In Review: Absolute Flash #1 – The Absolute Scarlet Speedster: A Hero Alone

Synopsis: Without the mentor…without the family…without the Speed Force, what’s left is the Absolute Scarlet Speedster!

The Story

This opening issue introduces us to Wally West, who is in the middle of a panic attack, using various coping mechanisms to calm himself and regain control of his breathing. As the panic intensifies, we see him running, surrounded by flashes of lightning and afterimages.

The story then jumps back two days earlier, where Wally is wandering onto the military base where his father works. Stopped by guards for being past curfew, he is saved from trouble by Barry Allen, who takes an interest in him. Barry offers Wally a glimpse at the top-secret project he’s been working on for the military—Project Olympus. Just as Wally is about to leave, they are interrupted by Colonel Rudy West, Wally’s father, who reprimands Barry for sharing classified information.

The next day, after a heated argument with his father about constantly moving from base to base and his lack of friends, Wally storms off. In his frustration, he stumbles into an experiment tied to Project Olympus, triggering a catastrophic explosion. The blast kills Barry and leaves Wally disoriented—yet mysteriously changed.

Now, in the present day, Wally is racing across the desert, pursued by a specialized unit of soldiers with meta abilities. He manages to reach Barry’s old laboratory, where he pulls up data on the experiment—only to be interrupted before he can fully grasp what happened to him.

Artwork

Nick Robles does a solid job with the artwork throughout the issue. I especially liked the opening scenes where Wally experiences his panic attack, with subtle visual hints of lightning and afterimages—teasing the full extent of his powers before they’re fully revealed.

Another standout moment is the scene where Wally interrupts Barry’s experiment. The pink and purple hues surrounding Barry in the chamber just before the explosion add a real sense of drama, making the moment feel even more intense.

Overall

This alternative take on the origins of The Flash kicks off with a truly dramatic start, quickly jumping through the days leading up to Wally West’s transformation. Unlike the original version of the character, this Wally doesn’t have the support of family or friends. Instead, he’s a loner who has recently lost his mother and is grappling with the challenges of being an army brat. Having spent his childhood moving from one army base to another, he’s found it difficult to make friends or form meaningful attachments.