Absolute Wonder Woman #1 Is a Fiery Reclamation of What the Iconic Hero Represents (Review)

Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Wonder Woman #1!A new era of Wonder Woman redefines the icon in a new series. As DC Comics’s official canon goes “all-in” on a new storytelling initiative, the publisher has also crafted a new alternate world equivalent to the Ultimate Universe: the Absolute Universe. The past couple of weeks have seen DC roll out its new universe via brand-new number-ones for its new Trinity of Absolute Batman, Absolute Superman, and Absolute Wonder Woman.

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey arrives as part of the first wave of DC’s new Absolute Universe titles. Together, the creative team offers a Wonder Woman unlike any seen before on the page. The way the creative team delves into the world and character of Diana of Themyscira in terms of both storytelling and visuals makes for a masterpiece in the making.

These visuals and story work so well together, instantly gripping readers and illustrating exactly why Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is a winning achievement for DC Comics and superhero comics more broadly.

What Actually Happens in Absolute Wonder Woman #1?

A Radical Re-Envisioning of Wonder Woman’s Origins

This issue’s story flips focus between Wonder Woman’s origin story in the past and her current obstacle in the present. In the present, Absolute Wonder Woman #1 opens in Gateway City, which is plagued by an upside-down pyramid emitting red creatures from Hell. Wonder Woman enters the fray, as she uses her massive sword and her mastery of the dark arts to combat these creatures and then, eventually, the much larger Harbinger Prime. Wonder Woman’s fight with Harbinger Prime will spill into the next issue.

Meanwhile, as far as the past is concerned, Diana’s origin story opens on the wild isle of Hell, home (or, rather, prison) of the sorceress Circe. There, Crice is met by the God of the Sun, Apollo, who gifts her the princess of Themyscira, declaring Diana to be the last of the Amazons. Her race had been wiped out as punishment by Zeus for their crimes against the gods. Circe sees this gift as more of a burden – until the baby’s spark of super-strength intrigues her.

In return, Circe teaches the child dark magic from an early age. The prisoner of Hell raises Diana as an adopted daughter, ensuring that the girl is able to understand her surroundings, the creatures in her world, and her heritage as an Amazon to become the woman she is meant to be. Circe’s teachings mold Wonder Woman into the warrior she stands tall as today. In this universe, there is no Wonder Woman without Circe, and so it is necessary for Circe to take center stage in this issue.

Why Absolute Wonder Woman #1’s Story Works, Despite Its Wild New Take on Diana’s World

Classic Wonder Woman Enemy Circe Takes the Lead in a New Role

The entirety of Absolute Wonder Woman #1’s story is carried on Circe’s shoulders, as she takes more of a leading role in this issue than the title character. It’s Diana’s series, after all, so readers will have plenty of time to get to know the Absolute Princess of the Underworld in future issues. Present-day Diana is showcased mostly in action sequences, and so there isn’t a lot of room to get to know her through dialogue. Unless it’s her younger self in flashback form, the majority of Diana’s time on panel sees her speaking with her fists rather than words.

For her origin story, though, Circe is instrumental in helping readers understand who Diana is and how she came to be. Circe is as much an orator in this story as she is a character within it, offering the reader a lens into Diana’s growth. Before Diana can speak for herself, Circe speaks for her. Readers understand Diana and even warm up to her as Circe does the same. Circe is the emotional core of the story, and if she doesn’t resonate on the panel in the way she does (relatable, inspiring, and otherwise), then the whole issue falls apart.

What’s most interesting is how this feels like a unique means of offering Wonder Woman an origin story, yet it’s perfect for a world without Amazons. Making Diana the last of the Amazons, killing off her race before she gets a chance to grow up with them, is a bold choice. Traditionally, Wonder Woman’s character is formed by the sisterhood she builds with the Amazons. However, turning that sisterhood theme into one about motherhood by making Circe Wonder Woman’s sole family still manages to strike an emotional chord.

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 Is Action-Packed, Earning Its Place as the Best of Superhero Storytelling

Variant Cover by Wes Craig

There is so much to praise about Absolute Wonder Woman’s story, but it would be remiss not to mention Sherman’s striking visuals, especially during the action sequences. For what readers still need to learn about Wonder Woman’s character in the present day, readers learn all they need to know about how efficient she is as a fighter. The fight sequences are character-driven without Diana having to say a word – unless it’s a spell, of course. Readers learn about Absolute Wonder Woman’s determination, resilience, and compassion through her fight.

Outside of what can be inferred from Diana’s battle tactics, the action sequences are just wholly exciting. The issue does not skip a beat from the get-go, kicking things off by plunging readers and Wonder Woman directly into the thick of battle. Before readers even fully understand what’s going on, they have miscellaneous critics flying out of the page at every turn, with Wonder Woman effortlessly swinging her blade and spewing effective spells. It’s both intriguing and exhilarating to witness it play out on the page in real-time.

How Absolute Wonder Woman #1 Reshapes an Icon in the Best Way Possible

Variant Cover by Dan Panosian

Wonder Woman, at her core, has always been about empowerment. In whatever form she takes, Wonder Woman’s story is about empowering women. Because the mainline Wonder Woman has always had a specific look and shape to her, it’s forced some critics to dispute and even skewer the feminist message behind Wonder Woman. It’s why Wonder Woman was dropped as an equality champion by the United Nations – all because critics dispute if any woman truly could be Wonder Woman.

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 reinforces the original message and defiantly reiterates that, yes, anyone can be Wonder Woman. Not only because this character design by Sherman is one of the more visually different versions of Wonder Woman to ever be seen on the page, but because she has such a distinctly different background. Wonder Woman doesn’t always have to be created by a community of women, but one sole woman with a strong will and values that can be passed down. This Wonder Woman doesn’t have a star-spangled-banner or a Lasso of Truth, but a blade and some magic still does the trick.

This version of Wonder Woman strips the namesake of her most visually recognizable traits and reinforces the internal traits that truly make up the character and, for decades, have inspired women around the globe to follow her march. As the series continues to flesh out and reveal who Absolute Wonder Woman is, yes, her differences will stand out, but if she continues to uphold the values that made the original a staple, then Absolute Wonder Woman can have just as much of an impact on hearts and minds. Absolute Wonder Woman #1’s art and writing is a winning combination for everyone.

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is available now from DC Comics.