This week: Catch up on Absolute Flash #10. Also added new issues of Nightwing #133, Batman/Superman Worlds Finest #46, and DC KO: Harley Quinn vs. Zatanna #1!
Note: The following review contains spoilers. If you want a quick, spoiler-free buy/pass recommendation for the comic in question, check out the final verdict at the bottom of the article.
Absolute Flash #10
Screenplay: Jeff Lemire
Artist: Nick Robles
Colorist: Adriano Lucas
Author: Tom Napolitano
Absolute Flash has struggled to stand out in DC’s Absolute series, especially when placed next to Absolute Wonder Woman, Batman, Superman, and Martian Manhunter, all of which have received critical acclaim and multiple reprints. In contrast, discussions about Absolute Green Lantern and Absolute Flash primarily center on the fact that both titles are slow burners.
To some extent, that criticism feels fair. The Flash is now 10 issues in, and we’re still not quite done with the first major chapter. Still, I keep coming back every time a new release comes out. My faith in Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles as a creative team is steadily paying off, and this latest issue feels like a much-needed turn toward a true finale.
Lemire and Robles sold me on this “Alien” flash. I was skeptical at first, but after seeing how things play out: where this version of Wally’s speed powers come from, what happened to Thawne and Barry, and how his rogues gallery became his own team, it’s the kind of rework that doesn’t feel forced or lazy, but instead complements other iterations of the character.
On top of that, while Lemire’s writing helps tie the story together, Robles’ art maximizes the story, giving the Speed Force and Wally’s powers a decidedly futuristic and alien look. Starting with Wally rather than Barry emphasizes how precarious his life has become as a child without a leader, forced to confront who he is and what he’s capable of, while he forges a bond with an outcast friend named Grodd, a now mutated little monkey.
Unstable is the key word, so Wally doesn’t have full control over his powers at this point, and in the current story we still don’t know where they came from. His powers manifest as severed grids, lightning bolts, and red energy that splatters across the page. This problem only becomes more bizarre as his past, present, and future begin to overlap and vestiges of his past and present begin to emerge.
Lemire instead chose to allow the power of speed to manifest through him and into his surroundings. Robles’ work is only improved by having Wally have these destructive episodes, drawing the distortion of the page around him and bringing his pain into a destructive life.
Of course, the rest of the issue has to lead the protagonists into the climactic battle. Eventually he is forced to return to the project by the Trickster, and a massive battle ensues between the rebel goons. It all leads to Wally discovering the “red substance” stored within the secret walls of Fort Fox, where we finally get our first look at the Absolute’s Reverse-Flash.
An eerie horror composed of the powers of speed that once was Eobard Thawne, barely sustained by the rotting flesh and bones. In short, it looks disgusting, but I really like his design. Wally is still a teenager, but his counterpart appears to be some kind of horror spewed from the force of speed that literally drags him into a whole new mess.
The manga ends, but I’m left with more questions to answer. But I’m not disappointed. It feels like the slow burn has finally died down. And now I’m genuinely excited to see where Wally, and for lack of a better word, the spirit of the Speed Force, takes him. With the first crossover between Absolute Batman and Wonder Woman coming out in just over a week, I’m excited to see where this issue goes, opening up the possibility of where Absolute’s path could go in the future after WALL-E finishes this big story.
Absolute Flash may not be as popular as Absolute Trio on many pull lists, but it still delivers an entertaining and beautifully written story that Lemire and Robles put their hard work into. For these reasons, this book remains on my pull list and is worth picking up every month for new and old readers alike.
Verdict: Buy
Nightwing by Dan Watters and Dexter Soy is a series that I am genuinely interested in and following. I first joined because I really enjoyed working with Scott Lobdell and Soy on Red Hood and the Outlaws. And I’m happy to say that Watters did not disappoint. This story gets to the heart of Dick Grayson, drawing on his early days with Batman and reframing it in a way that feels both personal and consequential. This approach gives us effective antagonists in Olivia Pearce, also known as Columbina, and her mentor Zanni. Pierce serves as a clear contrast to Dick, depicting how his life would have ended had he chosen a different path. Add to that the henchman of Zanny, who gives Dick the presence of a super-powered “sidekick” and who Dick instinctively tries to guide and protect while wrestling with this person he now knows he can’t save, is just the cherry on top. Overall, this run remains consistently fun while also offering some thoughtful character exploration. For the first time, Nightwing truly felt a little alone, as Blüdhaven slowly began to turn against him. It just added much-needed weight to the story, with Nightwing now having to deal with being framed for murder, while also dealing with something that can’t normally be explained, a literal dimension of horror that children are drawn into.
