DC Just Killed one of the most iconic villains
A prominent Flash enemy is killed in Absolute Flash #17, but he's already set to return.
Gorilla Grodd is dying in Absolute Flash #17, but don't expect the Flash's most iconic villain to stay dead for long.
The upcoming issue will see Grodd fall to the Trickster in what appears to be a major turning point for the Absolute universe storyline. But here's the twist: the real antagonist pulling strings all along is Grodd's own father, who becomes the true final threat before his defeat.
It's a classic comics move—kill the familiar face, reveal the deeper enemy—except DC Studios already has other plans. James Gunn and Peter Safran announced that Gorilla Grodd will return in an upcoming Superman spinoff series, which means his death in the Flash book is less of an ending and more of a narrative pivot.
The Absolute line has been DC's playground for reimagining core characters with fresh creative teams and harder edges. This Grodd storyline fits that mandate: it's willing to shake up expectations around one of the Flash's most recognizable foes, even if the larger DC Studios slate has resurrection already built in.
If you've been following the Absolute Flash run, this is the kind of story beat that resets the board entirely. Whether Grodd's return in the Superman project happens before or after his apparent death here will likely determine how much weight this moment actually carries—but for now, Absolute Flash #17 is where the immediate reckoning happens.
Source: CBR
