Superman and Wonder Woman Confirmed to Be a Couple

[espanolbot]

They seek "solace in each other" in Justice League before becoming an official couple.


http://dcwomenkickingass.tumblr.com/post/29963791801/swwew

Won't last, but Clark reacting to Diana's family life will probably be hilarious if he was ever to crossover.

Weird that they are confirming it now, when they pretty much said it would happen at the same time as they said Lois and Clark won't be a thing in the DCnU.
http://espanolbot.deviantart.com/gallery/#/d3i892k

Comments

[mesmiranda]

Can anyone make a compelling case for me for Clark and Diana as a couple? I'm serious, I really do want to know why people ship the two of them.

For me, personally, they seem so similar in personality and situations and powers that there's nothing to play off of, nothing to contrast or create tension--it's like putting salt with more salt instead of pepper. But I don't know, maybe I'm missing something huge. Anyone?

[grimmbear]

The only thing I can think of is the "woman of tissue" issue. This at least gives them both sexual partners that they can hug, kiss and fuck that they don't need to hold back for.

[sherkahn]

Beat me to it.

[grimmbear]

Doesn't this make them both more outsiders and alien? If you take their human better halves out of the equation then both are robbed of some humanity. "We're together because dating is hard with super strength."
I am becoming more and more to dislike DC and Marvel both.

[espanolbot]

Considering the modern interpretation of Superman involves him being alienated and detached from the rest of humanity (Earth One and the upcoming Man of Steel movie highlight this interpretation), I have to say: Yes, yes this does seperate the two of them from regular people more.

An alienated Superman works well in some contexts, in the great novel 'It's Superman' it's partially about him coming to find his place as both a hero and as a person in 1930s America, for example. It works best if he comes to embrace his humanity rather than going into "I can't get intimate with anyone, I might accidentally reenact a sex scene from Twilight if I do!" territory.

[leoboiko]

really not digging her shorts here.

[terrykun]

It looks like her shorts are doing digging of their own.

[sil]

Oh wtfever. This is why the only DC Comic that exists for me is Smallville.

Honestly, I think DC Comics delibritly split Lois & Clark out of spite because of the ownership lawsuits and to try and deny (and "erase") the legacy Superman started with because they are a bunch of petty and horrid people with little to no creativity left in them.

But I also know I'm reaching into conspiracy theory territory, so... yeah.

[espanolbot]

Kind of sticking with Scott Snyder's Batman, Demon Knights, All Star Western and the current Wonder Woman run personally.

And there's frankly enough floating around behind the scenes with the Bat Books to keep me occupied in the conspiracy theory department.

[blueprintstyles]

to be honest I always wanted to see them attempt this a long term fashion. I always hoped for a sort Greek gods vs kryptonian gods story.

[kenn_el]

It's never been done particularly well, but it's worth a shot, especially if the writers take the opportunity to explore their current backstories now that they have a significant other to share those with.
I know it's probably just for artistic effect, or some sort of bondage fetish, but it tickles me that Diana can gauge Clark's truthfulness with the lasso. Would that we could all have one!

[mrstatham]

I've said on my Tumblr that I don't particularly mind them exploring this concept since Lois and Clark is an inevitability once one or more of the current big three in DC get bored and leave and/or retire. But.. Yeah. I think it's a good concept to explore - But I don't think it's a good concept for Geoff Johns to explore.

This is, of course, the man whose approach to Bruce Wayne's grief over his parents was, to me, the comically emo 'I don't have a favourite colour' scene.

[runespoor]

Oh, DC. This is so thoughtful of you. But really, you shouldn't have: I'm already not reading any of your books. You don't need to keep on piling: we've already broken up, remember? ♥



yeah, I got nothin' else.

[sil]

..I think I absolutely love your comment. Where is a blasted "Like" button when I need one?

[liara_shadowsong]

I definitely don't ship these two. I could deal with it in an alternate universe, or as a relationship that doesn't end up working out, but making this the new canon pairing for Diana long-term pretty much guarantees that I won't be adding this title to my pull list later on. I'm honestly *this* close to dropping everything DCnu completely, even the Powergirl/Huntress series. It's like they don't actually want to keep readers, or something.

[junipepper]

IKR -- I'm just a little bit ahead of you on this, I think, having pretty much dropped everything by now. Just really not getting much happiness for my money, you know? I have the impression that they, particularly, don't want to keep female readers, but that's probably for another thread...

