Absolute Wonder Woman 15 Review by Jeremy Mundy
Absolute Wonder Woman 15 features the first crossover and meeting of Diana and Batman. Let’s talk about it! SOME LIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD!!
Building on the events in Absolute Evil, we witness Veronica Cale on the phone with Jack Grimm, discussing the dangers of people being inspired by these “heroes.” Jack asks if “she” took the bait, and is assured she did.
Cut to Gotham, and the coolest version of a Bat Signal ever, which definitely gets Bruce’s attention. I won’t give away too many details from here on out, but I definitely have some thoughts.
What I really love about this meeting is that they talk. It’s not an immediate “Who the heck are you? Must smash!” kind of thing. Bruce seems genuinely curious, and Diana is very kind, and almost seems to put Bruce at ease just by being so.
Diana has a case in Gotham she needs help with, and Bruce agrees because he hasn’t had a chance to really investigate this one. Everything relates back to the “Mark of Hecate,” which Diana wears on her magic arm. This symbol was drawn in blood at the crime scene. Was it to get Diana’s attention? To implicate her? Or something else?
Bruce seems oddly comfortable with the magic surrounding Diana and this case, even going so far as to trust that it will work when he needs it. Maybe that comes simply from already having seen footage of Diana in action. Unclear.
After their adventure ends, there is a very sweet moment where Diana of Hell experiences snow for the first time, but nothing to really suggest why these two will be meeting again in Absolute Batman 16. I guess we’ll see. I definitely want more of this team-up!
I’m not sure who is responsible for the page layouts, Kelly Thompson or Hayden Sherman, or some combination of the two, but it is perfection. It is a masterclass in nontraditional page layout, and how to keep the flow with fun design. The last page has an amazing visual element in which the layout is inspired by (or reflective of…?) the dialogue. Very well executed.
A+ 5/5 Absolute perfection. Pun fully intended.
You can find Jeremy Mundy writing here or sharing his comics on Instagram at MHM Comics.
