Superman/Wonder Woman is an American comic book series published by DC Comics. The series was published from October 2013 to May 2016. Written by Charles Soule with artwork by Tony Daniel, it explores the relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman, two of DC Comics' most popular characters.
Publication history DC Comics launched Superman/Wonder Woman in October 2013. The series was written by Charles Soule, best known for his work on Swamp Thing, and drawn by Tony Daniel (Action Comics, Detective Comics). It explores the budding relationship between Superman and Wonder Woman, the DC Universe's most powerful heroes. About the series Soule said: "Obviously, the idea of Superman and Wonder Woman being romantic with each other is not brand new. That concept has been around for a long time. It was addressed in Kingdom Come, the great Mark Waid book. Most recently, in Justice League #12 (October 2012), they had the kiss heard 'round the world... They're arguably two of the most powerful beings in the whole DC Universe and they're romantic together so just imagine the adventures and excitement that can come from that". Regarding the dynamic of the characters Soule said: "Frankly, these are people that have a lot in common. There are maybe 100 people on the planet that can fly, and two of them are Wonder Woman and Superman. At the same time, they grew up in very, very different cultures and situations. They have extraordinarily different backgrounds and there is a lot that they have to learn about each other too". Soule continued: "One of the things that I would like to do is have the way they approach battles grow over time as they get to know each other better so that fights become more coordinated. Wonder Woman has the background as a warrior dating back to when she was very little. Ares, in the New 52, was her warrior teacher when she was 12. She has a strategic, practical approach to battles where Superman, it's not like he rushes in guns-a-blazing, but he has a slightly less schooled approach to his attack".
At Fan Expo Canada held in August 2013, Daniel said he wanted to create a book that "targets a little bit more of the female readership that’s been growing. And maybe a book that has a little bit of romance in it, a little bit of sex appeal, you know, something that would, for lack of a better example, that hits on the Twilight audience". Graeme McMillan of The Hollywood Reporter noted that the comparison to Twilight drew quick criticism from comic book fans on social media.
Doomsday and General Zod were among the first villains introduced into the series. Soule said: "We wanted to go big off the bat. We wanted to stake our claim and make it clear that this was a book that mattered — not just from the idea of the couple at its heart, but also from the events that would be depicted in it and their impact on the DCU as a whole, and in Superman's life and Wonder Woman's life".
The first story arc ended with issue #6 (May 2014) wherein Superman and Wonder Woman sacrifice themselves to thwart Zod and Faora's plan to conquer Earth. About their sacrifice, Soule said: "I think that they did what they needed to do in that moment. I thought it was a beautiful moment where they came together. As far as we know, they saved the world for the umpteenth time. I think that every relationship has its ups and downs. Right now, they're very, very strong together. Whether they'll always be that way – who knows? It's a relationship, so it could change. But right now – except for the fact that they blew themselves up – things are looking pretty good".
Superman/Wonder Woman was tied into the "Superman: Doomed" crossover event, which featured the first major conflict between Superman and Doomsday in the New 52. Soule explained that "Doomsday appearing in Superman/Wonder Woman was something that just seemed like a great place to start – we wanted Superman/Wonder Woman to launch big, so we thought we'd give them a big villain to deal with. Not very long after that we had our first big in-person summit on what this event was going to be, which was all the way back in last October... It was in that meeting that Doomsday was what we wanted to do, so as far back as then, we were talking about it. Obviously, the specifics have evolved, but Doomsday was the plan all the way back then". Soule also revealed that Lois Lane would make her first appearance in the series during the event.
Issues #30 and #31 were not published as single-issue magazines. Rather, they were included in various collected editions.
Plot "Power Couple" In London, Superman and Wonder Woman meet up for a date and exchange gifts. However their date is interrupted by an unnatural storm forming in the North Atlantic Ocean. While Superman investigates the cause of the storm, Wonder Woman rescues a plane caught in its path and is mistakenly shot down by a Norwegian Navy vessel. Once aboard the ship, Wonder Woman is attacked by Doomsday.
Doomsday breaks Wonder Woman's arm, before vanishing into thin air. Once healed from her injuries, Wonder Woman takes Superman to Mount Etna to ask Hephaestus for weapons in order to defeat Doomsday. There, the couple is visited by Strife and Apollo, whom Superman throws into orbit after he insults Wonder Woman. Meanwhile, a caravan traveling in the Sahara desert is attacked by General Zod.
In Metropolis, Cat Grant publishes photographs, that were delivered to her from an anonymous source, of a kiss between Superman and Wonder Woman on her blog. Meanwhile, the Justice League of America intercepts Zod and are nearly defeated before the arrival of Superman and Wonder Woman. When the fight is over, Superman places Zod in custody in the menagerie at the Fortress of Solitude.
In London, Superman and Wonder Woman try to come to terms with the fact that their relationship has been made public. As the world reacts to the news, Clark Kent investigates how the information was leaked before checking in with Zod at the Fortress of Solitude. There, Zod tricks Superman into opening a portal to the Phantom Zone and releasing Faora.
