Wonder Woman’s Dark Side Proves DC Is Finally Giving Us Something We’ve Wanted for Decades

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Comic books often avoid lasting consequences for their characters. Deaths are easily reversed, and heroic sacrifices rarely have a long-term impact. This is especially true with magic. Both Marvel and DC frequently state that magic comes with a cost – a way to limit powerful characters like Doctor Strange and Zatanna and prevent magic from solving every problem. Despite this established rule, we almost never see these characters truly suffer the consequences of using magic beyond the immediate storyline.

Like everything else, Wonder Woman is now facing the consequences of her actions in the Absolute Universe. She’s always paid a small price for using her magic, but those effects were minor and easily dealt with. Even losing her arm to save Steve Trevor wasn’t a major setback. However, the latest issue of Absolute Wonder Woman reveals the true and significant cost of her powers.

The Price for Wonder Woman’s Protection

The thirteenth issue opened with Diana and Barbara discussing what people knew about the Amazons before they vanished. Their conversation was cut short by a news report about a monster attacking Reno, Nevada. Wonder Woman immediately flew to the scene and discovered a creature made of pure energy, causing widespread destruction. The situation was made worse by the fact that simply being near the creature filled Diana with intense anger and disturbing thoughts. She battled it while struggling to maintain control, but the creature ultimately broke free and got away.

Wonder Woman battled the creature repeatedly, but it always managed to get away after a tough fight, reappearing somewhere new. This drove Diana to frustration, until her friends noticed a connection: the attacks all happened at or near old Amazonian battlegrounds. When news came that it was attacking Delphi in Greece, Wonder Woman raced to confront it. During another battle, she finally understood what the creature was.

Every act of magic comes with a consequence, and Diana had paid dearly to come to Earth and fulfill her destiny. This creature was that consequence – a powerful, malevolent version of Wonder Woman fueled by negativity. Her dedication to heroism wasn’t free, and now, its price was manifesting as her own evil counterpart.

A Cost That Must Be Paid with Consequences

Wonder Woman’s magic comes with a significant and dangerous cost, something that many similar stories have lacked. This isn’t just a random penalty; it’s a direct result of her heroic actions, making every decision she makes feel more impactful and suspenseful. Her magic doesn’t offer easy solutions; it often creates new problems. This limitation to her powers is understandable because we’ve seen the consequences firsthand, making us more invested in what happens next.

This isn’t just a temporary story element either. Throughout the series, Diana has consistently faced consequences for using her magic, and this new villain reinforces that trend – DC is really emphasizing the costs associated with magical power. Simple spells have minor drawbacks, while powerful magic demands significant, often painful, sacrifices. This isn’t just a way to avoid easy solutions or create momentary drama; it’s becoming a consistent rule within the DC Universe, making magic itself – and the stories surrounding it – much more compelling and captivating.

I’m really pleased to see these costs being introduced and I’m excited to see how they develop. Do you want to see this payment system and these rules continue, or would you prefer we ignore them to keep the story moving?

Absolute Wonder Woman #13 is available now!

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2025-10-23 00:41