At a recent San Diego Comic-Con panel, new details were unveiled regarding the character evolution in Absolute Wonder Woman #25. The discussion focused on the visceral transformation of Barbara Minerva and her complex connection to the character Priscilla.

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The body horror of the new Absolute Cheetah

The visual direction for the new iteration of Cheetah is described as having a distinct "body horror aesthetic." As reported during the San Diego Comic-Con panel,the transformation of Barbara Minerva involves her skin and body mass being stretched and twisted into a feline shape. However, the design maintains a haunting connection to her humaity, as her human face remains visible through the distorted form.

This design choice serves a narrative purpose beyond mere shock value. The presence of the human face confirms that this version of the Cheetah is not solely Barbara Minerva, but a fusion involving Priscilla, a socialite from the original DC Universe. In the original continuity, Priscilla was a character defined by her mental illness and a deep-seated hatred for Wonder Woman, eventually meeting her end at the hands of Zatara.

Priscilla’s body and the Area 41 experiment

The plot of Absolute Wonder Woman #25 hinges on the physical convergence of these two characters. According to the report, Priscilla's body has been placed alongside Barbara Minerva in a location known as Area 41. This convergence is not accidental; it is a calculated move by the character Veronica Cale, who intends to utilize the combined entity as a vessel for the gods.

This setup creates a unique dynamic for Barbara Minerva, who is no longer a passive victim of a curse. Instead, she is takig an active role in partnership negotiations with divine entities. This evolution provides Minerva with a direct link to Priscilla’s history, effectively merging the past and present of these two characters into a single, volatile existence.

A shift toward mutually beneficial divine deals

The Absolute Universe appears to be moving away from the traditional themes of exploitation found in classic DC lore.. In traditional Wonder Woman stories, the pacts made between humans and gods were often characterized by abuse and one-sided sacirfices, frequently at the expense of characters like Priscilla. The Absolute Universe, however, is attempting to establish a framework of "mutually beneficial" deals from the outset.

This thematic pivot allows Barbara Minerva to seek redemption. By choosing to take on her new role willingly,she is positioned to make amends for her previous mistakes and work toward a more positive future. This represents a significant departure from the tragic,involuntary transformations that have defined the Cheetah character for decades.

The mystery of the Bleeding Cool founder and unverified claims

While the panel highlighted several major upcoming titles, it also left fans with several unanswered questions. The report mentions that the panel included "early hints about the justice closing in on the Founder of Bleeding Cool," but it does not elaborate on what these legal or disciplinary implications actually entail.. It remains unclear if this is a meta-commentary on the news industry or a specific plot point related to the panel's participants.

Beyond this mystery, the SDCC presentation confirmed a heavy slate for DC Comics, including:

  • Absolute Black Canary by Pornsak Pichetshote and Belen Ortega.
  • A new Steel ongoing series written by Morgan Hampton.
  • Darkseid Vs. The World, a new launch from Scott Snyder and Sanford Greene.
  • The long-awaited Spider-Man comic by J Scott Campbell, slated for 2027.