What is the plot of Absolute Flash #2?
Absolute Flash #2 (2025) picks up immediately after the cataclysmic events of the first issue, as Wally West is on the run from a mysterious military team. The comic, subtitled "Of Two Worlds Part Two" , follows a frantic and disoriented Wally as he tries to escape through a series of underground caverns. The story is told from Wally's perspective, with his internal monologue revealing his panicked thoughts and feelings of despair. He is hounded by a team that includes familiar faces from the DC universe, such as Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, and Golden Glider.
The team tracks Wally using "sonic gliders," which are glowing, green projectiles that map the caverns and pinpoint his location. The leader of the team, known as "Glider," tells Captain Boomerang, "Digger, flush him out" and "Glider, you intercept". As Wally is cornered, he has an emotional breakdown, screaming, "I didn't mean to do it. I swear. It all happened so fast". He feels like he is "bursting apart" and that "if I don't move I'm going to explode".
The comic takes a turn as Wally's father, Sergeant Rudy West, confronts a monstrous, fire-like entity. The entity's face, though distorted, is clearly Dr. Barry Allen. The team that was hunting Wally appears, and it is revealed that they are part of Project Olympus. The comic ends with a stunning twist: one of the team members, Jesse, has a change of heart and is revealed to be a speedster, while the team's objective is to capture a new villain named Grodd.
How does the comic establish the new rogue's gallery?
Absolute Flash #2 introduces new and reimagined versions of classic Flash villains as part of the team hunting Wally West. The team includes Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang, Golden Glider, and a new character named Jesse. Instead of working as a traditional villain group, they operate as a team on a mission, each with their own unique abilities. Captain Boomerang is shown throwing a boomerang that transforms into a sonic glider to map the caverns. Golden Glider is depicted as a strong, powerful woman who uses glowing, yellow light to fight. Jesse, a new character, questions the mission's morality, saying, "I don't like this... something's not right about this whole op". The comic ends with a glimpse of Grodd, who appears to be the team's true target. This re-imagining of the rogues' gallery as a military-style unit adds a new layer to the conflict, as they are not just criminals but agents with a mission, which is the key component of the new era of the "Massive-verse".
What is the connection to the "Absolute Universe"?
Absolute Flash #2 expands on the "Absolute Universe" that was introduced in previous issues, showing a direct connection to Absolute Batman as well as to other stories. An advertisement for Batman Hust #159 appears on the first page, featuring the Red Hood. The story itself continues the narrative established in Absolute Flash #1, picking up where the first issue left off and following the fallout of Project Olympus. The comic also includes an ad for the new Flash #20, titled "Bad Moon Rising," which features a new Flash event and an army of Wally Wests. This suggests a larger, interconnected narrative that spans multiple titles.
Absolute Flash #2 is a chaotic and emotionally charged issue that sets the stage for a new era of the Flash. By focusing on Wally West's mental anguish and his desperate escape, the comic provides a fresh and compelling take on the classic hero. The re-imagined Rogues' gallery and the introduction of Grodd as a target add a new layer of complexity to the narrative.