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Absolute Wonder Woman (2024) (Single Issues)

by Kelly Thompson

At last, the first encounter of two Absolute heroes unfolds! The Mark of Hecate at a Gotham crime scene draws Wonder Woman into Batman's sphere, leading to a dramatic collaboration. The world's greatest detective and the world's most famous witch team up to solve a series of gruesome and ambitious murders, which threaten something even more perilous looming over Gotham! Don't miss Absolute Batman #16 in January for the second installment of this earth-shattering meeting!

Genres: Comics, Dc Comics, Wonder Woman, Batman, Fantasy, Superheroes, Graphic Novels

Unknown Binding

About the author

KELLY THOMPSON has a degree in Sequential Art from The Savannah College of Art & Design. Her love of comics and superheroes have compelled her since she first discovered them as a teenager. Currently living in Portland, Oregon with her boyfriend and the two brilliant cats that run their lives, you can find Kelly all over the Internet where she is generally well liked, except where she's detested.

Kelly has published two novels - THE GIRL WHO WOULD BE KING (2012) and STORYKILLER (2014) and the graphic novel HEART IN A BOX from Dark Horse Comics (2015). She's currently writing ROGUE & GAMBIT, HAWKEYE, and PHASMA for Marvel Comics and GHOSTBUSTERS for IDW. Other major credits include: A-Force, Captain Marvel & The Carol Corps, Jem and The Holograms, Misfits, Power Rangers Pink, and the creator-owned mini-series Mega Princess.

Kelly's ambitions are eclipsed only by her desire to exist entirely in pajamas. Fortunately pajamas and writers go hand in hand (most of the time). Please buy all her stuff so that she can buy (and wear) more pajamas.

Reviews

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonder Woman meets Batman.
The team-up we've all been waiting for, and with hints that more of these Absolute characters could be crossing paths with each other at some point.



When the "Mark of Hecate" shows up at murder scenes in Gotham City, Diana leaves Gateway City to investigate. Of course, this is the perfect opportunity to look up Gotham's protector and do a little detective work together.



Veronica Cale and her Area 41 cronies had set quite the trap for these two, which meant nothing about this seemed like a generic crossover issue. If anything, it gave off something more is coming vibes.
Loving the art here, btw.



Highly Recommended.

[Nicolo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have not read Absolute Wonder Woman in a while, since I have several gaps in my run. I hope to complete it until the latest issue and binge read the bunch of them.

I just got caught up with Absolute Batman until issue 15 with the next a team-up with Absolute Wonder Woman, but before that, their first team-up occurs here.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

First Absolute crossover! 🖤❤️

[mrglasswillbreak · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

A series of murder scenes featuring Hecate’s symbol draws Diana to Gotham, where she enlists Batman's help to investigate. They both hit it off pretty well, and Diana gives Bruce a magical talisman he can use to summon her whenever he needs her help, before they visit the crime scenes.

They find out a bit too late that it’s all being staged by someone(Veronica Cale and Joker) who wants them both dead. Someone who uses some witches and the organs from the murder victims to make a spell that allows them to take control of Diana. The spell works, and Diana almost kills Bruce, but he uses the Talisman to re-summon her true self, breaking the spell.

Diana gives Bruce the flash drive she got from the scientist in the Maze, and tells him about the files of all the heroes(including themselves) she found in the drive. She also tells him that they’d better make friends with Superman. After their plan to kill Bruce and Diana fails, the Joker and Cale discuss new plans to finally deal with them, and we see a weird black rot with blue veins covering Cale’s arm.

Their meeting here was kind of underwhelming. Diana and Bruce got along a bit too easily, but the story/writing was very good. The Art was just as good as expected.

[James DeSantis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty dang good! Not the greatest meet up but fun and really good character moments. A 4 out of 5.

[Machiavelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one quite a bit. The issue is a little heavy on exposition, but it’s doing real work setting up the dynamic between these characters, and that groundwork mostly pays off. The team-up itself is fun and surprisingly charming, with a sense of mutual respect that makes the interaction feel natural rather than forced.

The art and mood continue to be a strong draw, and while the story leans more talky than action-driven, it never loses my interest. By the end, I found myself genuinely curious to see more of these two together and where this version of their relationship might go.

Not perfect, but engaging and likable — a solid 4★ issue that leaves me wanting another chapter.

