Teenager Wally West moved all over the country with his military father before arriving at a secret research lab headed by scientist Barry Allen. Two days later, Wally wakes up in the desert, chased by a team of costumed individuals hoping to capture him. The day before that, Wally’s life will change forever due to a freak accident that puts him on a new path. Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles reintroduce a Scarlet Speeder with no one else but him running alone in Absolute Flash #1.
With a character such as the Flash based on the notion of legacy, removing that aspect from the mythology in the Absolute universe makes Wally stand out. Having him be a teenager also adds to it. Instead of starting as Kid Flash, Wally’s existing as the only Flash of this universe provides a fascinating angle since he no longer has a mentor figure to guide him and needs to figure it out on his own. I appreciate Lemire and Robles reinforcing Wally’s brash, youthful energy as he struggles to find his place as a person and future hero. He might have the super speed, but he must decide what type of hero he wants to be on the fly.
Lemire and Robles structure the issue in a non-linear timeline to help the reader understand Wally adjusting to his powers. Wally’s consciousness is no longer constrained to a linear viewing of time but instead vibrates between the past and the present due to some mysterious force. On a more technical level, it gives us a glimpse of Wally’s life before the accident and gives enough sprinkles of what to expect in the series’ future. Robles’s art, Adriano Lucas’s colors, and Tom Napolitano’s lettering reinforce the non-stop aspect of Absolute Flash #1 as we race alongside Wally.
The central emotional conflict of Absolute Flash #1 deals with the relationships of Wally, his father Rudy, and Barry. Like the central universe, Barry takes a shine to Wally and wants to take him under his wing, while Rudy would rather have his son do what he says. Wally wants a mentor who understands him and will listen to him like all teenagers do. He resents his father due to moving a lot for his job. Lemire also injects the strained father-son relationship with much-needed humanity to where it does not come across as cartoonish but human. But all this comes crashing down following the explosion, leaving Wally on the run as the Rogues chase him. No matter how hard he tries, Wally cannot escape his relationships with his dad and Barry.
Robles, Lucas, and Napolitano make an artistic meal in Absolute Flash #1. Every visual element feels bold, bright, and energetic, perfect for a speedster book. I love Robles’s attention to wardrobe and styling for Wally by diving into his youthful, rebellious sensibilities. It also contrasts the more Conservative nature of the younger Wally from the central universe. Wally looks and feels like a modern teenager. On a similar note, the redesigns for the Rogues strike a similar balance of differences but hold enough familiarity with their core designs. Robles, Lucas, and Napolitano also nail the chaotic and anxious emotions of Wally and his relation to his powers. Cackling like a lightning bolt, they kick off the series with illustrative precision.
Releasing in the second wave of the Absolute titles, Lemire and Robles truly hit the ground running in Absolute Flash #1. With excellent character writing and phenomenal visuals, Absolute Flash #1 is an exciting, fast-paced introduction to the Absolute Scarlet Speedster.
Story: Jeff Lemire : Art: Nick Robles
Color: Adriano Lucas Letterer: Tom Napolitano
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 9.5 Recommendation: Read
DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
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