Wonder Woman travels to Themyscira to console with Hippolyta about her relationship with Superman. Meanwhile, Zod and Faora escape from the Fortress of Solitude with Superman in pursuit. Wonder Woman joins the subsequent battle between Superman, Zod and Faora, before they agree to suspend the fight for another day.
In the South Pacific Ocean, Zod and Faora build a portal to the Phantom Zone, intending to bring through the armies of Warworld. Using the weapons created by Hephaestus, Superman and Wonder Woman nearly defeat Zod and Faora, but are themselves defeated after Apollo intervenes. Zod and Faora place Superman and Wonder Woman inside a nearby nuclear reactor, as they finish constructing the portal. However, Superman and Wonder Woman set off a nuclear explosion inside the reactor, destroying the portal before it is opened.
Following the explosion, Superman takes Wonder Woman to see Hessia, an Amazonian healer. With himself badly injured, Superman leaves to recover at the Fortress of Solitude. They later reunite in London and spend some alone time together on a rooftop and attend a nightclub. Meanwhile, Doomsday is awakened and surfaces from deep in the Mariana Trench, destroying a submarine on the way.
"Superman: Doomed" During the "Superman: Doomed" storyline, Superman is infected with a virus after defeating Doomsday. Superman slowly undergoes a mutation that transforms him into a Doomsday-like creature. Wonder Woman and Batman come to the realization that Superman's mutation can be controlled through willpower. Wonder Woman urges Superman to fight the virus' influence, but Superman becomes aggressive towards her, as the virus begins to affect his mind. Superman eventually gains control and returns to normal but laments that his inner beast is still waiting to get out.
As the storyline continues, Superman is declared an enemy of the state and is attacked with a kryptonite bomb, causing his mutation to worsen. While a mutated Superman rampages in the jungles of Brazil, Wonder Woman asks Hessia for help. Hessia, believing Superman is beyond salvation, attempts to kill him but Wonder Woman takes Superman into outerspace, where the kryptonite has no effect. Superman momentarily regains control and decides to leave Earth. However, as he leaves, Superman is attacked by a group of Red Lanterns. Before things can escalate, Wonder Woman stops the fighting and convinces the Red Lanterns to let Superman go.
In space, a mutated Superman intercepts an Earth-bound invasion force led by Brainiac and the Cyborg Superman and rescues Lana Lang and Steel, who were headed to Earth to confront whoever unleashed the coma infection that is plaguing Smallville. Back on Earth, Lois Lane, who was brainwashed into becoming a servant of Brainiac, acquires Brainiac-like abilities and assembles an army of robots to construct a signal machine for Brainiac's arrival. Wonder Woman attempts to reason with Lane but Lane creates a robotic exoskeleton controlled by John Corben to fight her. After defeating Corben, Wonder Woman destroys the signal machine, forcing Lane and Corben to flee. Meanwhile, Superman reaches Brainiac's fleet and confronts Cyborg Superman.
After defeating Cyborg Superman, Superman returns to Earth and fights Brainiac's forces alongside the Justice League. Cyborg Superman recovers and oversees the construction of a massive space portal on the dark side of the moon. Cyborg Superman also destroys Steel's ship, but Steel and Lana manage to escape. While fighting Brainiac's forces, Superman turns his wrath on innocent villagers, however Wonder Woman stalls Superman long enough for Batman to purge all the Kryptonite from Earth's atmosphere, allowing Superman to return to normal. Meanwhile, the Justice League defeats Brainiac's army, but the portal on the moon opens and Brainiac's mothership comes through.
After Superman and Martian Manhunter push the mothership away from Earth, they save Lana and Steel and take them to the Fortress of Solitude. There, the remaining heroes realize Brainiac was targeting Metropolis and Smallville first as revenge for Superman foiling Brainiac's first invasion five years ago. Superman allows himself to mutate again; while Wonder Woman enters the Phantom Zone and attempts to convince Mongul to let the Warworld fight Brainiac.
Critical reaction In September 2013, Complex listed Superman/Wonder Woman as number 12 on its list of "The 25 Most Anticipated Comic Books of Fall 2013".
"Power Couple" Professional reviews style="background:#d1dbdf;font-size:120%;" style="background:#d1dbdf;font-size:120%;" CBR style="background:#d1dbdf;font-size:120%;" Comic Vine style="background:#d1dbdf;font-size:120%;" IGN - IssueRating 1 7.8/10 2 9.5/10 3 8.5/10 4 8.6/10 5 8.9/10 6 8.3/10 7 7.5/10 Jim Johnson of Comic Book Resources (CBR) gave the first issue three-and-a-half out of five stars writing: "Like Clark and Diana's relationship, this issue has its ups and downs, but it's like a good first date; one can't be sure where things are going to go, but so far it's gone well enough to want the second". Tony Guerrero of Comic Vine gave it four out of five stars: "Charles Soule gives a great mix of action, emotion and character development in this debut issue" and "Tony Daniel's art adds depth to the characters". Melissa Grey of IGN gave it a 7.8 out of 10: "While the issue isn't without its flaws, its strong characterization and impactful art enough to leave me wanting more".