Back in October, the Absolute line from DC comics had its first crossover… sort of. Absolute Evil saw the villains from the various Absolute titles coming together to pool their knowledge and resources to better take down the rise in heroics. In a world created by Darkseid, it almost feels poetic to have the first crossover be between the villains rather than the heroes. Fortunately, the heroes aren’t close behind with Absolute Wonder Woman #15 from Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, marking the first meeting of the Absolute heroes.
Batman and Wonder Woman: A Strategic Alliance in Gotham
While both Absolute Wonder Woman and Absolute Batman are more than a year into their runs, this crossover doesn’t build so much on either hero’s individual series as much as it does the threads laid out in Absolute Evil. As part of the villain’s first attempt to work together, the Joker and Veronica Cale team up to try to kill two super-birds with one stone.
Wonder Woman finds herself in Gotham after a string of violent murders was left with symbols of Hecate painted in blood. Not wanting to step on any toes, Diana creates a magical Bat-signal to lure out the Caped Crusader to enlist his help in solving these crimes. Though he’s initially skeptical (or more fascinated) by Diana’s magic, he seems almost relieved to have another ally in his crusade against crime. Combining Diana’s knowledge of magic with Bruce’s experience in Gotham, the two are able to uncover a trap laid out specifically for them.
Kelly Thompson Crafts a Familiar Yet Fresh Dynamic
Writing the first proper crossover of the Absolute universe carries no small amount of pressure, but Kelly Thompson makes it look easy. The dynamic between Diana and Bruce is both excitingly new and familiar. Though both characters have darker, more turbulent origins than their counterparts in the main universe, their worldviews are entirely different.
Wonder Woman acts as a constant beacon of optimism and love, while Batman is far darker and pessimistic. Yet rather than bring them into conflict, Thompson masterfully brings them closer together. Bruce’s remark about how his dad would have liked Diana’s worldview is a small touch that helps illustrate why his otherwise skeptical persona is put at ease. Although there are times where Kelly’s writing for Bruce clashes with the version from Absolute Batman, the two heroes complement each other well, and the plot does a fantastic job of weaving together their strengths.
Hayden Sherman and Jordie Bellaire Return to Gotham
Hayden Sherman’s return to Gotham since Batman: Dark Patterns is no less impressive. His creative panel shapes and layouts are on full display, and on top of matching the tone of Dragotta’s Gotham, he’s also able to capture the fun intricacies of Absolute Batman’s costume design—even if he does look a bit smaller than usual.
The coloring from Jordie Bellaire continues to stun, especially with Gotham’s vastly different color palette. It feels like a place truly distinct from Gateway, and she continues to stun with the bright colors she gives Diana’s various magic and spells. On letters, Becca Carey is able to complement the story wonderfully, particularly shining in the sequence where Diana loses control.
Final Verdict
Absolute Wonder Woman #15 isn’t just a testament to Kelly Thompson’s phenomenal writing or Hayden Sherman’s jaw-dropping artwork, but to the Absolute line as a whole. Each individual series has had time to breathe and establish itself, and these iterations of characters before bringing them together. Combined with the emphasis put on creative vision, the Absolute line has managed to pull something off that is remarkable: a truly exciting crossover issue.
KPB Comics’ Absolute Wonder Woman Related:
‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ #15 Review: The DC Absolute Universe’s First Major Crossover
Absolute Wonder Woman #15 isn’t just a testament to Kelly Thompson’s phenomenal writing or Hayden Sherman’s jaw-dropping artwork, but to the Absolute line as a whole. Each individual series has had time to breathe and establish itself, and these iterations of characters before bringing them together.
