Wonder Woman

Lore & Background

In this reality, Apollo left infant Diana with Circe on the Wild Isle of Hell, forbidding knowledge of the Amazons. Though Circe initially intended for the child to die, she raised her instead. As an adult, Diana learned of the Amazons' banishment and entered the world to fight evil, adopting the name Wonder Woman after rescuing Barbara Minerva. Her divine training came from Artemis and Hecate rather than Themysciran tradition. The narrative introduces key artifacts like the Athena Blade and Nemesis Lasso, used during her battles against Harbingers unleashed by an upside-down pyramid over Gateway City. Diana's origin diverges sharply from the clay-born myth; she is a product of Hellish upbringing, forced to navigate a world where magic demands balance. Her journey involves confronting Tetracide, a monstrous entity whose mind-compelling 'Death of Fear' forced her to magically deafen an entire city to save its people.

In Their Own Story

Diana's early adventures saw her battling Harbingers on Pegasus and facing the Tetracide. Unable to stop its influence, she transformed into Medusa using the Lasso of Sacrifice to shatter the beast, only to be pulled into the Underworld. There, Hades forced combat upon her while holding Circe hostage; recalling 'The Lady or the Tiger,' Diana chose freedom by eating a pomegranate seed, accepting partial bondage to the realm. Later, she established the Hieron as a refuge and explored Area 41's submerged maze, befriending Ferdinand the minotaur and Petra the siren while freeing trapped Amazon Io. When a lightning creature embodying magical balance attacked Amazon research sites, Diana nearly sacrificed herself until Gaia intervened and destroyed it. In Gotham, she allied with Batman to investigate occult murders linked to Hecate's sigil, only to be stripped of her powers by Zatanna during an attack at the Gateway City Natural History Museum. After regaining her strength, she fought off the Suicide Squad, growing to giant size against Giganta before witnessing Cheetah killed and her own arm melted by Giovanni Zatara.

Reader's Guide

This version of Wonder Woman operates with a distinct set of tools and vulnerabilities. Her arsenal includes the Athena Blade for combat and the Nemesis Lasso, which she uses to transform into Medusa or compel truth. Unlike traditional depictions where she flies via Hermes' gift, this Diana relies on Pegasus for flight during key battles against Harbingers. A central mechanic is her magical balance; using magic summons a lightning creature that mirrors herself as an embodiment of consequence. Readers should note her unique origin: raised by Circe in Hell rather than sculpted from clay, she lacks the traditional Amazonian pacifist upbringing until later encounters with figures like Io and Queen Hippolyta. Her allies include Steve Trevor, Batman, Ferdinand, and Petra, while antagonists range from Veronica Cale to Zatanna, who once bound herself to Diana to control her magic. The narrative emphasizes a darker tone where heroes like Superman are still being discovered by Diana, marking the beginning of a wider team dynamic within the Absolute Universe.

Did You Know?

• The original writer for the series was Zoe Thorogood, who departed due to her brother's unexpected death and feeling she was not the right fit.
• Diana adopted the name Wonder Woman specifically after rescuing Barbara Minerva from Tetracide.
• To escape Hades' hold in the Underworld, Diana chose partial bondage by eating a single pomegranate seed.
• The series won two Eisner Awards: Best New Series and Best Coloring (Jordie Bellaire), with nominations for Writer Kelly Thompson, Cover Artist Hayden Sherman, and Letterer Becca Carey.