I Called It! DC Will Connect Its Absolute Universe and We Finally Know How
It was only a matter of time until the heroes of DC’s new Absolute Universe would meet—and now we know how it will happen. The publisher’s Absolute imprint has been a hit with critics and fans, thanks to the dark and twisted visions of DC’s biggest icons it presents. So far, these heroes have been working separately, but an inevitable team-up is on the horizon.
Absolute Flash writer Jeff Lemire took to his Substack to answer fan questions about the upcoming book, which will be drawn by Nick Robles. Absolute Flash begins with a shocking premise: there are no other Flashes–just Wally West. A fan asked Lemire if the Absolute titles would one day connect. Lemire had this to say:
Yes. Scott, Kelly, Jason, Deniz, Al and myself meet every other week virtually to plan out the larger Absolute Universe. We are thinking far ahead and there is a plan in place for these characters to eventually connect. We don’t want to rush anything and we want to make these eventual meeting matter.
I will say that the first seeds of a bigger connection between titles happens at the end of Absolute Flash #1 and that leads into the Free Comic Book Day story that I wrote where we see all the Absolute characters between the same cover for the first time.
Absolute Flash will join an already stacked roster of DC heroes getting the Absolute treatment, such as Batman and Wonder Woman.
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It Was Only a Matter of Time Before DC's Absolute Heroes Came Together
DC’s Absolute Universe titles have been a breath of fresh air for both the publisher and comics as a whole. All the books in the imprint are built around one central idea: that the heroes do not have their usual advantages. For example, Batman does not have any wealth, Wonder Woman was raised in Hell and Wally West is the only Flash. The Absolute Earth, created in the wake of Darkseid’s death in the DC All-In Special, is a dark, grim place. If any world needed heroes, it is this one.
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All of DC’s new Absolute heroes are, right now, independent operators, and the books have not yet concerned themselves with “connecting the dots” between characters. Despite this, fans could not help but to wonder when these heroes would actually meet, and form the Absolute Justice League. Thus far, every Absolute hero that DC has introduced has been a founding member of the League. It only seemed natural they would eventually meet, and Lemire confirmed this would be happening. Lemire did not say the words “Justice League,” but it was strongly implied it was them.
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Jeff Lemire did not give a timetable on when to expect Absolute Justice League, saying he and his creative colleagues on the books did not want to “rush anything.” This means fans could see the book by the summer, or by year’s end. Alternately, Absolute Justice League may not come out until next year. This may seem like a long wait to some, but Lemire’s reasoning for the delay is sound. Lemire stated he and his collaborators wanted these first meetings “to matter.” The wait for the book may be long, but it will be worth it.
It is highly fitting that the Flash might be the one to bring the Absolute version of the Justice League to life. The Flash has been central to the history of both the DC Universe and comics in general. Barry Allen’s first appearance in Showcase #4 launched the Silver Age of Comics, and his sacrifice in Crisis on Infinite Earths #8 marked the beginning of a darker period. If the Flash can unite the Absolute versions of Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman and Green Lantern together as the Absolute Justice League, then he has again earned a spot in history.
Absolute Flash #1 is on sale March 19 from DC Comics.
Source: Jeff Lemire
