WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for DC ALL IN SPECIAL #1!At long last, Absolute Wonder Woman has officially made her debut, marking a pivotal moment in DC’s ALL IN initiative. But what exactly do we know about this darker, more dangerous version of Diana Prince, and when and where will she appear next? Read on to uncover everything we’ve learned so far.
On October 2, 2024, DC’s ALL IN initiative kicks off with Joshua Williamson, Scott Snyder, Daniel Sampere, and Wes Craig’s DC ALL IN SPECIAL #1. This issue ushers in a new era for the DC Universe by introducing the Darkseid-created Absolute Universe and laying the groundwork for the publisher’s new “Duoverse.”
In this bold concept, the Absolute Universe and the DC Universe coexist independently of the multiverse, with the Absolute Universe introducing darker, reimagined versions of DC’s iconic heroes, each with altered origin stories that set them apart from their counterparts in the DC Universe. Among these characters is Absolute Wonder Woman, who makes her highly anticipated debut in the ‘Omega’ half of the special, led by Scott Snyder and Wes Craig, told through Darkseid’s eyes.
The Absolute Universe is DC’s answer to Marvel’s Ultimate line, offering a bold reimagining of iconic characters in a darker, more intense narrative landscape.
Absolute Wonder Woman Debuts in DC ALL IN SPECIAL #1
Darkseid Reveals What Makes Absolute Wonder Woman Different From Her DCU Counterpart
Like her Batman and Superman counterparts, Absolute Wonder Woman receives a full, single-page spread in the ALL IN Special, serving as both a tantalizing teaser and a setup for a more detailed debut to come. In Wes Craig’s stunning, signature art style, Diana is depicted blood-soaked, riding an undead pegasus—a stark and haunting contrast to her classic white, living mount. A close-up of her eyes reveals blood filling her blue irises and dripping into the whites of her eyes. With one hand gripping her massive great sword and the other holding the reins of her mount, she cries out, “Into battle, fly!”
This moment is further enriched by Darkseid’s narration, where he describes how the heroes of the Absolute Universe are forged in a world of greater challenges. “Instead of being raised in paradise, they are raised in hell,” he notes. This line directly alludes to the key difference in Absolute Wonder Woman’s origin: unlike her DCU counterpart, who was raised on Paradise Island, the Absolute Amazon Princess was brought up in Hades. This reinforces what solicitations and interviews with the creative team have hinted—Absolute Wonder Woman is the Princess of the Underworld, not Themyscira.
Wonder Woman’s Absolute Universe Redesign Makes Its In-Narrative Debut
Diana Prince Gets Tatted Up (& It’s Possibly Her Coolest Character Design Change in Decades)
The DC ALL IN SPECIAL also gives fans their first in-narrative look at Absolute Wonder Woman’s character design. While the design has been teased across multiple variant covers, seeing it in action really drives home just how striking it is. Among the many changes, Diana’s tattooed arm sleeve, featuring a bold ox-blood red tribal pattern, stands out the most. Adding to her fierce new appearance, Diana now sports black lipstick. These design choices are particularly groundbreaking, as Wonder Woman’s overhauls typically focus on her costume, not her visual aesthetics.
Wes Craig’s art offers a detailed look at the costume that will define Diana throughout the Absolute Universe storylines. In the panels, fans can see that Diana has traded her classic gold, red, and blue for a striking silver, black, and red ensemble. The new look includes skintight red pants with black armor accents, replacing her signature gladiator skirt—an impressive transformation that perfectly complements this darker version of the Amazon princess. While Diana still appears to be wearing her classic bustier, now with silver accents instead of gold, the angle of the artwork makes it difficult to determine if there are other changes to this part of her costume.
Everything We Know About Absolute Wonder Woman (So Far)
Midtown Comics Dan Panosian Connecting Variant Cover for Absolute Wonder Woman #1
As mentioned earlier, the Absolute Universe’s Diana is only featured on a single page in the ALL IN Special. However, thanks to future solicitations for Absolute Wonder Woman and an interview with Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman—the creative leads on the series—we now have more insight into this darker version of the Amazon princess. Perhaps most striking is the revelation that Wonder Woman is both a warrior and a witch, a stark contrast to her DCU counterpart, who is not typically shown practicing mystical arts. Thompson explained that Diana’s mother raised her to practice magic, and that it will play a key role in her character moving forward.
In addition to her magical abilities, fans have learned through the series’ artwork that Diana will wield a giant great sword. But Thompson teased that this will not be her only new weapon. Diana will also bear the Nemesis Lasso, replacing her signature Lasso of Truth. Though details on the new lasso remain scarce, its inclusion is an exciting development. Thompson also confirmed that Steve Trevor—Wonder Woman’s iconic love interest—and Barbara “Cheetah” Minerva, a universal constant in Wonder Woman stories, will continue to play significant roles in Diana’s journey within the Absolute Universe.
Finally, when discussing the core of Absolute Wonder Woman, Thompson shared with Screen Rant that Diana’s mission will still focus on saving humanity and using her powers for good. However, there will be an added layer to her story as Diana embraces the mission of finding her Amazon sisters–who she was raised separately from–and addressing the wrongs that have been done to them and herself. This provides a deeper look into the type of narrative fans can expect from Thompson and Sherman’s upcoming Absolute Wonder Woman release.
So I would say, people who are looking for “what are her missions,” her mission is— it’s probably a little less a mission of peace, because she’s thrown into a much more violent world. But it still is about saving humanity, doing the right thing, using her power for good. But you know, if you’ve been taken from someone, you might want to find them again.
So I think people should not be surprised to find that as another part of her mission. Find the Amazons. Find my sisters. Rectify this wrong that’s been done to me and them. It’s one of the driving forces of the book. I think that’s not clearly spelled out, certainly not in the first issue, but I do think the way Amazons are used in the first issue— I hope will really resonate with people, because it’s very important to me personally.
When Will We See Absolute Wonder Woman Next?
Kelly Thompson & Hayden Sherman’s Absolute Wonder Woman #1 Releases October 23, 2024
Despite Absolute Diana making her brief yet memorable debut in the ALL IN Special, fans likely won’t see her again until October 23, 2024, when Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman’s Absolute Wonder Woman #1 is released. This issue will provide a more fleshed-out debut, offering 48 pages focused on her story and origin. Thanks to Thompson, fans know that magic will play a key role in this issue, and it’s likely that other teased elements of the character will also be featured, along with explanations for why Wonder Woman was raised in Hell and what happened to cause her to be separated from her Amazon sisters.
DC ALL IN SPECIAL #1 is available October 2, 2024, from DC Comics!
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Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is the superhero identity of Diana, Princess of the Amazons. Created on the island of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is a super-powered demi-goddess with extreme physical strength who utilizes magical gifts (like her famous Lasso of Truth) to defeat her foes. As mighty as her fellow heroes Superman and the Justice League, Wonder Woman is unmatched in her compassion and virtue.