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Absolute Flash (2025-) #1-6
Absolute Flash Vol. 1: Of Two Worlds
Without the mentor, without the family, without the Speed Force, he’s still the Absolute Scarlet Speedster! Superstar creators Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles are taking the Flash into the Absolute Universe with a top-to-bottom reinvention, perfect for new readers and longtime fans alike!
An astonishing new version of DC’s iconic characters is here! In the Absolute Universe, familiar heroes have been reinvented from the ground up with origin stories that completely reshape both their abilities and their circumstances but maintain the core characteristics that fans have known and loved for decades!
Wally West’s world has been turned upside down. Now quite literally on the run from the people he once trusted, he must navigate an impossible world full of dangers he never knew existed – and he must do so without the help and guidance of his former mentor.
The Flash joins the Absolute Universe in a bold new take on the DC Universe’s Scarlet Speedster, written by award-winning author Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), and illustrated by Nick Robles.
Collects Absolute Flash issues #1-6.
An astonishing new version of DC’s iconic characters is here! In the Absolute Universe, familiar heroes have been reinvented from the ground up with origin stories that completely reshape both their abilities and their circumstances but maintain the core characteristics that fans have known and loved for decades!
Wally West’s world has been turned upside down. Now quite literally on the run from the people he once trusted, he must navigate an impossible world full of dangers he never knew existed – and he must do so without the help and guidance of his former mentor.
The Flash joins the Absolute Universe in a bold new take on the DC Universe’s Scarlet Speedster, written by award-winning author Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth), and illustrated by Nick Robles.
Collects Absolute Flash issues #1-6.
168 pages, Hardcover
First published December 23, 2025
57 people are currently reading
440 people want to read
About the author
Jeff Lemire
1,405 books3,870 followersLibrarian note:
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name
Jeff Lemire is a New York Times bestselling and award winning author, and creator of the acclaimed graphic novels Sweet Tooth, Essex County, The Underwater Welder, Trillium, Plutona, Black Hammer, Descender, Royal City, and Gideon Falls. His upcoming projects include a host of series and original graphic novels, including the fantasy series Ascender with Dustin Nguyen.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
October 28, 2025
A bit wobbly on takeoff, but hits its stride by the end.
This one started off (for me) as one of the weakest Absolute offerings, but I stuck with it and ended up quite a bit more invested in the storyline by the end of issue #6. I've already reviewed each issue individually, so I left the links for those below if any of you are reading them that way.
The skinny gist of this one is that something happened to the teenage Wally while he was with Barry Allen in his lab.
What lab, you ask?
The government's off-the-book-project-lab that Wally's dad works for, as well.
Now Barry is dead, Wally is on the run with out-of-control speedster powers, and Elenore Thawne (the project's commander) has sent a group of Rogues after him.
One of the project's test subjects, a telepathic monkey called Grodd, defects and takes off with Wally after the first encounter.
We eventually meet the Absolute versions of Ralph Dibney and Linda Park at a homeless shelter for teens, as well.
As always, the Rogues are one of the most interesting things about Flash, and the last issue gives us a better look at this universe's version of them. I'm looking forward to learning more.
Recommended for Flash Fans.
issue #1 3 stars
issue #2 2 stars
issue #3 4 stars
issue #4 4 stars
issue #5 4 stars
issue #6 4 stars
This one started off (for me) as one of the weakest Absolute offerings, but I stuck with it and ended up quite a bit more invested in the storyline by the end of issue #6. I've already reviewed each issue individually, so I left the links for those below if any of you are reading them that way.
The skinny gist of this one is that something happened to the teenage Wally while he was with Barry Allen in his lab.
What lab, you ask?
The government's off-the-book-project-lab that Wally's dad works for, as well.
Now Barry is dead, Wally is on the run with out-of-control speedster powers, and Elenore Thawne (the project's commander) has sent a group of Rogues after him.
One of the project's test subjects, a telepathic monkey called Grodd, defects and takes off with Wally after the first encounter.