[dusty · Rating 5 out of 5]

Here we go! The very first Absolute team up, and it’s between my two favorite characters. I genuinely could not be more excited. This issue was a complete home run for me. If I could rate it higher than five stars, I would. The dynamic between Wonder Woman and Batman works perfectly, from the small moments like their subtle humor, to the larger moral values they each carry. The artwork also deserves major praise, because it fits Batman into this story flawlessly. Everything about this issue just worked!

Learning right away that the trip to Gotham was orchestrated by Cale instantly made things more interesting and added a bigger sense of intrigue to what’s unfolding across the Absolute universe. That feeling only intensified once it was revealed that Cale is talking with the Joker. That alone raises so many questions and possibilities.

Wonder Woman praising Batman’s ability to disappear and remain unseen, especially given his size, felt perfect. It really reinforces how, even to larger than life figures like Diana and Superman, Batman still feels like this dark, mythical presence lurking in the shadows. Diana introducing herself by her first name while Bruce simply calls himself Batman was spot on. I also loved him warning her to be careful about her visibility in order to protect the people around her. That is such a pure Batman moment.

I honestly feel like I could talk about their first interaction for hours. One of my favorite moments was how simply Diana explained that love is transformative, and that she doesn’t know how to show people that truth without living it herself. Bruce responding by saying his father would have respected her path was genuinely wholesome and hit hard.

The excitement is really building toward the eventual Absolute Trinity team up, and eventually the full Justice League!! But for now, I am more than satisfied with this Wonder Woman and Batman story. I honestly hope we get another focused story with just the two of them, maybe even a mini series? The mix of dark magic with Bruce’s gritty, violent Gotham works incredibly well, and I would love to spend more time in that space.

[Celina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am waiting for the whole gang.

[zachariah · Rating 5 out of 5]

hip hip hooray

[Zoey · Rating 5 out of 5]

FINALLY A CROSS-OVER!! I’ve been waiting for this since the very beginning of this series.

Batman and Wonder Woman are the beginning of unity amongst the heroes of the Absolute universe, and I find that very fitting, considering that Wonder Woman is the embodiment of hope just as Batman is tenacity in physical form.

[Paulina ෂ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me tuve que brincar para este lado dado que necesitaba un poco el contexto de cómo Batman se hizo con el talismán de Hecate de Wonder Woman.

Primero que nada ¡Qué bonita es Diana! Me gustó mucho cómo se ve en el estilo del cómic y cómo hasta el storytelling y los paneles cambian en ambas franquicias. Siendo el de la Mujer Maravilla más dinámico, por partes que a veces parecen desorden pero siempre con gran dinamismo, a diferencia de Batman, que suelen ser orgánicos pero convencionales, muy adhoc.

En este número Batman ayuda a WW con una serie de asesinatos que parecen estar dirigidos hacia ella, envolviéndolos en una trampa donde ella pierde control sobre sí misma intentando asesinar a su compañero. Obligándose a perder su brazo mágico y sólo volviendo a ella misma gracias a que Batman la llama a través del talismán. Es ahí donde va surgiendo una amistad que muero de ansias por ver, ya sabiendo que el trío Bat-Super-Wonder son tres nerds musculosos que encontraron a sus pares y son bffs.

Ah, y sólo mencionar que el crossover es Wonder Woman x Batman, pero por otro lado tuvimos a Cale x Grimm, ambos villanos aliándose para terminar con sus objetivos.

PD: Sólo me quedé con ganas de ver cómo Diana carga a Bruce hacia el sacrificio porque siento que este cómic es más relajado y hubiera dado risa. Me gustaron los chistes de aquí, más frecuentes que el triste y deprimido Batman (lo amo).

[Mia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Simply fun.

[☆]

omgeee j'ai trop aimé

[Michael Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first crossover! I think I’m gonna need some time to just fanboy out here.

[sam banach · Rating 4 out of 5]

absolute bffs

[Colin Post · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m so glad that the first Absolute team-up issue was helmed by the WW crew. First, let’s just have Hayden Sherman draw every comic book? They are quickly ascending to be a generational talent. Second, Thompson has such a good ear for dialogue and sense for character interactions. I adore the exchanges that she writes for Diana and Bruce and the start and end of the issue - magic is science by way of advanced chemistry with unusual ingredients and intentions; and snow can be scientifically explained but is still magical.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

Absolute Wonder Woman meets Absolute Batman. Wonder Woman travels to Gotham for Batman’s help and she winds up being controlled by someone else like a golem.

I wasn’t for sure this was going to work, but it’s a good team up. Absolute Wonder Woman is my favorite by far, but I’m starting to like Absolute Batman a little more.