[runespoor]

"Just replace the girl, it's not like anyone cares who they are so long as they're hot." Interchangeable women yay! :DDDD

nope not done raging.

[espanolbot]

Not really helped by the fact that most people seem to draw Lois and Diana exactly the same way, except when they're in the same scene, then Diana's main difference is that she's a good head or more taller than L.

[md84]

Meh, it won't last. Superhero crossover couples never work out in the long run.

[darkknightjrk]

Aw, I was kinda hoping with this story that she'd be with Steve again. :(

...Wait a minute. Wouldn't it be hilarious if that IS what will happen, and DC threw out a quick cover as a red herring?

[mrstatham]

They wouldn't make a big deal out of it with Entertainment Weekly if it wasn't the real deal. Or hide the cover for issue 12 until the month it comes out.

[stillanerd]

There’s a reason why Superman and Wonder Woman being a romantic couple only has happened in Elesworld stories--since it was an alternate world story, there wouldn’t be any lasting repercussions that could be potentially detrimental in the long run. That and also providing fan-service. But with this being in-continuity for the foreseeable future, not only do I believe what little novelty in the potential for a Superman and Wonder Woman pairing will quickly wear-off, it’s going to be harmful to both characters, although moreso to one than the other.

The only time a romantic pairing between two superheroes works is if both characters are exclusively part of a team book and do not have any solo series of their own, and both Superman and Wonder Woman have their own series--two in Supes case--apart from the Justice League. Normally, this is due to the heroes coming from widely different backgrounds and set-ups, which means they tend to have different kinds of stories that wouldn’t usually fit with one another outside of the team book. In Superman and Wonder Woman’s case, they’re both similar kinds of heroes with similar kinds of stories, at least on the surface: Superman is more sci-fi, while Wonder Woman is more fantasy. In this case, however, it’s more on how the pairing will affect what each character represents.

One of the reasons why Superman’s relationship with Lois Lane has worked so well is because she plays to both his role as Superman AND Clark Kent. Wonder Woman, on the other hand, exclusively plays to Superman’s role as Superman and keeps him distant from his role as Clark Kent. And Superman needs to have a proper balance of being Superman and Clark to work effectively. But Superman is going to be comparatively find compared to what will happen to Wonder Woman. She’s supposed to the embodiment of female empowerment, that woman can be just as good as men. Now with this--and make no mistake--Wonder Woman has been relegated to being “Superman’s girlfriend” and has essentially been co-opted into the Superman franchise. Because the Superman franchise, by comparison, is larger, more widespread, and has better brand recognition.

I say file this one under “Be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”

[darkknightjrk]

I think considering how the New 52's been working, considering the two modern books and their standing with each other, I could kind-of easily see it being the reverse, that Superman could be relegated to Wonder Woman's boyfriend.

[kurenai_tenka]

I think what's pissing me off the most is the 'DC's greatest power couple' thing on the DC blog. Nope, that was Clark and Lois.

Also the cover is ugly. Hope this rubbish isn't going to leak over into the Wonder Woman book.

[shadowpsykie]

there just seems to be something off. Superman's titles seem to be revolving around Lois. Lobdell even said that it's always been Lois and clark.... so... i don't know.... i feels like the writers are doing one thing but DC wants to do other things.

Thank you.

[jeyl]

I would like to thank everyone who likes this new 52 Wonder Woman for encouraging DC and it's writers in making her even more worse than I could possibly imagine. I thought she couldn't get any lower since she's no longer the kind of hero with any inspiring qualities outside of total random violence and neglect to deal with very bad people. Now she's reduced to Superman's love thing.

Re: Thank you.

[espanolbot]

I'd place the blame more with Geoff Johns personally, as she's got more going on in her own book than "random violence and neglecting to deal with bad people".

[fredneil.livejournal.com]

Ok, first the arguments for this; They work together, respect and like each other, and are both very attractive, so it's plausible that it could happen, and it does have the plus of not leading to the whole "watch your loved one get old and die" thing.

GIven that, this is still a 95% horrible idea that should have been left to fan fiction. Superman/Lois and Wonder Woman/Steve showed that these weren't just superheros, they were human beings (metaphorically, at least) who fell in love with normal people because of who they were. This reduces them to "He's the star football player and she's the head cheerleader, so they should be together. Because they're both hot, and that's what a relationship should be based on."

