Absolute Flash (2025-) #18

Absolute Flash (2025) (Single Issues)

by Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles (Artist)

Central City is thrown into chaos as DEO Agent Hunter Zolomon comes to town. Can Wally protect his new home and friends, or will the young hero finally be captured?

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Superheroes, Graphic Novels

Kindle Edition

Published August 19, 2026

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

[Colin Post]

Best issue in some time for this book! Not that recent issues have been bad, just kind of meandering. It’s no coincidence either that it’s Robles back on art when things kick up. He delivers some stunning, body horror fueled visuals and really cool scenes of Wally in action. I honestly didn’t clock that Ralph was absolute Elongated Man until he started melting. Not sure if he’s actually donezo or if it’s an illusion, but I hope the powers stick and he’s able to control them. That reminds me of Cantwell’s Plastic Man mini from a while back - having stretchy powers is actually a curse.

[James DeSantis]

Wow Wow Wow...Lots of shocking moments. Absolute Flash is finally in the RUNNING (Get it?) for best Absolute title. Back to back hitters.

[Raymond Paquette]

Hunter Zoloman was much better here as not unhinged, but Abara, was perfect. He’s finally a threat again.

[Nick]

4.6 I hope he can reverse these effects, but a fear a lot of people died. I hope he kicks some ass.

[Cybernex007]

And here I thought I was excited about absolute atom and cyborg showing up, but they failed to mention we get absolute Hunter Zolomon AND MISTER BONES!! HELL YEAH! I see the smoke effects going on, now all I need is for Bones to start rhyming and everything will be complete. Also there is absolute Abra Kadabra? Or maybe the wizard? I’m not entirely sure on that front, but I’m horrified and excited! We jump into this issue with a bit of calm from the chaos of the last, Wally, Linda, and Grodd are back in Central City discussing options as Linda suggests Wally go public as the flash and become Central City’s own Wonder Woman. He isn’t sure what to do, and honestly believes he should just leave rather than risk everyone around him getting hurt…but it turns out Ralph and Sue were listening behind the corner and refuse to hear any of that. Sue is ecstatic to see a really green monkey and Ralph assures Wally that this is his home and he is safe here and more than welcome to stay. But of course things never stay calm for long, as right as I started to think Ralph’s shirt was a bit too purple…he started to melt! I fully thought this was a dream sequence and foreshadowing for what is to come with elongated man, but then Sue started to melt and transform as well with eyes popping out of her shoulders and her blood turning into animals.

All of this is too horrific to not wake up immediately from, so it’s not a dream and we jump back a week to the DEO branch on the east coast as Agent Zolomon flirts with the receptionist on his way to Director Bones office. Glad to see his skin it’s translucent in this universe, although I’m not sure what’s up with the smoke effect as I can’t tell if that is a vape in his hand or not. But my excitement in seeing mister bones is diminished by the woman standing behind him…Elenore Thawne. Bone’s bosses report to her, she is in charge here and knows all about Agent Zolomon’s secret ability to project his mind and body a minute into his future or past. What a wicked take on speed. Not exactly possessing super speed doesn’t mean you can’t possess the ability to act before things happen. The event that causes his consciousness to split like this is so secret that Elenore’s words even censor out for us, and now she waves to use his abilities to go after Wally West. Hunter is a bit pissed about taking orders from Thawne, but when she also threatens all of his off shore bank accounts he folds. Only to get even more pissed when they inform him they are sending the “old man” in with them…someone Hunter believes cannot be controlled.

Leading us back to central city now, as the streets are filled with mangled twisted humans as Hunter calmly walks the streets towards his target. Hunter helped take the “old man” down last time, and it’s clear the scope of his powers have been enhanced by Elenore and her secret friend…brainiac! Wally of course blames himself and takes off in costumers try and help as many people as possible. But as Wally takes off, Grodd starts to freak out. He starts psychically yelling and about something bad and something being a liar and as he runs Linda begins to chase after him. In the streets Wally is able to save a mother and her child, only for Hunter to corner him. Wally puts up his guard as Hunter introduces himself, activating his powers and seeing that Wally is about to kick his ass…so he changes the future by projecting himself and putting Wally into the ground first. The issue ends with Hunter being instructed to kill Wally, only for Linda to chase Grodd into the street where Grodd’s head suddenly disappears…only for Linda to look up and see his head being pulled out of a magicians hat! The old man, yes glowing red and surrounded by his blood creations. Maybe Grodd and Wally should swap dance partner?

[Neil Pearson]

This is the start of a new storyline and with this week's "absolute Green Arrow" and ongoing "ab bat" storyline it really feels like the absolute line is becoming a horror imprint as there's some serious body horror going here, accompanied by a beautiful bait-and-switch where it initially seems that a character is about to reveal their as yet unseen powers in the Absolute verse. It's certainly raising the bar for Marvel's upcoming horror hero imprint.

Speaking of absolute versions of known characters there's a great reimagining of a Flash villain here with regards to their power set and how it cancels out Flash's speed. I'm not entirely sure it could beat the speed but I'm willing to roll with it. They're also not obvious villains and appear to be tools of more villainous characters.

This issue also sees some crossover with "absolute Superman/Green Lantern" in terms of supporting characters/groups. Again, this and "Absolute Green Arrow" are making the imprint feel a lot more cohesive and arguably building towards something.

Robles is back on art and while I probably prefer Haining at this point, I have to admit that no one does the Absolute speed indents like Robles. There's a panel where the speed bars leave a "shadow" of the Flash, that is really effective. Oh, and he can also do some truly disturbing body horror that's a little bit "Akira".

My only slight complaint is how quick a read this is but I can't have it both ways as I've complained how Lemire's plotting is too slow in the first 12 issues. A lot happens in this issue but it's a fly by and possibly apt for a Flash book.

Overall impression = 4/5
Writing = 4/5
Art = 4/5

Will I read the next issue? yes

Wait for the trade collection? from issue 13 this book's pacing has vastly improved and the 2-3 issue arcs make this an enjoyable monthly read.

Did I need to read previous issues/series? This is quite accessible if you can accept Wally lives in a kid's shelter and has a pet green psychic Gorilla. The main plot is a new storyline.

Will I read previous issues already "up to speed".

[Nicholas]

let jeff cook

[Ushnav Shroff]

Things are picking up!

[Jordie Novack]

Maybe my favorite of the Absolute Flash run so far. Now we are COOKING

[Dean]

People are melting.
Introduced ti some new people.

[spencer]

4.5

[Craig Schorling]

Oh man! I was not expecting this and I mean that in a good way. This issue was wild and bonkers. This series has really turned around and become one of the best Absolute titles.

[Annemarie]

This issue felt rushed, again. It's like we always skip from one scene to the next and so very little of it actually seems to matter.

[Aleex]

No manches, que buen número, por fin le darán desarrollo de personaje a Wally

[Roland Baldwin]

Everything is horrific as usual. Still Wally and Linda and Baby Grodd hold it all together

[Myles Gerber]

3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️✨

[Mat]

Extra star for the fun psychedelic art

[Juliano Stefani]

Thawne is after Wally. She is in coalition with Brainiac. It gets uglier every new page!

[AJ Easterday]

I really was not expecting so much body horror.

[katie ⋆˙⟡♡]

Now that… was probably one of the coolest issues in this run so far!!!!

[Noah LeFevre]

Wait I wish I could see into the future