Superman-Wonder Woman kiss sparks comic-book sales, Oklahoma retailers report
What a kiss! Comic book retailers across Oklahoma report that “Justice League” No. 12, featuring a kiss between superheroes Superman and Wonder Woman, charged up sales for the title.
This is the beginning of a new romance, DC Comics has said, that will have reverberations in DC Comics going forward.
Joey Belden, of Atomik Pop, 7884 S Western Ave., said the Superman-Wonder Woman smooch nearly doubled his store’s sales on “Justice League.”
“A lot of people we haven’t seen before did come in for the Superman-Wonder Woman kiss,” he said. “As long as they tell a solid story, that’s all that really matters to me.”
In previous continuity, Superman, aka Clark Kent, had been married to Lois Lane. In the “New 52” relaunch, Superman’s single, allowing writers and artists to explore possible romances for the character.
“It was like a day surge of people coming in and talking about it,” Belden said.
“Justice League” is written by Geoff Johns and drawn by Jim Lee.
Brian “Buck” Berlin of New World Comics, 6219 N Meridian Ave., said longtime fans seemed less impressed than newcomers by the kiss.
“It’s not the first time it’s ever happened,” he said, referring to times prior to “The New 52” when the characters were romantically involved.
“It’s one of the best-selling DC titles, but I don’t think that has anything to do with Superman and Wonder Woman,” he said.
“We sold just a few more than I normally would. It sells so very well anyway, there wasn’t too much room for growth.”
Sales were up about 25 percent on the issue at All-Star Comics, 6900 N May Ave., Suite 10.
“Most of our regulars commented that they were going to check it out,” said All-Star’s Wyll Greenewood.
“Justice League” is All-Star’s best-selling comic each month, owing to the success of DC’s “New 52” reboot. Greenewood said he thinks readers should take a look at a previous take on the Superman-Wonder Woman romance.
“I would go back to ‘Kingdom Come,’” Greenewood said. That series, by Mark Waid and Alex Ross, is set in an alternate future, and featured a Superman-Wonder Woman romance after the Man of Steel returned from retirement to face a new breed of violent superheroes.
“That kind of thing stands out far more than a brief soirée at the end of an issue,” Greenewood said.
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Features Editor Matthew Price has worked for The Oklahoman since 2000. He’s a University of Oklahoma graduate who has also worked at the...
