Absolute Wonder Woman #7: Godly Deception

Absolute Wonder Woman #7 concludes the two part interlude story that helps define Diana’s relationship with hell, further exploring how she manages to escape to further her adventures on Earth. Jumping right into the action, this issue picks up with Diana now in an arena fighting a tiger woman as the issue flashes back and forth between the present and different periods of Diana’s past with her mother. One of the most unique things about Absolute Wonder Woman is the relationship between her and her adoptive mother, Circe, making for a very dramatic departure from the mainstream continuity. With Absolute Wonder Woman #7, that relationship gets more defined and helps round out the character.

The main crux of Absolute Wonder Woman #7 is Circe preparing Diana for this moment through a lesson she taught her many years prior. Kelly Thompson does a great job showing Diana’s growth through these flashbacks, leading towards her revelation about this lesson that showcases how she grows and matures. The way Thompson tells this story is truly exemplary of the clever writing that has made this series such a smash hit amongst readers, with Diana going through these intense moments of character growth within the confines of a regularly sized issue.

Mattia De Iulis’s art is also top notch here, diverging from what was done in the prior issue to focus more on deep character moments than large, sprawling landscapes. This showcases the diversity of De Iulis’s art and really makes for a very well rounded short arc. Without a doubt, Thompson and De Iulis are able to do more for these characters in two issues than many prolific creators are able to do in six or twelve.

As this two issue arc comes to a close, it is important to look back at the significance of the story, especially as the unassuming reader may believe that it purely exists to bridge the gap between the main story. In actuality, these two issues tell you everything you need to know about who Diana and Circe are as characters, and why this tale is able to function as it does. This likely will go down as one of the most important arcs in this series history.