It’s not often Wonder Woman is outmatched, but it helps when a maze gets involved, or so it seems at the start of Absolute Wonder Woman #11. One might think you’d only find death or confusion there, but there’s far more connective tissue to the Amazons than one might expect. That makes the latest issue a must-read for those looking to see Wonder Woman find her people.
Absolute Wonder Woman #11 is largely an issue of revelations, not only because Wonder Woman meets a key Amazon, but also because we learn what has been going on in the maze. A prison to be sure, the middle portion of the issue helps define a people who have come together so as to escape. There’s a community there, and there are people who won’t give up on them even if they could escape themselves. Her compassion is an element of Wonder Woman that is highlighted well in this issue.
Also highlighted in this issue is Wonder Woman’s ability to think outside the box. She may have grown up in Hell, but in a key flashback, we see she chooses a weapon wisely, and once again surprises a godly mentor. The scene helps define Wonder Woman as not just a warrior, with Kelly Thompson making a strong case that she’s stronger than most gods, thanks to her ability to problem-solve and care for all things.
How pretty are these pages?!
Credit: DC Comics
For readers looking for a fight, the final few pages offer plenty. Hayden Sherman is very good at showing the speed and strength of Clea, who goes toe-to-toe with Wonder Woman. The juxtaposition of all-out rage versus Wonder Woman’s tempered calm as she hatches her plan is quite obvious.
Fans of the Amazonian people and their larger world should appreciate the nuance of the issues presented and the emotions conveyed in the issue. Wonder Woman truly cares for her people, and by the end of the issue, you’ll want her to find them even more.
Sherman continues to dazzle with page layouts, crafting a symmetry that’s pretty, but also draws the eye. The eyes of characters are particularly dazzling in this issue, made all the more real by Jordie Bellaire’s colors. Generally, characters feel a touch closer up in the issue, making for a dynamic feel throughout, even when characters are simply standing.
Absolute Wonder Woman #11 balances emotional depth with mythic action, showing Diana as both a problem-solver and protector of her people while pushing the larger Amazon story forward with nuance and heart.
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