Absolute Flash #5

Absolute Flash has sort of been the black sheep of the Absolute universe thus far. Whilst our other heroes have been growing and thriving in their own way, Wally West has been running from his past, his present, and his future, throughout the first four issues of this comic series, picking up an adorable simian sidekick along the way. Now, the fifth issue of Absolute Flash is here, and its looking like the start of a new era for Wally and Grodd.

Today, I’m talking all things Absolute Flash #5, and spoilers lie ahead! Consider yourself warned! Without further ado, let’s get into the review!

Absolute Flash #5 Review

Image by DC Comics

So far, Absolute Flash has been a fairly bizarre, time-bending adventure, and yet somehow, this fifth issue kicks off in the series’ strangest point yet, as Wally finds himself in a stare-down with a giant lava monster underneath the youth centre he has been lodging in. In as strange of a comic series as Absolute Flash is, it’s hard to believe things could get any stranger, and yet they have. This lava monster seems to have come out of nowhere, just dwelling in the ground, waiting for a moment to strike. If I was to critique one thing about the Absolute series, I would point to the sometimes clunky transitions between foes and locations, and that flaw is evident here. However, this meeting with a monster did bring us to one of the fifth issue’s biggest strengths, and one of my favourite moments in Absolute Flash so far.

Absolute Flash’s fifth issue is largely focused around Wally’s growth into being a true hero – this issue highlights one of the first times that we get to see him really shine as ‘The Flash’, and actually pull off a save. It’s a pretty high-stakes moment, considering it’s his first time acting as a traditional hero, but Wally does manage to save multiple civilians from the wrath of this lava villain-of-the-week, which is quite a heartwarming sight, despite the trauma it seems to inflict on him.

Wally’s heroics in this issue are a welcome change of pace for the character. I’ve come to enjoy him throughout the first four issues of Absolute Flash, but admittedly, he has been pretty whiny at times. He’s dealing with a lot of trauma, and facing a lot of fear, but I can’t help but recall how many pages of the first four issues were filled with his panicked rambling, and now, watching him pull off a truly heroic feat feels like watching a character evolve and grow into a new person entirely. He’s got a long way to go to match-up to most readers’ idea of ‘The Flash’ as a superhero, but this issue represented Wally’s first steps.

Image by DC Comics

The artwork in this issue is also absolutely stunning. Look at the above panel, for example – Nick Robles is doing a truly incredible job with this series, and this issue really spoke to his talents. His character design is also top-notch – Wally has an air of innocence to him that counteracts the brave feel that Barry had to him, whilst Grodd’s design plays very well into his role as a sidekick. I also love the villains’ designs in this – they haven’t had a lot to do in the series so far, but they stand out for their visuals alone.

On the topic of the villains, I really hope we learn more about them soon. We got some insight on their individual personalities in this issue, but I need more. I want to know the exact in’s and out’s of their operation, especially considering how much larger of a group they are than we’ve seen in many of the other Absolute comics. Whereas Wonder Woman tends to deal with one foe at a time, and Green Lantern is consistently faced with the threat of Abin Sur, Wally has had to deal with a whole mini-legion throughout his journey so far. Here’s hoping that future issues dive more into these villains individually, and increase their intrigue as a collective.

Image by DC Comics

The comic is, I will say, very short, or at least it feels that way – it felt like things were just getting started, and then I was suddenly informed that the next issue would be with me soon. Ultimately, this cut-off left me feeling a little uncertain of this comic. There was a lot to like in terms of underlying developments, such as Wally’s growth, and the developing dynamic between the series’ villains. However, in terms of what actually happened on the pages of this issue, there’s not a lot to write home about. That is a pretty terrifying cliffhanger we were left with, and my knowledge of ‘The Flash’ as a character is limited enough that I can’t predict what’s coming next, so that’s always exciting!

All in all, Absolute Flash #5 was an enjoyable read, but ultimately, left me wanting more to talk about in its aftermath. I am looking forward to watching Wally’s growth towards the future though, and the series has set this development up really well thus far. What do you think of this issue of Absolute Flash? Be sure to let us know in the comments, and thanks for reading!

See also: Ironheart Review

Alex Doyle

I’m Alex! I’m Nerdy Nook’s resident horror, anime, and manga nerd, with a soft spot for all things geeky. When I’m not watching and talking about all of my favourite things, you can catch me over at our Nerdy Nook BlueSky and X pages!

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