Wally West has always been a hero defined by his connections — his mentor, Barry Allen, the larger Flash family, and the Speed Force itself. But in Absolute Flash, Jeff Lemire and Nick Robles strip Wally of those familiar touchstones, crafting a story of self-discovery, isolation, and power.
Launching into comic shops on March 19th (retailers have until February 24th to preorder), the fourth Absolute Universe series to launch may have one of the boldest reinventions of DC’s stable of heroes.
I spoke with the creative team behind the book to discuss their approach, inspirations, and what this new Flash means for the character’s legacy.
A Flash Without a Safety Net
Unlike previous versions of Wally West, Lemire’s take places him in an unfamiliar, lonely world without mentors, family, or even a Speed Force to explain his abilities. This decision was crucial to Lemire’s vision of the character’s journey.
“For me, the one thing I really wanted to hook into was the sense of really having Wally as a teenager again,” Lemire explained. “Using his powers as almost a metaphor for all the things we go through at that age—figuring out who we are, what the world is, and our place in it. If he had a mentor, if there had been other Flashes before him, it kind of undercuts that.”
Without a guiding figure, Wally is left to experience his powers in real-time, along with the reader. “He doesn’t know what’s happening. It’s terrifying. We get to see him learning his powers for the first time,” Lemire continued. “Even Barry Allen had Jay Garrick comic books as a frame of reference. But our Wally has zero reference, and it’s actually quite terrifying what’s happening to his body and mind.”
This feeling of being untethered extends beyond Wally and into the broader Absolute universe, where heroes exist in relative isolation. “The Absolute Universe kind of isolates these characters, makes them underdogs,” Lemire said. “It builds toward something bigger.”
DC
The Emotional Core of Absolute Flash
Lemire is known for deeply personal and introspective storytelling, from Essex County to Sweet Tooth. He brings the same sensibilities to Absolute Flash, balancing high-energy action with emotional depth.
“For me, all the action and superhero elements come out of Wally’s emotional state,” Lemire said. “It’s pretty easy to balance the introspective drama with the spectacle when it’s all playing off each other. And then you get an artist like Nick, whose strength is deep character work. So you want to play to those strengths.”
Lemire estimates the series will lean about 70/30 in favor of character-driven storytelling over traditional superhero action. “Just doing straight superhero action is not always the most compelling on its own,” he noted. “Balancing it with character work is what I love to do.”
A Complex Father-Son Relationship
A key element in Absolute Flash is Wally’s relationship with his father, Rudy West. While initially appearing as a one-dimensional stern military figure, Lemire promises deeper layers will unfold over time.
“There’s definitely a lot of angst in the relationship between Wally and Rudy in the first couple of issues,” Lemire teased. “But like a lot of things in this series, as the first year goes on, things evolve. Rudy might seem like a strict father at first, but there’s a lot more going on there.”
The father-son dynamic serves as a grounding force for Wally, even as his world is turned upside down. “That relationship is the tether Wally has to his humanity and his past,” Lemire said. “It keeps him grounded.”
Courtesy DC Comics
Nick Robles’ Unique Visual Approach
Visually, Absolute Flash presented a challenge: how to depict super-speed without the usual Speed Force aesthetics? Nick Robles embraced the opportunity to do something new.
“I love the chance to come at it from an original angle,” Robles said. “I gravitate toward strong shapes and bold forms, which led to the rectangular speed effects you’ve seen in previews.”
Robles also wanted to incorporate classic elements while making them feel fresh. “Obviously, you have to keep the lightning bolts incorporated somehow,” he said. “I didn’t want to stray too far from the iconic visuals, but I definitely wanted to bring my own style.”
One of the most exciting aspects for Robles was the freedom to experiment. “Wally’s powers are volatile right now, and he’s figuring things out—just like I am in illustrating them. I think that really complements each other.”
Flash’s Rogues: Familiar Faces, New Twists
The Rogues have always been a defining element of the Flash’s world, and Absolute Flash will introduce reimagined versions of these classic villains. Lemire and Robles promise fresh takes on familiar foes while staying true to their core essence.
“The Rogues are a big part of the series,” Lemire said. “Much like with Wally, we’re taking those archetypes and twisting them. They’re not just villains; they have their own journeys and arcs within the book.”
Among the standout redesigns is Trickster, who plays a significant role in the first year of stories. “I love our Trickster,” Lemire enthused. “And our Captain Cold is pretty cool too.” Put simply, they feel new but are still recognizable.
Robles, who designed these new iterations, spoke about how the visual updates influenced their personalities. “It’s fun to fall in love with characters I wasn’t super familiar with before,” he said. “As I start creating new versions, I want to dig into their history while continuing that original take that Jeff and I are developing.”
Lemire noted that the Rogues’ designs often influenced their character arcs in unexpected ways. “Nick’s designs reframe how I see them. I had vague ideas about where these characters would go, but then I saw Nick’s art and thought, ‘Oh, that changes things.’ That kind of creative back-and-forth makes the book exciting.”
Courtesy DC Comics
Freedom in the Absolute Universe
The Absolute line is giving creators the chance to tell bold, self-contained superhero stories. For Lemire and Robles, that freedom was exhilarating.
“One of the things that freed me up was knowing this wasn’t replacing the regular DC Universe,” Lemire said. “Fans still have the Wally West they know and love in the DCU. That allowed us to do something different.”
Robles echoed that excitement. “The fact that DC was doing a new line that was fresh, completely new, and open to different interpretations was a huge pull for me. It really let us scratch that creative itch.”
The Legacy of Absolute Flash
While Lemire isn’t aiming to redefine Wally West’s legacy, he hopes the series will resonate with readers and highlight what comics do best.
“I’m just trying to make a great comic that celebrates comics,” Lemire said. “Superhero characters are everywhere now—film, TV, games—but we need to get back to what makes comics unique. I want to channel the energy of the Silver Age but with a modern sensibility.”
For Robles, it’s all about immersing readers in Wally’s journey. “I love that we’re walking with Wally, figuring things out alongside him. I really love that as a reader and as a creator.”
With its fresh approach, Absolute Flash is shaping up to be a thrilling, character-driven reinvention of the Scarlet Speedster. Lemire and Robles are crafting a Flash story unlike any before it—one that pushes Wally West to his limits and redefines what it means to be the Fastest Man Alive.
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