After a brief, but harrowing, battle against the creature known as Doomsday, power couple Superman and Wonder Woman are left with many questions about this new threat. When General Zod mysteriously arrives on Earth, it becomes clear that he may hold the answers they desperately need.
Meanwhile, having kept their relationship a secret from the rest of the world, Superman and Wonder Woman are outed. Can this duo survive the media firestorm that follows?
Superman/Wonder Woman Volume 1: Power Couple collects issues #1-7 of Superman/Wonder Woman, written by Charles Soule and Tony S. Daniel.
Writing a comic book featuring a double bill can be extremely difficult, especially if the heroes on that bill are in a relationship with one another. Creating a balance and giving both characters equal opportunity to shine is challenging. DC Comics previously attempted this with the somewhat short-lived Green Arrow/Black Canary title, which was really more like a Green Arrow book featuring Black Canary. Thankfully, Superman/Wonder Woman doesn't fall prey to that trap.
Charles Soule spends equal time with the titular heroes and instantly sets the tone for the book by showing them as a united front, opening with the beautiful image of them flying side-by-side holding hands. In fact, this unity continues throughout this volume and there's a lot of time spent examining how they work as a couple (if at all). It's not all about them punching things either, but rather them figuring out how to operate as the most powerful couple in the world. Soule takes a look at what it's like to be with someone with a dual identity, as well as what it's like to date someone who lacks the filters others have. It's not all lollipops and gumdrops for these two, but they're willing to make it work.
For as much time as they spend together, we also see Superman and Wonder Woman apart. This is crucial to what makes the narrative work so well. Both have their own support system, Superman with Batman and Wonder Woman with the former Amazon Hessia. These moments are brilliant, particularly those between the Man of Steel and the Dark Knight. As readers, we're so used to seeing them as crimefighters that we often forget that they are friends and partners. Seeing them discuss relationships is something that seems so mundane, but it brings a touch of humanity that's needed for these characters to seem relatable. Other highlights include scenes involving the Greek Gods. It's truly a testament to Brian Azzarello's stellar work on Wonder Woman, that when these characters are imported into other books they're still as captivating as they were under his pen. The fight between Superman and Apollo is worth mentioning, as are the moments between Hephaestus and the titular couple.
Another smart move by Soule was in his selection of villains. While he probably could have done a team-up between Superman and Wonder Woman baddies, I appreciate the use of Zod and Faora as the first antagonists for this series. It works because, in a way, they're the Anti-Superman and Wonder Woman. They're morally corrupt and unflinchingly unapologetic in their approach to world domination. Zod and Faora are also one of the very few husband-wife villainous teams in comics, so they offer a really nice contrast to the Man of Steel and the Amazon Princess.
There's no denying that Superman/Wonder Woman is a well-written and engaging comic book, but there is still some room for improvement. Notably, the pacing is a bit rushed at parts and it almost seems like Soule is most comfortable writing scenes involving the characters' personal lives than showing them in battle. The final conflict against Zod and Faora is disappointingly anticlimactic and serves as a prime example of how Soule seems to treat action scenes as merely salt and pepper for the story. In a way, the Zod and Faora showdown could have been treated a little more differently. It starts off well, with Superman and Wonder Woman donning a snazzy suits of armour, but stalls when Soule decides that they couldn't possibly beat Zod and Faora (come on now!).
Superman/Wonder Woman is a fun title with a lot of heart. It's a book that doesn't treat romance as a necessary subplot, but instead looks at relationships with a more introspective lens. This book has a lot to say and even more to prove. Soule makes it easy to root for these two as a couple, especially seeing how hard they're willing to fight to protect one another. Power Couple is a great start, made even greater by gorgeous art by the immensely talented Tony S. Daniel. Truthfully, this book has what it needs to please fans of both Superman and Wonder Woman. With improved pacing and a good rogues gallery, it could easily establish itself as a flagship title for DC.
Rating: B+
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