The first arc of Absolute Wonder Woman concludes in a epic fashion that is centered on Diana as daughter to Circe, her mother, her transformation, and Steve Trevor’s heroism. The cover by Hayden Sherman has Wonder Woman serene in what seems like the belly of the beast, The Tetracide, with her Nemesis lasso crackling like a lightning bolt around her! Stunning variant cover of Diana's face by Carla Cohen! Part 5 of “The Last Amazon” is by Kelly Thompson and Sherman. Wonder Woman’s Athena Blade, now nearly the size of the Tetracide, but it has halted its move to Gateway City. This is covered on the news program, The Gate. Wonder Woman looks up at the blade and it shrinks in size, tossing down to her hand! Then, we get a closeup of her face, eyes red, ready for battle!
Jet fighters launch missiles at the beast and one explodes, then the Tetracide roars sending three of the misisles back to the city! Wonder Woman flies towards them casting her spell, she does three bolts of magic towards the missiles, great action pose, can’t wait for an action figure if you make one of her. They hit, but only two are diverted! The last missile streaks towards Gateway City! Large panel of Pegasus breathing fire to destroy the missile. She flies towards the jet fighter, talking to a pilot and saying not to do that, fire missles, again, he agrees! Wonder Woman floats above The Tetracide in the sky. Flashback to a beach of the Wild Isle, Circe is talking to her daughter over a campfire. She has prepared a rope glowing green. She reassures Diana that her future will be “glorious.”
The object is named by Circe Θυσία, seen in Greek script, which Diana says means “sacrifice.” Circe explains that it will “hold anything” and transform anything, what it holds will shape the transformation. A series of panels shows Circe waiting by the fire. This is bathed in green and red, always stunning colors by Jordie Bellaire. A winged demon, a harpy, slams Diana down with her giant axe. I like the twists on mythology in these creatures. A guardian stopping her from leaving hell? Diana appears with the lasso. She winds the lasso around the creature’s neck. She compliments her mother’s transmogrification. Then, says it was cruel. Circe stands up, she looks almost like a flapper from the Jazz Age lit in red by the fire, and says that there are things that will try to kill her before she makes friends.
Circe walks away and then means the cruelty to a giant white female, a goddess, in white with armor and clawed helmet. Diana hands the Θυσία over to her. and she says to Diana that mother may not see the cruelty in her magic. Diana hands her the Then, she admits that since Circe knows the future, she may think Diana may need a cruel weapon. The goddess pulls the Θυσία, it almost seems like the threads of Fate. This is a strange interesting encounter. Diana consulting with a goddess figure changes the nature of her stay in hell. I also like the inhuman, glowing form with no face look, not the classic beautiful form in Greek myths, possibly their true form. Diana is struggling with her disagreement with her mother as the goddess tosses the Θυσία down to her. A close up of the goddesses face. She says that the lasso is her mother, made with “love and pain.” She adds that Diana believes in Circe’s transformation. Fascinating, it is the daughter who could redeem her mother in her exile.
Closeup of the Θυσία, as Diana sees her mother in their home. She asks for forgiveness and says that Circe is the “greatest sorceress to ever live”, she learned from her. Diana says that her mother is “self-made” through pain and Circe holds her daughter’s chin and says “later, by love.” Great mother daughter moment! Diana tells Circe that she would not have made the Θυσία, beacuse she was limited in vision, then we get an excellent closeup of the two holding the lasso. Above The Tetracide, Wonder Woman descends with the Θυσία, in front of The Tetracide with its side split apart. Pegasus flies above it and Wonder Woman thanks him. Wonder Woman begins to wind the Θυσία around her arm saying she has to become, “she who is both terrible and tragic.” I spoiled it by turning the pages!
She begins to transform, her eyes glowing, then growing massive, scaled. The next page reveals a large panel of Diana becoming Medusa! A kaiju sized Medusa with snake-like body similar to the Medusa from the brilliant Ray Harryhausen Clash of the Titans (1981)! The design is incredible scaled, almost armored chest, claws, and snake tail. She says “none that see my face shall live” as her snakes hiss. This is a great nod to that film, “a titan against a titan!”, plus her connection to the comics, first appearing in Wonder Woman #153 (1964). The most memorable encounter for me was in Wonder Woman #210 (2004), the conclusion of “Stoned”, when Wonder Woman blinded herself with the snake’s venom to defeat Medusa! This Medusa transformation exceeds that issue!
Barbara, Steve, Gia, and Etta Candy watch the confrontation on television. It is Barbara who recognizes that Diana has become Medusa. She mentions the mythological origin and also that it is unclear how it happened, the comics have different origins, and then we see the curse. We see Medusa hiss and The Tetracide’s screech, it’s eyes bulge. An extreme closeup of an eye as it sees Medusa! Barbara explains that whoever sees Medua turns to stone! The towering Tetracide is petrified! On television, Barbara notes that Diana has not transformed back with the death of The Tetracide. Etta says that transformed, Diana can’t remember who she was, Steve tears off a strip of cloth from his shirt and says friends remind you who you are. Wow. Steve turns to Etta and says that Diana cut off her arm so he could leave hell. A red colored outside as Steve blindfolds himself.
The Medusa, Diana transformed, rampages through the streets of Gateway City. Steve, tiny, talks to her as she hisses, she covers her ears. He reminds her of cutting off her arm for him. He says she is Diana of the Wild Isle, just like she said before her transformation! He holds up his hand to her chin, just like Circe!, and says she is “daughter of Circe” Incredible scene that just reflects the ealrier parts of the comic! Diana’s face partially emerges! Green mist as Steve continues, “Diana, the last of the Amazons.” This moment puts these stories as one of the top Wonder Woman stories for me. Plus, I love dialogue that echoes the title! Wonder Woman has returned and they hug. Diana tell him, “One good man can save the world.” There is a reason why Steve left hell. He asks if it is over and Wonder Woman tells him, “Almost.” She flies up and in a large panel across two pages, Wonder Woman smashes apart the petrified The Tetracide!
She descends thanking all of the goddesses in prayer. This really separates this Wonder Woman from all other versions. A classic Greek hero, not just a superhero. She finishes with Athena for her cruelty, that word again, that made Medusa. Pegasus trots up to her. Her friends circle around her and Barbara asks how did she know it would work. Diana says Medusa was a "cruel fate" from a goddess loved by her. She tells them that everyone including gods can be "twisted with hate." I think this is a theme running through the comic. She thanks them, Wonder Woman is about to leave, and then a flaming, glowing hand reaches up to drag her down! Cliffhanger! How did Diana herself escape hell? I think it is Circe who sacrificed herself, possibly just her magic, to free her daughter. If anyone has a question of why Wonder Woman is a great character or wonders if there is an excellent Wonder Woman story, I would hand them these Absolute Wonder Woman comics! A great finish to "The Last Amazon" that spotlights the best of these Absolute versions of the Wonder Woman characters in Absolute Wonder Woman #5 and Wonder Woman's finest battle!
Five+ Athena Blades out of Five!
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