Absolute Flash #16 hits comic shops on Wednesday, June 17, and thrusts Wally West into a mystery at S.T.A.R. Labs while the Rogues race to capture the psychic gorilla Grodd and his dying father. The issue also delivers a heartbreaking flashback that explains Grodd’s hatred of humanity.

Grodd’s Father’s Sacrifice Reveals Tragic Origin

The preview pages show a young Grodd in Montevale, Colorado, picking up a mouse and asking, “Friend,” just as armed soldiers arrive. In a split‑second decision, Grodd’s father steps in, taking the bullets meant for his son. according to the source report, this self‑less act seeds the ape’s deep‑seated contempt for humans and frames his later villainy.

Rogues Mobilize to Capture Grodd in Colorado

Led by Captain Cold ,the Rogues have returned with a new mission: secure both Grodd and his father before the duo can dominate Colorado. The source notes that the gang’s signature cold‑based weaponry will be deployed, turning a typical heist into a potential apocalypse for the state.

Wally West’s S.T.A.R. Labs Hunt Leads to Detroit Confrontation

Parallel to the Rogues’ chase, Wally West races to a Detroit S.T.A.R.. labs facility, desperate for answers about the mysterious founders of the lab and his own deteriorating powers. The source says Wally experiences spontaneous combustion, a side efect of his faulty memory and tenuous link to the Speed Force, raising the stakes for his investigation.

Variant Cover by Chuma Hill Boosts Collectibility

Collectors will note a limited‑edition variant cover illustrated by Chuma Hill, adding a visual hook to an already high‑profile issue. the artwork, praised in the source, promises to become a sought‑after piece for fans of the Absolute Flash series.

Who Really Founded S.T.A.R. Labs?

The narrative teases a hidden agenda behind S.T.A.R. Labs’ founders, but the source does not identify any names or motives, leaving readers to wonder whether the lab’s origins tie directly to Grodd’s emergence.