A defining trait of Wonder Woman is her ability to see the good in everyone, even in the darker-toned Absolute Universe. It’s a major element of Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual #1, as she sees it fit to confront Madusa and do a little repair for the realm of the gods, or die trying. In an issue as far from Earth as things can get, artist Mattia De Iulis puts on a clinic.
As any good annual, Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual #1 leans into the extra-sized format, taking its time to set up its story, and then complete it by issue’s end. That makes it an easy add to your buy pile, as it feels complete while also informing readers of how this Wonder Woman operates.
The issue opens with a montage across multiple nations around the world of Wonder Woman doing good things for regular people. Sometimes that includes punching out supervillains, but it also means helping those caught in the rubble of an earthquake. Intercut with these scenes of heroism is Wonder Woman praying to Athena for her aid. The montage does a good job of showing the passage of time and how Wonder Woman won’t give up on calling for Athena’s aid.
Once aid does come, Mattia does an incredible job capturing the magic of traversing fantastical realms, leading to the awe-inspiring visage of Athena. Not only is Athena’s scale a means of showing that Wonder Woman is far more mortal than the goddess, but the epic armor and glowing eyes of Athena’s helmet convey this as well. The use of scale does a lot of the heavy lifting when it comes to the gods appearing in this issue, including Medusa, adding a larger-than-life feel to the adventure.
All the while, Mattia does an incredible job with Wonder Woman’s acting. The barest of her humanity is on full display, from her being surprised that Athena took her call to Wonder Woman’s sorrow in remembering the fear she’s seen in others. Paired with Kelly Thompson’s dialogue, the two make this version of Wonder Woman truly special, human, and empathetic. This is a hero who fights selflessly.
Love that bottom panel.
Credit: DC Comics
Mattia also uses cool digital effects, such as blur and focus, to further enhance this issue’s cinematic feel. In one scene, Wonder Woman walks away from Medusa, and we can see Medusa and two other gods out of focus, while Wonder Woman smiles in focus. It’s a neat trick to draw your attention and feel cinematic. Really, the only negative, as far as visuals, is how simplistic the Medusa environment is, cast in a blueish haze with little environment. If the setting was used sparingly, it wouldn’t matter, especially with shards of rock here and there in some panels, but for 10 pages, it ends up feeling a bit bland.
Fans of the series will adore Thompson’s ongoing development of the character, especially the key flashback of Diana and Athena playing chess. Again, this is a darker universe, and yet we learn that even at an early age, Diana wants to figure out how everyone can win, or at least nobody loses, even in a game of chess.
Wonder Woman’s heroism is also on full display, with a smart choice to raise the stakes, as she isn’t fully powered up for her journey. Props to Thompson for having Wonder Woman reflect on Batman’s actions without superpowers, further connecting this to other books.
Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual #1 succeeds because it understands the character at her core. Thompson presents a Diana driven by compassion and conviction, while De Iulis elevates the story through powerful visual storytelling and grand mythological imagery. Even when the setting occasionally feels sparse, the emotional weight and artistic ambition keep the issue engaging from start to finish. It stands as a strong character-focused entry that expands the Absolute Universe while reminding readers why Wonder Woman remains one of DC’s most enduring heroes.
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