[Egghead · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute batman
and wonder woman have a
great, fun dynamic

[Jason · Rating 4.75 out of 5]

4.75
Man, I forget how good this book is.

[Sofia M.]

My husband is making me read these

[Eddie B. · Rating 2 out of 5]

5/10
Poorly written. Farewell, Absolute Wonder Woman.

[luke · Rating 4 out of 5]

my shaylas

[Raziel12 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Así es exactamente como imagino que se conocieron mis padres.

[Ryan · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

WW meets Batman? Do they fight or become friends?

[Cybernex007 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Take notes, because that’s how you do it!! OMG that was phenomenal and just the start! When it comes to the first crossover event for the absolute comics that’s how you do it, absolute masterclass. Had me tearing up at the end and every other moment had me laughing or giddy from how awesome this is and how amazing the character interactions are. We start this story with the troublemaker with the resources who would of course bring batman and Wonder Woman together to try and destroy them…Veronica Cale. She is talking to someone else, by the name of Grimm (aka joker), on the phone who has helped guide her towards this plan of destruction as she complains to them about all the merch popping up for Wonder Woman as she inspires people. She of course can’t have this continuing, not in this reality and the rules that bind it. And as such the plan is set in motion as we cut over to Gotham to find batman scaring the hell out of some crooks in an alley…when suddenly a giant green bat signal is shot into the sky. He finds his way over tot the scene, hanging from a nearby construction building to scope it out before Diana flies up to invite him for to talk. She immediately opens with a compliment about how impressively silent he is for his size as batman notes she is friendly and joins her on the roof to talk. I just have to glaze how much I love the character interactions between these two the entire issue, Diana is open and loving and batman stays a bit closed off but is immediately brought in by her warmth. Diana mentions that she made the bat signal with magic, which upon further definition is just “advance chemistry with…unconventional and unusual resources.” But that brings us to why Diana is here, there have been four murders recently that are connected and she needs his help. Diana points to the symbol on her arm, the mark of Hecate, as a bloody version of it has appeared at those crime scenes. She does not know this city nor is she a detective, as she usually relies on another friend for that, so she called on Batman for his help. But batman does bring up a great point, everyone has seen who Diana runs around with and while Diana may be a god the people around her aren’t. To add to that note, at the start of this issue we actually see a file on Barbara Minerva on Veronica Cale’s desk. But at the same time, at this point even if Diana could she can’t and won’t go ack into the shadows. It wouldn’t be in her nature as the power of love itself is transformative and she cannot show that from the shadows. But Diana has another point for Batman…she is no god, but she does wonder if he is. Batman is confused by the question, of course he is not. Diana is quite happy about this, her mother, Circe, bet that he was some form of bat-god and now she will have to pay up on that bet, lol. But Diana almost forgot her manners, she may have been raised in hell but hospitality is still very important and she has brought Batman a gift. It’s a metal working of the symbol of Hecate, but it has her own twist on the concept of Hiketeia (if you have read that WW storyline then you know what’s up) as if you touch it with your bare skin and demand an audience with “Diana of the wild isle,” as long as she is on this plane of existence she will come to your aid. What an awesome and considerate gift, just a direct call for Diana. Hell yeah!

But right now it’s time to go to the first crime scene to examine it. Diana flies as she follows Batman on his cycle outside of Gotham to a cabin in slaughter swamp (subtle name lol, where’s Grundy?). The cabin was found due to a very suspicious anonymous tip. As they arrive Diana uses a blood spell to send something out to scan the area and ritual area. She explains that all gods like blood, it’s a fundamental part of magic and that she really only uses her own blood for her purposes. As she scans the area she comes to the conclusion magic was done here, but it was not in honor of Hecate. There are a few things that are wrong, Hecate is a triple goddess so objects such as candles and symbols would need to be down in multiple of three. Batman agrees that’s everything looks staged as well, and Diana points out that some of the ingredients were wrong and the moon was in a less than favorable position when the spell was done. Diana then started to ask if organs were taken, and without missing a beat she was able to correctly guess that a liver, lungs, heart, and stomach were taken from the victims. That is everything one would need to try and build an anthroparion, a magically constructed creature like a homunculus or golem, that can be remotely controlled. Batman proposes that they used the ruse of pretending it was Hecate to draw her into a trap for her or for him.

