Absolute Wonder Woman #24 [Comic Review]

It’s safe to say Diana of the Wild Isle has been put through the ringer ever since she made her presence known in Gateway City all the way back in #1. Between the her mom getting abducted, Barbara being snatched up, the city in constant danger, and the gods playing games with her, we wouldn’t bat an eye if Diana fully gave into her rage.

For and Against the Gods

Hayden Sherman’s art has been one of the most inspiring highlights of this entire run. His visual take on the Absolute Greek gods has been nothing short of breathtaking. The giant eye of Zeus and the designs for Phobos and Deimos are no exceptions. Yes, you read that right. In this dark universe, Zeus is depicted as a giant all-seeing eye, which is understandably insane to witness as a mere mortal.

One of the best things about this version of Diana is how she instantly leaps into action whenever any innocent is threatened or in danger. That’s no different in #24, and she ends up facing off with twin demigods, Phobos and Deimos, who were actually pretending to be the big guy. The pair are freaky to look at with skulls for heads and giant man-bodies. They have the ability to read fear and exploit that to their advantage, which they did with Diana, throwing her off her game.

“Be clear of mind and free of fear,” Diana repeatedly says to herself, fighting off the twin horrors. (A line that feels extra poignant, considering “Lanterns” and its themes of being fearless are airing on HBO currently.) This run is doing an excellent job of putting a sharp focus on the struggle between gods and mortals; how the former is constantly playing games with the latter and continuously surprised when they fight back. Diana of Hell is a fantastic example of how “lesser” beings can eschew the gods’ will, forge a path all on their own, and build community with each other while doing it.

#24 really drives that home with Diana’s growing exasperation and anger at the trials she’s being put through. It also helps bridge the gap between her training in her younger years (still love that Absolute Artemis design so much) and how those lessons reverberate in the present.

Diana’s Evolving Relationships

Because the issue was so heavily focused on Diana’s tussle with the gods, the heart of story (her newly forged friendships) take a bit of a back seat, even though they are her primary motivations. Her pain over being forced to leave her friends behind is heart-wrenching and giving readers a look at a slightly darker Diana. Flashbacks show she’s worried about Barbara the most, which opens her up to the attack I mentioned earlier. Her friendship with Barbara is a sweet one, that sometimes leans very sapphic. Their connection has been built up beautifully over the course of two dozen issues, so the inevitable discovery of what the doctor has become is going to hit hard.

Meanwhile, Steve Trevor is just kind of around. It’s a bit of a waste of his character, honestly. I’m of the opinion that we don’t always need to include Steve in every single Wonder Woman story and his storyline in the AU is a great example of why. Because of his rigid training and militaristic sense of duty, he occasionally tries to persuade Diana off the path she’s already set on because of her typically unconventional measures. (This issue saw Diana grabbing cut up pieces of the Tetracide to make a fear antidote, much to Steve’s chagrin.) He seems to solely exist to tell her “no,” and then get on board with her plan anyway. I appreciate what he means to the mythos but I don’t think he’s needed in this story longterm.

The Cheetah Tease

At the very end, we finally get to see what Barbara Minerva’s version of Absolute Cheetah looks like and it’s a monster show. She does not look like the Priscilla Rich version, whatsoever. In fact, she looks like a werewolf/were-bat hybrid. It’s an incredibly ghoulish design, fit to instill nightmares in those prone to them. I’m eager to see what the design looks like not shrouded in shadows and I want to know why she doesn’t look anything like the first Cheetah. It’s delightfully grotesque and Diana’s face when she sees her is going to be painful.

Final Thoughts

Thompson hasn’t missed with AWW not even once. #24 is another great installment of the run and leaves the reader off with some big questions. What’s going to happen when Barbara and Diana see each other again? Why are the gods messing around in Gateway City? Is Veronica Cale going to get her revenge for Diana’s discovery? So many storylines branching out and each of them engaging, which isn’t always the case with an ensemble like this.

We’ll likely get some, not all, the answers in the upcoming “Absolute Wonder Woman” #25; here’s the rundown:

HERETIC TAKES A SHOCKING TURN AS THE ABSOLUTE CHEETAH ARRIVES! The world-shaking “Heretic” arc kicks into a new gear as Diana’s search for Barbara Minerva comes to a bloody end in a milestone oversized issue! Do not miss the debut of the devastating Absolute Cheetah — she’s not quite what anyone expected… which is the only way Barbara Minerva would have it!