It’s hard to believe that Wonder Woman has been around for almost eighty-five years. Over the years, the strong willed hero Diana has evolved from a bold fantasy icon in World War II to various iterations of female power tangled in a range of artistic expressions that both support and undercut these ideals. In addition to decades of comics, Wonder Woman has appeared on television, in live action series, in a variety of cartoons, and, most recently, in big screen films. In most versions of the character’s story, Diana is a born as an Amazon princess, raised on an idyllic hidden island of strong women who pursue intellectual as well as physical strength, but most of all, maintain their isolation from the rest of the world. Diana’s life is changed when an American pilot crashes on her island and Diana rescues him and soon finds herself drawn into the problems of the rest of the world. She becomes a champion for humanity, particularly in America, fighting evil humans as well as supernatural creatures, while trying to fit in with modern American culture.
Absolute Wonder Woman is a part of a new D.C. Comics series which reimagines our favorite Justice League superheroes with very different and far more bleak backstories. Written and designed by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Mattia De Iulis, and Jordie Bellaire, Absolute Wonder Woman shows Diana’s journey to heroism starting from a very an unexpected origin: life in the underworld. The story is collected in two volumes, The Last Amazon and As My Mothers Made Me. Both volumes are told in both the present time and in flashbacks which reveal elements of Diana’s upbringing and elements of her unique character. Both stories dive straight into the action without much backstory and then pause to show unexpected memories that tell the hero’s story.
The Last Amazon
The Last Amazon opens with an attack of monsters on Gateway City. The attack is terrifying but Diana warns it’s only the beginning of a larger attack by a mega-monster known at the Tetracide. Then we get her backstory. Unlike other versions of the Wonder Woman story, Diana was stolen from her mother's home on Themyscira, as a baby, and thrown into the underworld where she is left with an angry witch named Circe who lives in an area of hell called the Wild Isle. Even as a toddler, Diana shows the ability to fight off lethal creatures but can also show them unexpected kindness. Circe is initially indifferent to the child but grows to love her as she raises her in the desolate, monstrous environment. But as a young woman, Diana’s difficult but loving world is changed when an American pilot, Steve Trevor, is transported into hell and attacked by a hydra. When Diana saves him they become friends and she makes a stunning sacrifice to send him back to the world of the living. Later she arrives in his home, Gateway City, to fight of the attacking Tetracide. Aiding her are Steve, his assistant Etta Candy, Etta’s sister Gia, and historian Barbara. The story moves back and forth between the present time and flashbacks to the Diana’s childhood. The Greek gods are regular elements of the story and participants in the adventures. The Tetracide is an interesting antagonist since its power lies not just in its physical strength but also in its ability to affect people’s emotions. To deal with it, Diana comes up with an outrageous plan with dangerous consequences for herself and others.
Although the primary story is filled with action and intensity, the characters are mostly developed via the more slowly paced backstories. We see Circe’s wise influence on Diana. And, we see Diana’s own moral determination from a young age as well as her feeling of spiritual connection to a culture from which she was cut off. In addition to the serious dialogue and the heavy emotions, the story is interspersed with nice moments of humor that humanize the characters and ground readers in the contrast between our everyday reality and the world of gods and monsters. For example, when Diana does an intense, Greek mythology interspersed, explanation of her need to replace her severed arm Gia responds simply by saying, “Arms are…good to have.”
Steve’s character is appealing and supportively green flag throughout the adventure. He is brave without being egotistical, morally strong while being emotionally honest and vulnerable. Despite his ties to the closed-minded government bureaucracy, it is clear that Steve is squarely in Diana’s corner and trusts, supports, and relies on her. There is no overtly romantic dynamic expressed or at issue in the narrative but the two are uniquely bonded. In one tense scene, Steve expresses his gratitude for Diana before choosing to stand with her when she is in a very physically dangerous mental state. It’s a sweet moment of connection after a lot of fighting and intensity.