Diana is interested in seeing the other sites, but batman has a better idea. The case files point to an abandoned church across from slaughter swamp, they could start there. As the two approach the church they immediately find it occupied. There could be a million traps between the front door and the clock tower where the light is coming from, so Diana has a different suggestion. As long as he doesn’t mind being carried she can bring him right up. As she flies him up there and drops him like a bat bomb into the ritual room where 7 hooded figures surround a clay body with the stolen organs sitting on it, batman accidentally crosses the barrier surrounding them…causing both of them to suddenly be ensnared and pulled into the trap. Not really a way of leaving but it looks like the construct isn’t finished…unless…they aren’t trying to build a construct. That’s when we jump back to Cale talking to Joker. Turns out they know a thing or two about agent legends about amazons, and how the last one could have been made of clay. And if that’s true that could mean she is nothing more than a fancy golem that can be controlled. And that’s exactly enabling we discover is happening, the ritual was a trap to try and fully take over Diana so she could be under evil control and take care of batman in one swoop. Diana orders batman to run and he doesn’t take a second to question her. During her fleeting moments before she is taken over, she tries to make things easier for batman by dissolving her magical arm. Batman is not able to run far before Diana catches up to him and brings him back to the clock tower. Luckily a lot of the exposed gears and poles act as great hinge points for batman to move around and try to get through to her. Nothing seems to be working though, and that’s when batman remembers he may have one chance. As Diana draws closer, taking Batman’s own axe to try and cut him up, he pulls out the symbol of Hecate gifted to him by Diana and rips off his glove (idk why he didn’t just touch it to his face, lol), touching it and calling out for audience with Diana of the wild isle…right as his axe is about to split him open, Diana returns. Seems that she has some spells she did not realize she was vulnerable to, but none of this would have been possible without pieces of her own hair and blood which the group in the other rink seems to have. Diana thinks they should destroy the construct, but the witches don’t need to be killed. Suddenly batman notices a click as he grabs Diana and rushes her out as Veronica remotely triggered a bomb. We then jump over to check on a very angry Veronica who has failed today. As it turns out, the gloves she wears mask a very particularly nasty looking affliction causing her hands to turns black and her veins to pop blue. Reminds me a lot of Mr freeze in this universe but more than likely she performed a spell she wasn’t supposed to. Joker assures her they will have more chances and they will make them, and that he already has something planned for both of them. As the issue comes to an end Diana and Batman mention the list of people they have that would want to kill to them. But then Diana mentions the jump drive she got from the scientist in the maze that informed her on him, and even hands it over to batman. It has information on all of them and Diana proposes that they will need more friends if they hope to correct this world. But suddenly it starts to snow…Diana has never seen snow before except from a book or once in the distance in a mountaintop. But she has never had the pleasure of feeling it before. Diana hopes that one day they will become great friends, one day that he may even tell her his name. Batman suspects she already knows it, and she does but it is not hers to take. Batman goads her to say it, and as Diana flies away she addresses him as Bruce as she gives him a blessing to protect him and those he loves. I can’t wait to see them again together in absolute batman and I can’t wait to see Zatanna some more in the next issue!

[Sutton Patterson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Honestly this book is so not it. The writing is pretty terrible which I found surprising since I heard such good things about Absolute Wonder Woman and this seems to be the same author. The author does not understand Batman and seems like she hasn’t read the Absolute line for him because he is so out of character. It seems more like Bruce from a mainline continuity, typical Batman. He totally lacks the flavor of Absolute Batman and the writing is so off and all over the place.

Diana meets Bruce to utilize his detective skills on crime scenes. In Absolute Batman Bruce is not really known for his detective skills and from memory has not investigated a murder that we’ve seen. He’s still got the mastermind, genius thing going on. Again, investigating a murder mystery does not align with the Batman we’ve seen in his own solo Absolute run. Batman is also made to sound like an Idiot and seems totally clueless as a person Diana sought after for “help.” He asks ridiculous questions like “this Bar symbol is made of magic?” “What’s magic?” and requests 0 follow up after finding out MAGIC works and is real in his world and he’s talking with a woman from HELL.

Bad dialogue… that last page “maybe we should be friends and we need a whole lot of friends to save the world.” Um what? Maybe I’m in a bubble sticking mostly to the Batman line and Martian Manhunter of the Absolute universe but what is she talking about here. I suppose it IS a Wonder Woman comic and I’m reading from a Batman perspective, but this has to be a jumping on point for other readers interested in the crossover so I hope I’m not alone in thinking this is so random and also just poorly written.

