Absolute Flash #2 – Jeff Lemire, Writer; Nick Robles, Artist; Adriano Lucas, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: The first issue of Absolute Flash was probably the most intimate debut we’ve gotten from this line. It was a brilliant character piece, putting us inside the mind of a young Wally West, who had just gotten his powers, couldn’t control them, was estranged from his father, was being hunted by the Rogues – and didn’t have a mentor. Because Barry Allen was killed in the same lab accident that gave Wally his abilities. But it didn’t seem to have the same big, crazy ideas behind it that the other books did – yet. This issue quickly dispels with that illusion, as it actually seems like the Absolute line’s youngest hero might be the one who might be closest to solving its mysteries. A flashback shows how things went horribly wrong at the lab, with Wally being transformed in a shocking way by the energy, and Rudy reacting in the worst way possible – and becoming an unwitting instigator of doom.
And in the present day, the Rogues continue to pursue Wally, with a combination of government efficiency and criminal sadism. It’s interesting to get a little glimpse of their team dynamic here, as well as who isn’t here. But along the way, as Wally struggles to control his powers, he taps into something far bigger than him, seeing glimpses of the future – including two vastly different visuals of what his own future could be. Rudy doesn’t appear too much in person in this issue, but we’re getting a picture from Wally’s past of a man who wanted to be a good father, but lost a key part of himself when his wife died. Now he’s determined to save his son, but is doing it in a way that could lose him for good. It’s extremely intimate and emotionally fraught as a story – which makes it all the more of a bizarre, funny jump scare when we get the cliffhanger. Once again, this line just can’t miss so far.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes.
