Absolute Flash #10 – Jeff Lemire, Writer; Nick Robles, Artist; Adriano Lucas, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: This book probably has the most straightforward of any of the Absolute line titles, but that doesn’t make it any less compelling. Part of the reason is because it’s firmly grounded in the story of Wally West, a teenager who got the powers from the same accident that killed his mentor Barry Allen. We’ve followed him as he escaped the base he called home and his strict father, as well as when he befriended the strange psychic monkey Grodd. We’ve seen him race for his life from the Rogues – as well as forge an unlikely alliance with them as they make their way back to the base. But Elenore Thawne has taken control of the base, arrested Rudy West, and is trying to reactivate Barry’s secret research to complete the work her grandfather began – accessing a strange realm that Barry may have been absorbed into. The larger mythology of this book is finally starting to take shape.
I’ve really appreciated the way Lemire has done truly unique things with the way Wally’s powers manifest. It takes on an element of cosmic horror as he seems to be shifting back and forth in time – an interesting new wrinkle for a kid who barely understands what he can do yet, with no mentor to guide him. And as he gets back to the base, with Rogue traitor Trickster hot on his heels, his powers only seem to act up more. Thawne, meanwhile, is finally on the verge of her goal – and there’s a great twist as to what comes out of the portal when she successfully manages to open it. It looks like we’re going to be taking a shift for the next arc in terms of setting and in terms of tone, as Wally’s going to finally get a big level-up into a cosmic stage. I think the first ten issues played a huge role in setting that up – by the time the scope gets big, we’re already fully invested in this kid.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
