Absolute Flash (2025–Present): Jeff Lemire's Teenage Wally West
Absolute Flash (2025–Present): Jeff Lemire's Teenage Wally West
No mentor, no family legacy, no Speed Force. Just a 15-year-old kid on a military base who can suddenly move faster than time. Here's our guide to the Absolute Universe's speedster.
When DC announced the second wave of its Absolute Universe, the Flash was the book a lot of us were most curious about. Jeff Lemire, the writer of Sweet Tooth and Black Hammer, teamed up with artist Nick Robles to rebuild the Scarlet Speedster around a teenage Wally West, and the result is one of the strangest and most heartfelt books in the line.
We have a strong run of the 2026 issues on our shelves at Siomic Comics. Here is our guide to the premise, the Absolute Rogues, the first appearances and the issues collectors ask about.
Absolute Flash at a glance
- Publisher: DC Comics, as part of the Absolute Universe
- First issue: Absolute Flash #1, cover-dated May 2025
- Writer: Jeff Lemire
- Main artist and cover artist: Nick Robles
- Colourist: Adriano Lucas
- Other artists: A.L. Kaplan, Travis Moore, Haining
- Hero: Wally West, aged 15
- Key setting: Fort Fox, a secret military base
- Status: Ongoing
A Flash without the Speed Force
In the Absolute Universe, DC keeps the core of each hero and strips away the support. For the Flash, that means no Barry Allen mentor, no family legacy and no Speed Force. Wally West is a 15-year-old living with his father, Rudy West, near Fort Fox, a military research base. After a disastrous experiment leaves him out of step with time itself, Wally becomes something new, and the people who ran the experiment want him back.
Barry Allen is here, but as a scientist at Fort Fox, and the Rogues are not costumed crooks but a military unit sent to hunt Wally down. Lemire has said that Grodd may be the secret star of the series, and the gorilla's story is one of its emotional anchors.
The creators
Jeff Lemire
Writer of the whole run so far, known for character-driven work such as Sweet Tooth, Essex County and Black Hammer.
Nick Robles
Main artist and main cover artist. His detailed, painterly style gives the book its eerie, kinetic look.
Adriano Lucas
The colourist across most of the series.
Guest artists
A.L. Kaplan, Travis Moore and Haining all take on issues or arcs.
The Absolute Rogues gallery
One of the joys of this book is watching familiar Flash villains reappear in unfamiliar forms. Absolute Captain Cold, Captain Boomerang (Digger Harkness), Trickster and Golden Glider are all introduced as part of the team chasing Wally, and #6 is an interlude that gives their origins. Heat Wave, Mirror Master and an Absolute Reverse Flash follow, along with Dr. Elenore Thawne.
Key issues and first appearances
| Issue | Cover date | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | May 2025 | First issue; first appearance of Absolute Flash (Wally West), Absolute Captain Cold and Captain Boomerang; first glimpse of Grodd |
| #2 | June 2025 | First full appearance of Absolute Trickster and Golden Glider |
| #3 | July 2025 | Origin and first full appearance of Absolute Grodd |
| #5 | September 2025 | First full appearance of Absolute Heat Wave; guest art by A.L. Kaplan |
| #6 | October 2025 | Interlude: the origins of the Rogues |
| #11 | March 2026 | First full appearance of Absolute Reverse Flash |
| #12 | April 2026 | The finale of The War of the Flashes, a turning point for Wally |
| #14 | June 2026 | First full appearance of Absolute Mirror Master |
| #15 | July 2026 | S.T.A.R. Labs, and the debut of Absolute versions of Rick Flag, Silas Stone and Ray Palmer |
| #18 | October 2026 | The first true crossover with Absolute Superman; introduces Hunter Zolomon |
| #19 | November 2026 | First appearance of Absolute Atom (Ray Palmer) |
Curiosities collectors should know
A top-two launch
#1 was the second best-selling comic in shops in March 2025, by both units and dollars.
Many printings
Demand kept the early issues coming back: #1 reached a fourth printing in 2026, and #2 to #5 have had third printings. Check the printing when buying.
A connecting cover
Among the #1 variants is a Rafael Albuquerque connecting cover, plus a 1:25 variant drawn by Lemire himself.
A long plan
Lemire said early on that he had the story plotted well past #12, so the series was built as a long-form saga.
Absolute Flash and the wider Absolute Universe
Absolute Flash shares its world with Absolute Batman, Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Martian Manhunter. Issue #18 is the first real crossover between two of the line's headline books, bringing Wally together with Absolute Superman, so it's one to grab if you follow more than one Absolute title.
Where to start reading Absolute Flash
- #1 to #6, the opening arc, Of Two Worlds.
- #7 to #12, through to The War of the Flashes.
- #13, a natural jumping-on point after the battle at Fort Fox.
- #15 to #17, for S.T.A.R. Labs and Gorilla City.
- #18, for the Absolute Superman crossover.
Absolute Flash covers through the years
A look at some of the covers from the run. Tap a cover to see what we have on the shelf.
#2
#3
#5
#7
#9
#16
#18
#19Browse our Absolute Flash back issues
These are some of the Absolute Flash issues currently in stock. Every copy is photographed so you can check its condition before buying.
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#6
Absolute Flash #6: Interlude
Who the Rogues are and how they joined the hunt for Wally.
View our copy -
#10
Absolute Flash #10
Wally goes deeper into Fort Fox, and Reverse Flash is first glimpsed.
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#11
Absolute Flash #11
Wally is pulled into another dimension, and Absolute Reverse Flash makes his full debut.
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#13
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#14
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#15
Absolute Flash #15: ...Of Things to Come
New Absolute versions of Rick Flag, Silas Stone and Ray Palmer.
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#17
Absolute Flash #17: Gorilla City, Part 2
The Flash and the Rogues fight to free Colorado from Grodd's control.
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We also have these issues of the series in stock:
You can also search all our Absolute Flash comics.
Keep exploring our comic history guides
Frequently asked questions about Absolute Flash
When did Absolute Flash start?
Absolute Flash #1 is cover-dated May 2025 and went on sale in March 2025.
Who writes and draws Absolute Flash?
Jeff Lemire writes the series and Nick Robles is the main artist and cover artist, with colours by Adriano Lucas.
Who is the Flash in Absolute Flash?
A 15-year-old Wally West, who gains his abilities after a military experiment at Fort Fox, with no Speed Force involved.
Which issue has the first appearance of Absolute Grodd?
Grodd is glimpsed in #1, and his origin and first full appearance come in #3.
Does Absolute Flash cross over with other Absolute books?
Yes. Absolute Flash #18 is the first true crossover with Absolute Superman.
Where should I start reading Absolute Flash?
Start with #1, or jump in at #13 after the battle at Fort Fox.
Condition grades on our listings follow our comic & book condition guide. Have Absolute Flash comics of your own? See how to sell your comics to Siomic Comics. The Flash, Absolute Flash and all related characters are trademarks of DC. Cover images are shown for reference.