The new Absolute line of DC Comics has been slow in revealing the existence of many classic characters in the Absolute Universe. Fittingly, Absolute Flash just jumped ahead of the pack. The latest issue confirms that there are variants of several beloved DC characters in the new universe. However, some of them are in unfamiliar forms, or have altered backgrounds.
Absolute Flash #4 by Jeff Lemire and A.L. Kaplan continues the story of teenager Wally West. Still on the run from the US Army after developing superspeed, Wally encounters several familiar friendly faces while scrounging for a meal. However, there are signs back at the military base he escaped that there are other people with strange powers.
(Image Source: DC / A. L. Kaplan)
While standing in line at a soup kitchen, Wally is approached by a skinny red-haired man in a purple shirt. He tells Wally that he runs a youth shelter and that he’s welcome to stay there. The man gives him a business card for the Dibny Mission and introduces himself as Ralph. This confirms his identity as Ralph Dibny, aka the world-famous Elongated Man.
On Earth-Prime, Elongated Man fought crime in Central City alongside the Barry Allen Flash. He was also one of the first superheroes to operate without a secret identity. This allowed him to openly marry heiress Sue Dearbon, who fell for the ductile detective after he saved her life at a gala event. Sue Dibny does not make an appearance in Absolute Flash #4, but this version of Ralph confirms he has a wife named Sue.
(Image Source: DC / A. L. Kaplan)
While staying at the shelter, Wally shares a meal with a girl named Linda Park, who assures him Ralph is as nice as he seems. On Earth-Prime, Linda Park was a reporter, who eventually married Wally West. She also confirms the town they are in as Iron Heights, which is also the name of the metahuman prison in Central City on Earth-Prime.
(Image Source: DC / A. L. Kaplan)
Meanwhile, back at Fort Fox, Wally’s father is dressed down by the base’s head of research. She is revealed to be a blonde woman named Dr. Elenore Thawne, who walks with a cane. Dr. Thawne is dismissive of Colonel West’s complaints that Barry Allen was responsible for hurting his son, describing Allen as “a truly brilliant man.” This hero-worship of Barry Allen, coupled with her apparent need for a cane seems to tease that this E. Thawne will be the Absolute Universe Reverse-Flash.
(Image Source: DC / A. L. Kaplan)
While examining the damage to the Fort Fox labs, Dr. Thawne walks through a section with several man-sized glass cages. Many of these broken cages are labeled with plaques, with names like “Project Wizard” and “Project Firestorm.” These would seem to be nods to the superhero Firestorm and The Flash villain Weather Wizard.
(Image Source: DC / A. L. Kaplan)
One of the plaques in the lab also makes mention of a test subject called Heat Wave. This is the codename of yet another classic Flash villain and part of the Rogues. The comic concludes with Wally West finding Heat Wave, apparently a man made of molten magma, hiding in the sewers of Iron Heights.
Absolute Flash #4 is now available at comic shops everywhere.