WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for Absolute Flash #1!
As a Gen Z comic reader, I’ve always wanted to dive into Flash comics but ultimately gave up due to the overwhelming amount of content. Luckily, I finally had the chance to explore Wally West with the recent debut of Absolute Flash. To my surprise, this has become my favorite Absolute title yet. And I think it comes down to the fact that this version of Wally feels more relatable to my generation than any hero I’ve encountered.
Absolute Flash #1, by Jeff Lemire, Nick Robles, Adriano Lucas, and Tom Napolitano, has officially been released, and while I was excited for this series, I never could have anticipated how much I would love it. As a die-hard Wonder Woman fan who’s been enjoying Kelly Thompson’s Absolute Wonder Woman series, Absolute Flash has taken the top spot as my favorite Absolute title.
Beyond the epic visuals and Lemire’s wildly fun and suspenseful storytelling, what really stands out is how this version of Wally resonates with me and my generation. It’s a connection with an A-list hero I’ve never experienced before.
Wally West Is a Walking Gen-Z Vibe (Exhibit A: The Revived Mullet)
Comic Page Comes From Jeff Lemire’s Absolute Flash #1 (2025) – Art by Nick Robles
One of the things that stood out to me most about Wally West is his character design, which I’m absolutely obsessed with. I love how Nick Robles and Adriano Lucas have stayed true to Wally’s classic look, giving him his signature red hair, green eyes, and a generous amount of freckles. It makes him feel familiar, even though this is an unexplored version of the character. At the same time, I love how the two creatives modernize his design, giving him a style that fits right in with any young Gen Zer—clunky headphones, an oversized hoodie, sweatpants, a fanny pack, and sneakers.
Related
Absolute Flash’s Design Is Officially Revealed, Reimagining Wally West for a New Generation
Wally West’s punk rock redesign for DC’s upcoming Absolute Universe proves that this new Flash will be the perfect superhero for Gen Z comic readers.
The pièce de résistance for me, though, is Wally’s mullet and double-pierced ears. I’ll admit that the male ear piercings and mullet definitely have their roots in the ‘80s—my father can attest to that. However, Gen Z also embraced these trends and made them our own, so this style screams Gen Z to me rather than ‘80s. The Gen Z vibe becomes even more apparent when you consider the Bluetooth headphones Wally wears, a modern technology that grounds this character as a Gen Z kid rather than an ‘80s kid who would have been sporting a Walkman instead.
Wally West & Gen Share One Arch-Nemesis: ANXIETY
Comic Pages Come From Jeff Lemire’s Absolute Flash #1 (2025) – Art by Nick Robles
While I absolutely love the Gen Z-inspired fashion trends Wally is sporting, what really makes him a poster child for Generation Z is his anxiety. As troubling as it is, anxiety has become a defining mental health issue for my generation, with studies from organizations like the American Psychological Association showing that Gen Zers are more anxious than previous generations. Seeing an A-list hero struggle with anxiety helps ground him as a character and makes him more relatable than ever.
Related
The Flash’s Powers Are Lowkey Terrifying, And DC Is Finally Ready to Explore That Ugly Truth
Forget everything you know about The Flash—DC is wiping the slate clean and taking things back to the very beginning with its newest Flash narrative.
As much as I hate to see Wally suffer through his panic attacks and anxiety, I deeply appreciate the representation it provides. It truly sets this interpretation of the character apart from others. While I can’t speak for all of Gen Z, I believe many of us will see ourselves in Wally during those moments of pure panic that leave you breathless with fear. And to be clear, this isn’t to say that Gen Z has a monopoly on anxiety—anyone from any generation can suffer from it. Still, this added detail makes Wally especially relatable to Gen Zers.
Did Absolute Flash Just Become My Favorite Absolute Title? Yes, It Did
Comic Page Comes From Jeff Lemire’s Absolute Flash #1 (2025) – Art by Nick Robles
To be clear, I’ve loved every Absolute title DC has released so far, and I’ve been completely obsessed with Absolute Wonder Woman. So, it feels almost blasphemous to admit that Absolute Flash has now claimed the top spot as my favorite title. While my ability to relate to the character in a way I never have before plays a big part, my love for Absolute Flash goes far beyond just relatability. This first issue is simply phenomenal—packed with twists (like Barry’s death and the mysterious suit he was wearing) and epic reimaginings of characters I once had little interest in but now can’t get enough of (see: Zaddy Captain Cold). Needless to say, I can’t wait to see where this creative team takes Flash next.
Related
DC Finally Unleashes the Flash’s New Rogues, Making Some of Them… Hot??
Absolute Flash has finally arrived, and if there’s one takeaway from this issue, it’s that Flash’s Rogues got an upgrade in both looks and power.
ABSOLUTE FLASH #1 s available now from DC Comics!
