Absolute Wonder Woman #16 is written by Kelly Thompson and published by DC Comics. Artwork is by Hayden Sherman, colours by Jordie Bellaire and letters by Becca Carey. Main cover art (left) is by Hayden Sherman & Jordie Bellaire.
Absolute Wonder Woman #16 is available from today, in comic book stores and on digital platforms where all good comic books are sold. Grab your physical copy from Forbidden Planet or digitally from Amazon Comixology UK.
Synopsis
The Season of the Witch arc begins here! After her exploits in the Area 41 maze, Diana has resolved to not let her personal mission overwhelm the one she was sent to the surface world to fulfill. But a new threat has emerged in Gateway City, and it turns out the best thing to send to kill Wonder Woman is…another witch! Zatanna is here, and Diana’s life will never be the same!
Review
Absolute Wonder Woman #16 launches the new five-issue arc, Season of the Witch. Buckle up! Straight out of the gate, Steve Trevor makes an unexpected decision; justice and loyalty are called into question; the U.S. Government’s fears about Diana continue to rise; and Veronica Cale intensifies her efforts to bring down Diana, the people’s champion, aka Wonder Woman.
Despite the budding threats, the issue acts as a momentary calm. Considering the exhilarating events in the As My Mothers Made Me arc, quickly followed up with Diana’s brief team-up with Batman in the previous issue, a pause is welcomed. But don’t worry, Thompson does not hold back for long.
An interesting theme the story lightly touches on is Diana’s reaction to her newfound fame. As she attends the grand opening of the Greek exhibition at Gateway City’s Natural History Museum, curated by Barbara, it is a red carpet affair, and everyone wants a piece of Wonder Woman. Diana’s realisation that the allure of public admiration is a heady tonic fascinated me. It is something I’d like to see Diana properly wrestle with as she strives to do the right thing while the U.S. Government continues to push back at her and, well, demonise her.
Of course, the night’s peace is short-lived when Diana finds herself at an unexpected disadvantage!
It is no spoiler to say that the new threat arrives in the form of Zatanna. Long teased, she appears to be Veronica Cale’s “silver bullet” against Diana. After a brief encounter earlier in the series, but only in spirit form, Zatanna finally explodes onto the page in flesh and blood—this isn’t your parents’ Zatanna either.
I would be remiss if I didn’t spend a moment on Zatanna’s redesign. It is striking and punk rock at its core, with a studded, spiked jacket, fishnets, and towering platform boots. She’s a blend of KISS, The Ramones, and, dare I say it, inspired by ‘80s mohawk Storm designed by Paul Smith. The mixture is great! It’s a radical departure from the classic magician aesthetic that defined her since her debut in the ’60s, but one that fits perfectly within the Absolute universe’s gritty, rebellious tone.
Which brings me to the visuals. The art in Absolute Wonder Woman continues to stand out—much like the other Absolute titles. From dynamic panel layouts to the way this issue and the overall series embraces, intentionally or not, an ‘80s/‘90s punk-grunge and metal-inspired aesthetic in how it depicts gods, monsters, and Hell, makes this one delicious book to feast your eyes upon.
While this issue marks the beginning of a new arc, it does have a minor drawback; it assumes a level of familiarity with the series’ ongoing mythology, and new readers may need to do a bit of homework to fully orient themselves—particularly when it comes to who certain characters are. That said, the payoff is worth it. Kelly Thompson continues to deliver quality storytelling that remains bold and strong, coupled with great art.
Verdict
Absolute Wonder Woman #16 is the quiet before the storm, before delivering a blow that promises a magical showdown. Kelly Thompson’s fierce writing, paired with Hayden Sherman’s gripping art, reinforces why Absolute Wonder Woman remains one of DC’s most daring series. I am more excited than ever to see where Diana goes next.
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