In this review of Absolute Flash #8, we get the origins of Barry Allen’s work at Fort Fox.
ABSOLUTE FLASH #8
Written by JEFF LEMIRE
Art by TRAVIS MOORE
Main Cover: NICK ROBLES
Variant Covers: HAINING, RILEY ROSSMO, A.L. KAPLAN
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 10/15/25
This review contains spoilers
Absolute Flash #8 opens in a flashback, describing the events which led Barry Allen (a humble physicist in this Alpha-World) to working on Elenore Thawne’s “Still Point” project. It’s shown that the disgruntled Barry was approached by Elenore after sitting in on one of his lectures, impressed at his abandoned work at Princeton on quantum simulation and molecular transfer.
Elenore explains her grandfather Eobard Thawne was working on a similar theory in 1941, but an accident during an unauthorized test caused him and his military liaison (this universe’s Jay Garrick) to go missing. Elenore asks Barry to continue her grandfather’s work, which Barry can’t help but to get lost in.
Fast forward two years later (a few weeks before the events of the first issue), Elenore introduces Barry to their new military liaison, Colonel Rudy West, father of Wally West. Barry is none too pleased however that he has to deal with government oversight on his project, and that moreover he wants to do his own field testing on the project. Moreover, Barry has his legs cut out from under him when Elenore drops the news that he won’t actually be going out into the field.
Later, Barry formally introduces himself to Wally at the base’s mess hall. The interaction is awkward, as Wally explains how he’s not really a science fan. Barry regals the young West of his youth as a fellow army brat, and how Math controls his world.
Fast forward again to the first trial of the still point, as Barry commands a crew to go into the void. What they discover is that they aren’t alone, as some kind of alien craft is recovered from the still point. Barry again demands to go in himself, but Elenore gives him the cold shoulder. Later that evening, Barry sees a strange vision of himself in the protective “Flash-armour”, which warns him of Wally’s future before disappearing.
As with the rest of the Absolute line, Absolute Flash has been an intriguing re-imagining of classic DC mythology so far. This issue is pretty flashback heavy, as its primary goal is to help explain Still Point as well as hint at what Elenore’s whole “deal” is with Barry Allen. The characterization of Barry as an obsessive scientist fits within the sinister nature of this universe. I am curious to see how far Lemire is willing to take this route.
The art in Absolute Flash #8 is solid as any big two comic could be. Travis Moore’s clean lines were the highlight of that Tom Taylor lead Nightwing run and I’m glad he’s given an even bigger spotlight here. I do wish Moore was given more opportunity to break out more instead of having to use mostly medium shots and close-ups. Adriano Lucas’s colors are beautifully vibrant. All the experiment-led panels pop from the page with their hypersaturated pinks reds and yellows. He’s someone to look out for, to be sure.
Overall, while the book is logical and well designed, this issue is a bit of a slump. Not a lot of action to be seen here, and what is seen isn’t exactly new information. We (the reader) already know Barry disappeared into the Still Point, we already know Elenore is a sinister figure. I wish this book was brave enough to truly go bonkers. For a Flash book, it certainly isn’t a fast read either, with probably too much dialogue that all kind of says the same thing: Elenore is stifling Barry by dangling a carrot in front of him, therefore Barry is upset.
Ultimately, while it does serve as a break in the action, Absolute Flash #8 is a little lackluster. I’m a staunch believer in superhero books prioritizing fun before plot. While this book technically fails at this, the art and design is of too high a quality to dock too many marks. The rest of this title thus far has remained solid, so here’s hoping next issue brings back the energy it’s already displayed.
