Marvel’s Tom Brevoort Says The Best Thing Barry Allen Ever Did Was Die

Marvel’s own Tom Brevoort just lobbed a seriously spicy hot take at a classic DC Comics hero: according to him, the most impactful thing Barry Allen ever did as The Flash was die. And, honestly? He’s got a case.

The spark isn’t from a random tweet or convention jab. Brevoort laid it all out in his April 2025 Substack newsletter when asked a pretty loaded fan question: are there any legacy characters from Marvel or DC he prefers to their predecessors? That’s when Barry Allen, the once and future Flash, got the kind of blunt assessment only a true comics lifer could deliver.

“Barry Was My Guy…But He Wasn’t That Complex”: Tom Brevoort’s Dissection of The Flash

Brevoort’s answer started on a diplomatic note, giving respect where it’s due. Growing up, Barry Allen was his Flash. But then comes a twist, he admits the character just didn’t have all that much going on beneath the cowl. In Brevoort’s words, “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.”

No shade for shade’s sake here. Brevoort’s not trashing Barry. He’s putting the Flash’s legacy into sharp focus. Barry’s sacrifice during “Crisis on Infinite Earths” didn’t just mark the end of an era, it elevated him to legendary, almost mythic status in the DC Universe. Heroes get reboots and costume changes, but not every hero gets to become the very symbol of heroism that their entire universe rallies around.

That’s not to say fans stopped loving Barry because he checked out. His death set off a ripple effect DC’s been chasing ever since: a new era for the Flash mantle, and a much deeper emotional story than Barry’s Silver Age exploits ever managed.

Wally West: The Flash Who Brought Real Depth

With Barry gone, Wally West, his former sidekick, ran into the spotlight. Brevoort didn’t dodge the obvious: “I think that Wally West as the Flash was a huge step forward from Barry Allen.” It’s all about growth. Wally wasn’t just a fill-in or nostalgia play. He became a way for DC to take the Flash concept somewhere new.

Brevoort breaks it down: Wally suddenly had to live up to the legend of a mentor who’d died saving the universe. That kind of weight created opportunities for real, complex character work. Wally was relatable, flawed, and constantly tested. His relationships, legacy, and insecurities gave writers more “character grist”, fertile ground for the kind of stories that made the ‘90s and early 2000s Flash comics a fan favorite.

But then, as DC often does, things cycled back. Barry eventually returned. And now, Brevoort argues, the difference between the two speedsters has started to blur.

“Today, [Wally’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.” The weight of legacy, it turns out, can eventually flatten out even the boldest of sidekicks.

This take cuts deep for longtime fans. There’s something sad about watching what once made Wally so compelling get sanded down to simple family dynamics and hero duty. It’s not about preferring Barry by default, more like lamenting what’s been lost now that both characters have converged into similar roles.

One thing’s certain: Brevoort’s argument isn’t just a Marvel guy roasting the competition. It’s a bold, refreshingly honest look at how superhero legacies can become both a blessing and a curse. When a hero’s “death” becomes the gold standard for self-sacrifice, the stories that follow always risk becoming echoes of that peak moment instead of finding new heights.

So, yes, according to a veteran Marvel editor, the greatest thing Barry Allen ever did was die. Maybe that’s controversial. Maybe it’s just the kind of hard truth only someone who’s loved these heroes since childhood could say out loud.