Absolute Flash #11 – Jeff Lemire, Writer; Nick Robles, Artist; Adriano Lucas, Colorist
Ray – 10/10
Ray: For the first ten issues of this series, it kept the focus tightly on Wally West and his journey to try to master his new powers. Barry Allen, his mentor in most versions, was long gone – killed in the explosion that gave Wally his powers. But a few issues ago, we got a glimpse into the Speed Force for the first time – and discovered that Wally wasn’t the first one to access it. And now we know the truth – Barry is dead, but he’s not gone. The Speed Force is a completely different thing in this world, a much more menacing one, and now it’s been opened – and Eobard Thawne is free. Transformed by the cosmic energy within, Eleanor Thawne’s long-lost grandfather has escaped and is tearing through the labs – forming uneasy alliances as Rudy West battles to get free and finds the Rogues doing the same. The Rogues have been one of the big highlights of this series.
However, the other half of this story is where Lemire and Robles really shine. Wally finds himself in a strange, red-tinged landscape where Barry and countless other beings exist as Speed Force spirits. They’re all scientists, all made their way into the force – and all died trying to make it in. Now they coexist there, communicating as best they can between a hundred alien languages, and try to make sense of the strange land they find themselves in. I think in retrospect, it was a smart move to immerse us in Wally’s story before things got so big and crazy. We’re invested in this kid now, and this issue is really the payoff to the quest he’s been on since the first issue. This is the kind of story that the Absolute Universe excels in – taking familiar characters and taking away their safety net. You see what they’re really made of when everything is on the table, and no one is safe.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
GeekDad received this comic for review purposes
