Absolute Wonder Woman #12: The Dark Mirror of Fate

Absolute Wonder Woman #12 concludes the second main chapter of this story with a dramatic end to Diana’s journey within the maze. Throughout the arc, she has encountered new friends such as the Minotaur, Ferdinand, and a fellow Amazonian, Io, as well as new enemies like Doctor Poison and Clea. Much like the first arc revealed for Diana’s character, much of this journey has been about saving everyone around her just as much as it has been about discovering her long-lost roots. With this conclusion, the story begins to expand into a much larger world with higher stakes and, of course, an even bigger supporting cast.

The issue kicks off with Diana retrieving the mysterious water-based weapon from Clea’s pit, which is revealed to be the Trident of Poseidon. This leads to the further revelation that Clea and her fish-men are actually Atlanteans who were trapped in the maze. This twist makes Clea a somewhat sympathetic antagonist, with her character ultimately serving as a dark reflection of Io, someone who has chosen to save others rather than become a despotic leader. While Ferdinand and Io lead the maze’s prisoners toward Diana’s magical doorway out, Diana’s intense fight with Clea commences.

This battle is easily the highlight of the book, showcasing the raw action that makes Hayden Sherman’s art such a joy to see on every page. Sherman does an excellent job of capturing the powerful blows and intense personalities of these warring characters, but also succeeds in illustrating smaller, more intimate moments that reveal who they truly are. Sherman delivers some other amazing panels toward the end of the book, but revealing them would veer too far into spoiler territory.

Writer Kelly Thompson gives Diana an excellent line that encapsulates who Clea is as a character and why she works so well as a foil: “Ah, the names we will give to things in order to make them seem reasonable.” Diana delivers this after hearing Clea attempt to justify her actions in the maze, perfectly summing up her power-hungry adversary. Having just met Io, another Amazonian who matches Diana in wit and shares her goal of peace, Clea represents the darkness that these characters could easily fall into. Diana’s simple yet sharp acknowledgement of the insanity behind Clea’s reasoning underscores her resilience in the face of fear and uncertainty, reinforcing why she is such a force for good.

As the issue concludes, several revelations set up the directions this series will take in the immediate future and beyond. Without spoiling anything, it’s clear that the road ahead is both bright and worth anticipating. Diana will undoubtedly continue to face impossible trials, but Thompson and Sherman have proven over the last twelve issues that her resolve is undeniable and unbreakable.