"New Flash Power Unlocked" As DC Upgrades Its Fastest Hero

DC's Absolute Universe reveals a new superpower Absolute Flash is adding to his repertoire. The Flash's abilities extend far beyond running at extraordinary speeds, as his connection to the Speed Force grants him comprehensive control over motion. Barry Allen, Wally West, and other Speedsters can phase through solid objects by vibrating their molecules, enable accelerated perception to react at impossible speeds, lend or steal speed from other people and objects, create powerful cyclones, and generate lightning, among other secondary and tertiary abilities. Wally West has taken many of these abilities even further by mastering Speed Force constructs, and reaching levels of movement that transcend conventional space and time.

DC's Absolute Universe has expanded the arsenals of many major heroes. Absolute Batman pairs Bruce Wayne's investigative brilliance with an enormous frame and specialized equipment that includes his battleaxe and his massive Batmobile tank. Absolute Superman's living cape is both his loyal companion and a multipurpose tool. Absolute Wonder Woman is a magic expert, and Absolute Martian Manhunter expands the DC powerhouse's already formidable telepathic abilities with heightened sensory perception that allows him to interpret the world through otherwise invisible cues.

Beyond replacing the Speed Force with the mysterious Still Force, DC's Absolute Universe features a surprisingly familiar take on Wally West's powers. However, Absolute Flash seems to be taking an ironically slow approach to its speedster's story, building up to Wally's godlike power set gradually.

Absolute Flash Develops Super Healing

Absolute Flash #17; Written By Jeff Lemire; Art By Haining & Adriano Lucas

After rushing to save Grodd from the Rogues, Wally West and Linda Park confront the Trickster and reveal to her that Grodd's father is the one running around mind-controlling people, not the young ape. During their conversation, they're all shocked to see that Wally's broken leg has already healed despite the hero's devastating injuries from his battle with Captain Cold. This is the moment where the Absolute Universe's Team Flash learns that the Flash possesses accelerated healing, which makes Wally West a much more efficient fighter than he himself believed.

The Absolute version of Wally West is much more hesitant to explore his full capabilities than the traditional Flash, which allows Jeff Lemire's Absolute Flash to build the hero's power gradually. So far, Absolute Wally West has learned he can access forms of advanced chronoperception, electrokinesis, and the Flash's iconic phasing abilities. Parallel to his prime universe counterpart, Wally West develops a rough sense of precognition that he barely understands how to control.

Absolute Flash Faces A Problem His Regular Counterpart Already Understands

The Flash Heals "Quickly, Not Correctly"

A speedster's accelerated metabolism allows damaged tissue to regenerate at a superhuman rate, but this advantage creates a dangerous race against time. If a fracture is left misaligned, the Flash's body may repair itself before doctors have the opportunity to correct the damage. Accelerated healing amplifies the consequences of inadequate medical care, and mistakes become permanent within minutes instead of weeks. This underappreciated aspect of Flash lore gives Speedsters one of their rare weaknesses, as it forces them to be extremely careful during battle and seek immediate and highly specialized treatment after serious injuries, at least in theory.

This limitation transforms one of a Speedster's greatest strengths into a practical limitation that can't be outrun. Wally West only realizes his broken leg has healed until after his injury disappeared, but he may owe that to the fact that his leg was bandaged in time. An unattended broken bone or severe internal trauma demands immediate intervention before the speedster's rapid recovery locks those injuries into place, potentially leaving him with long-term complications that require the painful process of rebreaking bones and resetting them.

Which of the Flash's powers is your favorite?

Absolute Flash #17 is now available from DC Comics