Without the island paradise…without the sisterhood that shaped her…without a mission of peace…what’s left is the Absolute Amazon! Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is the second series out for DC’s new “Absolute Universe” and as a debut it doesn’t really hook the reader.

Written by Kelly Thompson, Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is an interesting debut. The second series as part of DC’s newly launched “Absolute Universe,” it remixes the classic character. Thompson drops the readers right in the action during an alien/monster invasion as Wonder Woman swoops in to save the day. In-between the action, readers are taken back to witness Wonder Woman’s back story which differs greatly from what we’re used to.

In this take, Wonder Woman has been whisked away from Themyscira by Apollo to be raised by Circe. We’re teased as to the why but the focus is Circe’s motherhood to Wonder Woman and Wonder Woman’s uncanny abilities. It’s all rather interesting and the art makes it engaging but overall it feels a bit dragged out. Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is a rather slow and at times sluggish debut whose highlight is the storytelling in the visuals.

Hayden Sherman‘s art is interesting with a style that befits the “hellish” origin of this Wonder Woman. There’s a rough, almost metal, aspect to it that gives the story a bit of a rock aspect. With color by Jordie Bellaire and lettering by Becca Carey, this Wonder Woman is a bit darker than the classic counterpart. Overall, it’s entertaining and really fits the character and story but at the same time it doesn’t really pop as memorable. There’s never really a moment that you pause and think she’s a hero. Even then end, when things ramp up to the next level, while looking nice, doesn’t excite.

Absolute Wonder Woman #1 isn’t bad but it also never quite makes the case and hooks the reader. There’s a lot of teasing as to the backstory but overall it’s showing some cracks in the “Absolute” rollout. While we were teased of a world in the All In special, neither Absolute Wonder Woman #1 or Absolute Batman #1 have built off of that. Each comic feels like a standalone world and story and not a breathing world. It feels more like DC’s series of Earth One graphic novels. Each was good but they never really felt like a whole new world. It’s early and we’ll see more of that world as each series progresses but right now Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is entertaining but doesn’t bring the excitement.

Story: Kelly Thompson Art: Hayden Sherman
Color: Jordie Bellaire Letterer: Becca Carey
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.25 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

DC Comics provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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