Absolute Flash (2025-) #2

Absolute Flash (2025) (Single Issues)

by Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles (Artist)

Wally West is on the run from his dad and the rest of Fort Fox, and while his new-found abilities are terrifying him, he needs to find a way to use them to make hisescape. But how will he handle the elite group his father sent to bring him back?

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels, Graphic Novels Comics, Science Fiction

Kindle Edition

Published April 16, 2025

About the author

Librarian 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.

Reviews

[Anne]

Eh. Kind of forgettable.
I couldn't remember what this issue was about and had to go back and look at it again because I wasn't sure if I'd actually read it or not. I had, it just...meh.



So Wally is being chased by this world's version of the Flash's rogues gallery, who are attempting to bring him back to his father by any means necessary.



And that's it.

[James DeSantis]

Definitely an improvement over the first issue. While I’m not fully sold on it yet, I appreciated how it portrays Wally as confused and vulnerable. His speed abilities are also showcased in a really cool way. The back-and-forth between two time periods adds an interesting layer, and while it could get a bit wild, I’m here for it if it stays this engaging.

[Colin Post]

The art in this issue is SO COOL. I adore how Robles, Lucas, and Napolitano are combining forces to deliver some of the sickest action sequences, bar none. They’re rendering Flash’s powers in such an interesting way.

Lemire is definitely playing this as a slow burn, but he gives enough of an additional hint to the direction of the story that I’m just as hooked into this Absolute book as I am the rest. How Lemire is paying with time travel as a kind of memory activation is super interesting.

[Murphy C]

1/8/26

[Carrietta]

Nossa absolute flash tá bem fraquinho, tem conceitos legais mas não tá sabendo utilizar eles. A trama tá se desenvolvendo de forma TÃO Apressada, calma gente, isso é ruim! os conceitos são tão legais, mas tá tão mal executado, tá tão corrido...

[Zoey]

“I’ve always known something is wrong with me. But now— it feels like I’m bursting apart. It’s like— like if I don’t move I’m going to explode into a million little pieces and no one will ever be able to put me back together again.”

This power of his seems to be more like a curse. He received it as the result of Barry’s experimentation, and now, if he doesn’t give into the need for speed (I had to), there will be deadly consequences on those around him.

“I don’t want to hurt anyone else. But I will.”

Also, I was not expecting Grodd to be that tiny.

[Machiavelli]

Kind of a meh issue for me - still muddled by too many loose threads and mystery overload. A passable middle chapter that hasn’t quite tied it all together. Not overly excited by this whereas in AB and AS was hyped by this time…

[Haris Kozo]

4.5 really good pick up in pace

[Luca Mendes]

An improvement over the first, but still not fully sold.

[Ron]

a very unusual take What we've known as the modern flash.

The rogues gallery is a lot different also.

interesting and fun read

[Wm]

I hope this stays a mini. Two issues of a protagonist scrambling to this degree to make sense of their new reality taxes the patience, regardless how awesome the art is (and it is). I wearied just as quickly of Lemire's All-New Hawkeye (2015) #1 (the only other Big Two property of his that I've tried), so perhaps I simply prefer his independent work. Frex, his current Minor Arcana #1 series is excellent.

[Paxton Holley]

I still have no idea what the hell is going on here. I should have waited to start when there are more issues released.

[Cybernex007]

What an absolutely action packed second issue, that did not slow down for a moment. One second we are back in the last issue and Wally has been corned in the cave system with Barry’s dead body while the rogues are chasing after him, and the next moment Wally is trying to run away and after a massive release of energy we are transported back to the day he got his powers. The art is this issue is top notch, especially whenever Wally is unleashing his powers uncontrollably and in the scenes where he gets his powers and it almost looks like tons of speed echoes of him exist at once. in the past we can see that Barry tried to save Wally from the effects of the machine he was testing…only to loose grasp of him. This of course immediately spurred Wally’s dad to show up and beat the crap out of Barry… he they stopped right as Wally appeared above them again as a force of lighting.

To reiterate, all of this is being seen through Wally of the present as he looks back into his past uncontrollably. Lucky for the rogues they have trickster and their force shields or they would not have stood a chance against the power Wally was letting out. They also think they have it easy trying to capture him through one of the force fields…but his speed shows very quickly how powerful it is vs those shields. His power is once again tested only seconds later when golden glider tries to race after him…only to find herself falling short for the first time.

What’s really interesting is how much of a connection Wally has over time. Harkening back to Doctor Manhattan and his omnipotent existing at all times, as Wally runs he sees and experiences his past. Not only his time gaining powers in Barry’s lab, but his time when he was young at the fair with his parents when his mom was still alive. But then he goes from one instance in the past…to TWO instances in the future. I immediately thought of Anakin Skywalker when we got to this moment…Wally sees two possible futures. One where he is the hero and one where he is a monster. Which one is his fate? As the issue comes to an end, the Rogues have had enough and have decided to deploy grodd. Which also gives us an opportunity it’s to confirm that the cute greenish/blueish monkey we saw in the first issue is in fact Grodd!! I’m sure they will get along just fine, lol.

[Sam Larkin]

Absolute Flash #2 continues to impress, convincingly demonstrating how normal-speed adversaries can challenge someone capable of faster-than-light movement. Wally West's struggle to control his newfound powers is palpable, making his encounters with the Rogues both thrilling and believable.

This issue delves deeper into Wally's internal turmoil as he grapples with his abilities. His lack of control leads to unpredictable consequences, emphasizing that sheer speed isn't a guaranteed advantage. The art brilliantly captures the chaotic energy surrounding Wally, with visuals that convey the volatility of his powers.

The narrative introduces intriguing elements, such as Wally experiencing multiple timelines and glimpsing divergent futures—one heroic, the other monstrous. These moments add depth to his character and set the stage for compelling developments.

