8/25/2025
What is the plot of Absolute Flash #1?
 |
| Wally West standing in a ruined lab over the lifeless body of Dr. Barry Allen |
Absolute Flash #1 (2025) is titled "Of Two Worlds Part One" and focuses on a young man named Wally West, who is grappling with feelings of despair and isolation. The story is told out of chronological order, beginning with Wally in a moment of panic and saying, "I've ruined everything. I can't go back". The narrative then flashes back "Two days ago" to reveal Wally as a "fifteen years old" who is an "army brat". He feels alone and struggles with a low-level, uneasy feeling and obsessive, racing thoughts, which he says start in his stomach.
The story reveals that Wally's mother has died, and he and his father, an army officer, do not talk much, especially about his father's work. The narrative establishes that Wally's father, whose name is Rudy, is a sergeant stationed at Fort Fox, where Dr. Barry Allen works. The story then follows Wally meets Dr. Barry Allen, who offers to show him "something cool". The comic then cuts to the present day, where Wally is running from what appears to be a military-style team, including Captain Boomerang. The comic ends on a cliffhanger, revealing that Wally has somehow caused a significant event, as a mysterious figure is standing over the dead bodies of three individuals, including Dr. Barry Allen, saying, "You did this, Wally. You killed him". The comic then "flash-forwards" one year later, showing a shadowy figure with glowing eyes, saying, "Time to make this whole world fall".
 |
| Dr. Barry Allen shows a curious Wally West the futuristic technology of Project Olympus in Absolute Flash #1. |
Who are the creative minds behind Absolute Flash?
Absolute Flash #1 is written by Jeff Lemire, and colors by Adriano Lucas. The letters are done by Tom Napolitano, and various artists, including Clayton Crain, Dan Panosian, Declan Shalvey, and Rafael Albuquerque, contributed to variant covers. The editorial team includes Ash Padilla, Marquis Draper, Andrew Marino, and Chris Conroy.
This creative team, known for their work in the "Massive-verse" from Image Comics, is also behind Absolute Batman, which is advertised in the issue. The style and tone of the book are a testament to their collaborative vision, blending emotional and psychological character work with a high-stakes superhero narrative.
Project Olympus is a military research, led by Dr. Barry Allen and his partner. Dr. Allen describes the project as working on the "very razor's edge of physics and biology". The official mandate is "weapons development," but Dr. Allen believes they are "breaking new ground every day".
The comic implies that Project Olympus is a facility where people can be "burned and reborn" and "instantly travel incredible distances…simply by willing it". Dr. Allen's work with these "superweapons" is a key part of the story, as he shows Wally a bizarre, green, and monstrous creature that is the result of the project.
The title "Of Two Worlds" refers to the literal and figurative separation that Wally West is experiencing. Figuratively, Wally feels caught between two worlds: the emotional world of his grief and loneliness, and the mundane, controlled world of the military base where he lives. He says that since his mother died, he and his father don't have much in common, and he feels "completely and totally alone". He is also caught between the past, which he says he cannot go back to, and a future that feels "pointless".
Literally, the title likely refers to the "two worlds" of the DC Universe and the "Massive-verse". The issue subtly connects the two universes by mentioning that this is a "startling evolution of the Absolute Universe". The inclusion of classic Flash characters like Wally West and Barry Allen, along with the creative team behind the "Massive-verse", suggests a blending of these two fictional realities.
A New Era for The Flash
By focusing on Wally West's internal struggles and his relationship with his family, the comic provides a deep, human story that is a departure from traditional superhero narratives. The issue ends with Wally being hunted for a crime he may not have meant to commit, leaving the reader with a powerful sense of suspense and anticipation for the next chapter of his story. The comic is not just a retelling of a hero's origin; it is a story about the emotional weight of power and the burden of loneliness.