It’s a battle of the witches in Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman’s Absolute Wonder Woman #18 as Diana is forced on the back foot after being ambushed in the previous issue by Veronica Cale’s team of supervillains. Though Zatanna herself has escaped, how will the Princess of Hell fare against a flaming man with magic to rival her own?
The Duel at The Hieron: Wonder Woman vs. Zatanna
Thrown right into the middle of the fight, the issue opens with a rare sight: Wonder Woman is completely overwhelmed. Cale’s newest addition to her attack, the flaming skeletal magician Giovanni Zatarra, has disarmed her (literally) and forced her onto the retreat back to The Hieron, but the witch Zatanna follows her there. Though she seems to be coming as an ally, Diana lashes out, expecting the worst from her, leading to a magical fight between the two witches. Diana is able to come to her senses in the midst of the fight and offers a friendly hand. With some key details from Zatanna, Diana is better able to prepare for the coming fight ahead and travels back to the ongoing assault of the city, ready to face the onslaught of villains.
Kelly Thompson’s Character-Driven Narrative
The writing in this book continues to be fantastic, and is far one of the most consistent superhero ongoings. Thompson is clearly in a groove by this point, as this arc almost feels effortless, the way it raises the stakes, continues to build the world around Diana, and especially how it continues to test her. Providing Diana with magic that can trump her own not only takes away a part of her (again literally) but also disarms her of her most powerful and versatile weapon. It allows us to see a Wonder Woman who feels more tested in this arc than she had in any of the prior 17 issues, and her fight with Zatanna only furthers that.
Aside from the mini-arc where her emotions were being magically manipulated, this feels like the only time we’ve really seen Diana’s kindness falter. Her aggression towards Zatanna not only feels unique and drastic, but it’s also hard not to have sympathy for her reaction when Zatanna so effortlessly removed a core part of her identity: the piece of herself that connects her most to her adoptive mother. It feels out of character for Diana, but not in a way that feels like bad writing, but rather in a way that further humanizes her, when up til now she has been an almost flawless beacon of morality and empathy.
The Unique Art Style of Hayden Sherman and Jordie Bellaire
Hayden Sherman continues to give the work of a lifetime on this issue, so kindly delivering some of the best and most exhilarating work by giving us a witch fight. The way Sherman draws magic is unlike anyone else. It feels flowing, powerful, but difficult to tame. On top of that, Zatanna and Diana feel like they have entirely different magical identities. Zatanna’s magic comes in the same shade of blue regardless of the effect. Everyone feels innate and easy for her to wield, like she could do whatever she wanted, and it would be as easy as breathing. Meanwhile, Diana changes color with the spell, yet always has a more jagged feel to it. Cobbled together even. Not any less strong, but the work of someone who was taught magic. She has a vast arsenal, but one that is limited by what she knows. And of course, Jordie Bellaire deserves a fair share of the credit, especially for the environments and backgrounds.
Verdict: Why Absolute Wonder Woman is a Must-Read
Thompson and Sherman just don’t miss. This issue was a phenomenal example of how this creative team could continue this book for years to come and still sell. Absolute Wonder Woman #18 gives depth to our main character, expands the world, and delivers the most gorgeous and badass fight I’ve read from a comic in some time (I like magic, sue me). At this point, if you’re not reading Absolute Wonder Woman, you’re not paying attention.
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‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ #18 | The Magical Clash of Absolute Witches
Thompson and Sherman just don’t miss. This issue was a phenomenal example of how this creative team could continue this book for years to come and still sell. Absolute Wonder Woman #18 gives depth to our main character, expands the world, and delivers the most gorgeous and badass fight I’ve read from a comic in some time (I like magic, sue me).
