Absolute Wonder Woman #5 Review

• Written by: Kelly Thompson

• Art by: Haden Sherman

• Colors by: Jordie Bellaire

• Letters by: Becca Carey

• Cover art by: Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire (cover A)

• Cover price: $4.99

• Release date: February 26, 2025

Absolute Wonder Woman #5, by DC Comics on 2/26/25, brings the battle against the Tetracide to a close (again) when Diana uses a secret weapon.

Is Absolute Wonder Woman #5 Good?

Recap

When we last left Diana in Absolute Wonder Woman #4, the Absolute Woman of Wonder and Steve Trevor sought out Gateway City's local witch for the ingredients needed to cast a spell that would restore her magical, prosthetic arm. Restored, Diana cast another spell that made her sword ten times bigger than usual to cut the Tetracide in half, ending the conflict.

Plot Synopsis

Absolute Wonder Woman #5 begins with Diana inspecting the outcome of her giant sword attack on the Tetracide. However, the double tap rules still apply, so the Tetracide starts to heal itself. A trio of jet fires approaches and launches missiles at the monster, but the Tetracide swats them away towards Gateway City. Diana quickly changes their course with a magical spell.

The comic shifts to a flashback in Hell when Circe gifted Diana a magical green lasso called Sacrifice. The lasso has the power of transformation, but Diana can't always control what the transformation will be. When she gives the lasso a test drive against a cranky Harpy, she's horrified by the result. Later, Diana learns that some choices are cruel and painful, even correct ones.

Now, Diana takes out Sacrifice and considers using it against the Testracide before it returns to full strength. At the last moment, Diana recalls an ancient legend, thanks to Pegasus, and uses the lasso on herself to transform into Medusa. The gambit works when the Tetracide looks Diana/Medusa in the eye and turns to stone.

The issue ends with Steve Trevor putting himself at risk, a satisfying punch, and a Hellish hand.

First Impressions

It's no secret that I've been down on the series for a multitude of reasons, but I have to admit, I like this issue. Absolute Wonder Woman #5 isn't perfect by any means, but the good outweighs the bad in a much healthier ratio than the previous four issues.

 

How’s the Art?

Hayden Sherman's art is what it is. Sherman has a strong grasp on subtle, nuanced emotions expressed through the facial acting of the characters - a must for the emotional beats during the flashback between Diana and Circe. The details and action shots, however, become off-putting with Sherman's unsteady linework.

What’s great about Absolute Wonder Woman #5?

Where Kelly Thompson's script sails is in the pacing, plot progression, and conflict resolution. You think you know where the story is headed, but in true hero fashion, Diana finds a better way than what you would expect, which makes your appreciation for her as a character and her journey more engaging.

What’s not great about Absolute Wonder Woman #5?

Of course, the good has to accompany some bad in this series. The transition from issue #4 to issue #5 is jarring because the ending of the last issue gave you the clear impression that the Tetracide was done. It almost comes across as a bait-and-switch.

Next, there's no explanation for why Diana didn't use her mega sword to dice the Tetracide into little pieces. It's almost as if the introduction of the Sacrifice lasso was invented to solve a problem that was already solved.

Lastly, if Diana intended to destroy the Tetracide utterly, why would she hesitate to use Sacrifice against the Tetracide to prevent cruelty? How is turning the monster into stone and crushing it into dust less cruel?

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About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Final Thoughts

Absolute Wonder Woman #5 is possibly the best issue in the series to date. Kelly Thompson's script isn't without its flaws, but the story makes up for its shortcomings through strong pacing, solid action, and a surprising resolution. Readers on the fence about this series may want to check out this issue.

7.5/10

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