Having clawed her way out of the Underworld before, Diana must attempt it again in Absolute Wonder Woman #7 by Kelly Thompson and Mattia De Iulis. This fated moment with Circe was always on the horizon, but its arrival reveals a potential price that could shatter one of them. Faced with this impossible cost, can Diana escape the land of the dead once more? Let’s dive in!
The comic begins with a touching flashback: a young Diana on the Wild Isle of Hell, playing with her pet ( demon dog?) and discussing life earnestly with the Goddess Persephone. This peaceful scene immediately clashes with the present, where Diana fights a vicious Chimera in Hell’s arena. Hades’ cruel amusement and Persephone’s despair quickly establish the impossible stakes.
The “Lady or the Tiger” story told by Circe to Diana becomes crucial as she battles the tiger-like Chimera. We learn via flashback that Hecate engineered this, linking the tale directly to Diana’s unavoidable choice. The brutal fight pushes Diana past her limits, forcing a deadly decision before the gods and a desperate Circe. It’s here that she finally grasps the story’s true lesson: by rejecting passivity, she understands that her power lies in her own decisions. This realization fuels a righteous fury, guiding her through a final symbolic choice and culminating in a surprisingly potent and moving ending that promises significant consequences to come.
Credit: DC Comics
Absolute Wonder Woman #7 jumps back and forth in time quite a bit, but it uses that structure to tell a powerful story about choice, the cruelty of the gods, and the importance of stories themselves. Woven into this are effective emotional beats that explore themes such as imprisonment and motherhood.
Kelly Thompson clearly did her homework on mythology. Her “The Lady or the Tiger” story cleverly incorporates ideas reminiscent of how ancient gods often gave mortals the illusion of choice, where every option led to a predetermined, usually harsh, outcome – think of classic stories like Arachne and Athena, or Pandora’s Box. Thompson puts fresh spins on these familiar god-and-mortal dynamics by telling the story through Diana’s eyes, and it all clicks really well.
Diana’s enduring charm remains evident, thanks to Thompson’s consistent portrayal of her core character: someone striving for peace but ready to fight as a last resort—a truly effective touch. Complementing this, Absolute Hades continues to captivate as a ‘love-to-hate’ villain, whose sense of humor and iconic blue flames in this interpretation subtly echo Disney’s version.
Mattia De Iulis’s artwork is fantastic. His design for Persephone is a great example – linking her visually to springtime and vegetation with green tones and floral elements shows a smart understanding of her mythological roots. While De Iulis handles the time jumps seamlessly, his action scenes are the main highlight. You can feel the tension, the hits look like they genuinely hurt, and his art effectively raises the stakes. And his take on a powered-up Diana? Powerful, radiating red energy with righteous fury in her eyes.
Credit: DC Comics
De Ilulis’s coloring continues to impress. Persephone’s green glows, highlighting her divinity, while the surrounding red creates effective tension. Hades’ blue flames and those of the underworld inhabitants add striking contrast and vibrancy. Visually, the lettering is impactful, using black letters with red outlines, works well alongside the continued use of distinct speech bubbles for the gods.
Absolute Wonder Woman #7 cleverly uses mythology and flashbacks to explore themes of fate and agency. Complimented by stunning artwork from Mattia De Iulis that excels in depicting intense action and emotional depth, this issue delivers a powerful and moving story with significant consequences looming.
‘Absolute Wonder Woman’ #7 Review: The Impossible Cost
Absolute Wonder Woman #7 cleverly uses mythology and flashbacks to explore themes of fate and agency. Complimented by stunning artwork from Mattia De Iulis that excels in depicting intense action and emotional depth, this issue delivers a powerful and moving story with significant consequences looming.
