Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual # 1 Cover A 2026 BN

Absolute Wonder Woman 2026 Annual #1 is a standalone story released on February 11, 2026, focusing on Diana's quest to understand and ultimately help the mythological figure Medusa. The issue is a story about compassion, empathy, and challenging the "truth" found in myths and history. 

Story Synopsis: "Cursing and Cursed" 

The annual is a direct follow-up to a plot thread from Absolute Wonder Woman #5, where Diana temporarily became a Medusa-like figure. This experience leaves her haunted by the suffering Medusa endures, prompting her to seek justice for a historical wrong. 

• Seeking Athena: Diana makes continuous prayers and sacrifices to the goddess Athena, who finally grants her an audience.
• The Bargain: Wonder Woman strikes a deal with Athena: she trades all of her powers for the ability to withstand Medusa's gaze without turning to stone. This leads to a difficult journey where she must climb mountains without her abilities, reflecting on how heroes like Batman manage their missions without superpowers.
• Confronting the Gorgons: Diana traverses various mythological realms, encountering Medusa's sisters, Stheno and Euryale, before finally reaching Medusa herself.
• A Compassionate Resolution: Rather than fighting, Diana explains her brief experience as a gorgon and the pain of isolation she felt. She offers her Lasso of Sacrifice to undo Medusa's millennia-old transformation and curse, which Medusa accepts, finally allowing the sisters to connect as a family.
• Themes: The story explores the idea that history is often written by the victors, and the truth of mythology can be murky. Diana acts as a force for good by focusing on compassion and empathy over prescribed justice or traditional conflict. 

Creative Team 

• Writer: Kelly Thompson
• Artist: Mattia de Iulis
• Colorist: Mattia de Iulis
• Letterer: Becca Carey