Absolute Wonder Woman #19 shifts the “Season of the Witch” arc into a gear that feels genuinely uncomfortable, and I mean that in the best way possible. Writer Kelly Thompson is doing something risky here by deconstructing Diana’s very ability to inspire others. It turns out that the Amazonian grace we usually see as a superpower might actually be a cosmic violation. This issue leans hard into the magical horror elements that differentiate the Absolute universe from the main DC timeline, and it freaking rocks!
- Title: Absolute Wonder Woman #19
- Creatives: Kelly Thompson (Writer) , Hayden Sherman (Artist) , Jordie Bellaire (Colorist) , Becca Carey (Letterer)
- Characters: Wonder Woman , Zatanna , Giovanni Zatara , Circe
- Villain: Adrienne Cale , Giganta (Zuel) , Iron Maiden
- Format: Ongoing Series
- Our Rating: 9.8/10 Stars
The Horror of Compelled Love
The opening flashback between Circe and Aphrodite is the standout moment for me. We learn that Diana’s patron goddesses didn’t just give her strength; they gave her a piece of power that makes people love her. Aphrodite admits this power was meant to “smooth her way forward,” but it effectively removes the choice from those around her. She even goes so far to call it a “horrific and lonely prison.” It’s a heavy concept that makes you look at Diana’s allies in a different light as this revelation suggests that Diana is trapped in a world where she can never be sure if her friends are there because they want to be or because they’re magically chained to her soul.
Zatanna’s Magical Rescue at the Crossroads
The modern-day action in Gateway City is a chaotic, neon-drenched brawl involving The Troika and Giovanni Zatara. Diana uses her weapons to force Zatara to face his guilt over his wife, Sindella, and a young Zatanna. The psychological battle is intense, and Hayden Sherman’s art excels here, using jagged panels and a shifting palette to show Zatara’s crumbling mental reality.
Zatanna eventually breaks the cycle by pulling her father through a psychic doorway. This snaps the connection and leaves Diana catatonic, stranded at The Crossroads. The solution is clever and leans into the deep lore of the characters. Zatanna uses the Circe Stone to transform her appearance, tricking Diana’s mind into seeing her mother, Circe, so she can lead her back to safety. It’s a desperate, messy rescue that highlights the high stakes of this magic system and how chaotic this penultimate issue is. So much is happening in this chapter, and the team guides us through it all with absolute precision. Honestly, great work all around.
The Villainous Ambition of Adrienne Cale
While the heroes are melting their brains in the psychic plane, Veronica Cale is playing a much more grounded and ruthless game. She strikes a deal with Giganta to capture Dr. Barbara Minerva in exchange for another shot at Wonder Woman. Cale continues to be a cold, calculating antagonist who has zero patience for the bizarre magics she’s forced to deal with, but it’s also becoming clear that she is out of her depth here.
The ending introduces a new mechanical threat called the Iron Maiden. The scale of the Maiden in the final pages is huge and genuinely intimidating. Sherman and colorist Jordie Bellaire give the machine a cold, oppressive feel that contrasts perfectly with the warm, supernatural fires of the previous scenes.
Technical Art and Lettering
Hayden Sherman’s work on this series is some of the most distinctive in modern comics. His line work is raw and energetic, which fits the witchy vibe perfectly. The way Becca Carey handles the lettering (especially Zatanna’s backward spells and the mechanical EEEEEEEE of the Iron Maiden) adds a layer of sensory detail that makes the book and the threat feel alive.
The pacing of the issue is bursty and fast; there’s a lot happening, but it makes you read quickly because you’re enthralled by what happens next. Thompson moves from deep philosophical conversations about the nature of love to giant robot deployments without losing the emotional thread, and it’s awesome. My only minor gripe is that the transition into the coven scene mid-issue feels a bit abrupt, but the payoff of seeing the Iron Maiden arrive makes up for it.
The Verdict on Season of the Witch Part 4
If you needed a reminder that the Absolute Universe isn’t playing it safe, Absolute Wonder Woman #19 is it. Kelly Thompson takes “divine grace” and flips it on its head, turning it into a source of isolation for Diana that fundamentally changes how you view her journey up to this point.
Hayden Sherman’s art is still the pulse of the book: his work during the neon-soaked Crossroads scenes is especially stunning. Even though the issue flies by, the character beats feel heavy and earned. You’re getting high-stakes magic and an emotional Zatara reunion, all leading into a cliffhanger that promises a total brawl. It’s a standout issue that manages to balance its trippy visuals with genuine heart.
‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ #19 | The Tragic Secret of Diana’s Power
If you needed a reminder that the Absolute Universe isn’t playing it safe, Absolute Wonder Woman #19 is it. Kelly Thompson takes “divine grace” and flips it on its head, turning it into a source of isolation for Diana that fundamentally changes how you view her journey up to this point.
