In this review of Absolute Wonder Woman #11, we catch up to Diana stuck in Clea’s maze. Diana meets some new friends and plans an escape…for everyone.
ABSOLUTE WONDER WOMAN #11
Written by KELLY THOMPSON
Art and Main Cover by HAYDEN SHERMAN
Variant Covers: DERRICK CHEW, GERALD PAREL, OTTO SCHMIDT
Page Count: 32 pages
Release Date: 8/27/25
This review contains spoilers.
Absolute Wonder Wonder #11 begins with Wonder Woman trapped in the pit of hallucinogenic flowers. She thinks her words are scrambled, but realizes it might merely be her perception that’s messed up. Grabbing a vial from her utility belt, she casts a spell which causes her to collapse.
In the past on the Wild Isle, Diana and the Goddess sit on the shore. The Goddess comments on how different Diana is than her other followers—how she is clever and kind, creative and patient. The goddess puts the child to a test against the Hydra, which Diana passes using those very “confounding” traits.
In the present Diana awakes among her friends. Among them is Io, another Amazon who recognizes Diana as “the sister we all dreamed of” and calls her a miracle. Diana fills Io in on a little on her backstory, and Io shows her the community of survivors in the maze who call themselves “The New Hope” and the escape tunnel they’re digging.
The two women return to the flower pit where Diana begins to hatch an escape plan. She concocts a potion with some of the flowers and details the escape plan to Io and her followers. Diana remains in the flower pit to talk with the sentient being there.
Diana launches out of the Pit to confront Clea. Diana throws a vial on the ground and frees Ferdinand. In the fight, Clea overpowers Diana and stabs her in the stomach.
At the Hieron, Steve Trevor is trying to revive Petra in a lake. She revives, but has mutated into a horrifying blue fish creature.
As Absolute Wonder Wonder #11 ends, Diana recovers from the fight and throws Clea’s trident into the pit. Diana then summons the trident back, but now it’s merged with the sentient creature below.
ANALYSIS
Absolute Woman #11 takes a breather from the action and gives us some time with Diana, both in the present and the past. The flashback especially does a fantastic job of establishing Diana’s character and shows how, even as a youth, she embodies all the qualities that will make her a hero. I think the flashback has some of the best characterization and dialogue in this issue.
Sherman does an amazing job with the art and especially the panel designs. Many pages have circular or angular panels that are unusual, but never interrupt the storytelling. Some of the best panel design is when Io is leading Diana to the tunnel to the sea. There’s a real sense of movement and descent as they reach the end of the tunnel. The last panel of that page gives a real feeling of enclosure as Diana crouches to inspect the wall.
The muted colors throughout most of this book do a great job of setting the mood. I especially appreciate the subtle glow to the Goddess during the flashback. However, when the time comes to escape the pit and fight, Bellaire cranks up the colors a notch or three, and they are vibrant and powerful. The lettering is well done, although I wish there was some color to Diana’s captions.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Absolute Wonder Woman #11 is slower issue here gives us some quality time with Diana. Another great flashback gives us some nice character moments of Diana being “the best of all of us.” This issue sets us up nicely for the story’s conclusion next issue.