Steve’s character is appealing and supportively green flag throughout the adventure. He is brave without being egotistical, morally strong while being emotionally honest and vulnerable. Despite his ties to the closed-minded government bureaucracy, it is clear that Steve is squarely in Diana’s corner and trusts, supports, and relies on her. There is no overtly romantic dynamic expressed or at issue in the narrative but the two are uniquely bonded. In one tense scene, Steve expresses his gratitude for Diana before choosing to stand with her when she is in a very physically dangerous mental state. It’s a sweet moment of connection after a lot of fighting and intensity.
Visually, Steve is drawn in a way that is so neutral and minimalist that he almost blends into the scenes. Although he is beloved, the visual and narrative focus is on Diana, who is portrayed in a boldly pragmatic design that is solid, and powerful. Rather than the often used red, white, and blue strapless swimsuit style seen in other versions of the character, Diana’s main outfit in Absolute Wonder Woman is drawn as tough battle gear that fully covers her, including muted red pants with weapons holsters and a matching top with battle armor layers, heavy black over-the-knee boots, arm pads and gauntlets, and a heavy black sash around her waist. Her facial features are similarly bold and solid rather than delicate and she is designed as very tall as well as strong and muscled. In their early encounter in Hell, Steve comments on how tall she is and notices her dramatic eyes which are a contrast to her heavy dark hair. In a later scene in Hades’s throne room, Diana's look changes and she is drawn in a more life-like art style with a stunning character design that fits the stark underworld setting.
As My Mothers Made Me
In the second volume of the graphic novel, Diana enters a new struggle in the wake of the Tetracide attack. She discovers a scientist using remnants of the battle to create a weapon in the mysterious Area 41. Diana finds a maze of monsters and trapped mythical creatures who are being held prisoner under the rule of Clea, an ancient Atlantean. Although aided by Steve, Etta, Gia, and Barbara, Diana becomes separated from them and is mostly on her own in this volume although she makes some new allies along the way.
As the title implies, this volume is less about the big battle adventure and more about Diana’s internal character, personal fortitude, and moral compass. Faced with multiple potential dangers and adversaries, Diana repeatedly chooses compassion, patience, and forgiveness, when she can. But, as she notes, she will also kill if needed. This balance of kindness and pragmatism defines her character. The primary story of escaping the Area 41 maze is framed by a backstory of Diana’s childhood attachment to a turtle who she saves from a monster. Her adoptive mother Circe is fascinated by Diana’s strong moral compass which is grounded in a combination of kindness and strength and pragmatism.
As My Mothers Made Me is noticeably female driven, with almost all of the characters, from the villains to goddesses to the allies, being women. Unlike The Last Amazon, the story is also almost entirely a Diana focused adventure. The supporting characters in her original squad, Steve, Etta, Gia, and Barbara, have much less time on the illustrated pages. Most of the tale is about Diana navigating various levels of the prison while helping those she meets. This second major adventure emphasizes her journey from compassion to lethality when needed, and her struggle to navigate a balance. The coloring and character design is similar to The Last Amazon but each chapter is interspersed with gorgeous stand-alone cover portraits of various interpretations of Diana. It is worth a pause to enjoy the artwork and the unique art style of each piece.
As My Mothers Made Me also offers the first hint of a future crossover with other alternate versions of Batman and Superman. Absolute Wonder Woman is an intriguing exploration of those in bleak circumstances still finding their way to self-fulfillment, personal and societal connections, compassion, and purpose. The volumes have an appealing technique of using the larger adventures as a tool to tell a more personal and internal story. The artwork also reflects the changed worldview with intense, bold interpretations of the beloved character. Overall, this latest underworld version of Wonder Woman is an unexpected and enjoyable reboot of the popular hero’s adventure.
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The Math
Nerd Coefficient: 8/10
Highlights:
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The Math
Nerd Coefficient: 8/10
Highlights:
- Dark reimagining
- Morality and pragmatism woven into traditional plotting
- Innovative, intriguing art style