REVIEW: ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ Issue #1

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is published by DC Comics. It is written by Kelly Thompson, with art by Hayden Sherman, colors by Jordie Bellaire, and letters by Becca Carey. This issue is part of the DC All-In relaunch and the new Absolute universe. A monster-hunting warrior princess has an entirely different upbringing from the one we know.

This origin story quickly and efficiently describes the difference between Absolute Wonder Woman and the classic Wonder Woman. It all stems from circumstance and upbringing. Diana is still raised in a place of love but in a world of monsters, hardship, and resilience. Those three attributes heavily influence the story. The monsters have since moved to the world of man, bringing Wonder Woman with them.

Greek mythology remains in this new timeline, but the relationship has drastically changed, and Amazons mean something different. Yet, despite the bundles of exposition, the pace is fantastic. It has heaps of energy that stems from the monster fights that are big and badass. Even when it slows to detail Diana’s backstory, that history is fascinating.

Even in a book that is filled with action, adrenaline, and adventure, Absolute Wonder Woman #1 still has a heart burning within it. Her mother significantly impacts her upbringing, one created by support and learning. This issue shows those formative periods when she was adored and taught about magic. However, another side to her still hasn’t been revealed, where she learned to fight.

The dialogue is fantastic in both the past and the present. As she fights against enormous monsters, Wonder Woman carries a presence and power. She radiates authority and strength, talking to human soldiers with the same tone as she would to the creatures. She has steel in her blade and steel in her voice.

The art is magnificent. Sherman makes every page hardcore. This Wonder Woman has been built for war. The new design is a mixture of history and fantasy. She covers herself in blood before she charges into battle. And on her back is a gigantic sword that would put most anime fighters to shame. In her first appearance, Diana has even more additions to her armor that set her apart from other versions across the multiverse.

The monsters Diana fights are all bigger than her, even when Wonder Woman herself is exceptionally tall. They look terrific, with unique attributes and bodies that look unlike before. Another part of Wonder Woman’s origin that changes is where she was brought up. Themyscira on the main Earth is a Paradise Island, but in this issue, Wonder Woman’s home is anything but. That completely alters how Wonder Woman is forged.

The colors are sensational. Red is the most prominent color in Absolute Wonder Woman #1 by far, present in both the heroes and villains of the book. It highlights the fire, ferocity, and intensity that Wonder Woman is raised in. She has never had comfort, solely pain, and challenges. However, flashes of purple represent the magic that helped teach and protect Wonder Woman in the early stages of her life.

The lettering is authentic and fantastic. There is a word that Circe is forbidden to say. So when she tries, the word is scribbled out. As a concept, it makes the removal of that word more raw, allowing the reader to see the inability to utter it. The magic spells are also incanted in a language that is impossible to understand, with its own symbols.

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 forges a heart out of heavy metal. While the fundamentals of what makes Wonder Woman so iconic are there, the circumstances have been replaced. It’s a hardcore monster-hunting book featuring a character working wonders in that world. The art captures the magnitude and the monstrosities on display, reinventing the warrior princess and heightening the warrior part.

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is available where comics are sold.