REVIEW: ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ Issue 17

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17 is published by DC Comics. Written by Kelly Thompson, art by Hayden Sherman, colors by Jordie Bellaire, and letters by Becca Carey.

Wonder Woman has a showdown with the Suicide Squad, including Zatanna and Giganta.

This issue starts with a very immobile hero, which is a very different approach for this series. Wonder Woman has had her magic and her words stolen by Zatanna, who needs them for her own plans. It’s a steady start to Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17 that lays out the battle’s circumstances. Both those included in the fight and those watching are drawn into the issue, with Diana in the middle. But in a matter of a few pages, the curse is lifted, and an incredible fight erupts.

What makes Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17 intriguing is the fact that Diana has to battle multiple enemies. There’s an onslaught, with magic, science, and giantess all clambering to try and kill her. It’s brutal and dangerous. Not for Diana, though; she’s always capable of beating the villains. But in the open, with Barbara near her, there are vulnerabilities.

There is a frantic nature to Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17 as soon as the battle starts, as well as an escalation. Wonder Woman finds the spell to match the size of Giganta repeatedly. This literally increases the book’s scale, with huge, destructive consequences.

The fury of an Amazon is very much prevalent in Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17, but it doesn’t overshadow her heart. When she’s frozen under Zatanna’s control, she becomes exceedingly violent. This feels well with a sorceress who has only been gentle and kind to Diana. She didn’t even want to hurt Wonder Woman, just to prevent the Amazon from hurting her. As for the others, they are less considerate.

So when Diana regains her own powers and movement, she doles out lessons of her own. She desperately tries to remove those who don’t want to be there, highlighting her kindness and her desire to fight only when necessary. She’s never intending to inflict violence on those who don’t deserve it, always looking for resolutions instead of beatings. But Giganta is aggressive and ready for a fight, so Diana responds in kind. This entire issue is a terrific example of the protagonist’s priorities and what makes her special.

The art in Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17 showcases restraint and release simultaneously. When Wonder Woman is kept still by magical means, Sherman shows her straining to try to fight. You can tell she really wants to throw a punch, and her body is betraying her. Zatanna stays close, within arm’s reach of the Amazon. But she’s comfortable, fully aware of how helpless the Amazon is. When Wonder Woman is free, her eyes narrow and she’s ready to fight back. She alternates between kindness and defiance brilliantly, as evidenced by her posture.

Giganta is, well, gigantic, with amazing muscles and an incredible head of hair that presents her as even bigger. There are also versions of Cheetah and an aquatic creature. It leads to a wide variety of ways Wonder Woman is attacked, forcing her to adapt. It leads to Diana actually being given a beating, which is very rare.

Sherman plays with scale wonderfully as Diana and Giganta grow in size in Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17. The location moves from inside a museum to transforming the combatants into the same size as the buildings. There’s still magic, but the story transitions into a slugfest.

The colors are intense, using a variety of shades to convey magic. Blue, red, green, and purple are all seen in the first selection of pages. The changes in tone maintain a high energy and keep readers interested. The vibrancy of the magic, and of both Wonder Woman’s bright, blue eyes and Giganta’s orange hair, stand out among other shades that could be considered natural and purposefully dull. The lettering is especially intriguing because of Zatanna’s presence. When she casts Stella, the words are reversed and colored blue, making it clear that the text will directly affect the plot.

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17 explores so many aspects of Diana’s personality. What sets her apart from the other titleholders in the Absolute Universe is her sense of control. Batman and Superman are both angry individuals who unleash their rage with explosive means. If this group faced the Dark Knight or the Kryptonian, there would be much more blood. But Wonder Woman is much more considered and composed, delivering her rage in measured ways than signaling greater experience. But the battles she does partake in are equally engaging and energetic as the other two.

Absolute Wonder Woman Issue 17 is available now wherever comics are sold.