Absolute Flash #8: Where It All Began

Absolute Flash #8 is a full story, revolving around an iconic Flash character who we’ve gotten very little of so far in the Absolute Flash run—Barry Allen. In the eighth issue of Absolute Flash, we finally learn what Barry Allen’s experiments at Fort Fox were before the events of Issue #1 back in March. Not only are we treated to the origin of this new universe’s Barry Allen, but we are also shown the origin of Fort Fox and given some information about other iconic Flash characters such as Jay Garrick and Eobard Thawne. While the first seven issues were an entertaining and intriguing read so far, together they felt like a Wally West-centric Elseworlds story disconnected from the rest of the Absolute Universe. However, in issue #8 Lemire gives us the seeds of the style of worldbuilding the Absolute Universe is quickly becoming lauded for.

Fort Fox, which has had such a commanding presence in the story thus far, is finally given its own version of an “origin story,” beginning with Barry Allen’s arrival and later Rudy West’s addition, which led to the creation of the Rogues as seen in the previous issue.

Travis Moore brings his wonderful pencils back from Issue #7 in September, renewing his team-up with Adriano Lucas, whose colors accentuate the dark lighting of a laboratory and the bright lighting of the Colorado sun. Everything from ID badges to inter-dimensional science gets a masterful treatment from the two of them that makes the issue a visual feast.