Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman didn't just tweak the origin story for Absolute Wonder Woman. They detonated it. If you’ve been following the launch of DC’s Absolute Universe, you already know the vibe is "everything you love, but harder, darker, and weirder." But honestly, the way they handled Absolute Wonder Woman Medusa is the standout move. This isn't the snake-haired villain you remember from high school mythology or even the classic George Pérez run.
In this universe, Diana isn't a princess on a paradise island. She’s the last Amazon, raised in the pits of Hell. Literally. And her relationship with Medusa? It’s the emotional backbone of the entire first arc. It’s messy. It’s tragic. It’s actually kind of beautiful in a twisted, heavy-metal sort of way.
The Gorgon in the Room: How Medusa Changed
Most people expect Medusa to show up as a boss fight. You know the drill: don't look her in the eye, get the shield, chop the head, move on. But Thompson flips the script. In Absolute Wonder Woman #1, we find out that Medusa isn't a monster hunting Diana. She’s her guardian. Her mentor.
Think about that for a second.
Instead of Hippolyta and a council of sisters, Diana has a literal Gorgon raising her in a wasteland. It changes everything about who Diana is. She’s not "refined." She’s a brawler. She carries a giant sword because she had to survive a landscape that wanted to eat her alive. Medusa is the one who taught her how to navigate that nightmare.
Why this version works better than the myth
The original Greek myth is, frankly, pretty depressing. Medusa is a victim of the gods who gets turned into a monster and then decapitated by a "hero" who needed a trophy. It’s a story about isolation. In the Absolute Universe, that isolation is shared. Medusa and Diana are outcasts together. There’s a scene early on where you see the domesticity of their life in the underworld—well, as domestic as you can get when you're surrounded by demons—and it grounds the character of Diana in a way the "clay origin" never quite could.
She isn't a gift from the gods. She’s a survivor of their neglect.
The Visual Evolution of Absolute Wonder Woman Medusa
Hayden Sherman’s art style is... a lot. I mean that in the best way possible. It’s scratchy, high-contrast, and feels like it was etched into a cavern wall. When you look at Absolute Wonder Woman Medusa, she doesn't look like a pin-up or a generic movie monster.
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She looks ancient.
Her "hair" isn't just a bunch of wiggle lines. The snakes feel heavy. They feel like a burden. The color palette used throughout these sequences is heavy on the reds and blacks, emphasizing that Diana and Medusa are products of a harsh environment. It’s a sharp departure from the bright blues and golds of the main DC continuity.
- The scale of Medusa is intimidating.
- Her eyes aren't just weapons; they carry the weight of someone who has seen the end of the world and stayed anyway.
- The interaction between Medusa's snakes and Diana's cloak shows a level of physical familiarity that tells the story without words.
Actually, the wordlessness is key. In the early issues, their bond is communicated through action. Medusa isn't giving long-winded speeches about destiny. She’s showing Diana how to swing a blade. She’s showing her how to hold her ground when the literal gates of Hell are buckling.
Why the "Hell Origin" Matters for the Greater Absolute Universe
We have to talk about the context. Scott Snyder and the team behind the Absolute line wanted to strip these heroes of their "privilege." Superman doesn't have a Fortress or a supportive Kents-on-the-farm upbringing. Batman doesn't have a billion dollars. And Wonder Woman? She doesn't have an army of Amazons at her back.
By making Absolute Wonder Woman Medusa her primary connection to her heritage, DC has made Diana an underdog.
It’s a massive gamble.
If you take away the island and the sisters, is she still Wonder Woman? The answer provided by the Medusa dynamic is a resounding yes. If anything, she’s more of a Wonder Woman because her "wonder" is something she had to build herself out of scrap metal and grit. Medusa represents the bridge between the mythological past and this brutal new future.
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She is the keeper of the stories. In a world where the gods have seemingly abandoned their posts or turned into something worse, Medusa is the only one telling Diana who she actually is.
Dealing with the "Monster" Label
One of the coolest things Thompson does is address the "monster" aspect head-on. Diana herself is often viewed as a monster by those who don't understand her power. By having her raised by the ultimate monster—Medusa—it creates a "us against the world" mentality.
