Warning! This post contains SPOILERS for Absolute Wonder Woman #17
Although Zack Snyder’s Man of Steel was released 13 years ago, DC’s newest version of Wonder Woman has managed to make one of the movie’s most controversial moments even worse.
As seen in the new Absolute Wonder Woman #17 by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman, Diana of the Wild Isle faces off with the Absolute Suicide Squad. However, the Amazonian warrior is incredibly intentional with how one of her battles plays out, and it really doesn’t do Snyder’s Man of Steel any favors.
Absolute Wonder Woman Just Faced Giganta For The First Time
In Absolute Wonder Woman #17, Diana is shown facing off against the Absolute Universe’s Suicide Squad, featuring twisted versions of classic foes like Cheetah, Doctor Poison, and Giganta. While they were initially led by Absolute Zatanna, the rival sorceress managed to escape after freeing herself from the parasitic control of GATES Director Veronica Cale by co-opting Diana’s magic.
As a result, this issue’s real standout fight is Absolute Wonder Woman’s first real showdown with Giganta. As the classic Wonder Woman foe continues to grow in size and strength, Diana remarkably uses her magic (and some of Giganta’s hair) to mirror her foe’s size, refusing to be outmatched.
Eventually, the escalation grows to the point where both superpowered women are kaiju-zied in the middle of Gateway City. However, such a major size shift motivates Absolute Wonder Woman to stop and similarly shift battle tactics in a very admirable way.
Unlike Snyder’s Superman, Wonder Woman Takes The Time To Avoid Casualties & Collateral Damage
Rather than slugging it out in the streets Godzilla/Kong style, Diana intentionally unleashes a carefully aimed upper cut that sends Giganta out of the city and down onto some nearby baseball diamonds before continuing (and winning) their fight. This guarantees far less collateral damage and innocent lives being put in harm’s way, with Absolute Wonder Woman unwilling to put any lives at risk if she can help it.
The stark contrast with Man of Steel’s divisive final act is unavoidable. When the DCEU’s Superman battled General Zod vast sections of Metropolis were completely leveled, skyscrapers collapsed, and entire city blocks were obliterated as thousands of civilians were injured or killed in the Kryptonian chaos.
Overall, it’s a devastating cinematic battle that is still talked about today, with many questioning why Superman didn’t do something similar, like trying to move Zod out of Metropolis.
Keeping that in mind, it’s pretty refreshing to see Absolute Wonder Woman so determined to prevent the loss of so many innocent lives that would have been in danger had she just started throwing hands with Giganta.
While there are still more threats to deal with in the city proper with the rest of the Absolute Suicide Squad in future issues, it’s cool to see Absolute Wonder Woman dealing with the most destructive and devastating threats first.
Absolute Wonder Woman #17 is available now from DC Comics.
Created By
William Moulton Marston, H. G. Peter
First Appearance
All Star Comics
Alias
Diana Prince
Alliance
Justice League, Justice Society of America, Justice League Dark, Justice League International
Race
Amazon-Olympian