REVIEW: ‘Absolute Flash’ Issue 3

Absolute Flash Issue 3 is published by DC Comics. Written by Jeff Lemire, art by Nick Robles, with colors by Adriano Lucas and letters by Tom Napolitano.

This issue is part of the Absolute Universe. The Rogues send another creature after Wally, a monkey named Grodd. Absolute Flash Issue 3 goes forward in two locations at once. Two stories are told here. There is Wally’s escape from the fort when the power-inducing accident happened. This origin has more secrets to tell, ones that are both mind-blowing and devastating.

But then there is the present day, when Wally is being hunted by the Rogues. Lemire shakes up another character, providing Wally with someone to interact with who doesn’t just want to capture him. In the present storyline, the Rogues seem to never stop coming, maintaining the pace and keeping Wally moving. A fascinating aspect of Absolute Flash Issue 3 is the changes in tone. The series has been dark so far, and so has this issue. But there are changes to characters and methods that actually show some wholesome moments, asking with glimmers of hope.

As with many other parts of the Absolute Universe, the character changes are an intriguing facet of this series. A previous review mentioned that it was rewarding to see Barry Allen in Absolute Flash, even if it isn’t him who wears the costume. This is explored further in Absolute Flash Issue 3, with grim, brutal consequences. This is revealed through absolutely terrifying narration, as Lemire tells what happens to Barry. It’s heartbreaking and stomach-churning, really explaining why Wally ends up so traumatized.

In contrast, the change in what the name Grodd means in this universe is much more positive. The powers are the same, but everything else has changed. This monkey can talk and is telepathic, too. But the relationship created between The Flash and Grodd is so different from the one in the mainstream universe. Grodd only uses a few words, but the intention and meaning are clear and beautifully impactful.

The art is sensational. We get more examples of what super speed looks like on this planet, and each time brings something unique. It’s scruffier and more geometric. The lighting is vicious, but there are straight lines and rectangles, too. And within that Speed Force, if it even is a Speed Force in this universe, are faces. One is Wally, looking absolutely apoplectic with fear. The other is even more grim and monstrous, showing a dangerous side effect. But in doing so, it becomes reminiscent of a character in the regular world.

The redesign of Grodd is both hilarious and adorable. Once a hulking gorilla, now he is a tiny monkey with his brain exposed. The little primate is incredibly expressive. The Rogues also show their tech, completely altering what they look like.

The colors are amazing. The speed force generates rich and intensely vibrant shades of red and yellow. Grodd’s telepathy is purple, and the creature that creates it is a mixture of green and purple. But everything around these tones is natural and calm, creating an everyday world that is being overwhelmed by new powers. The lettering is clear and easy to read, changing to help craft a tone or voice when necessary. But this is not overly used.

Absolute Flash Issue 3 hurtles forward while still stepping backward. It runs out this opening story of Wally and the Rogues, finally connecting the dots between one period in time and another. It’s an entertaining issue that presents revelations with stark honesty. Absolute Flash Issue 3 plunges a young boy into an incredibly hostile world. It doesn’t just make him grow up; it forces him to run, fast.

Absolute Flash Issue 3 is available where comics are sold.