Superman/Wonder Woman: Power Couple (Comics) | Review

Waves hit in 2012 when Justice League revealed Superman and Wonder Woman kissing, ending decades of will-they-won't-they speculation. Writer Charles Soule (Death of Wolverine, New Gods: Godhead) and artist Tony Daniel (Batman: R.I.P., Deathstroke: God Killer) launched a dedicated series exploring this relationship in 2013.

Power Couple collects the first seven issues, delivering explosive action wrapped around intimate character moments that justify the pairing despite initial fan skepticism. This isn't just another team-up book where heroes punch villains between romantic sub-plots.

Soule treats both characters with maturity, exploring how two godlike beings navigate love while managing secret identities, divine family drama and catastrophic threats. The result balances spectacular action with genuine emotional stakes that make the relationship feel earned rather than manufactured for shock value.

The series opens with Superman and Wonder Woman attempting to keep their relationship private despite the world watching. Clark wants discretion to protect his civilian identity while Diana views secrecy as dishonest. This fundamental tension drives their early interactions.

Doomsday crashes their first date with brutal efficiency, attacking a military vessel that Wonder Woman was investigating. The monster breaks both her arms before vanishing, setting up what seems like a major threat. Instead, Doomsday disappears from the narrative for most of the story, becoming a red herring that launches the conflict.

General Zod emerges from the Phantom Zone, murdering civilians immediately upon arrival in the Sahara desert. Superman captures him after a brutal fight and imprisons him in the Fortress of Solitude's menagerie but Zod's mate Faora soon follows, creating an evil power couple.

Wonder Woman takes Superman to Mount Etna to request weapons from Hephaestus, hoping to prepare for Doomsday's inevitable return. Her half-brother Apollo appears and insults Diana repeatedly, prompting Superman to throw the sun god into orbit. This impulsive act creates consequences that ripple throughout the issues.

Meanwhile, Cat Grant receives anonymous photographs of Superman and Wonder Woman kissing, which she publishes immediately on her blog. Their relationship becomes public knowledge overnight, forcing both heroes to confront the scrutiny and judgment.

Zod and Faora escape captivity and begin constructing a portal to bring Warworld's armies through the Phantom Zone. Apollo, still furious about Superman's disrespect, decides to aid the villains by supercharging them with solar energy. This creates an unstoppable threat, pushing both Superman and Wonder Woman to their limits.

Justice League attempts to intercept Zod but gets overwhelmed quickly, show ing how powerful he's become with Apollo's enhancement. Superman and Wonder Woman arrive to rescue their teammates, using weapons forged by Hephaestus designed to combat Kryptonian physiology.

Zod and Faora gain the upper hand despite the enchanted weapons, defeating both heroes and trapping them inside a nuclear reactor. The villains plan to finish their portal while Superman and Wonder Woman die slowly from radiation exposure. But the couple turns their prison into a weapon, triggering a massive nuclear explosion.

The blast destroys Zod's portal before completion and sends both villains back to the Phantom Zone. However, the victory comes at tremendous cost as both heroes suffer severe injuries. Superman retreats to the Fortress of Solitude while Wonder Woman seeks healing from Hessia.

After recovering, Clark and Diana reunite in London for a quiet moment together on a rooftop before attending a nightclub. These intimate scenes provide breathing room after the relentless action, showing two people genuinely enjoying each other's company but peace never lasts as Doomsday awakens, setting up the next crisis.

The volume includes a seventh issue that transitions into the Superman: Doomed crossover event. This bonus chapter shifts focus away from the main storyline, serving as a preview for upcoming events to come rather than providing a proper closure to the Zod arc.

Artwork by Tony S. Daniel elevates every page with his dynamic style and compositions. His Superman and Wonder Woman look iconic rather than generic superhero figures. Daniel captures both power and vulnerability in their expressions, making emotional beats land as hard as the action sequences throughout the story.

The cross-hatched shading and detailed linework give depth to impressive character designs. Doomsday looks absolutely terrifying in his brief appearances. Zod and Faora maintain distinct visual identities despite wearing similar armor, never blending together during fight scenes.

Colorist Tomeu Morey deserves equal credit for making Daniel's pencils shine. His palette shifts between intimate moments bathed in warm tones and cosmic battles exploding with vibrant energy. The nuclear explosion sequence uses color to convey catastrophic force, making readers feel the sheer destructive power unleashed.

Guest artists Paulo Siqueira, Eddy Barrows and Barry Kitson contribute to the final chapter. Their styles differ from Daniel's approach but remain professional. The variety becomes less intrusive since each artist gets dedicated scenes rather than switching randomly.

Power Couple succeeds as both an action-packed superhero story and a mature exploration of relationships between extraordinary individuals. Soule understands that these characters share fundamental values while approaching heroism from different cultural perspectives, creating natural friction that drives compelling drama.

The connection to Justice League Vol. 2: The Villain's Journey provides context for how their relationship began, though reading it isn't essential. This volume stands alone effectively while setting up the Superman: Doomed crossover that dominates the next collection.

Tony Daniel delivers some of his finest artwork to date, proving he can handle both intimate character moments and cosmic-scale destruction with equal skill. The collaboration with Tomeu Morey creates visually stunning pages. Only the final chapter with multiple artists feels slightly disjointed from the cohesive visual presentation.

The main weakness lies in Zod's rushed resolution. After six issues of buildup, the nuclear explosion sends both villains back to the Phantom Zone off-panel. Readers never witness the actual defeat, making the climax feel anti-climactic and unsatisfying.

Superman/Wonder Woman: Power Couple collects issues #1-7 of the series by Charles Soule and Tony S. Daniel. The story is available in trade paperback and hardcover editions. You can also read it digitally on Amazon Kindle, ComiXology and DC Universe Infinite.