Warning: Spoilers for Absolute Wonder Woman #3!A key character in Wonder Woman lore is finally sinking its teeth into the publisher's new alternate universe, as Cheetah is officially teased to debut in Absolute Wonder WomanThe first explosive arc. There have been a few different iterations of the Cheetah all over DC Comics story, and the inventive series is set to present yet another take on Diana's ferocious feline nemesis for Hell's renewed hero.
A preview for Absolute Wonder Woman #3 by Kelly Thompson and Hayden Sherman shows Diana preparing to fight the enormous Tetracide, a powerful monster that even the Princess of the Underworld fears. As the supernatural confrontation is televised, a quirky character named Barbara watches in awe from the Gateway City Museum of Natural History.
Although Bárbara's last name is not openly stated in the preview, she is definitely the Barbara Ann Minerva of the Absolute Universe – perhaps the most popular character to take on the mantle of Cheetah. As she appears in human form, the series will apparently feature an updated origin for the villain.
With the introduction of Barbara, one of Wonder Woman's most iconic villains debuts in the absolute universe
Absolute Wonder Woman #3 by Kelly Thompson, Hayden Sherman, Jordie Bellaire and Becca Carey
The first glimpse of the character in Absolute Wonder Woman The preview for #3 looks very similar to the beginning of Barbara's main continuity counterpart, but there are still endless possibilities for Cheetah as she is reimagined for the Absolute Universe. While the first Cheetah debuted in 1943, Wonder Woman #6 by William Marston and Harry G. Peter, Barbara Minerva was created in 1987 by Len Wein and George Pérez and still holds the mantle to this day. As arguably Diana's quintessential training partner, it was only a matter of time before Barbara's debut in the Absolute Universe.
Absolute Wonder WomanBarbara's version appears to follow its traditional origin with only one page of evidence so far.
In its traditional origin, Dr. Barbara Ann Minerva starts out as a highly intelligent but meek archaeologist who uses ancient magic to undergo a fierce transformation that turns her into the iconic villain Cheetah. Performing at the Gateway City Museum of Natural History – and also seemingly invisible to those around him – Absolute Wonder WomanBarbara's version appears to follow its traditional origin with only one page of evidence so far. However, with another classic villain becoming Wonder Woman's mother in this universe, among other inventive twists on lore, some exciting Cheetah twists are to be expected.
Our Take on Barbara Ann Minerva's Debut in DC's Darkseid-Powered Alternate Universe
Thompson and Sherman's new version of the Cheetah may be the cruelest yet
As Absolute Wonder Woman continually raises the stakes for its titular Amazon, the creative team could conjure up the fiercest Cheetah ever. With the new universe being made from Darkseid's energy, his depiction of the savage villain could be untamed in ways never seen before. Thompson's current Birds of Prey The series, one of Screen Rant's best comics of 2024, highlights the writer's ability to capture DC's female heroes and their camaraderie, so it will be exciting to see how the dynamic between Diana and Barbara plays out in her Absolute Universe series.
While not much is known about the new Barbara Minerva before she appears in Absolute Wonder Woman #3, his first reaction to seeing Diana is already remarkable. When Bárbara lights up, she says quietly “Wonder Woman”, and runs off, marks the first time that Diana is actually called by her superhero name in this new universe and may further point to the character's importance in this version of DC Comics tradition. How the Wonder Woman from Hell reaches new heights in the Absolute Universe, the reinvigorated Cheetah It's finally on the board and could be lurking very soon.
Absolute Wonder Woman #3 is available December 25, 2024 from DC Comics.