We eventually meet the Absolute versions of Ralph Dibney and Linda Park at a homeless shelter for teens, as well.
As always, the Rogues are one of the most interesting things about Flash, and the last issue gives us a better look at this universe's version of them. I'm looking forward to learning more.
Recommended for Flash Fans.
issue #1 3 stars
issue #2 2 stars
issue #3 4 stars
issue #4 4 stars
issue #5 4 stars
issue #6 4 stars
January 18, 2026
Don't know too much about Flash, but good start to this series. The DC absolute series overall is really good!
September 26, 2025
ABSOLUTE PEAK
December 30, 2025
I'm glad I didn't read this one (or Green Lantern) first.
It was entertaining enough, and I really enjoyed some of the artwork (in the first few issues), but, overall, there was too much going on and not enough clarity by the end of the collected volume (or through the first six issues) to maintain my curiosity about what might come next.
Of the new (buzzy) Absolutes series, I'm really glad I tried Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter;... and, other than those two, I thought Batman was quite good, and Superman was interesting enough, but....
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
It was entertaining enough, and I really enjoyed some of the artwork (in the first few issues), but, overall, there was too much going on and not enough clarity by the end of the collected volume (or through the first six issues) to maintain my curiosity about what might come next.
Of the new (buzzy) Absolutes series, I'm really glad I tried Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter;... and, other than those two, I thought Batman was quite good, and Superman was interesting enough, but....
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
January 2, 2026
3.5*
An introduction to the characters and the situation that takes its time but remains interesting enough to capture the reader's attention, with a particularly striking tragic twist at the outset.
Overall, Lemire skilfully uses his bag of tricks to drive the story forward with a host of intriguing questions and characters who are still developing but who hold their own.
Very good, as long as it doesn't take three volumes to answer them, at the risk of losing the audience. Well, myself at least.
Two different artists on the artwork. On the one hand, Nick Robles, who does a great job, particularly with the poses and effects of speed, and on the other, A.L. Kaplan, who is dramatically weak.
An introduction to the characters and the situation that takes its time but remains interesting enough to capture the reader's attention, with a particularly striking tragic twist at the outset.
Overall, Lemire skilfully uses his bag of tricks to drive the story forward with a host of intriguing questions and characters who are still developing but who hold their own.
Very good, as long as it doesn't take three volumes to answer them, at the risk of losing the audience. Well, myself at least.
Two different artists on the artwork. On the one hand, Nick Robles, who does a great job, particularly with the poses and effects of speed, and on the other, A.L. Kaplan, who is dramatically weak.
December 25, 2025
*More like 3.5 stars than 3.*
I can see why this story is the perfect fit for Lemire, given that the protagonist is sans mother. There also wasn’t much plot here. Wally spends the majority of the volume having a panic attack and that’s pretty much it. Admittedly, there is some fun in seeing the way they put a spin on the regular characters and there was some backstory towards the end of the volume. But then it ended on a classic cliffhanger ending just when the story started to warm up.
The main issue with this is that they were too vague in exploring Wally’s powers. Technically he has only just gotten them and he’s traumatised, so it’s somewhat understandable, but the few scenes where we see him use his powers they seem different to the usual canon. This is really the comic’s only selling point—seeing how this Absolute take on the well-known Flash character and world is different from the regular canon. And yet, not enough time was devoted to exploring this in this first volume as it should have been.
There’s certainly potential here, but beyond the gorgeous art and delightful colours, this was stunted by one too many heartfelt monologues which started to sound insincere. But I’d still give this the benefit of the doubt that it could be going somewhere good, but, ironically, it’s creeping rather than sprinting towards that if it is really its goal after all.
I can see why this story is the perfect fit for Lemire, given that the protagonist is sans mother. There also wasn’t much plot here. Wally spends the majority of the volume having a panic attack and that’s pretty much it. Admittedly, there is some fun in seeing the way they put a spin on the regular characters and there was some backstory towards the end of the volume. But then it ended on a classic cliffhanger ending just when the story started to warm up.