Absolute Flash #2 not only maintains the momentum of the series but also enriches it with emotional complexity and high-stakes action. It's a must-read for fans eager to explore the challenges of mastering immense power.

Stay tuned for my review of issue #3, where the stakes escalate even further!

[Alexis Moreno]

This issue felt like it took the initial idea of super speed as a metaphor for anxiety and panic and really ramped it up but in a symbolic ways. The whole premise or idea that you are everywhere and nowhere. That no one cares for you and everyone is out to get you. These aren’t the main themes of the story but aspects of these occur and i just can’t help but feel these are just further manifestations and exemplars of just panic and fear. I can’t think of anything that represents fear more then running away fast from a “something”. if this was the writers intent, i’m very impressed and if not, i still enjoy the series as this extended metaphor.

[luciddreamer99]

While perhaps not as good as other Absolute DC offerings, Absolute Flash remains interesting enough. Flashy colors make for a gorgeous comic, and the colorist earns their paycheck here. As with other alternate reality or alternate version stories, this comic falls prey to being different to be different and subverting expectations over good story. The cliffhanger left me a little underwhelmed, but the next issue might see this plot point unfurl more interestingly so. I recommend this issue to Flash fans who'd like to read a different take, and to fans of color-driven comic book art.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez]

En la pura acción y momentum de este refrescamiento de la speedforce, este número me ha entusiasmado más que el primero. Jeff Lemire establece todo lo necesario para que Wally West pueda posicionarse como otro de los grandes pilares de un Universo Absolute que parece que no va a defraudar en ningún aspecto ni parcela. El vislumbrar dos posibilidades antitétecas con el despunte de los poderes de Wally y la incógnita de la relevancia de Barry Allen, deja una buena perspectiva para Lemire en conjunto con la importancia del elemento disfuncional familiar en torno a Wally.

[Jerry Aguirre]

To recap, the Rogues try to capture Wally only for Wally to outrun them. Eventually tho, they get him while he’s down and they bring out their secret weapon: Gorilla Grodd. In the story tho, he’s a small chimp.

The coolest thing about this comic, besides the origin of Flash, is the question of which reality will happen? Did Wally kill Barry and then wear his costume as a remembrance and become a hero or will he never be able to gain control of his abilities and turn into a monster.

What are his abilities? Speed or time travel?

Mid

[GB]

OK....

Confused but really enjoying the writing. Like I kind of get what's happening but I feel like the issue is a little short? I feel like not much really happened here at all...but somehow we're simultaneously being fed information that is somewhat adding to the story. It's still all very expository rather than moving along. I do think this would've fit more in a first issue but I do understand the choice made in making the first and second separate...

[Courtney]

This really shows the vulnerability of the Flash. I love the use of anxiety and his need to always be running. This really highlights The Flash’s need to always be out running his past.

Now this is a Gorrilla Grodd I can get behind!! I also love that the thing that Wally West has lost in the Absolute universe is his family. Seeing him manage his anxiety with the speed force is so interesting especially now he doesn’t have anyone to help him through it. Also the Rouges look SO good!!!

[Marcus]

Wally vs the Rogues! I’m digging the new designs and it was cool to see the emergence of Wally’s speed here as he tried to avoid capture. The action felt nicely choreographed which I appreciate and I thought it was cool having it take place in the desert.

Personally I’m still not sure how I feel about the plot jumping back and forth in time but overall I had more fun with this issue than I did the first.

[Jacob]

Wonderful art, some good writing, and an overall really interesting new take of the mythology of The Flash so far. However, my main issue with these comics is that there's far too little happening in each issue. For a monthly release, that's a bit of a problem for me.

With that being said, I'm still looking forward to how this new series progresses.

[Cazadora De Mundos]

inclreible arte, me duele el corazon por Wally y en definitriva vamos entendiendo un poquito mas sobre que paso y sus poderes, aunque lo mas interesante es el final con las visiones del futuro, la verdad es que no se cuales de los dos seria mas interesantes de ver, con una mezclka de ambos me conformo ¿pedire mucho?

[Logan]

An improvement of the first issue but still very bad.

There’s nothing of value here… FOR A FLASH COMIC. How can that happen? A better premise with supervillains coming to capture him, but his powers are too sporadic and out of control.

But…that’s it. No deeper story or meaning quite yet besides his powers.

[Alex O'Connor]

The “of two worlds” portion of this storyline is coming into play. Wally is wondering if he is a hero or a monster. Perhaps the futures that he is seeing is one where he becomes the hero and one where he becomes the villain. This is tough stuff for a fifteen-year-old to have to deal with without a mentor.

[alejandro galvez]

Its heating up.

A bit more clarity on the story. Much is still a mystery but I like where its going. Another banger by DC and the Absolute line. Really cool books. Check them all out.

[Madison Weir]

This one is a short one, but it is fascinating seeing how Wally figures out his powers, especially without Barry. They are putting him through so much, he really comes across as a very scared, lost, and confused teenage kid. I cannot WAIT to continue with this story!!

[Powerman61]

the artwork in Absolute Flash #2 was a delight.
The storyline so far is a bit confusing.
Seems like the writer is squeezing in everything about
the flash in a single issue. It's going to be interesting
to see how Grodd handles the Flash.

[Jedi]

WARNING SPOILERS

noooo :(( barry died bc he cared for wally enough to immediately run after him to try and get him back :( like i totally get how a 15 year old wally west would think it's his fault ☹️ my poor boy

[Jamie]

Kinda surprised by some of the worser reviews on this series? Maybe it’s because I love Wally West as Flash and don’t care so much for Barry (sorry) but I’m really enjoying where this story is going, especially not knowing where it’ll end up.