In Review: Absolute Wonder Woman (2024-) #19 – Surrounded by Enemies

Synopsis: Diana is unravelling and surrounded by enemies. But it is only when things are darkest that one should call upon the lasso Troika. For Troika…leaves you changed.

The Story

This latest issue opens with a brief flashback in which the goddess Aphrodite tells Circe that she must leave the wild isle, as some of her power has transferred to the young Diana. This means Diana has gained the unsettling ability to compel love from others, whether they wish it or not.

In the present, Diana remains in the fight of her life, with her current mission focused on freeing Giovanni Zatara and forcing him to confront his truth. To achieve this, she turns to the Troika, her Lasso, using it to create a bridge that allows Zatara to find his way out of Veronica Cale’s manipulations.

However, this requires Diana to remain grounded while in a trance, enabling Zatanna Zatara to reach her father and pull him free. Zatanna succeeds, but at a cost. When Zatara is freed from the space between worlds, Diana becomes trapped there in his place, unable to be awakened.

Determined to bring her back, Zatanna takes a calculated risk. She impersonates Circe, knowing that the only way to reach Diana is through someone with a strong emotional connection to her. It’s a necessary deception rather than a reckless gamble. However, the real danger lies elsewhere. Because Diana was unable to properly ground herself while using the Troika on Giovanni Zatara, something is now out of balance. We don’t yet know what form that consequence will take, but this is magic, and magic always comes with a cost. The rules have been bent, and sooner or later, they tend to snap back.

Meanwhile, realising Zatara is no longer under her control, Cale escalates the situation by unleashing the Iron Maiden. Fully aware of the danger, Diana orders Zatanna and her father to leave while she confronts the threat alone. At the same time, Cale dispatches Giganta to abduct Diana’s friend Barbara Ann Minerva, tightening the net around Wonder Woman from multiple directions.

Artwork

Hayden Sherman delivers some strong artwork throughout the issue. I particularly enjoyed the opening sequence of panels, which frame the brief flashback of Aphrodite instructing Circe to leave with a real sense of mythic weight. However, the standout moment comes when Diana unleashes the Troika on Giovanni Zatara. It’s a striking image that perfectly captures the raw power and emotional intensity of the scene.

Overall

Kelly Thompson continues to weave a compelling narrative, blending elements of Greek myth with a modern sensibility. I particularly enjoyed the opening exchange between Aphrodite and Circe, where we learn that Diana has inherited a portion of Aphrodite’s power to compel love.

What initially feels like a gift quickly reveals itself to be something far more dangerous. Aphrodite’s confidence that Diana will use the power for good only underscores how easily it could be misused. The revelation that Diana has been unknowingly using this power on Aphrodite herself adds an unsettling layer, and neatly explains why Aphrodite is forced to leave. It also ties directly into the wider magical rules at play in the series, reinforcing just how complex and precarious these forces can be.

I also enjoyed seeing Veronica Cale lose her composure once Diana frees Giovanni Zatara and Zatanna Zatara. It’s a great character beat, and I’d definitely like to see a future issue explore more of Cale, as she’s proving to be a particularly fun and unpredictable presence.