The main issue with this is that they were too vague in exploring Wally’s powers. Technically he has only just gotten them and he’s traumatised, so it’s somewhat understandable, but the few scenes where we see him use his powers they seem different to the usual canon. This is really the comic’s only selling point—seeing how this Absolute take on the well-known Flash character and world is different from the regular canon. And yet, not enough time was devoted to exploring this in this first volume as it should have been.
There’s certainly potential here, but beyond the gorgeous art and delightful colours, this was stunted by one too many heartfelt monologues which started to sound insincere. But I’d still give this the benefit of the doubt that it could be going somewhere good, but, ironically, it’s creeping rather than sprinting towards that if it is really its goal after all.
December 29, 2025
Not my most favorite of the Absolute books, but not bad my any means. I love the reinterpretation of Grodd and the Rogues, and the art is really cool. I don’t think the story is as tight in this series as other Absolute books have been, but I am intrigued enough to keep following at least until the next volume.
January 14, 2026
Jeff Lemire is the right guy to turn the Flash into a sci-fi/body horror/extradimensional weirdness/paramilitary adventure/estranged father and son story. It’s not always easy to follow, it jumps around in time, but it’s got great energy, big ideas, a really fresh take on the Rogues and Grodd, and spectacular art from Nick Robles and A.L. Kaplan.
January 3, 2026
It started off promising only to devolve and never quite stick the landing. The artwork also seemed rushed and unintentional further down the line. It doesn't help that Jeff Lemire tends to let the artwork do a lot of the talking... Maybe next volume will change things up.
September 5, 2025
I really don't know much about The Flash, besides clips from the CW show I watched a while back, but I think (Like everything in the Absolute Universe) this is a great new take on his lore. I'm especially intrigued by what exactly the Speed Force is going to be here, alongside the deeper mystery of what work Garrick and Thawne were doing to originally summon it.
I also really adore friendly Grodd and hope he doesn't turn bad, I really like how they've depicted all of Flash's rogues here as sympathetic people who should be saved rather than beaten.
I also really adore friendly Grodd and hope he doesn't turn bad, I really like how they've depicted all of Flash's rogues here as sympathetic people who should be saved rather than beaten.
October 18, 2025
Wally and Grodd forever!
So next up on the Absolute line, I chose to read the Flash book. Jeff Lemire is definitely an interesting pick to write it, as I remember he did the Teen Titans Earth One book which I had mixed opinions on. And is this a radical reivention of the Flash? In some ways ya. It feels like what an Ultimate (as in Marvel) Flash book would be like. I have never read much Flash aside from some key stories like Flashpoint and most of my experience with the character was actually watching the CW series and Justice League Unlimited as a kid.
Here we have Wally West as our main Flash, though we do still see Barry Allen as he plays an important part of the story. Wally's mom has recently passed away which is something I can relate too, and he keeps moving with his military dad, until he gets his powers. We get to see some fun iterations of the Rogues and even Grodd who is very different to the main universe version. The unlikely friendship that forms between Grodd and Wally was probably my favorite part, which is why its the tagline for this review.
The art is pretty good and fits the Flash well. I also really do like Wally's Flash costume. The story was okay as we see Barry running from the goverment and his dad trying to get him back. The final issue which tells the back story for the Rogues was probably the most interesting for me since it reframes many of the characters in different lights, so there not all one dimensional good guys and bad guys. Interested in reading the next volume.
So next up on the Absolute line, I chose to read the Flash book. Jeff Lemire is definitely an interesting pick to write it, as I remember he did the Teen Titans Earth One book which I had mixed opinions on. And is this a radical reivention of the Flash? In some ways ya. It feels like what an Ultimate (as in Marvel) Flash book would be like. I have never read much Flash aside from some key stories like Flashpoint and most of my experience with the character was actually watching the CW series and Justice League Unlimited as a kid.
