Welcome to Thinking in Absolutes, the DC column that discusses all things Absolute Universe! I’m Sami DeMonster and in this monthly column, I’ll be sharing my thoughts and opinions on the latest twists, turns and tragedies, as well as the overall themes we see playing out in the Absolute titles. Today, I’m talking about Absolute Wonder Woman, which has a very special place in my heart. What can I say, this series makes my sapphic heart sing!

What makes Absolute Diana so special is…well, it’s a long, long list! We have cool blood magic, a skeletal flying Pegasus, badass tattoos and armor and the fact that she was raised by literal goddesses. There’s also her compassion, which matches her incredible power and strength. Though born from Darkseid energy to a world that’s a lot meaner than that of her mainline counterpart, Absolute Diana continues to prove kindness is one of the greatest strengths someone can have and a core element of Wonder Woman’s DNA. But, unlike mainline Wonder Woman, Absolute Wonder Woman gives in to her darker attributes and anger fairly often—especially when the people she loves are in danger. She balances her anger and her gentleness, AKA she knows when to hold back a punch and when to go full force!

When we meet Diana in the first arc of Absolute Wonder Woman, we follow her journey of joining and discovering the human world. She is hopeful, excited and has an open heart. She embraces humanity as we see her form Team Wonder Woman by befriending Steve Trevor, Barbara Minerva, Etta Candy and her sister, Gia. She navigates her world with a patient compassion towards humans and monsters alike.

One example of Diana’s kindness is when she frees Medusa from her curse in Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual #1. She fights for a stranger and embraces a face that has instilled fear in so many. It’s a tender moment with a “big, bad monster” that I think shows us exactly who Diana is. It’s a beautiful exchange between Medusa and Diana, one sparked by Diana living as Medusa for a day and experiencing her pain. (Honestly, it makes me want to sob!) Because of her open heart, we’ve really started to see the toll that it takes on Diana when the people she loves are threatened, particularly when Barbara Minerva is taken. What happens when someone who loves so deeply becomes scared for the safety of those she holds close?

Absolute Wonder Woman #23 is a prime example of Diana knowing when to tap into her anger while still maintaining a sense of honor and respect. In this issue, she suspects Veronica Cale still has Barbara held captive, so in an attempt to find her friend, Diana storms Cale’s house. Here she threatens, coerces and holds her by the neck while dangling her out of a window. Without context, these aren't very heroic things to do to someone, especially someone powerless in comparison to a god-like warrior. (Even if we all agree Cale deserves it! I cheered when Diana scared some sense into her.) The key is that Diana still has firm boundaries and morals that she lives by, even when she feels she needs to act aggressively and use violence.

At the end of issue #23, Diana discovers her enemy’s greatest weakness: her young daughter is cursed. She’s a lifeless statue, imprisoned by magic. Instead of using this to her advantage, our hero sees an innocent girl in need, and vows to find a way to help—that’s right, to help her enemy. I think this shows us exactly who Diana is: she embraces her anger when needed, but doesn't let it control her.

An earlier example can be found in Absolute Wonder Woman #7, when Diana is forced to compete in a fight-to-the-death tournament for Hades. She knows she has no choice but to play his sick game and she mercifully kills her opponent—whom, it should be said, would have readily killed her—with the final words, “Rest easy in your next life, sister…” Through death and violence, Diana still finds humanity and connection in these darker moments.

What’s more, we’ve seen these traits in Diana from the very beginning. Even as a baby, as seen back in Absolute Wonder Woman #1, Diana has had “a quality that softened even the most treacherous beasts.” That includes Circe. (Obsessed with how often this series makes me cry!) From befriending little hell-creatures, to showing Circe what love is, these traits have continued to define Diana through adulthood.

Wonder Woman is always holding back, until she has no choice but to give in to her own power. When she does, she still maintains her humanity and her compassion. She navigates the world without any judgment save for those who hurt others. As the plot thickens and she now has to deal with Barbara Minerva as Cheetah, I wonder how these moments might falter as her fears and pain grow. We’ll see, but in the end, I believe Diana will always desire to be the best version of herself—someone who leads with compassion always, but realizes that sometimes, you’re just going to have to dangle a lying, manipulating witch out of a window.
 

Sami DeMonster writes about superheroes, horror and sci-fi for DC.com and is the author of our Absolute Universe column, “Thinking in Absolutes.” Follow her at @samidemonster on Instagram and Substack.

NOTE: The views and opinions expressed in this feature are solely those of Sami DeMonster and do not necessarily reflect those of DC, Warner Bros. or Skydance, nor should they be read as confirmation or denial of future DC plans.