The Flash possesses one of the coolest superpowers in DC's canon, and he owes his abilities to the Speed Force. Thanks to this energy source, Wally West and the rest of the Flash family can tap into superhuman speeds and form deeper bonds with one another. However, the Absolute Universe might be eliminating the Speed Force from the Flash's narrative, overhauling the iconic foundation of his powers.
Jeff Lemire has shared hints about his new Absolute Flash series, co-created with Nick Robles, in his Substack newsletter. Among these is the shocking reveal that the Flash's power source is potentially being replaced. According to Lemire, "The Speed Force may not exist in the Absolute Universe."
The Speed Force is a staple of Flash lore that's been essential to his stories for decades, so its erasure marks a huge shift for the character. Absolute Flash's powers will likely differ from what fans are familiar with, as the Speed Force's existence is called into question in DC's reinvented continuity.
The Flash Won't Be Powered by the Speed Force in His Reboot
Absolute Flash #1 Variant Cover by Clayton Crain
For the uninitiated, the Speed Force is what grants the Flash - and every other member of the Flash family - super-speed. Introduced to DC lore in 1994's The Flash #91 by Mark Waid and Mike Wieringo, this mysterious force has been an enigma for decades, with all that's known for certain about its true nature being the fact that it imbues conduits with speed. The Speed Force keeps the Flash connected to his fellow speedsters and his loved ones, pulling him back from the brink of death numerous times and helping him become the hero he is today.
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In The Flash #11 by Simon Spurrier and Ramón Pérez, the Flash's powers are a product of the love he feels, granting his speed a heartfelt new meaning. Now, the Absolute Universe will be doing away with these lore changes and the recently unveiled origin of the Flash's abilities, and there's no telling how different the Flash's skill-set will be in Lemire and Robles' re-imagining.
DC Is Overhauling the Flash's Powers Ahead of His Absolute Universe Debut
Absolute Flash #1 Variant Cover by Dan Panosian
After being defined by the Speed Force for years, the Flash will soon need to navigate his speed without it. Through this change, his abilities are once again a mystery. Lemire may be turning back to the clock to a simpler time, when the Flash's speed wasn't tied to a cosmic being beyond human understanding. Adversely, the Flash's revamped power source could lean even further into the supernatural, since the Absolute Universe is much darker due to Darkseid's death influencing its creation. Regardless of how his origin unfolds, the Flash's super-speed is getting a major rewrite for the Absolute Universe in the Speed Force's absence.
Absolute Flash #1 is available March 19th, 2025 from DC Comics!
Source: Substack
- Alias
- Jay Garrick, Barry Allen, Wally West, Bart Allen, Avery Ho
- Created By
- Gardner Fox, Harry Lampert, Carmine Infantino
- Franchise
- D.C.
- Race
- Human
- First Appearance
- Flash Comics
- Alliance
- Justice Society of America, Justice League, Teen Titans
The Flash is the superhero name given to the DC Comics character who utilizes unparalleled speed tied to a dimensional power known as the "speed force" to overwhelm their opposition. Premiering in 1939, the original Flash arrived as Jay Garrick. Still, it would be superseded by Barry Allen in popularity and featured status, but the Flash is one character that has met many of their alternate selves. The character is typically seen as a part of the Justice League in nearly all incarnations.