Here we have Wally West as our main Flash, though we do still see Barry Allen as he plays an important part of the story. Wally's mom has recently passed away which is something I can relate too, and he keeps moving with his military dad, until he gets his powers. We get to see some fun iterations of the Rogues and even Grodd who is very different to the main universe version. The unlikely friendship that forms between Grodd and Wally was probably my favorite part, which is why its the tagline for this review.
The art is pretty good and fits the Flash well. I also really do like Wally's Flash costume. The story was okay as we see Barry running from the goverment and his dad trying to get him back. The final issue which tells the back story for the Rogues was probably the most interesting for me since it reframes many of the characters in different lights, so there not all one dimensional good guys and bad guys. Interested in reading the next volume.
January 19, 2026
Of the Absolute volume ones, this is definitely my favourite. As a late 80’s early 90’s tweenager, it was The Flash and Elseworlds that dominated my active imagination, so this reinvention of the Wally West Flash hits a sweet spot for me. The artwork and colouring is popping; the twisting and reshaping of characters is intriguing. Can’t wait to see where they take this.
4/5
4/5
January 15, 2026
A beautifully illustrated comic. Ironically, a slow burn so far. A lot of mystery about the fate of some classic Flash characters, but I dug it nonetheless.
December 24, 2025
Pretty mid, easily the worst Absolute book so far. Still pretty okay though. I see the vision. I love the Grodd pairing, the Rogues are cleverly reimagined, the anxiety parallels are great. But as for the rest, there's no hook here for me. Wally is alright, half the art is good. the other half is super mid, and the pacing is just all over the place.
I'll probably keep reading it though. Despite my complaints, the stage is set for something interesting, and sometimes Lemire takes off a little late.
I'll probably keep reading it though. Despite my complaints, the stage is set for something interesting, and sometimes Lemire takes off a little late.
August 22, 2025
didn't hit as much as WW, I know everyone loves Wally's flash but it just doesn't work so much for me when he doesn't start as a sidekick idk, but still pretty good, i like the twist on the rogues and interested to know what's the connection with blue trinity (thank you picking up the pieces)
September 5, 2025
Flash viviendo el origen de Hulk, con los Rogues como Hulkbusters. A ratos genial, otras no tanto, veremos un volumen más como sigue.
December 28, 2025
absolute peak i love you wally west iteration of the flash
January 2, 2026
Definitely hits it stride near the end and excited to see the direction of the next volume!
January 5, 2026
REREADING THIS ONE. THANK YOU FOR WALLY'S FUCK ASS MULLET, #AUSSIELEGEND #WHATABLOKE
January 15, 2026
Surprisingly really well done and super interesting remixing of Flash lore. Almost up there with Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Batman.
January 4, 2026
wally west you mean so much to me
September 17, 2025
pretty good! i was a massive Flash fan in middle school when the CW show started airing but I never really read any of the major Flash books and haven't engaged with those characters much since then. not fully sold on this run just yet but I did enjoy this interpretation quite a bit! could see me loving this run all the way through or dropping it after the next volume, we'll see!
September 7, 2025
Absolute Flash Vol 1 is a weird ride. The first half is suuuper slow, and I gotta admit, I was a bit lost at times. Like, wait, who’s who again? And why is this happening? But if you stick with it, Jeff Lemire’s quality shines through and it starts to click.
The world building is amazing. Lemire makes Central City feel alive in a way most comics only dream of. The characters are actually interesting too, once you get past the confusing start, and the art is beautiful, capturing both the crazy action and the quiet, emotional stuff.
Four stars because the start is rough and I almost gave up a couple times, but damn, the payoff is worth it. If you can get past the slow build, this is a really solid read that shows why Lemire’s one of the best out there.
The world building is amazing. Lemire makes Central City feel alive in a way most comics only dream of. The characters are actually interesting too, once you get past the confusing start, and the art is beautiful, capturing both the crazy action and the quiet, emotional stuff.
Four stars because the start is rough and I almost gave up a couple times, but damn, the payoff is worth it. If you can get past the slow build, this is a really solid read that shows why Lemire’s one of the best out there.
