Review – Absolute Wonder Woman #9: Maze of the Minotaur

Geek Dad

4 days ago

Absolute Wonder Woman #9 cover, via DC Comics.
Ray: This series has delved into Greek mythology in a way Wonder Woman comics rarely do, and that's one of the secret weapons that makes it a serious contender for the best book DC is putting out right now. It's a superhero book, it's a darker mirror to its hero, and it's an epic fantasy all at the same time – and that allows it to shift tones dramatically in a single issue. When this issue kicks off, Diana is facing off against the mysterious Doctor Poison and her swarm of robotic spiders. But in defeating this villain, she's able to get some critical information – about the existence of a massive labyrinth that was the site of the last time an Amazon was sighted. Although Steve Trevor tries to convince her to wait for information, Diana is undeterred – and a flashback to a strange dream Diana had in the underworld ages ago indicate that there may be some connection to this strange woman in the maze. Interrogation. Via DC Comics.
Then, the second half of the issue turns into a full-on supernatural adventure, as Diana enters the labyrinth – and this is where Hayden Sherman really shines. They create a visual of the classic Greek myth that is somehow both incredibly vast and incredibly claustrophobic at the same time. It also features the return of one of my favorite characters from Wonder Woman lore – Ferdinand. This massive minotaur was a friend of Diana and cook at the Amazonian embassy in the original comic – but this isn't a kinder and gentler universe. This is a world where Ferdinand has been fighting for his life in the maze since his birth, and Diana is the first person to help him in all that time. This is a great scene, but there's a mysterious presence in the maze lurking over all of this – and when it's revealed at the end, it's a great cliffhanger. Fantastic issue, and the start to the biggest-scale adventure yet.
To find reviews of all the DC issues, visit DC This Week.
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