"We are each other's shelter from the storm."
SUPERMAN/WONDER WOMAN #6

One day I walked into a library and my eyes fell on a book called Kingdom Come. I picked it up and to my surprise it was a comic book...or rather as I later learned, a graphic novel. But I saw beautifully painted panels and heroes that I recognized from my childhood who seemed ...well, grown up. I borrowed that book and I was moved and fascinated by, not only the story of men and women who are great heroes, but by they way they showed their humanity. They suddenly were not two dimensional people who just fought bad guys. They were deeply complex. I love books and reading on the whole and I guess getting into the comic genre as an adult woman was a case of serendipity. It led me to finding DC comics and the heroes I grew up with on TV and saw in movies and newsprint. It led me to finding Clark Kent or as he is known by his other name, Kal-El, and Princess Diana. I fell in love with them and am obsessed with all things Amazonian and Kryptonian now. I love their relationship. I love what they stand for. I love the contrasts of the princess/farmer's son; reporter/ambassador; pragmatic warrior/idealistic protector and empathetic teacher/enforcer of justice. A girl born of the earth and a boy who fell from the sky. The first daughter of Themyscira and last son of Krypton. And it surprised me to find that there were many fans like me, who adore them too.

DC rebooted their universe in 2011 and my favorite pairing is now canon!!! Yay.



Disclaimer : Superman and Wonder Woman are the property of DC comics.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Superman/Wonder Woman #3 Review






Cat Grant receives a flash drive in the mail and it contains one of the biggest scoops of the century.  Meanwhile, Clark is dealing with the after effects of the sun blast he received from Apollo in the last issue and it's interesting to see how it affects him physically and how he deals with it. Clark knows Diana is capable of looking after herself but the thought of her being hurt or even losing her seems to have shaken him and he's trying to deal with everything himself. Bruce tells him that if he is in a relationship then he's going to have to accept that means her problems become his and vice versa.




Diana herself is having a problem we have not seen her deal with in the new 52. A very relateable one. We can recall the time we had to buy something for a new partner and it is a big deal if you like the person a lot. If you're an Amazon adapting to our social conventions and culture, it can be a challenge as well. She knows he would not really care if she did not get him something but she wants to because she knows he grew up observing the holidays. Hessia is the wise big sister, a contrast to Bruce's big brother,  and gives her some solid advice.



We switch to the North African desert where we see Zod. He is at first disorientated and  violent. Eventually he manages to regain some control and we see him dealing with the abilities Kryptonians get when they come to a planet powered by a yellow sun. The JLA, lead by Diana's ex boyfriend, Steve Trevor, appears because Zod's appearance has triggered off an alert of an inter-dimensional threat. Zod and the JLA have a confrontation. Zod comes out on top. It takes Wonder Woman and Superman to intervene. Steve Trevor shows he is still bitter and smitten over Diana. Zod seems to switch moods very quickly.







Clark and Diana take Zod to the fortress.  Clark settles him in a containment cell and Zod is being very civil. A sure sign to the reader he'll be up to no good. Meanwhile Diana decides to give Clark his Christmas gift.





What would have been a perfect gift ( look at Clark's face; he is so surprised and quite pleased) is then ruined.

Another solid issue. It moves the plot along and decides to bring some more trouble for our couple with their relationship revealed. As if Doomsday and Zod weren't enough. Funny how DC never did this with Lois and Superman. They always got off scott free and no writer ever challenged that secret in any meaningful way in terms of what it means to them (as people, reporters, etc) and how the world would respond to it and them. But we are getting this now in this newly budding relationship. One wonders if DC wants to thrown everything at them to break them up sooner than later or are they going to show them deal with it and cope as a couple. In a world where there is this fascination with celebrity,  it is a valid and interesting take.

I give this 4.5 out of 5.



Superman/Wonder Woman #2 Review






Diana is locked in a brutal battle with Doomsday. She takes a hell of a lot of  punishment showing us how powerful new 52 Doomsday is but this does not cow Diana. She refuses to go down even though her arms are broken. Clark, meanwhile, is trying to save a ship in danger of sinking and as he does Doomsday simply disappears. Diana gets a reprieve.

Clark is worried about Diana and  offers to take her to get medical attention but she declines citing her divine blood will soon enough help her heal. I think we also see that Amazon part of her that does not indulge in her self and keeping any vulnerability under wraps. She asks Clark about the creature and describes it for him. Clark's reaction concerns her. She's never seen him look so worried. He explains who and what Doomsday is. Diana reassures him, in one of the best exchanges between them in the new 52, showing how much she understands the nature of the man  and hero. She also shows why she is so wonderful because she tells him she will stand with him. Even after being beaten by something so powerful that she never experienced before she remains 100 % supportive and unafraid.  I really hope Clark can see what he has here.


Diana takes Clark to visit her brother Hephaestus' forge in Mount Etna. The plan is to go try to convince the Smith of the Gods to create armor for Superman when he has to face Doomsday. But we also get to see a fun interlude of  the boyfriend meeting his girlfriend's family.

Now these are Gods and recall Clark, while having the power of a God, does not see himself this way. So this is  the son of a farmer who is an alien/outsider, meeting the powerful and  privileged. He first takes on Hephaestus, the protective big brother.






Hephaestus is grudgingly satisfied Superman might be alright. But then we have the arrogant Apollo and the spiteful Strife join them. Apollo looks down at Superman calling him a thing and disrespects Diana. Clark is not amused. While he stays quiet during the insults tossed at him he simply cannot remain silent when Apollo calls Diana derogatory names.










I grinned in appreciation. This scene was awesome. Clark is in character. Respectful when he needs to be but when the occasion arises, he shows he'll kick your ass. We also see intelligence when he speaks to Apollo in the way he articulates. He displays the kind of chivalrous nature that you would find in men brought up to respect women and what you'd expect from the son of the Kents. Diana shows she can be like any other woman. Her able to look after herself has little to do with the scenario. She can appreciate her guy standing up for her. And that he stand up to cruel Gods? Yeah, I'd fan girl  like Strife too. Strife you could see enjoyed all the mayhem as well. Mayhem happening when she is around can't be a coincidence either.

The title ends with a familiar foe showing up. Prepare to kneel.

This book does a great job tying in Wonder Woman to the DCU. Her book is very insular so at times it felt like Diana existed in a world devoid of heroes and no need to wear that Wonder Woman uniform. This series is already showing that the Gods can exist in a world where an alien can exist and the meeting can be one that can be very entertaining. It promises to have great potential future storylines. Apollo as a real threat to Superman for example. And the foe at the end? Yeah the story is going to be big.

I give this one 5 out of 5.