DC Sets Up the Most Tragic Version of an Iconic Villain

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The comic series Absolute Wonder Woman has been a major success for DC, offering a fresh and imaginative take on the classic character. Instead of a traditional Amazonian princess, this Wonder Woman is a powerful witch with a connection to Hell. The supporting characters and villains have also been reimagined to fit the darker tone of the Absolute Universe. She faces familiar foes like Veronica Cale and the Suicide Squad, but even the Greek Gods are now positioned as enemies. Starting with Absolute Wonder Woman #3, the series has been building towards the origin story of Wonder Woman’s most heartbreaking and formidable enemy: Cheetah.

The Absolute Universe series has taken some surprising twists with classic villains, even turning some into heroes. A prime example is Circe, who is now Wonder Woman’s adoptive mother instead of an enemy. Initially, Barbara Ann Minerva, also known as Cheetah, appeared to be following a similar path, introduced in Absolute Wonder Woman #3 as an ally to the Last Amazon. But recent issues, particularly Absolute Wonder Woman #20, have revealed her descent into villainy through carefully placed clues, and it’s a truly sad turn of events.

The Absolute Universe Explores Barbara Before She Became the Cheetah

The complicated history between Wonder Woman and Barbara isn’t new to DC Comics. But this particular storyline is the first to truly explore Barbara’s life before she became Cheetah, and the details of her earlier friendship with Wonder Woman. By showing Barbara’s transformation slowly, the story makes her eventual turn to villainy feel much more heartbreaking.

The Absolute Universe highlights the close friendship between Wonder Woman and Barbara, who was a shy archeologist fascinated by Amazonian legends when Wonder Woman first arrived in Man’s World. They quickly became friends after a chance encounter, and Barbara shared stories and historical details about the Amazons and Themyscira that were new to Wonder Woman. Barbara also helped Wonder Woman gain public recognition by arranging an exhibit on Themyscira at a museum, where Wonder Woman herself appeared. Ultimately, Barbara played a key role in helping Wonder Woman understand her origins and connect with the present day.

A key element of DC’s updated portrayal of Barbara is her romantic interest in Wonder Woman. From the moment they met, there’s been a clear, though unstated, attraction. Hints that Wonder Woman is bisexual, combined with Barbara’s obvious admiration, strongly suggest the archeologist has a crush. It’s unclear if Wonder Woman feels the same way. This unspoken attraction is complicated by Wonder Woman’s ability, granted by Aphrodite, to unconsciously inspire affection in others. This power is a double-edged sword – it makes it impossible to know if Barbara’s feelings are real or a result of Wonder Woman’s influence. And, potentially, strong affection could even turn into dislike under certain conditions.

A Cheetah Fueled by Betrayal

Cheetah’s reasons for being a villain in DC Comics have always been a mix of sad and confusing. Usually, Barbara transforms into Cheetah against her will and fights Wonder Woman because she can’t control her violent urges and feels resentful that Wonder Woman can’t fix her condition. However, the story of the current, main version of Cheetah is more complex, straightforward, and deeply upsetting. The recent storyline in Absolute Wonder Woman, called “Season of the Witch,” has given clues about Barbara’s path. These clues show that the love she once felt for Wonder Woman will turn into hatred and a feeling of being betrayed, all stemming from being left behind.

The “Season of the Witch” storyline began with Veronica Cale’s Suicide Squad ambushing Wonder Woman at a museum. The team included the original Cheetah, Pricilla Rich, but she was quickly killed by her teammate Zatara, who then used her blood in a spell to make Wonder Woman feel intense pain. Wonder Woman withdrew to recover, leaving Barbara shocked and upset. Even when Wonder Woman returned to fight again, she couldn’t stop Giganta from kidnapping Barbara, following Cale’s orders. Issue #20 of Absolute Wonder Woman reveals Cale’s full plan: to manipulate Wonder Woman by turning her closest friend against her.

Wonder Woman was captured and taken to Cale’s base, Area 41.X. She realizes Barbara is also there, but before she can try to save her, Hades magically transports Wonder Woman to the underworld, where she’ll be held for a month. Cale taunts Barbara, ridiculing her belief that Wonder Woman would come to her rescue. The presence of Pricilla Rich’s body makes it clear that Barbara will soon become the new Cheetah. This version of Cheetah won’t be motivated by a cursed bloodlust, but by the devastating belief that the person she loves abandoned her to face death alone.

A real friendship, complicated by unrequited feelings, has been turned into a bitter rivalry thanks to meddling from others. Every attempt by the gods to assist Wonder Woman – whether it’s Aphrodite’s supposed help or Hades’ intervention – actually pushes Barbara further away and makes her more susceptible to Cale’s influence. Wonder Woman deeply values her friendship with Barbara, so being powerless to save her while trapped in the underworld would be devastating. By the time Wonder Woman returns, it will be too late to prevent Barbara’s transformation into the vengeful Cheetah she’s fated to become.

As a huge DC fan, I think this new take on Cheetah is going to be heartbreaking. We’ve seen her journey – how she fell for Wonder Woman, and how that love wasn’t returned, leading to bitterness and feeling totally left behind. It’s so sad because Wonder Woman is always portrayed as the ultimate good person, someone who always tries to do the right thing. But it looks like she won’t be able to save the one person she cares about the most, and that person will become her biggest enemy. It’s going to be a really tragic story, I can feel it!

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2026-05-30 21:13