It’s hard to evaluate Absolute Flash #1, which hit stores today from DC Comics, on its own. While the book by Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles tells its own, contained story, it’s coming in the wake of the best-selling, critically acclaimed trio of Absolute Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman that launched the new Absolute Universe. It’s also the first of a second trio of books that will double the size of the line. So given all that, how does Absolute Flash hold up to the rest? To liberally pun away, we’re off and running, folks.
In the new series, and spoilers past this point, we’re focusing on a Wally West completely alone and unused to his powers. While many familiar characters are dropped throughout the book, most notably The Rogues as well as a few other surprises, Lemire keeps that focus squarely on Wally throughout. And true to form, the writer takes an innovative structural approach, as Wally’s powers seem to not just be giving him speed, but also unsticking him in time. Through that, Lemire is able to provide a flashback structure to line up how our hero got where he is, while Wally in the “present” is literally on the run. It also helps bring the reader into how disoriented Wally is with his situation, a teen with powers and a fair amount of trauma very much in over his head.
Robles is also up to the challenge here, providing match cuts (to use a little film terminology) going from one panel to the next as Wally jumps through his own timeline. He also draws some killer superhero art, more traditionally focused than the more exaggerated looks Nick Dragotta provides on Absolute Batman or Hayden Sherman on Absolute Wonder Woman.
The book also leans into the whole ethos of the Absolute Universe, which is these are heroes who are in way over their heads. While at least initially Absolute Flash doesn’t seem to have the same pressing focus on fighting billionaires, like Batman, or corporations, like Superman, or even escaping Hell like in Wonder Woman, there’s still plenty to like here… Particularly because you’ve got a classic mix of The Fugitive meets Escape from Witch Mountain (to use a few dusty references).
It’s not quite the shot across the bow that we got from the initial three books, but it’s still a fun book with some kinetic art and an enigmatic start. While we’ve still got two more books to go in the line expansion, this careful addition should continue the blockbuster roll-out of the Absolute Universe, and will definitely please fans of The Flash — and maybe even gain some new ones.
Absolute Flash #1 Rating:
Absolute Flash #1 Official Synopsis:
JEFF LEMIRE AND NICK ROBLES SPEED INTO THE ABSOLUTE UNIVERSE! Without the mentor… without the family… without the Speed Force, what’s left is the Absolute Scarlet Speedster!
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