Jai West

Jai West is the son of the third Flash, Wally West, and is likely named after the original Flash, Jay Garrick. He has inherited a connection to the speed force, currently manifesting as super-strength.

Out-of-this-World Childhood

Jai nearly wasn’t born. While his mother was pregnant, she was savagely attacked by Zoom II, causing a miscarriage (Flash v.2 #197–200: Blitz, 2003). A later battle between Flash and Zoom ranged across time, and the future Zoom took the brunt of the original attack. A “fissure in time” restored the twins to life, and they were born during the battle (Flash v.2 #224–225: Rogue War, 2005).

The twins were still infants when the family was whisked away to an alien world for a year (Infinite Crisis #4, 2005 & Flash v.2 #231, 2007). Their inherited link to the speed force accelerated their growth and triggered unstable powers. Physically, Jai is roughly 8 years old, two years “younger” than his twin sister.

The Wests managed to stabilize their children’s powers, but could not predict any future growth spurts. Jai could mature to adulthood overnight...or die of old age.

Down to Earth

The Wests were brought home during a JLA/JSA/LSH case (Justice League of America #10 & All-Flash #1, 2007). Because of their unpredictable lifespan, Jai’s father has been training him and his sister in how to properly use their powers, and how to follow in the family tradition of heroism...for as long as they can.

After some weeks or months back on Earth, Iris matured to adulthood and began aging, bringing urgency to the search for a cure to the twins’ condition. Their father finally recognized it as the death-aspect of the speed force, and was able to channel it away from them and into himself, where he believed he could control it. The condition appears to be cured (Flash v.2 #240–243: Fast Money, 2008).

Powers

At present, Jai’s powers are manifesting as the ability to accelerate muscle growth, giving himself temproary super-strength. After using this power, he has to sleep and eat in order to recover. At one point his DNA reactivated characteristics from humanity’s distant evolutionary ancestors. He and his sister can both sync their auras with their father’s when he moves fast enough, effectively flying to his side. This power is involuntary on their part, but can be triggered by Wally.

• Art Credits
• Profiles in Print
• Series Regular In...
• Legacy-Era Appearances
• One Year Later Appearances
• Further Notes

Art

• Sitting: Flash (second series) #235 (February 2008) - Freddie Williams II
• In Costume: All-Flash #1 (September 2007) - Daniel Acuña

Profiles

• Flash Secret Files and Origins 2010 under “Speed Force” (May 2010)

Series Regular In...

• The Flash v.2 #231–247 (2007–2008)

Significant Legacy-Era Appearances

• Flash #225 (October 2005): “Rogue War, Conclusion,” Geoff Johns
• Flash #227–230 (December 2005–March 2006): “Finish Line,” Joey Cavalieri
• Infinite Crisis #4 (March 2006): “Homecoming,” Geoff Johns

Significant One-Year-Later Appearances

• Justice League of America #10 (August 2007): “The Lightning Saga: Final Chapter: The Villain is the Hero in His Own Story,” Brad Melzter
• All-Flash #1 (September 2007): “Justice, Like Lightning,” Mark Waid
• DC Infinite Halloween Special (December 2007): “The Speed of Life,” Mark Waid
• The Brave and the Bold (third series) #8 (January 2008): “Wally’s Choice,” Mark Waid & George Pérez
• Final Crisis: Rogues’ Revenge (3-issue miniseries, September-November 2008), Geoff Johns

Notes

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