December 28, 2025
Okay, I really enjoyed this book. It started out strong but the last chapter was mostly a throwback villain origin story that I didn't really think was super necessary. Hopefully the next book in the series sticks with the main character a bit more.
November 30, 2025
3,5/5
Pas mon favoris des absolute mais bonne lecture
Le dessin est parfois inégal mais les doubles pages sont top ça fait plaisir
Pas mon favoris des absolute mais bonne lecture
Le dessin est parfois inégal mais les doubles pages sont top ça fait plaisir
January 6, 2026
This one just never really gelled for me. There's a little bit of body horror, and the old "what if the Flash was real" canard gets toyed with again, but it never really works
August 24, 2025
Rating note: Rating this 3-stars when comparing to the other DC Absolute series currently out there (Batman, Wonder Woman, Superman). On its own, Absolute Flash is fine (maybe a 4).
I should start by noting that Absolute Flash is a Wally West story, and not a Barry Allen one. For some of you, this should be enough of a deciding factor on whether to proceed.
Some of Lemire's interesting takes in this series thus far is that Wally has a serious case of OCD ( specifcally obsessive throughts) that seem to elicit his connection to the speed force. Oh...and also the rogues are the good guys in this story.
There is also a cool scene where Wally is torn across realities, which is very reminiscent of Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen
Unfortunately, plot wise, there is not much else to go on, but I trust Jeff Lemire to eventually make this series feel fresh and weird enough, but I am not seeing it in this 1st volume.
I should start by noting that Absolute Flash is a Wally West story, and not a Barry Allen one. For some of you, this should be enough of a deciding factor on whether to proceed.
Some of Lemire's interesting takes in this series thus far is that Wally has a serious case of OCD ( specifcally obsessive throughts) that seem to elicit his connection to the speed force. Oh...and also the rogues are the good guys in this story.
There is also a cool scene where Wally is torn across realities, which is very reminiscent of Dr. Manhattan in Watchmen
Unfortunately, plot wise, there is not much else to go on, but I trust Jeff Lemire to eventually make this series feel fresh and weird enough, but I am not seeing it in this 1st volume.
November 18, 2025
Наступною Абсолютною серією від DC яку я вирішив прочитати став Флеш від сценариста Джефа Леміра.
Воллі Вест звичайний підліток, який змушений жити у військовій частині через роботу свого батька, з тим же батьком у нього дуже натягнуті стосунки після смерті матері. Єдиний з ким йому вдається хоча б трішки подружитися це місцевий вчений Баррі Аллен. Одного дня Воллі приходить до Аллена під час експерименту, який йде не за планом в результаті якого вчений гине, а хлопчина отримує здібності та стає втікачем за яким відправляють спецпідрозділ, яким в Абсолютному всесвіті є Негідники.
Якщо чесно, то перша арка мене не сильно зачепила, так вона читається досить швидко і легко, і у неї є достатньо цікавих та інтригуючих моментів, як, наприклад що за експерименти проводили на цій базі Тоун, що відбулося в пустелі Могаве у 1944 між Ґаріком та Тоуном, а також, особисто мені здається, що Баррі попри свою смерть стане місцевим аналогом Чорного Флеша. Головним гайлайтом є малюнок Ніка Роблеса, який малює перші три номери та шостий. Говорячи про шостий то от він мені й сподобався найбільше, у ньому нам розповідають про те як батько Воллі рекрутує Негідників і це було досить цікаво читати, навіть батько нашого героя тут розкривається з трохи іншого боку.
Перша арка Абсолютного Флеша вийшла окейною, не скажу, що історія Воллі мене сильно зачепила, але от Роуги зацікавили, сподіваюся у другому сюжеті ситуація покращиться.