You’ve probably seen the panels where Diana stands protectively in front of Medusa. It’s a complete 180 from the usual dynamic. Usually, people need protection from the Gorgon. Here, the Gorgon is the one who needs a defender against a world that only sees her as a curse.
It’s poignant. It’s smart. Honestly, it’s the most interesting Medusa has been in comics since Greg Rucka’s run, and even then, this is a totally different beast.
Breaking down the power dynamic:
- Medusa as the Anchor: She provides the history and the "why" for Diana’s mission.
- Diana as the Shield: She provides the physical force to keep their small piece of the world safe.
- The Tragedy: There is an inherent sadness because we know how the story of Medusa usually ends. Every time they share a moment of peace, there’s a ticking clock in the back of the reader's head.
What Fans Are Getting Wrong About the New Lore
I’ve seen some chatter online complaining that this "disrespects" the Amazonian lore. I get the impulse to protect the classics, but that misses the point of the Absolute line. This isn't replacing the Diana we’ve known since 1941. It’s a "What If" turned up to eleven.
Specifically, regarding Absolute Wonder Woman Medusa, people seem worried that Medusa will eventually just become a villain again. While I can't predict the future of the series, the writing in the first few issues suggests something much deeper. This isn't a cheap trick. The bond is the foundation of Diana’s moral compass. If Medusa turns out to be a total lie, it would break this version of Wonder Woman in a way that would be hard to recover from.
Instead, look at it as a reclamation.
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Thompson is reclaiming a "villain" and giving her agency. She’s giving her a daughter. That is way more compelling than just another fight in a hallway with stone statues.
The Practical Impact: Collecting and Reading
If you’re looking to dive into this, you need to start with Absolute Wonder Woman #1. Don't just skip to the wiki summaries. The pacing of the reveal regarding Medusa’s role is vital to the emotional payoff.
Pro tip for collectors: The Sherman covers are great, but look for the Jim Lee variants if you want something that feels like a classic "moment in history." However, if you want the art that actually matches the internal vibe of the Medusa/Diana relationship, stick with the main covers. They capture that "mythic punk rock" aesthetic perfectly.
Key Issues to Watch:
- Absolute Wonder Woman #1: The setup. You see the environment and the initial reveal of their living situation.
- Absolute Wonder Woman #2: Deepens the lore. We start to see the friction between their life in the dark and the world above.
- The Absolute Universe Special: Essential for understanding the "dark energy" that necessitated these versions of the heroes.
Moving Beyond the Stone Stare
What’s next? Well, the presence of Absolute Wonder Woman Medusa suggests that other "villains" might get the hero treatment too. If Medusa can be a mother figure, what does that mean for Circe? What does that mean for Ares?
The Absolute Universe is stripping away the binary of "good vs. evil" and replacing it with "survivor vs. oppressor."
In this framework, Medusa isn't evil. She’s just someone the "good" gods decided to discard. Diana is the one who refuses to let that stand. It’s a powerful message about loyalty and looking past the labels people slap on you.
Take Action: How to Keep Up with the Absolute Lore
To really get the most out of this new era of DC, you should focus on a few specific steps rather than just casually browsing. The lore is dense and moves fast.
- Read the Source Material: Pick up the first three issues of Absolute Wonder Woman. Pay close attention to the background details in the Hell sequences; Sherman hides a lot of mythic Easter eggs there.
- Compare the Myths: Spend ten minutes brushing up on the Ovid version of Medusa. Seeing the contrast between the "victim" in the poem and the "mentor" in the comic makes the reading experience much richer.
- Follow the Creators: Kelly Thompson is very active on social media and Substack. She often drops insights into why she chose specific mythological figures to revamp.
- Check the "Absolute Batman" Cross-references: While the stories are standalone, there are thematic echoes about "mentorship" and "loss" that run through the entire Absolute line. Seeing how Bruce deals with his lack of a father figure compared to how Diana leans on Medusa is fascinating.
The story of Diana and her Gorgon mother isn't just a gimmick. It’s a reimagining of what it means to be a hero when you're starting from nothing. It’s loud, it’s messy, and it’s easily the most refreshing thing to happen to Wonder Woman in a decade. Keep your eyes on the page—just maybe not directly into Medusa’s if you value your skin.