ABSOLUTE FLASH #9 - Review

• Written by: Jeff Lemire

• Art by: Nick Robles

• Colors by: Adriano Lucas

• Letters by: Tom Napolitano

• Cover art by: Nick Robles (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: November 19, 2025

Absolute Flash #9, by DC Comics on 11/19/25, throws you back headfirst into cosmic chaos, blending old-school Rogues with weaponized sci-fi when Wally makes a deal with a side-helping of double-cross.

First Impressions

The comic opens like a shot of adrenaline: physics lecture meets war trauma, with Barry Allen's voice waxing philosophical about costs and consequences. In no time, you’re thrust into a fractured reunion between rogues and speedsters, grounding high-concept sci-fi with real emotional stakes. That’s a lot to juggle, but the opening pages grip you tight and warn you: this is anything but a breezy sprint.​

Recap

In Absolute Flash #8, Barry Allen was drawn back into forbidden research by Dr. Elenore Thawne, seeking to revive her grandfather Eobard Thawne’s catastrophic “Project Blue Trinity” experiment. The duo unearthed wartime journals detailing Eobard’s downfall, with Jay Garrick’s intervention ending in disaster and a red matter anomaly. Military meddling soon warped the project into a weaponized dimension breach. Amid future visions and haunting calls, Barry’s partnership with Thawne fractured, culminating in a spectral warning and the arrival of Colonel Rudy West and Wally. The last cliffhanger: an unstable rift and the chilling promise of “Rogues’ Revenge”.​

Plot Analysis

The story kicks things off with Barry Allen's narration delivering a rapid-fire lesson about astrophysicist Karl Schwarzschild and the existential dread of genius. Barry’s conversation with Wally dives into the hard wisdom of sacrifice, connecting physics’ harsh lessons to the real dangers they’re facing. Already, the stakes feel palpable, as Barry warns Wally that every gain in their world comes with a price.​

Things escalate when Snart, Digger, Lisa, and Jesse attempt to rope Wally into their plan to confront Thawne, with Grodd lurking as muscle and wildcard. The reunion is turbulent, shot through with mistrust, quickfire arguments, and reversals. Wally doubts their motives, but a mix of desperation and loyalty wins him over. Their mission: find Rudy West, confront Thawne, and upend Project Olympus.

The plan spins sideways almost immediately. Betrayal erupts as Jesse reveals divided loyalties, launching abrupt attacks amid tense stand-offs. Grodd’s timely intervention is the only thing keeping the team alive, but at a steep cost. The comic delivers chaos: explosions, emotional breakdowns, and shifting allegiances, with panel pacing that amplifies the tension rather than disrupting the narrative.​

As the team closes in on Thawne, the real gut-punch arrives: Elenore unveils her grand design, revealing Wally as the missing key to their interdimensional machine. Thawne admits to manipulating Barry’s sense of duty, using his need to protect Wally as a lever for far-reaching plans. The issue ends on a dizzying note, with Wally’s existence cast as both salvation and sacrifice, and the team barreling toward Project Olympus’ core, bracing for whatever waits beyond the doorway.​

Writing

The writing delivers crisp moments of tension, whether through sharp dialogue or the relentless pace that rarely lets up. There’s genuine wit in how characters needle each other, but so much is crammed in that transitions sometimes stutter. Scenes jump without warning, making complex plot twists harder to follow. Dialogue is snappy and true to character, but exposition occasionally overwhelms; you feel Wally’s urgency but wish for more breathing room amid the scientific jargon.​

Art

Nick Robles’ art offers clarity even in chaos, using tight composition to keep fights and twists intelligible. Colorist Adriano Lucas pours on atmosphere, especially when the dimension breach manifests as a swirling mix of reds, blues, and spectral effects that punch above their weight. The action is easy to follow, but busy backgrounds sometimes pull focus away from the characters. Mood and color hit home; you can almost feel the dread crackling at the edges of every page.​

Character Development

Barry Allen’s sacrificial streak and Wally’s uncertain heroism drive the issue, with Snart and the Rogues fleshing out the “family” dynamic. Motivations are strong: Barry’s struggle, Wally’s fear, and Thawne’s manipulation, but some emotional beats get condensed in the crush of plot. Relatability peaks when Wally is forced to choose sides and Grodd’s ambiguous allegiance adds flavor. Trope subversion works, yet Jesse’s betrayal feels rushed, muting the impact of her choices.

Originality & Concept Execution

The mash-up of quantum physics, inter-rogue drama, and cosmic horror feels fresh without being gimmicky. The premise - where sacrifice is a literal equation rather than a metaphor - is bold and mostly sticks the landing. Attempts to juggle so many ideas lead to a few dropped threads, but when the concept clicks, it’s arresting. The payoff is genuinely surprising: Wally’s role as “the key” upends the usual speedster story.​

Positives

Absolute Flash #9 shines most when pressing high-concept ideas right up against sharp character conflict, creating scenes where stakes are measurable and every line crackles with urgency. The Rogues’ interactions inject dark humor and heart in equal measure, and Robles’ art keeps the tension focused, amplifying the impact of every betrayal and reveal. Clever use of color and composition elevates critical moments, with panel layouts that guide the eye through whirlwind events without confusion.​

Negatives

The comic’s greatest weakness is a breakneck pace that sometimes sacrifices clarity for spectacle, dropping readers into scene shifts that need another beat to register. Some plot twists, especially Jesse’s sudden attack, get lost in the shuffle, and the heavy exposition weighs down moments that deserve space to breathe. The emotional arc for secondary characters is compressed, leaving motivations less satisfying, while busy art occasionally distracts from dramatic exchanges.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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The Scorecard

Writing Quality (Clarity & Pacing): [2.5/4]
Art Quality (Execution & Synergy): [3/4]
Value (Originality & Entertainment): [1.5/2]

Final Verdict

Absolute Flash #9 pulls off high-concept drama with a zippy mix of science and speedster strife, juggling humor and cosmic risk with both hands, though sometimes dropping a ball or two. If razor-sharp art and ambitious storytelling are what you’re after, this issue mostly delivers, though the tangled structure and breathless pacing mean only the most attentive reader will reap every reward. For those seeking clarity and depth alongside spectacle, consider whether the ride is worth the sprint.

7/10

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