And you thought there’d be overt sexual tension in “Batman/Superman!”
Announced over at IGN, DC is content on hopefully riding out the popularity of Man of Steel by giving Big Blue a brand new book, co-starring the current love of his life Wonder Woman (watch my word choice here; we’re coming back to this). Written by Charles Soule and illustrated by Tony Daniel, the book is described as an ongoing that will “serve to explore the budding relationship between the DCU’s most powerful heroes.”
Originally (and perhaps still) a controversial decision, Superman and Wonder Woman have become entangled in a super-romance, and apparently it is so big that it can’t be contained in either of Superman’s current titles, Wonder Woman’s single title or “Justice League” any longer. What makes this interesting is that DC seems to want to get back into the romance comic market, and from the looks of that cover alone I’d bet this title will sell really well in mass paperback form in local supermarkets — all that’s missing is long flowing hair and a bare chest on Superman.
The book will be Superman’s fourth with a starring role, not including “Justice League,” and does appear to be a concerted effort to give him more places to shine when people go into comic shops after seeing his summer blockbuster. (That happens, right?)
All jokes aside, what’s somewhat sad to note here is that while Batman and Superman make up 2/3’s of DC’s Trinity with a bevy of titles to each, this marks Wonder Woman’s second book. The reason this is sad and not exciting is because apparently DC ostensibly thinks that the only way Diana could carry a second title is if it features her super-boyfriend, which is really silly. DC’s treatment of Wonder Woman always seems to be in line with taking one step forward and two steps backward, and while I’m a fan of the idea of Wonder Woman as a character I can’t say that I’m too interested in reading a comic where her claim to fame is being Superman’s girlfriend. Add this up to both the cool idea of Grant Morrison’s graphic novel with Yanick Paquette alongside the comment that Wonder Woman is too difficult to make a movie with (she’s really, really not) and you just have to wonder what DC is doing back there.
Was relaunching “All Star Comics” starring Wonder Woman on her own just too weird of an idea? I mean, I guess it is, because now we have a romance book.
What I’m saying is: I think that rain in the background is the tears of fans, and the lightning is the inevitable fanboy and fangirl message board anger that is coming. You can hear the thunder already. Not that that anger isn’t justified, mind you. It’s very silly/strange/disheartening/confusing/agitating/sigh-inducing.
I like Charles Soule as a writer (his recent “Swamp Thing” is quite good). I like Tony Daniel as an artist (“Batman: RIP!”). Put them together and you should have a good comic. You’d just hope that the concept behind the book they got together for would be less … creatively devoid seems like a good way to describe it?
Ah well. At least Wonder Woman’s rope seems to be lively.
