REVIEW: ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ Issue 7

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7 is published by DC Comics. Written by Kelly Thompson, art and colours by Mattia de Iulis and letters by Becca Carey.

In Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7, Wonder Woman fights in Hades’ arena, battling for the freedom of herself and her mother. This chapter is another piece of Ancient Greek exploration in the Absolute Universe. It has a wonderful structure. A visceral gladiatorial bout unfolds in the arena.

Wonder Woman faces a tiger/chimera creature, and there are huge consequences if she loses. Her mother is held prisoner by Hades, but both will be forced to stay. In the past, Circe tells Diana a story about a princess and a tiger. Over time, Diana ponders the story’s meaning and her place within it.

The structure moves from the fight and its intensity to a new stage of the young woman’s life, still questioning the story. It gives this issue iron and a soul at the same time. The pacing is slow but brilliant. Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7 feels huge and spacious, like an epic tale in the legend of Wonder Woman. The story is again steeped in a mix of old and new mythology, with more Greek figures being brought to life.

Every fight in this series has a meaning beyond just violence, and Thompson is always finding new avenues to generate weight. In a comic filled with gods and the Underworld, Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7 still has a beating heart. The ending rewards the readers and the characters, creating powerful enemies that will hold a grudge for eternity.

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7 is all about mothers and daughters, with a little bit of legend thrown in. More members of Greek Mythology make an appearance, namely Persephone. There is a soft touch to her speech, which is a terrific contrast to the harsh, bloodthirsty nature of Hades. Wonder Woman has so many layers, and Thopson understands and nails each one. She can fight and kill and battle, but she doesn’t want to. She is compassionate, even towards those she’s in battle with.

Those moments spent with Circe, where she grows up and learns, are so important to this story because they give her dimensions and show her as a daughter, not a monster hunter. There is a tenderness by the end of the Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7, with some aching dialogue that demonstrates how loving and caring the protagonist is. But that fuels a rage that rivals that of every other god in the comic.

It’s a justified rage that stems from unjust behavior. It leads to a speech that belittles and devastates those it’s aimed at, the first time we have ever seen this universe’s Wonder Woman do such a thing. But it’s empowering and completely awesome.

De Iulis continues as the artist in Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7, and creates another spectacle. The battle in the Arena of the Damned is bloody, brutal and set in a terrific location. The chimera she battles is bigger than Wonder Woman and wonderfully designed. Part tiger, part mountain goat and part snake, there is so much detail within it.

Persephone’s design is the best of any of the Greek Gods so far. She is radiant and friendly, and tells so many stories just by her appearance. The size of the gods is awe-inspiring. However, De Iulius shows more than just Greek legends. The artist shows Diana as she grows, turning from a little girl into a muscled monster slayer. She also goes from being heartbroken to furious in a heartbeat, and the display of her power is phenomenal.

The colors are gorgeous. Each god is assigned a color that resonates from them. Hades is bright blue. And it is more clear now that every soul in the Underworld looks like their lord, with a sea of blue flames flickering with the deep red background of the arena. Persephone is green, representing growth, nature and Spring. Wonder Woman is shrouded in red, covering the entire battlefield. But by the end of the issue, she is radiating it herself, as the rage threatens to consume her. The lettering is easy to read, even within the custom word balloons depicting the gods’ voices.

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7 forces Diana to put on a show. She’s compelled to perform, fighting for the pleasure of her master. From the beginning of the book to the end, there is an exhilarating fight scene. But that is interspersed with moments of peace and calm that provide Wonder Woman with the soul that ultimately aids her more than the muscles in her arms.

As a spectacle, it has been an adventure and a privilege to see De Iulis’ Underworld and wider world of Greek mythology; it’s a true retelling with stunning art, but at the heart of the comic is the unbreakable bond between a daughter and her mother.

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 7 is available where comics are sold.