First Debut: Current Flash – The Flash #110 (1959)
Historical Flash – Flash Comics #1 (1940)

The Origin of The Flash

Wally West idolized The Flash, then Barry Allen. During a visit to his cousins Barry’s crime lab where Barry got his speed force powers, lightning struck again, exploding the chemicals and dousing Wally in the same electrified way that Barry had. Wally became Kid Flash, and was Barry’s sidekick through many adventures.
During The Crisis of Infinite Earths, a comic series used to clean up DC comics confusing history, Barry sacrificed his life saving the Earth from villain Anti-Monitor. Later, Wally West took up the mantle of his mentor, and The Flash was reborn.