about the characters on the printed page no more. My 2 cents :p

I still think WALLY coming from the pre Flashpoint Universe, a man, a stranger to this NEW 52 Universe with only memories from the old would have been so awesome - Maybe even turning into a supervillian (in the eyes of the heroes of 52) trying to right the wrongs, ie Barry messing with the Universe in the first place and changing it all.

Instead we get this because Iris is African American on the TV show, well woots lol.

Damn shame and lost chance...



If DC wants more African American Superheroes, where the [frick] are all the Milestone ones?!?

ICON, HARDWARE etc etc, I loved those guys!

BoomTubeB
BoomTubeB - 4/26/2014, 4:56 PM
YEAH why not use Milestone characters! Create new African American Superheroes or put some old one in the frontlines! So many under use African American characters that are badasses!!
LEEE777
LEEE777 - 4/27/2014, 7:40 AM

BoomTube @ Exactly man, exactly, love the pic u found!
Klone
Klone - 4/27/2014, 7:45 AM
Making Wally black all of a sudden isn't exactly clever or creative.
TheGDBatman1
TheGDBatman1 - 4/27/2014, 9:12 AM
@boomtube you should get hired at dc maybe you could fix what they broke
tonybanzai
tonybanzai - 4/27/2014, 10:30 AM
Comic Book fans are not just reading words on a page, like someone that reads a novel. Comic Book fans actually see their heroes, villains and their supporting characters. We know that Namor has pointed ears and looks very similar to Spock and that Sue Storm is blonde. We are not only familiar with what our heroes look like, we are also familiar with what they look like what they are not being heroes. As we read comics we are creating bonds, likes and dislikes with characters that we see. I am all for diversity in the world of comic books and superheroes. What I don't understand is why companies whose bread and butter is creativity, cannot just create new diverse characters instead of destroying old characters with a rich history that we all know and love.
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 4/27/2014, 11:58 AM
Okay I'm half white, half black and that's not how mixed people look. My hair is brown and my skin is very very light skinned. They are honestly misrepresenting a race and changing the look of a well beloved character for the [frick] of it. I get that your trying to diversify but com the [frick] on. I mean really?
SuperiorMrGod
SuperiorMrGod - 4/27/2014, 12:03 PM
And I consider myself Bi-racial not black this whole thing is pissing me off beyond belief. One it's completely intolerant,misrepresentative,and ignorant and two WHY?? Why change a beloved characters look just to diversify. Heres an idea - capitalize on your black characters! I mean whatever happened to Static Shock? Cyborg? Black Lightning?
LivLuv
LivLuv - 4/27/2014, 1:41 PM
Totally agree with you on that @superiorMrGod. Biracial people have Red hair too!!! He could've easily been a "ginger". That character design looks lazy and obviously made with no clear understanding of what "biracial" looks like. ...
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