Also, I don't see either of them to "seek solace," though a panel of Superman singing "Help me Diana, yeah, get her out of my heart," might help ameliorate the discomfort I feel at the whole idea.

[shadowpsykie]

Superman/Lois and Wonder Woman/Steve showed that these weren't just superheros, they were human beings (metaphorically, at least) who fell in love with normal people because of who they were. This reduces them to "He's the star football player and she's the head cheerleader, so they should be together. Because they're both hot, and that's what a relationship should be based on."

Maybe that's the point. They get together because they think, we won't have to worry about the other, we can both take care of ourselves, but then find out, that is not enough. they just don't feel the way they feel about the ones they are trying to forget. and then they decide, i love you clark/Diana, but only as a friend....

[shadowpsykie]

but Clark reacting to Diana's family life will probably be hilarious if he was ever to crossover
Nothing will ever be better than "Babies! Babies babies babies!"

truth be told I'm conflicted. I don't think its necissary. i mean it can very well be a very good story if handled right. and I am hoping it will be.

But i almost always saw them just as really great friends. Also, it seems like there is very much a disconnect between the individual serieses and the JL title. in the superman title clark has a dream about Lois and him being married (calling it his dream come true) and Lobdell states that Lois and Clark are meant to be (one reason to me why iam excited about him taking over)

And from how diana is in her series, i just dont see her NEEDING to seek solace in anyone like that...

i don't know. it CAN be good. but like you said, It WON'T last. Lois is the cosmic constant.

also somethign about the kiss seems... off like... neither of the are "THAT into it"

[abriel]

Honestly I'm willing to give this a shot and see how it plays out. I don't see it as being all that bad and would prefer to do the "wait and see" approach rather than cheer/condemn it months before the issue comes out.

Although granted I would have rather seen her with Bruce.

[arbre_rieur]

To repeat what I said in espanolbot's post about Scott Snyder's Joker (because I'm too lazy to re-word it): Also, too often, we treat any changes a writer makes as some kind of mission statement, some attempt to turn the characters towards the writer's platonic ideal of them. "Scott Snyder thinks this is how the Joker OUGHT to be." But changes can also be for the sake of a specific story, or to serve the demands of a specific context.

I'm not referring the people saying this is a bad idea period. I'm referring to the folks who are objecting on the grounds that this can't last or that it's inferior to their preferred status quo. Who says it needs to last?

[atom_punk]

OK since I am a sufferer of "chronic cynicism syndrome" my doctor recommends taking a healthy dose of optimism so I will go and say maybe this will be an interesting exploration of the interactions and natures of these characters.

That said, given the track record for Geoff Johns especially as of late, I cannot see this playing out in a manner that will please anyone.

The DCAU (remember those days lol) made me like the Wonder Woman and Batman pairing to an extent, partially because of the way it was presented as part of the canon. I could see Diana as being one of those women who can actually give both Bruce Wayne and Batman a run for his money (and isn't evil/morally dubious). You know Diana won't put up with Bruce's "dark and vengeful" crap. (condensed satirical wish-fulfillment example follows)

B: I'm dark and broody and I insist I can never be happy because I don't deserve happiness after I let my parents die so I'm going to stay in this Batcave forever.
D: Bruce, you were eight years old, you can't blame yourself. Your parents would have wanted you to be happy. Now go upstairs and change. Dick and Barbara are coming soon, Alfred's preparing a pot roast, Cassandra has Damian in a headlock again, and Stephanie is flirting with Tim again. Get moving!
B: .......Yes dear.

Supes and Wondy, not so much. Their characters don't mesh well in my opinion. It just feels overly saccharine to me to put these two characters together.

Personally, I never pictured Diana romantically involved with anyone. I could never see Diana with anyone nearly cool/awesome enough, as superficial as that may sound. I mean Supes is Last Son of Krpyton, Bats is the World's Greatest Detective, but Diana, she's in a whole other class of cool in my mental filing system.

Though I think there was a character from her pre-reboot comic that had a very blatant infatuation with her. It was, one of the Amazons I think...."Io" maybe? Not sure what her name was. Can anyone help me out?

If I remember right, Io was more quiet and withdrawn and totally awed by Diana's beauty and strength. That I actually liked. A wallflower trying to muster the courage to express her feelings to the woman cared for.

