REVIEW: ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ Issue 10

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10 is published by DC Comics. Written by Kelly Thompson, with art by Hayden Sherman, colors by Jordie Bellaire and letters by Becca Carey.

There are two parts to this issue, both of which occur within the same location. The first half of Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10 is the escape, taking place immediately after the previous issue. Wonder Woman has to try and get Petra the siren out of the labyrinth, whilst Ferdinand the Minotaur helps.

It’s a noble quest, featuring powerful and emotional sacrifice. The pace goes from 0 to 100 very quickly as Wonder Woman takes off running. Splitting the present day is an incredible confrontation between a young Diana and the next in line of Greek gods: Artemis.

Not only is the battle dramatic and emotional, especially considering Diana’s youth, but it also leads to a profound contemplation of the creation of Wonder Woman and the heart and soul that are so crucial to the entire story. The constant switching between the past and the present is fantastic in Thompson’s work, as it freshens the story and maintains interest, while continually building and expanding the world and mythology.

When we return to the labyrinth, everything has changed. Wonder Woman gets deep inside, and her opponents have to use sneaky methods to get the upper hand. It changes the entire landscape and makes for a fascinating finale when returning to the same location.

Having the two versions of Wonder Woman, from her younger self to the modern day, means you get to see the events that shaped her personality. Her defiance in the face of gods and other huge figures hasn’t changed. The confrontation with Artemis is phenomenally written.

All of the gods have an arrogant, ancient authority about them, yet it doesn’t matter to Diana. She is brave and resilient, but will not fight for no reason. She needs something to defend to feel the pressure to fight. That battle comes, and the reasons why are both adorable and heartfelt. Every life is sacred and important to Diana.

As this happens, Hecate is speaking with Circe about the reasons behind Diana’s creation: her kindness and her purity. The nature vs nurture debate is adapted to a divine level, and Thompson’s script is stunning. Wonder Woman‘s truthful and serious tone keeps a calm quality throughout Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10.

Her narration is brilliant and pivotal to explain what’s happening in the heat of battle. She’s intelligent and we can see her run through options, reassuring and reasoning with herself. Both her might and her heart make everyone, even immortals, stop and regard her with awe and respect.

The art is magnificent, with two different styles and visuals in Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10. The first is very familiar, leading straight from the last issue. The fight against freakish fish-men had so much chaos. There’s a seemingly endless amount of the minions, skin crawling in their design. Then comes Artemis, awe-inspiring and surprising. She is a panther, gigantic and fearsome in size, with a face covered in blood—the blood dribbles and seeps, dripping everywhere as the big cat god ponders around the little Amazon.

Diana is only small, with armor and an axe that looks far too big for her. She looks like she’s playing at being a warrior. But then they start fighting, and her ferocity and worthiness of wielding that weapon become clear. But in the final act of Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10, the art gets trippy and psychedelic. Wonder Woman’s perception and mind warp, and the bodies become wobbly masses; the panel shapes themselves twist and morph. It stops the Labyrinth from becoming a tedious area, especially when it would have been a repeat of the start of the issue otherwise.

The colors get progressively brighter and more engrossing the deeper we get into Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10. It’s dark and gloomy to start with, with no light inside the tight hallways of the maze. In the confrontation with Artemis, there’s a celestial purple that surrounds the page and glows from the eternal being’s eyes.

Then, in the final part of Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10, the pages are awash with color. The walls and the figures around Wonder Woman are almost luminescent with how bright they become, shining due to what’s flowing through Diana’s system. The lettering is very clear, even when it bends on the latter pages.

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10 adds layers to the labyrinth. Even though these issues spend a lot of time in the maze, Thompson makes a conscious effort always to add something new and unexpected to keep readers hooked. The minotaur is friendly, the siren is a mystery, and there are scarier creatures further in. The flow between the stories is seamless, overlapping across issues to make you want to keep buying. And the flashbacks have meaning and wealth, revealing the faces of gods that are always unexpected and rewarding.

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 10 is available where comics are sold.