Each Friday, we'll be letting a different DC.com writer share what they'll be reading over the weekend and why you might want to check it out. Here's this week's suggestion for a perfect Weekend Escape!
 

Growing up is never easy, even if you have super speed. The Flash: Born to Run is more than an origin story, it’s a heartwarming coming of age tale about family, love, loss and childhood wonder. The storyline is a retelling of how Wally West became Kid Flash, and how the lessons he learned from those early years shaped him as an adult. It also happens to be the beginning of Mark Waid’s long run (no pun intended) on The Flash.

Born to Run was originally published in 1992’s The Flash #62-65 and is now available in a trade collection that contains a few other stories chronicling Wally’s time as Kid Flash.
 

THE PREMISE:

Born to Run was published when Wally West was still finding his footing as the Flash. His mentor Barry Allen had died during Crisis on Infinite Earths and Wally was trying to honor his legacy. A chance meeting with his grandfather causes Wally to reminisce about his Aunt Iris and the effect she had on his childhood.

The majority of the story is a flashback set during the summer after Wally’s 10^th birthday. The young boy is a huge Flash fan, and he’s thrilled when his Aunt Iris invites him to spend the summer with her in Central City, hometown to the Scarlet Speedster. Wally’s dreams come true when he gets a chance to meet the Flash, but things take an unexpected turn when a stray lightning bolt douses the youth with chemicals, giving him super speed.

The Flash takes Wally under his wing and begins training him to be his sidekick. But being Kid Flash is more than fun and games, and Wally soon realizes that there are some things he can’t run from.
 

LET’S TALK TALENT:

Born to Run is written by Mark Waid, one of the most prolific and consequential writers in the DC Universe. Waid is known for his work on DC classics like Kingdom Come, 52, Batman/Superman: World’s Finest and the recent New History of the DC Universe (which Donovan Morgan Grant chose as a Weekend Escape not all that long ago). Born to Run is the beginning of Waid’s historic Flash run, and as you read it, it’s easy to see how the writer became a superstar. Waid takes the story from 1959’s The Flash #110 and fleshes it out into a moving tale about growing up and family trauma.

Born to Run is penciled by Greg LaRocque, who is known for his work on Legion of Super-Heroes, Fighting American and numerous issues of The Flash. LaRocque’s artwork perfectly captures Wally’s childhood wonder. The world of Central City seen in LaRocque’s flashbacks is bright and colorful, much like the Silver Age comics that inspired the storyline. This is a fun bit of visual storytelling, as the artwork allows readers to see the world through young Wally’s eyes during a time when he was excited about life and still had his childlike optimism. LaRocque is also a master of pacing, using his visuals to build the tension during the storm sequence in the final chapter.
 

A FEW REASONS TO READ:

• The Flash: Born to Run is a great way for new readers to get in on the ground floor with the Flash. It’s an engaging retelling of Wally West’s origin that sets the stage for future stories. That’s why the original issues had the subtitle “Year One” on their covers. You can almost think of it like Flash 101 or the first season for a TV series.
   
• Is Wally West your favorite Flash? If so, then Born to Run is essential reading. It’s the gold standard for Wally’s origin and a fun snapshot of who the character was in 1992.

• As I mentioned earlier, this storyline kicks off Mark Waid’s Flash run, which is easily one of the most consequential runs on the character. Born to Run gives us a few hints at some of Waid’s concepts that would be introduced down the road, like the Speed Force.
   
• Above all else, Born to Run is an emotional coming of age story. I won’t lie, I teared up a few times when I reread this, especially during the final chapter. Waid and LaRocque make you feel invested in the characters and their struggles, and there’s a chance that Wally West’s confrontation with his father will shake you to your core.
   

WHY IT’S WORTH YOUR TIME:

You don’t need to know anything about the Flash or his comic book history before reading Born to Run. Whether you’re a longtime DC reader or a new fan looking to take their first steps, Born to Run is a great book to get you started.

I have the data to back this up, because I actually tested out this claim. Years ago, my friend’s 10-year-old son was hooked on The Flash TV series, so we read Born to Run together as a bedtime story and he was instantly hooked (it helped that he was the same age as Wally was in the flashbacks). From there he began exploring other DC titles like Young Justice, Superman and Teen Titans. Today he’s a DC fan for life, and it’s all thanks to The Flash: Born to Run. If you have a child in your life, try reading it to them. It’s a great way to get them hooked on the DC Universe, and the perfect choice for your next Weekend Escape.

The Flash: Born to Run by Mark Waid, Greg LaRocque, Tom Peyer, Jim Aparo, Pop Mhan and Humberto Ramos is available in bookstores, comic shops, libraries and digital retailers as a softcover graphic novel. It can also be read in full on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.

Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, movies and comics for DC.com, is a regular contributor to the Couch Club and writes our monthly Batman column, "Gotham Gazette." Follow him on Bluesky at @joshualapinbertone and on X at @TBUJosh.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and do not necessarily reflect those of DC or Warner Bros. Discovery, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.