After being chased by Rogues, the situation was looking for Wally West. He found a new home, made a friend or two… and suddenly everything exploded in flames. Now Wally is in the mountains of trouble. why? Another classic Flash villain appears to have found him. Please enter a heat wave! Wally, a friendly curious Grod, sorry, George with a thriving curiosity, wait, Gorilla Grodd (but make him friendly!) doesn’t look good. Needless to say, Eleanor Sheene leads the rogue in Wally’s hunt. Here, Jeff Remear and Al Kaplan continue their second arc of Absolute Flash by expanding the world around their characters. Is too much going on in this action-packed issue or does the Speed Force help things pacing properly?
Absolute Flash #5 spoilers!
DC
One of the things I’ve loved about Absolute Flash so far is how realistic the series has been. Yes, obviously there are no superheroes, but Wally as a character is very human and easy to relate to. The same is true for this problem. Here we learn something quite important about absolute Wally. It is worth talking as it is nearly impossible to ignore the meaning of this decision and how Lemia chooses to interpret the character. Not only does Rogue know who he is, but he also knows the new friends he just met. In the process of saving everyone at Linda Park, Ralph Dibney, and Dibney Youth Mission, this is probably more important than the actual escalation at Thawne. But what I know is that Wally, ignoring the idea of a secret identity, is extremely important as it shows how he values himself and the people around him.
DC
On the one hand, I think this speaks to how slowly Lemia is reaching. Wally is chosen by the Speed Force (or Absolute Speed Force) to help people regardless of cost. On the other hand, heroes often have secret identities to protect those around them. And now Wally seems to feel like there’s no one else but putting his potential friends and father in danger. This may foreshadow a story in which Wally has the order in which he maintains his public identity. Overall, I think this is one of the most important decisions made in the absolute universe (or implied by how you see it). Plus, I’m really grateful that Lemia took this issue in so many different directions, while still breathing the story and not overcrowding.
Al Caplan and Adriano Lucas do a great job in this story. The question raised by Wally early in this story is whether he is also a monster. With the idea of monsters in mind, I think it’s worth noting how the grotesque Kaplan shows the heat wave. Still, he is horrifying, but you can only feel bad about his current state. Through the work of Kaplan’s elastic line, I felt that this issue had a much more emotional weight. Lucas likewise brings the story to life in its quirky colours, making the matter more vibrant. If I had one complaint, it’s that I’m not a huge fan of the way Kaplan draws his face. They sometimes feel a little unclear and it leaves in an inconsistent art style. However, the story is generally well illustrated.
DC
Absolute Flash #5 is an absolute explosion of the problem. The issue has a strong pace of balancing high interests and the same emotional pull, and the series is slowly hinting at a greater threat on the horizon, and at the same time consistent. There are parts to art I don’t love, but it generally fits the theme of the Ark and I think it’s overall good. And while there’s a slightly uncomfortable shift in the ending, it also offers an interesting cliffhanger. Overall, this is another strong issue for the series.
“Absolute Flash” #5 is an absolute explosion
Absolute Flash #5
Absolute Flash #5 is an absolute explosion of the problem. The issue has a strong pace of balancing high interests and the same emotional pull, and the series is slowly hinting at a greater threat on the horizon, and at the same time consistent. There are parts to art I don’t love, but it generally fits the theme of the Ark and I think it’s overall good. And while there’s a slightly uncomfortable shift in the ending, it also offers an interesting cliffhanger.
The voluntary comparison between Wally and Rory offers an interesting perspective on how Wally has seen herself in the series so far, as opposed to how readers do it.
The use of Flash rogues remains incredible.
The art is sometimes inconsistent and lacks detail.
The final page moves from Wally to future threats, making the issue feel unfinished for where to leave with the main character.
