Absolute Wonder Woman #5 is written Kelly Thompson and published by DC. Artwork is by Hayden Sherman, colours by Jordie Bellaire and letters by Becca Carey. Main cover art (left) is by Sherman and Bellaire.
Absolute Wonder Woman #5 is available from today, in print and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your digital copy from Amazon Comixology UK right here.
Synopsis
It’s only been a few hours since Diana took up the mission of the missing Amazons and swore to protect Gateway City from an unspeakable cosmic horror…and her first battle may already be ending in defeat, unless her own homegrown tribe of Amazons steps into the breach beside her!
Review
DC’s incredible Absolute Wonder Woman debut arc reaches its climax today. After an impressive run right out of the gate, can Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman bring the ship in for a smooth landing? Metaphorically speaking, of course they can. But for the Absolute Universe’s Diana of the Wild Isle it certainly isn’t plain sailing as her epic battle with the Tetracide reaches an epic conclusion.
What is most impressive about Absolute Wonder Woman is that fact that at five issues in we’re really only several hours in to this story. As the synopsis suggests only “a few hours” have passed since Diana’s mission began. But in just that short time we’ve seen her facing off against two kaiju-sized threats whilst grappling in her first contact with the army of man. All of which has been exquisitely balanced against a set of decisive flashbacks which have filled in the blanks in her character.
Thompson’s storytelling has successfully remixed all of the classic elements of Diana’s character. Reshaping them to fit the ethos of the Absolute Universe. Underpinning her character with a witchiness learned in hell alongside her adoptive mother Circe has really opened up the possibilities for storytelling. This month’s issue fits one final piece in to the puzzle, her lasso. It’s been conspicuously absent so far in this run but Thompson makes light work of giving it suitable context.
I need to choose my words carefully from here on out because boy is Absolute Wonder Woman #5 a wild ride. The climax of “The Last Amazon” is ultimately incredibly unexpected. Anyone who claims they saw this month’s twist coming is lying. Thompson’s arc has remained unpredictable to the end, proving there’s plenty of mileage in the Absolute premise. It culminates in a cliffhanger ending which signposts an interesting future as well as a bigger role for the Diana’s supporting cast. I’m particularly interested to see how Barbara Minerva fits in to the story moving forwards given where we see her in this issue.
Hayden Sherman has been a gift which keeps on giving for Absolute Wonder Woman. Sherman’s artwork has wonderfully captured the scale of Thompson’s story each month. As we reach the end of the arc it really feels like Sherman has found a level of confidence that shines through. Taking on a title like Wonder Woman isn’t easy. Introducing the world to a new version of the character and convincing of its worth is something else. But Sherman’s inspired design work on Diana’s monster foes, plus an incredible eye for detail has really made Absolute Wonder Woman a compelling read.
Verdict
Absolute Wonder Woman brings its first arc to a close with a rewarding and suitably epic conclusion which plays to the strengths of its dynamic creative team. The final piece of the puzzle falls neatly in to place as Absolute’s Diana of the Wild Isle claims her lasso and makes good on her promise to protect Gateway City.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
