ABSOLUTE FLASH #16 (DC COMICS)
Some things should be left to their own devices.
Wally West is finding out the hard way. After his run-in with Mirror Master, he starts falling into the mystery of the S.T.A.R. Labs founders. Still reeling form the events with Thawne, West struggles to grasp what’s been unlocked.
Fate has provided him a distraction. GRODD has sent an S.O.S. call out to the Scarlet Speedster. This leads West into a race into a very unlikely confrontation.
ABSOLUTE FLASH #16 by Jeff Lemire, Haining, Adriano Lucas & Tom Napolitano (DC COMICS) steers the Fastest Man Alive into uncharted territory.
Let’s take a deeper dive into the latest findings.
ABSOLUTE FLASH #16 by Jeff Lemire, Haining, Adriano Lucas & Tom Napolitano (DC COMICS)
*** POSSIBLE SPOILER WARNING ***
Lemire moves West away from the building S.T.A.R. Labs conspiracy into much better confines for this story. The growing curiosity of “Still Point” is briefly involved here. It dabbles in before being encompassed into Grodd’s current troubles. The writing brings out the tragic events calling for help. It hits a few emotional chords beofre landing on its’ intended destination. Once here, West’s conversation with Linda is lighter while heading into the heart of the matter.
Readers watch as the playful banter moves into the darker times ahead. Lemire stages a touch of horror into these panels with how Grodd uses the humans. There’s a nice touch of realism as West is hurt in the encounter. Grounding the her allows for a surprising save. The conversation finds its’ groove once events call down. Seeing the creative use of telepathy catches readers up to speed on the growing threat. This easily sets the stage for the final pages. West and Linda’s more casual moments get thrown away as the closing panels commence. A very solid ending to a great issue.
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Haining returns for art duties and brings fresh looks at Grodd’s wild ordeal. Panels move swiftly as Grodd is on the run. The look of worry in his face is telling. While small, it adds so much to the scenes. His confrontation with his father directs the drama into an uncomfortable spot. This leads to an epic full shot of Wally getting the distress signal. Lucas’ coloring elevates this moment to a new level. It becomes the pace setter for the remainder of the chapter.
Once events head to Colorado, West and Linda’s cautious nerves break for some genuine humor. The reaction to “The brand name” is perfectly times before events get serious. Readers watch as the possessed humans launch their initial response. This leads to loud action panels. Haining throws in an excellent two page spread to drive home the conflict. The scenes break to grant Grodd a stunning entrance. Panel and page structure for the recap of events are fantastic in presentation. They lock in on the sad mood as the actions unfold. It allows for another quick glimpse of optimism before the close. One defiant full page ends events with some suspense as this rescue attempt is far from over.
FINAL POINT: 8.5
One cry for help sends Wally West into deadly trap with no way out. Lemire’s writing cranks up a more straight forward superhero story. Haining and Lucas weave in many emotions as the story of Grodd takes fast turns. A great run with a show-stopping finish. Can’t ask for better than that.
Let me know your thoughts on ABSOLUTE FLASH #16 in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
