Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Wonder Woman #2
AbsoluteWonder Womanhas already proven to be a serious badass on the battlefield, and her latest power just elevated her to the same level as a major Marvel hero. Wonder Woman officially has her own version of an iconicGhost Ridertechnique, as she follows his example and becomes theAbsolute Universe’s Spirit of Vengeance.
InAbsolute Wonder Woman#2 by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire, and Becca Carey,Diana unveils her Nemesis Lassofor the first time in her fight against Harbinger Prime. When Wonder Woman strikes the monstrous creature with her glowing red lasso, it leaves a painful burn on its face, demonstrating the latent power surging through it.
This mysterious Nemesis Lasso is no ordinary weapon, and its qualities bear a striking resemblance to Ghost Rider’s Penance Stare.Wielding her lasso, Wonder Woman emulates Ghost Rider as she uses Harbinger Prime’s sins against it in the ultimate attack.
Wonder Woman’s “Nemesis” Lasso Is Her Version of Ghost Rider’s Penance Stare
Wonder Woman Enacts Her Judgment, Just Like Marvel’s Ghost Rider
Unlike Wonder Woman’s traditionalLasso of Truth, her new lasso in the Absolute Universe doesn’t merely draw the truth out of foes; it seeks out their moral truth on its own to weaponize it. As Diana unleashes her Nemesis Lasso, she explains,“She binds and burns in proportion to your sins…and your soul shines bright with the blood of the innocent.“Basically, Nemesisgrants Wonder Woman the powerto enact judgment upon her enemies for the wrongs they’ve committed. If Nemesis burns them, it’s because their past actions are sinful enough to warrant punishment by Wonder Woman’s lasso.
DC Just Gave Wonder Woman Her Wildest Rogues Gallery Yet
Absolute Wonder Woman’s new rogues' gallery is far more dangerous (and way bigger) than the foes typically faced by DC’s original Wonder Woman.
In Marvel lore,Ghost Rider’s Penance Starefunctions similarly.With a single look, Ghost Rider can force someone to experience the pain they’ve inflicted upon others in agonizing fashion.Debuting inGhost Rider#4 by Howard Mackie and Javier Saltares, this technique allows theSpirits of Vengeanceto carry out justice by punishing evildoers. Like Wonder Woman’s new lasso, Penance Stare channels its insight into one’s soul to determine how much damage is necessary for their atonement. Wonder Woman may spare Harbinger Prime in the end, but her Nemesis Lasso gives her the potential to be DC’s Ghost Rider.
Absolute Wonder Woman Is Officially DC’s Answer to Ghost Rider
DC’s New Universe Gets Its Own Spirit of Vengeance in Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman’s Nemesis Lasso isn’t the only trait connecting her to Ghost Rider. In theAbsolute version of her origin, Diana is raised in Hell rather than Themyscira. Her title as the Princess of Hell can be likened to Johnny Blaze’s short-lived tenure as theKing of Hellduring Marvel’sDamnationevent. Moreover, Wonder Woman rides a skeletal steed named Pegasus into battle in this new continuity, emulating Ghost Rider’s skull imagery. The parallels betweenWonder WomanandGhost Rider, in addition to her having a Penance Stare ability, prove that she’s bringing his brand of justice to the Absolute Universe.
Absolute Wonder Woman#2is available now from DC Comics.
Wonder Woman
Wonder Woman is the superhero identity of Diana, Princess of the Amazons. Created on the island of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is a super-powered demi-goddess with extreme physical strength who utilizes magical gifts (like her famous Lasso of Truth) to defeat her foes. As mighty as her fellow heroes Superman and the Justice League, Wonder Woman is unmatched in her compassion and virtue.
