Superhero Love

When DC Comics rebooted its entire line of superhero titles last year, the publisher did away with Superman’s marriage to Lois Lane to pave the way for a new romance. This is the same DC Universe 'relaunch' which has also allowed writers to bring back the original Green Lantern as a gay character. 

Entertainment Weekly was the first to exclusively reveal that Superman’s new partner in love was no mere mortal, but a superhero icon in her own right: None other than Wonder Woman, herself. Their next level relationship begins in the pages of Justice League #12, which comes out tomorrow, August 29th.

The new comic culminates months of flirty foreshadowing between Superman and Wonder Woman. DC writer Geoff Johns, hints that some event — possibly tragic — will impact every member of the Justice League, and cause Superman and Wonder Woman to seek solace in each other and move from super-powered colleagues to power couple. And this is no one-issue stunt he tells us: “This is the new status quo,” adding that the relationship will have a seismic impact on all the heroes and villains in the DC universe.

For the smooch featured on the comic’s cover, artist Jim Lee took inspiration from Gustav Klimt’s The Kiss and Alfred Eisenstaedt’s V-J Day in Times Square photograph. The creative team believes the heroes are right for each other. She’s a mythic Amazonian warrior; he’s a veritable demigod. Both have huge hearts for mankind, yet also feel estranged from humanity. Relationships with civilians are tricky for caped crusaders, even liabilities. Usually, they choose to mask their full, true identities and hide their secret, high-risk do-gooding from their lovers to protect them. At least together, Superman and Wonder Woman can be themselves. Oh, and they’re also ridiculously good looking, too. Still, says Johns, expect the new couple to face some unique challenges in their own right.

While some fans will undoubtedly be disappointed they erased the Man of Steel's marriage to fellow Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane, the writers said they were very excited about this new relationship for Superman, saying it would would allow them to explore the depth of his character in new ways. This isn’t to say that fans will understand or support the hook-up, however. In fact, writers Johns and Lee expect some outcry and certainly some debate. Actually, they’re counting on it. ”Hopefully this will raise a lot of eyebrows,” Lee says. 

Many of us, however, have had our doubts about the Superman Lious Lane relationship for a very long time. In a scene in 1995 movie Mallrats, comic book fans conclude that Wonder Woman may be the only woman on Earth who could actually... consummate a relationship with Superman. 

I for one, am very excited to see how Superman and Wonder Woman's relationship unfolds. I am currently writing Aleksei's cascading love scenes in Mindra's Haven and The Illusive Diamond and some DC Superhero romance will be a nice pairing.