Jeez, tough crowd. Not every character is receiving a lengthy arc in DC Comics‘ legendary, and rapidly growing, Absolute Universe. Some, unfortunately, are only slated to last about as long as it takes readers to do a slow blink, as evidenced in an upcoming edition.
Absolute Flash is the latest in the Absolute Universe to find its footing, currently prepping for Absolute Flash #17 — when Wally West will meet one of The Flash’s most powerful supervillains. The catch is the supervillain in question, Gorilla Grodd, isn’t at full form yet, creating a bit of a twist.
It’s the kind of twist that has helped define everything from Absolute Batman to Absolute Superman and everything in-between, but also the kind that put Gorilla Grodd on the shelf for good shortly after he was introduced to the Absolute Flash series.
- Writer: Jeff Lemire
- Art: Haining
- Cover art: Nick Robles
- Colorist: Adriano Lucas
- Letterer: Tom Napolitano
- Length: 28 pages
- Price: $4.99 US
- Cover date: Sept. 2026
- UPC: 76194138792501711
Gorilla Grodd Killed — Swiftly — by Absolute Flash
Per the official release: “CAN GRODD BE SAVED? The Flash and the Rogues work to liberate Colorado from Grodd’s control, but can they save Grodd as well as the town?”
A bit of context is in order here. Grodd, in Absolute Flash, isn’t a bad guy. His father is, however, and is the actual Gorilla Grodd that Wally West has to put down for the sake of everyone, including the young Grodd.
“Absolute Flash had established that Grodd, the primate test subject who gains telepathic abilities and becomes Wally West’s loyal friend, is an inherently benevolent character,” explains Nicolas Ayala, a reviewer from our good friends over at ScreenRant. “Then, Absolute Flash #16 introduced the real Gorilla Grodd, Grodd’s father, who holds a deep hatred for the humans that hurt him and whose incredibly powerful telepathy is capable of neutralizing entire crowds.”
He continued: “Only one issue later, Absolute Flash #17 sees the Trickster murder the elder Grodd after sparing Grodd Jr.’s life at Wally West and Linda Parker’s request.
James Gunn Will Bring Gorilla Grodd Back in Superman Spinoff
That’s a tough break for Gorilla Grodd, but he’ll be back — that much is promised by James Gunn and Peter Safran.
Safran, the co-CEO of DC Studios alongside Gunn, recently provided much-needed clarity on the upcoming Superman spinoff series involving The Daily Planet reporter Jimmy Olsen, stating that the series isn’t actually centered around Olsen at all. The true headliner for it is Gorilla Grodd, one of the most formidable foes The Justice League has ever come across.
“We’ve talked about the Gorilla Grodd show for HBO that we’ll start shooting this year,” Safran said. “That’s big news, by the way. I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
And yet he did say it, instantly bringing Grodd out of the shadows and ending a live-action hiatus that’s lasted since his appearances in CW’s The Flash series. The character has also reportedly already been cast, so it appears Grodd will get the last laugh here.
- Writer
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Scott Snyder
- Penciler
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Gabriel Hernandez Walta, Nick Dragotta
- Colorist
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Frank Martin
- Publisher(s)
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DC
