I'm sorry this took so long, I had to think about how I wanted to word this.
Contrary to what Geoff Johns wants everyone to believe, I don't believe Barry actually dislikes Bart or goes out of his way to avoid the kid. It's already been stated several times that Flashes are all about family, biological and otherwise. I do think that Barry doesn't quite know where he's supposed to fit in into Bart's life.
With Wally it was easy. Wally didn't really have anyone in his life since his family life sucked. He needed people - family, role models, friends. Iris covered the family side of things, Barry covered the more role model side of things, and the friends came later. Worked out great until Barry died but that's a whole other story.
Bart though.....he's already had so many people in his life when Barry finally shows up after being dead for so long. Max and Wally (and family) and Jay and Joan and Iris and Tim and Kon and all the other Teen Titans. He's got family, friends, some pretty awesome role models (see Bart's excellent first conversation opener of "But where's Max?"). There's not really any empty hole that needs to be filled like there was with Wally.
Barry wants to get to know Bart, both on the turtle and off. He really does. But there's this disconnect he doesn't know how to bridge, partly because he's not familiar with how society has changed while he's been gone, partly because he doesn't really get the younger generation nowadays so he can't connect there, and partly because everyone's been making such a fuss about what a great guy he is and elevating him to a level he's very uncomfortable with. Mostly it's just a thing of him not knowing where he fits in, since that Bart already has Max and Jay covers the granddad role.
To a degree he regrets missing out on so much of Bart's life. He's definitely proud. (Iris has nothing but good things to say about Bart, I refuse to believe otherwise.) Really, he just needs a push in the right direction. Also maybe some common ground that isn't "you're a speedster, I'm a speedster, let's go." Hot dogs and pizza is a good start though.
I wrote most of this in between work breaks so if it doesn't make sense that's why. Actually, rereading it now, it doesn't make any sense but I'm too lazy to rewrite.
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Contrary to what Geoff Johns wants everyone to believe, I don't believe Barry actually dislikes Bart or goes out of his way to avoid the kid. It's already been stated several times that Flashes are all about family, biological and otherwise. I do think that Barry doesn't quite know where he's supposed to fit in into Bart's life.
With Wally it was easy. Wally didn't really have anyone in his life since his family life sucked. He needed people - family, role models, friends. Iris covered the family side of things, Barry covered the more role model side of things, and the friends came later. Worked out great until Barry died but that's a whole other story.
Bart though.....he's already had so many people in his life when Barry finally shows up after being dead for so long. Max and Wally (and family) and Jay and Joan and Iris and Tim and Kon and all the other Teen Titans. He's got family, friends, some pretty awesome role models (see Bart's excellent first conversation opener of "But where's Max?"). There's not really any empty hole that needs to be filled like there was with Wally.
Barry wants to get to know Bart, both on the turtle and off. He really does. But there's this disconnect he doesn't know how to bridge, partly because he's not familiar with how society has changed while he's been gone, partly because he doesn't really get the younger generation nowadays so he can't connect there, and partly because everyone's been making such a fuss about what a great guy he is and elevating him to a level he's very uncomfortable with. Mostly it's just a thing of him not knowing where he fits in, since that Bart already has Max and Jay covers the granddad role.
To a degree he regrets missing out on so much of Bart's life. He's definitely proud. (Iris has nothing but good things to say about Bart, I refuse to believe otherwise.) Really, he just needs a push in the right direction. Also maybe some common ground that isn't "you're a speedster, I'm a speedster, let's go." Hot dogs and pizza is a good start though.
I wrote most of this in between work breaks so if it doesn't make sense that's why. Actually, rereading it now, it doesn't make any sense but I'm too lazy to rewrite.