An absorbent article, comprising a liquid-pervious topsheet, a wetlaid absorbent composite, with a first and second stratum and a transition zone intermediate and coextensive with the first and second stratum, has been patented. The first stratum comprises hydrophobic fibers and a binder. The second stratum comprises a binder and fibers selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic and hydrophobic fibers and mixtures. The transition zone comprises fibers from the first and second stratum commingled uniformly across the composite's width and along the length. A storage stratum contains an absorbent fibrous material and an intermediate stratum is interposed between the absorbent composite and the storage stratum and a liquid-impervious backsheet.