Summary
In 2007,Spider-Manmade a deal with Mephisto inOne More Dayby J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada, a controversial moment that undid his marriage to Mary Jane Watson. In 1997, a decade earlier, theFlashmade his own deal with the devil at the cost of his relationship. Not only did Flash tackle this infamous Spider-Man storyline first, but he also did it better.
InThe Flash#129 by Mark Waid, Brian Augustyn, Paul Ryan, John Nyberg, Tom McCraw, and Gaspar Saladino, Wally West faces the ultimate dilemma as all of his rogues are resurrected to wreak havoc in Keystone City. To stop them, the Flash travels to hell tomake a deal with Neron, a demon who seeks souls as bargains from mortals. Instead of accepting his soul, though,Neron requests something he considers even more valuable:Wally’s love for Linda Park.
Spider-Man’s encounter with the devil led to his marriage being permanently erased, but ten years before,Flash overcame the same conflict without giving up his relationshipfor good.
The Best Punch in Flash Family History Has Been Thrown, And I’m Convinced It Won’t Ever Be Beaten
Violence is rarely my favorite part of superhero comics, but I’ll admit it: I cheered when this Flash Family member threw the best punch. Ever.
Except Flash’s Deal Didn’t End in Tragedy
After the Flash sells his love for Linda to Neron, he resigns himself to an empty life without her. This choice is the bleak noteSpider-Man’s version of this storylineends on, but the Flash’s version has a twist. It’s soon revealed that Linda went behind Wally’s back and made the same deal that he did with Neron. They’ve both given Neron their love for each other, andthat love is so immense and all-consuming that it ends up being too much for the demon. In an effort to free himself from it, Neron appears before them and begs the Flash to take it back.
A decade before Spider-Man sacrificed his marriage to save Aunt May, the Flash sacrificed his relationship to save his home.
This shocking turn of events sets the Flash’s story apart from Spider-Man’s.Wally’s feelings for Linda have overwhelmed Neron, which gives the Fastest Man Alive the upper hand to strike a new deal for Neron to leave Keystone City in peace. Unable to bear the weight of it any longer, Neron returns Wally and Linda’s love to them, and they’re able to be together again. A decade before Spider-Man sacrificed his marriage to save Aunt May, the Flash sacrificed his relationship to save his home — but only theFlash managed to defy the oddsand reunite with the woman he loves.
Spider-Man Can’t Relate
The Flash’s confrontation with the devil went far better than Spider-Man’s, which still has repercussions to this day.Peter Parker and Mary Jane have split upfor the foreseeable future, whileWally and Linda’s relationship is stronger than ever. They’re currently married with three kids, and though their marriage has its ups and downs, they always find their way back to each other. Their love can overpower anything, as proven by their showdown with Neron. UnlikeSpider-Man, theFlash’s marriage has what it takes to stand the test of time, and not even the devil can take it from him.
The Flash#129is available now from DC Comics.
The Flash
The Flash is the superhero name given to the DC Comics character who utilizes unparalleled speed tied to a dimensional power known as the “speed force” to overwhelm their opposition. Premiering in 1939, the original Flash arrived as Jay Garrick. Still, it would be superseded by Barry Allen in popularity and featured status, but the Flash is one character that has met many of their alternate selves. The character is typically seen as a part of the Justice League in nearly all incarnations.
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is the name given to several individuals who have employed a spider-moniker throughout Marvel Comics. Typically gaining their powers through a bite from a radioactive spider, the different Spider-Man heroes employ super-strength, agility, and intellect while utilizing webbing to swing and tangle up their foes. The most notable of these Spider-Men is Peter Parker, who remains one of the most popular superheroes throughout the world.
