Is it a little serendipitous that this particular issue came out around the same time that Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster reimagining of The Odyssey is also running wild through theaters? Probably. But that does little to nothing to take away from just how great it is seeing so many interpretations of that epic play out in media. And in this week’s issues of Absolute Wonder Woman that’s definitely there in all its epic glory too.
Diana’s own little journey through the Underworld is also a quest to find home, and as much as Penelope was Odysseus’s guiding light, here it’s the love of a child for their mother that pulls Diana onwards. And neither the machinations of gods, or the fury of god-touched beasts will stop her from saving her loved ones in Absolute Wonder Woman #22.
The Underworld Beckons
The issue starts with Diana preparing herself to make her final dash to save her mother Circe from the situation that Hecate’s put her in: namely being the prisoner of the monster Scylla, famed and feared across Greek mythology. Having already battled the Manticore and desperate to save her mom and return to her friends who might be in need, Diana is more determined than ever before to save Circe from the god-monster’s clutches. And she’s more than willing to go the extra mile, even against Hecate herself if it means her mother is freed.
But that’s not the only thing she’ll have to worry about though, because keeping Diana’s friends in mine, we also get to see Barabara Minerva finally begin to succumb to her own insecurities and Urzkartaga’s manipulations. Trapped, alone and resentful, Barbara’s defences are weak enough for the deceitful deity to finally convince her to accept his offers of power. And that can only mean a horrific transformation for her, one which is certain to be a massive problem in the near future.
A Love Letter to the Epics
Kelly Thompson once again continues to show exactly why her books are so much fun to read, by blending the action with heart near seamlessly. This issue with all its massive set piece fights and peppered emotional conflict at the heart of each major encounter further cement just how intrinsic the human and divine in unison are to this retelling of Diana’s world. The Underworld is a foreboding place but it’s given so much character as a home for some of Greek history’s greatest monsters, where the Gods still manage to play on old insecurities and feuds for their own amusement. But Diana continues to steadfastly stand against those games, and this issue showcases that brilliantly.
I like that we’ve finally reached a degree of progression with Diana’s story where it doesn’t feel like she’s being conveniently handed victories but has to actively bluff and gamble against supernatural forces to earn her victories. When the stakes are as high as mother’s life, any sense of sentimentality that comes to the Gods is now being put to the test, with Hecate’s issues being particularly prominent here. I appreciate how the cyclical nature of Greek tragedy plays such a strong throughline, where every major Greek character/monster is intertwined through a crime they’ve committed against the other or through their connections to patron gods. Circe is punished by Scylla and taken as her prize here, when it was Crice who originally turned Scylla into a monster. Circe’s own patron goddess, Hecate offers her to Scylla as trophy for her own ends, but has to relent once Diana comes to retrieve her mother. And this is more vital for Diana later on, because she once again uses her guile instead of brute force to achieve a victory that could’ve backfired. Hell, it still might. But the fact that we’re seeing confrontations play out like this now is really interesting to me, when we consider that Diana might just find out just how much the gods have manipulated her entire destiny from day one.
And speaking of manipulated destinies, Kelly Thompson also manages to give Barabara her moment to shine in this issue. While not as bombastic as the Underworld segment of the book, Barabara’s own fall to Uzkartaga’s influence feels inevitable but no less tragic. Much like her comic counterpart, Barbara’s love for Diana paired with her insecurities about living in the margins does provide a strong core of her eventual transformation into Cheetah, but the process is far more nuanced. This was built up over many issues of Barbara, who despite being Diana’s closest friend, still felt she was left in the shadow of her larger-than-life persona. As Diana’s shadow grew larger, Barbara can’t help but feel eclipsed by that aura. And of course Kelly Thompson took her time to set those puzzle pieces up, only for her to put them all together into a deeper revelation of Barbara’s own misgivings. I appreciate her not being so gullible that she just wouldn’t question Uzkartaga’s wishes, but rather played into her own misgivings because those had far more truth to them. It feels a lot more honest yet utterly manipulative on the deity’s part and it’s shown beautifully as a result.
Ultimately, Absolute Wonder Woman #22 is a great study of characters having to reconcile with themselves, painfully in fact. Diana is left emotionally broken out of guilt for not being strong or prescient enough to protect her loved ones from divine retribution. While Barabara is faced with her own insecurities and chooses to no longer be a side-character in someone else’s story. Of course, having a lot of fun action adventuring mixed with Godly intrigue does help spice up all the human drama, but it’s no less a lovely little feast for lovers of Greek mythology and Diana’s evolving story.
A Little Something for the Greeks and the Geeks
The art of course, continues to make this book the standout that it is. Dillon Snook returns from the previous issue to provide some truly gritty yet no less compelling line work, while the legendary Jordie Bellaire continues to showcase her coloring chops in tandem. And that heavyweight artistic energy certainly shows in epic fashion for this issue, where you get some really fun action and equally emotional pathos as well.
The entire fight with Scylla is played out in a grim dark manner, storms and fury abounding all around as Diana faces off against a monster that’s realized in all its classical glory. Snook draws Scylla in her classical look: not some random six headed sea monster, but as a true abomination created by the gods – torso of a woman, waist of snarling dogs and tentacles flailing about as she stands on her rocky outcrop. I adore this because you don’t really see this original interpretation in most adaptations of the character anymore, so that definitely tickled my fancy. Scylla’s not given speech bubbles even when she talks, with her threats and words slithering across the page even as the action intensifies. It’s a stunning fight and one that feels so-on point and perfect from a fantasy perspective, especially with all the really fun visual onomatopoeia going on with literal words housing the visuals inside them in Snook’s own style. Similarly, Barabara’s own journey through her mindscape is given equal visual depth, with her past and present being put into context through visions that feel no less real thanks to Snook’s linework. And when she does finally accept Urzkartaga’s offer, Snook goes wild with one stunning page that merely teases her transformation, but does enough to bring dread to the audience.
Bellaire’s there right alongside all this visual splendor to pep things up with her excellent color work. The fight with Scylla has all the right hues you’d expect from a storm swept battle ground, with the right shades of green energy and white-hot lightning bolts that come with this mystical battle. The red rage of Scylla’s attacks are shown literally through Bellaire’s colors, and even in the transformation sequence of Barbara’s, with the dim light of her cell melding with the ripping and tearing of her human form as well.
An Amazon is Her Own Island
There’s a lot going on in Absolute Wonder Woman #22, but there’s not a moment of boredom to be had at all. Kelly Thompson continues to weave a fantastically engaging story that plays the best hits of the hero’s journey while also offering its own unique twists to the much beloved Greek stories we’re all familiar with. And while some secondary characters might still feel a little neglected, they’re starting to find their footing a bit more as Diana spirals towards a future confrontation that might not go in her favor.
It's a real breath of fresh air every time I pick up a new issue of this book, and whatever small quibbles I might have are quickly put to rest as more of this tale unfolds through Thompson’s writing and truly incredible visual work that the rotating art team brings. This Underworld adventure in particular perfectly highlights that hook, and is definitely what keeps me coming back for more with this amazing series.
Final Verdict: Absolute Wonder Woman #22 is another excellent chapter in Diana’s odyssey with thrilling sword, sandal and sorcery vibes while also managing to keep the emotions on point not just for our lead character, but for her supporting friends and family as well.