Воллі Вест звичайний підліток, який змушений жити у військовій частині через роботу свого батька, з тим же батьком у нього дуже натягнуті стосунки після смерті матері. Єдиний з ким йому вдається хоча б трішки подружитися це місцевий вчений Баррі Аллен. Одного дня Воллі приходить до Аллена під час експерименту, який йде не за планом в результаті якого вчений гине, а хлопчина отримує здібності та стає втікачем за яким відправляють спецпідрозділ, яким в Абсолютному всесвіті є Негідники.
Якщо чесно, то перша арка мене не сильно зачепила, так вона читається досить швидко і легко, і у неї є достатньо цікавих та інтригуючих моментів, як, наприклад що за експерименти проводили на цій базі Тоун, що відбулося в пустелі Могаве у 1944 між Ґаріком та Тоуном, а також, особисто мені здається, що Баррі попри свою смерть стане місцевим аналогом Чорного Флеша. Головним гайлайтом є малюнок Ніка Роблеса, який малює перші три номери та шостий. Говорячи про шостий то от він мені й сподобався найбільше, у ньому нам розповідають про те як батько Воллі рекрутує Негідників і це було досить цікаво читати, навіть батько нашого героя тут розкривається з трохи іншого боку.
Перша арка Абсолютного Флеша вийшла окейною, не скажу, що історія Воллі мене сильно зачепила, але от Роуги зацікавили, сподіваюся у другому сюжеті ситуація покращиться.
October 19, 2025
A very solid book but the story isn't really groundbreaking. The most interesting points are the narrative choice of the three first issues and the way they represent Wally's confusion and the art style. Even with the artist changes (my favourite is Robles by far) the way the speed force is depicted is crazy good and I love Wally's design.
January 16, 2026
AM I A HERO OR AM I A MONSTER?
I really shouldn't be surprised that this disappointed. It's a character I'm unfamiliar with in a new universe I've only heard positive (granted, extremely positive) things about from strangers on the internet. But, I've been interested in the Absolute Universe for a bit, now, and this run was written by Jeff Lemire, so—obviously—it needed to be my introduction.
What it comes down to is that not nearly enough actually happens throughout the six issue run collected in Absolute Flash Vol. 1: Of Two Worlds . It's that simple. If I'd waited until June when Vol. 2 drops to dive into this title, I might've been left satisfied. But where it's at, we're only just barely even getting acquainted with the characters, never mind the fact that we don't even scratch the surface of the storyline.
The artwork throughout is great, though, and captures the havoc of this Flash with a creative urgency and confusion. And bringing Lemire on for this title is a perfect fit. Wally West is the prototype Lemire character; a lonely outsider thrown into a complex science-fiction scenario that allows them to embrace their outsider status while learning that they're not nearly as alone as they thought they were. There's a lot of potential with this character and the situation he's been thrown into with Lemire at the helm. And while this volume on its own was a disappointment, I'm still interested in seeing where the future of this run takes WW.
4.5/10
I really shouldn't be surprised that this disappointed. It's a character I'm unfamiliar with in a new universe I've only heard positive (granted, extremely positive) things about from strangers on the internet. But, I've been interested in the Absolute Universe for a bit, now, and this run was written by Jeff Lemire, so—obviously—it needed to be my introduction.
What it comes down to is that not nearly enough actually happens throughout the six issue run collected in Absolute Flash Vol. 1: Of Two Worlds . It's that simple. If I'd waited until June when Vol. 2 drops to dive into this title, I might've been left satisfied. But where it's at, we're only just barely even getting acquainted with the characters, never mind the fact that we don't even scratch the surface of the storyline.
The artwork throughout is great, though, and captures the havoc of this Flash with a creative urgency and confusion. And bringing Lemire on for this title is a perfect fit. Wally West is the prototype Lemire character; a lonely outsider thrown into a complex science-fiction scenario that allows them to embrace their outsider status while learning that they're not nearly as alone as they thought they were. There's a lot of potential with this character and the situation he's been thrown into with Lemire at the helm. And while this volume on its own was a disappointment, I'm still interested in seeing where the future of this run takes WW.
4.5/10
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