Regnad Is Danger Spelled-Backward — Reviewing ‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ #18

Magic is a powerful force in the universe. With but a word or gesture even great warriors can be humbled. Princess Diana, last of the Amazons, is no mere warrior though. Adept in magics most powerful, she might have met her most fearsome match yet.

A new (potential) ally emerges as the identity of her new foe is laid bare and a new strategy emerges in Absolute Wonder Woman #18. The latest chapter in the dynamic series from Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey.

One of the great things about this new universe initiative is how open the sandbox truly happens to be. Any character, no matter their usual connections or position, is available to appear wherever writers feel best suits them. Outside of certain rogues, the field is truly wide open and writers like Thompson are taking full advantage of this fact.

Zatanna was quite the treat in this series, especially this punkier version of the character. Just as exciting is Giovanni Zatara, father of Zatanna and a character we rarely ever get to see beyond scattered flashbacks and retcon moments.

A powerful wizard in his own right, Zatara is laying waste to civilians and others alike, radiating vast power as his fiery form stalks the streets. There is a lot to still unpack with the character and Thompson does a wonderful job of seeding and playing within the sphere she has built.

Seeing Diana humbled and having to escape, bouncing back with a new fervor was top notch. The character is, of course, adaptable and not above admitting where mistakes were made. Nor is she a fool. She did not allow Zatanna to fully stand beside her even as the woman plead her case, revealing her connections and the stakes that drove her to her previous actions. Diana might need a powerful ally but she isn’t willing to turn her back on the woman nor let Zatara continue his reign of terror.

Getting to see Sherman’s artwork on the regular through this series just is beyond delightful. There is such grandeur to everything that he draws. Comic book pages become portals into other worlds full of dense, dark, and immersive qualities. It’s just rough enough around the edges to give the darker and worn appeal of this world. At the same time, it’s also smooth and soft enough to let the hope that Diana embodies so well leak through.

It’s the panel work that really elevates things. Nothing is just a simple set of panels laid out beside each other. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, as many great comics of yesterday and today come with that. But Sherman goes well beyond all of that in calculated and inspiring ways, mining each moment for their true peak of energy, power, and emotional resonance.

Pairing that with Bellaire’s delicate-but-strong colors was a match made in some version of heaven. Lush backdrops have the right level of natural coloring, which befits building a foundation for the world at large. Accompanying them are the bolder vibrant colors which define superhero and magical fantasy realms. Juxtaposing the two palettes against one another makes each one feel more poppy and grounded at the same time.

A few spots of roughness are dropped into the colors here and easily mix with the quality of the artwork. It also helps build upon the foundation already laid out, giving the house being built here more character.

Delivering a voice of powerful quality regularly takes precise choices and creation. Thompson has written a strong voice, and it’s Carey who gives the final jolt for it to truly live. The lettering utilizes all the space on the page in logical ways so the dialogue and captions are never distracting but remain impactful. All of them are just unique enough to really help our minds focus and hear the characters sounding off.

Aiding this effect: the addition of bits of color. The color palette used for the dialogue is much like the overall palette found all over the page: dynamic, foundational, and music to the proverbial ears.

Absolute Wonder Woman #18 is now available from DC Comics.