I could even see Diana with Artemis, with Diana trying to work on polishing Artemis' rough edges, and Artemis wanting to improve herself and control her anger and becoming embarrassed when she sometimes loses control because she really does love Diana.

Or heck, I could even see Diana not settling down with anyone. Instead she borrows Apollo's chariot and discovers it can cross into outer space and even other dimensions and (being immortal) spends the rest of eternity roaming the multiverse, jumping from one adventure to the next, stopping only briefly to punch Darkseid on the nose or beat down the Anti-Monitor.

Sorry, think I've rambled long enough.

tl;dr Will wait to see how this pans out, but predicting it won't go over well.

Oh and Steve Trevor? Well, what can I say? He's a generically handsome comic book character in a universe of generically handsome comic book characters. I've never seen a version of him that actually stood out or stuck in my memory after I put the book down. Except maybe the Nathan Fillion voiced version from the animated movie. But that's Nathan Fillion. Not Steve Trevor.

[philippos42]

This is a good post, and I agree with a lot of it.

I liked your dialogue bit: Batman would be improved by somebody being that kind of missus to him.

I never really got on board the Artemis/Diana ship, but I read their relationship as starting from resentment. I personally like the idea of Diana dating guys, plural, maybe a mix of normals and supers.

[crabby_lioness]

Way back in the late 70s/early 80s DC did an AU that had them marry -- and then showed exactly why the couple would never work over the long run.

[atom_punk]

Which was this? An Elseworlds of some sort?

The only prominent Supes/Wondy pairing I can think of off the top of my head is Kingdom Come. And that version felt really awkwardly forced to me.

I loved the Kingdom Come story but I feel like some editor somewhere along the line decided this complex, rich story that analyzes the virtues of heroes of older generations versus the increasing fascination with newer, edgier, more violent postmodern heroes needed a romantic aspect to it.

"You know," said Mr. Editor, "For the women. 'Cause they like that sort of thing. And they hate deep, introspective stories about morality and the changing values of society." (mandatory dig at comic book editors now complete)

[his_spiffynesss]

I haven't read Justice League, so I'm not familiar with how she's being portrayed in that book, but in her own books she's been suffering from a distinct lack of personality (especially in comparison to her supporting cast)

And from what I've read about Superman, little has been done to make him an interesting character either. If anyone would care to contradict, please do. I'm largely working off what I've learned here, so I admit an imperfect grasp of the current continuity.

[mrstatham]

I have to say I think Diana's apparent lack of personality is entirely subjective, since I'm familiar enough with her character and there are aspects of it in play in Azz's run that I haven't seen done that well since at least Rucka's run, frankly.

[theflames]

Hey, to everyone saying this is predictable.

Y'know what's even more predictable? Lois and Clark.

At least this is something that hasn't been done as much. Let's see how it roles out... could be pretty fun if I'm honest. What new aspects of Lois and Clark could even be explored?

Re: Thank you.

[mrstatham]

Well, you know... Babies.

The Man of Steel/Woman of Kleenex thing is nonsense because I can't believe for a second the two never had sex in the years they were married, and/or Clark couldn't just pull out some Kryptonian tech to make sure the baby doesn't end up pulling a Twilight on Lois, and given the influence of his parents (both sets) on a character like Clark/Superman, I think approaching him and Lois as parents would be something to be explored.

Of course, 'family' never sells *coughcough Fantastic Four cough cough*..

[robinzegblu]

Who else remembers Action Comics #600. Look it up, it's even got the same cover (minus the lasso-bondage).

[christianconnor]

I remember it. In fact, was poised to ask whether someone could post scans of it.

For me, it seemed like a definitive "this is why it won't work, let's stop this nonsense" statement about a Wonder Woman / Superman romance.

[robinzegblu]

Confession: when I saw this news story, I hopped over to Comixology and bought Justice League 4-11 so I'd be caught up (I dropped the book at #3 because it NOTHING WAS HAPPENING). So yeah, their publicity stunt worked on me.

Of course, then I realized the next issue is Justice League #0, and it's a whole two months until Supes/Wonder Woman actually happens, so now I just feel foolish.

EDIT: Turns out I was wrong. Serves me right for not looking at the solicits before posting.

[mrstatham]

Yeah, this is #12's cover, meaning it's for this month. Kind of surprised DC managed to keep their lid on this as long as they have.