Sacrifice Is The Name Of The Game — Reviewing ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ #3

Great sacrifice and herodom are two concepts forever linked together. Some sacrifices though, are far more personal than many others.

Absolute Wonder Woman #3 brings great sacrifice for Diana of Hell, but also showcases even more why she is truly a hero. Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey continue to weave their modernized take on the Amazonian hero.

Now is the time to turn back should you not want to actually be spoiled to the contents of the issue. Turn back, read the issue, then promptly come racing back here.

Okay let’s go.

Amongst the present-day issues with the Tetracide monster, we’re still given glimpses of Diana (and Steve’s) past in Hell. There we find that Diana, adamant about getting Steve home, finds a spell which will do just that. Turns out this spell requires great sacrifice, like the dominant (right) arm of a warrior, and compassionate loving Diana is more than willing to pay the price.

Through this and the future piece we learn that Diana’s right arm is a magic illusion and that it must be replaced with a metallic prosthetic once the spell ends during battle.

Choosing one of DC Comics’ strongest heroes and giving them a notable disability is a pretty big thing. It illustrates that having any sort of disability, naturally, does not keep one from being a big bold, strong, confident, and heroic being; a message that needs to be said loud and clear. Even if we should be to the point where it’s always been clear, but unfortunately are not.

Thompson deftly weaves in concepts familiar and foreign to the Wonder Woman mythos in these first issues. Giving the foundation and anchor to lock down long-time fans and those with casual knowledge of the character, while making it new and fresh to everyone at the same time. Among those fresh things is Diana’s bigger use of magic as a toll in her battles, which I greatly appreciate. Adds a new dimension with plenty of avenues which to pursue.

Sherman and Bellaire are killing this.

An inherent roughness is displayed in every line and texture upon the page, boosted by a simultaneous softness. Smoothing the edges just a bit to really allow the emotional energy to flow, as well as for the dynamic nature of the work to breathe. Thus, causing the action sequences to feel larger than life with so much complex denseness and detail at all times. Rough yet soft: a duo that very much speaks to who and what Wonder Woman is as a character.

Even when coming from such a darker universe.

There is a reason that Sherman is working on numerous books at once, just look at that artwork. It’s beautiful and captures everything that makes comics such a grand medium. Both massive in scale but also very personal and small at the same time. Allowing us to really feel the wonder that should be flowing around this character. Emotional energies are crackling through the pages, clear upon their faces and bodies at all times. Helping connect us to characters that are familiar, yet very vastly different at the same time.

Heavier colors are mixed within as Bellaire’s palette balances the line just as well. A lot of them feeling more toned down, almost washed out in a few spaces, really showing off the range. Vibrant bolder colors have their place as well, helping the fantastical to feel fantastic and stand out from everything else. As it is very much meant to do.

This color palette combination gives the world a bit more depth, as well as a more tangible feel. Because these colors give a sense of realness, akin to our actual world, connected to the otherworldly feeling we’re meant to be picking up from any story that steps into fantasy, myth, or sci-fi type spaces.

Talk softly and carry a big sword. Unless you need to carry a big sword and talk loudly. Diana can accomplish either, with the same tenacity and focus.

Carey captures that feeling with the choices made in lettering. Shifting the size, shape, color, and placement of font and bubbles with such ease. Giving Diana’s — and other characters — words even more of a presence and power behind them. Dancing around the action, helping keep the eyes on track on every page, and soaking up all the energy pouring off the page, Before helping reflect it back at us the reader, giving us the ability to actually ‘hear’ things as they should be.

Absolute Wonder Woman #3 is now available from DC Comics.