I was really excited to see Absolute Batman be interpreted by another artist other than Dragotta, I like his work but it’s nice to see a fresh take. Boy, was I let down. The art is so inconsistent to Absolute Batman I’m telling you no one looked at the details or maybe even read the series. The knives attached to his Bat-ears aren’t even there and he stabs Diana with the tip, his axe head attached to his chest is GOLD when he takes it off to use as a weapon. Where did that come from? It is not gold in any other part in the book. He doesn’t walk around with a golden Bat logo on his chest. IT IS gold when he takes it off and the logo underneath is revealed (Absolute Batman #1), but that is attached to his body, not the head of the axe.

I read Absolute Wonder Woman #1 and heard great things about the series and was excited to pick this up for the crossover, and maybe get back in to it. However, it felt rushed to be finished and I felt rushed to get it over with. A crossover for the sake of having a crossover and no meaningful story is being told…yet. Maybe Snyder will do the crossover justice, but as someone who reads AB and not AWW I may be on the flip side of WW fans who think Snyder goes way off the mark and doesn’t know how to write the crossover character and booger it up just the same. One more issue to see how this plays out but I’m not super looking forward to it after reading this, I feel like it is not setting it up great, and in my opinion did not show off these characters at their best.

Bad writing, bad dialogue, bad characterization, inconsistent art - all bad. The good, some of the panel layout is top tier and I would love to see more stuff like it in AMM. Art is good, but inconsistent with the Batman line, and if this is how the rest of AWW looks I can see the visual appeal. 3* and not a 2* because of Art, panel layout, and the few good character moments Batman and Diana had together (really only a few after spending nearly the entire book on page together).

[John Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

This comic was utterly delightful. I loved the instant electric chemistry that both Bruce and Diana have with each other. What was really unexpected about this comic was it referencing one of my favorite comics of all time in Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia, with Diana giving Bruce a mystical device that allows him to summon her to his aid. I hate to constantly compare things, but this single comic was infinitely better than Tom King's Batman two-part crossover. While Diana does ask for Batman's detective skills, it doesn't paint her as a moron. On the contrary, their investigation at the cabin is exactly what I would want from a crossover from these two characters. Actually exchanging information like two skilled detectives. Veronica Cale really is such a cunning villain in this, because I wasn't expecting her to gain control of Diana so easily just like that, and the comparisons to golems is just apt. I'm really curious what's up with her hand, though. The final fight scene was spectacularly laid out, which is par for the course with Hayden Sherman. The final scene of them in the snow was just so heartwarming, as well as hinting at them meeting this universe's Superman. This is probably my favorite issue of the run thus far.

[Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alright, okay this issue was really good, and I loved the tie-in with Absolute Batman and Absolute Wonder Woman. I really enjoyed how their personalities bounced off each other.

One thing I will say though I wouldn’t call it strange exactly is that Absolute Wonder Woman, despite being in the Absolute Universe which by all accounts is a horrible and heartless place, where the natural order leans more toward evil still has this incredibly infectious sense of joy. The contrast between her and the world around her is honestly really funny to me. Despite being born in the underworld and hell, she has so much joy, and I really like that.

I also like how her comic feels so different from the rest of the absolute universe. It’s way more upbeat. Seeing Absolute batman in this more upbeat tone and writing style was kind of strange, though, because I honestly can’t remember the last time I saw Absolute Batman this happy. It was funny in a good way.

The timing of this crossover was really nice, and we’re going to see Absolute Wonder Woman again in Absolute Batman issue 16, I believe. We might even get more crossovers very soon. Overall, it was a really nice issue.

[Jannes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first absolute universe team-up and its literally perfect.
Basically Veronica cale and the joker team up to set a trap for diana and bruce and lure diana to gotham by spamming the hecate sign at murder scenes. So diana makes a magic bat-signal to meet up with batman to investigate the crime scenes. They find out that its all just a set up, but that theres still some kind of ritual involved, so they head there. At first they think that the ritualists make a golem, but they cast a spell, that turns diana evil, because of her golem like origin. Batman fights her and is at a disadvantage, but turns her back to normal by using a magic device diana gave him that sends a help signal to her and asks for a audience. The thought to be golem explodes and batman and wonder woman escape on a whim. It snows and diana experiences it for the first time. Joker and Veronica cale plan new strategies to get rid of them.
I loved the dynamic the two have, its just so fun to read. Also i love the way they compare magic and science as two sides of the same medal. Also im hyped for their plany to unite with absolute superman!