Nightwing #133 features guest artist V Ken Marion who puts on an incredible show. A standout sequence occurs when Nightwing, with help from Martian Manhunter, enters a distorted reality (Cirque du Chin) that Zani is using to trap missing children. The changes in reality are visually striking, and Marion perfectly captures them, especially through the disturbing and twisted circus horror that inhabits the space.
It’s clear that this issue serves as a bridge while readers wait for soybeans to come back, but it doesn’t disappoint. Instead, it effectively sets the stage for the conclusion of the first major arc. If anything, this issue only increased my anticipation for where Watters plans to take Nightwing next.
Mark Waid and Dan Mora’s work on World’s Finest raised the bar for superhero comics. Rather than relying on X-rated violence and relentlessly tense scenarios like many mainstream titles, it takes a different approach, embracing the cartoonish, over-the-top storytelling that made comics so beloved in the first place. This latest issue is no exception. Now, in Batman/Superman World’s Finest #46, Wade is once again joined by artist Adrian Gutierrez, and sure enough, things get pretty ridiculous. I wasn’t expecting Lex Luthor and the Joker to play a Super Saiyan-like fusion born of pure evil, but here we are nonetheless. That being said, I can’t help but find it endearing. At this point, it’s clear that World’s Finest is committed to being absolutely quirky, and that’s exactly what readers have come to expect. Jumping from an arc involving an evil 4D Imp to Bizarroworld, and now a story centered around Lex and the Joker working together, the series strikes just the right balance of camp and comic book silliness. Gutierrez effortlessly brings these kinds of stories to life. I had the biggest smile on my face when I saw the return of Superbat Fusion. We knew it was coming, but Gutierrez’s full-page transformation, complete with a cape and a giant batarang powered by force of will, was everything fans wanted from a single issue.
The battle scenes between the fusions are also worth mentioning. Gutierrez adds real weight to these actions. Jagged lines, deliberate roughness, and sketchy movements create a sense of shock and chaos. At the same time, Wade weaves in sharp back-and-forth conversations between Bruce and Clark and between Lex and the Joker.
The moment that stands out to me is when kryptonite hits nuclear fusion. It’s not fatal since half of the fusion is now human, but it’s still an overwhelming pain. All Bruce can do is apologize to Clark and admit that he never imagined something would hurt so badly. It’s a small character beat, but it lands well.
That’s ultimately why I couldn’t put this manga down. These small thoughtful moments add to the spectacle and make this issue so much fun. With the final part of the arc arriving next month, I can confidently say that I’m really looking forward to what happens next.
Frankly, I’m not sure this new DC KO event will achieve the desired results. Despite being DC’s next big event before the end of the year, it often feels more like a fighting game fan service vehicle than a long-lasting, weighty story. That being said, considering the good and the bad may be the best way to approach what lies ahead. In this film, writer Leah Williams and artist Mirka Andolfo take two popular heroines and deliver a story that is both cruel and unexpectedly compassionate. It’s not outrageous by any means, but it still managed to leave a smile on my face. Some of that comes from Williams’ writing, but most of the influence comes from Andolfo’s amazing art. Zatanna and Harley both look great in different outfits from their respective eras, as well as debuting completely new designs. Andolfo leans firmly into the concept without losing clarity on the characters, completely selling the video game and reality they’re fighting against. What really caught me off guard was how violent this book was. I understood that the tournament structure was built around one-on-one battles all the way to the end, but I didn’t expect it to be taken so literally. Watching Zatanna and Harley beat each other to death makes this event much closer to fighting game inspiration than I originally anticipated.
In the end, I suspect that many of these titles primarily resonate with readers who already understand the premise. That’s not necessarily a flaw, but it’s a reality worth recognizing. I found myself somewhere in between. While I’m not entirely sold on DC KO as a must-read event, I can still appreciate the craft, spectacle, and occasional surprises it brings. At the very least, it’s been a successful, focused, fan-driven experiment, although the broader impact remains unclear.
Missed any previous reviews? Check out the complete archive!
Check out Beat’s other recent comic reviews!
Something like this:
Like loading…
