A Superman/Wonder Woman Valentine's Day Special: The Intimacy Pod

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 21: War and Peace and Love is LIVE!

It’s official! My first ever Superman/Wonder Woman story is complete. It took a good chunk of this year, but I did it. I told a story of DC’s ultimate power couple and completed it. I’m not going to lie. It was a uniquely challenging story. I’m not talking challenging in a way like Lost or Fight Club. I’m not even talking about the challenge that comes with capturing the passion and heart of these two characters. The sincerity of Superman and Wonder Woman’s love is never in question. It’s the world around them that presents the challenges.

Those same challenges are reflective of them being the heroes they are. They each possess so much power, both physically and personally. Superman has the power to move planets and demolish cities. Wonder Woman has the power to kill gods and destroy entire armies. However, they don’t use their power in that way. Even when they get a chance to resolve a conflict with power alone, they choose not to use it. That’s what makes them heroes and that’s what makes them such great characters.

Throughout this story, I put Superman and Wonder Woman in some very difficult situations. Superman had a chance to defend himself against the hostel Amazons. He chose not to. He endured their wrath and that of Ares. He did so because he understood that power alone is not an effective way to solve a problem. Wonder Woman understood that too. That’s why she went into the same battle, knowing the gods had turned everyone she loved against her. But she didn’t let that stop her from doing the right thing.

Now, Superman and Wonder Woman have set a powerful example for the gods and for the Amazons. They proved through their compassion and their love that there is a better way. In this final chapter, the example they set starts to take hold. That, in many ways, is their greatest power and the greatest testament to their love. It stands as an example and an ideal for others to strive towards and it marks the culmination of a story that has come so far.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 21: War and Peace and Love

When I began this story, I knew I was taking on a challenge. Superman and Wonder Woman are difficult characters to write, but that’s exactly what makes their stories worth telling. I told a story of how they came together and how their love helped them overcome overwhelming odds. The response I’ve gotten from this story has been fantastic, especially from Superman/Wonder Woman fans. With that, I hope to tell another Superman/Wonder Woman story down the line. For now, this is the end of my first attempt and I hope it’s as awesome as DC’s ultimate power couple deserves to be. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 20: Remorse and Reconciliation is LIVE!

Sometimes the hardest part of the battle is the aftermath. When the bullets stop flying and the dust starts to settle, the impact finally sinks in. For some, it’s traumatic. For some, it’s a relief. For others, it’s a chaotic mix of conflicting feelings that’ll give even the Lex Luthors of the world migraines. But in many respects, it’s the most important part of a story.

That’s the point I’m at with “Strangers In Paradise.” That’s right. My first ever Superman/Wonder Woman story is in the home stretch. It’s been quite an experience, one that has tested my abilities in ways I never expected. But I like to think I rose to the challenge. I like to think I lived up to Superman and Wonder Woman’s standard, both as characters and as a couple. The previous chapter acted as the big, climactic battle. Every conflicting force converged from the gods of Olympus to the plot by Lex Luthor. In the end, Superman and Wonder Woman triumphed. They won the day. But what about tomorrow?

This is where the true core of Superman and Wonder Woman’s relationship is at its best. These are two insanely powerful characters. At numerous points in the story, they could’ve crossed certain lines to make it easier on themselves. However, they never concerned themselves about how hard a decision was. They only ever cared about doing the right thing, both as individuals and as a couple. That, more than anything else, is the strength of their character and their love.

In any relationship, doing the right thing will always come with more obstacles than choosing an easier path. Most flawed human beings will be hindered at some point. But Superman and Wonder Woman represent an ideal. For them, there’s no debate. They don’t try to walk that fine line between right and wrong. They will do what is right for them and for others. That’s what makes them so strong as heroes and as lovers. And that’s what I intend to show as the dust settles in this story.

Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 20: Remorse and Reconciliation
There’s just one chapter left now. My first Superman/Wonder Woman story is just about complete. There are a few more loose ends to tie up. There are few more emotions I want to capture before I put the finishing touch on this story. I’ve been very pleased with the support I’ve received from Superman/Wonder Woman fans thus far. I hope it continues as this story concludes. Please remember to take the time to review or post comments. I’m always happy to chat, especially if it means making my stories more awesome. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 19: Pain and Sacrifice is LIVE!

It took me longer than I hoped. You can thank unexpected complications and the New York Comic Con for that. But I still did it. I updated Strangers In Paradise. I know. I know. I'm a sick son-of-a-bitch for making readers wait nearly a month for the next chapter. I ended Chapter 18 with such a juicy teaser that I should be locked in a public restroom at a Jets game with no air freshener for not updating sooner. But between the delays Marvel has had with Secret Wars and the delays DC had with Forever Evil and Convergence, I think I deserve some credit. It's not like I pulled a Bryan Hitch or anything.

But it's true. This chapter is the culmination of Superman and Wonder Woman's struggle in this story. First, they came together in their youth. Second, they found each other years later after so many obstacles. Third, they built a powerful, meaningful relationship despite those obstacles. Now, in the final test of their struggle together, they must trust in each other completely to overcome a threat that was born from both their worlds.

Lex Luthor has usurped the power of the gods. He willingly cooperated with Ares and Apollo in a plot to overthrow Olympus. Had he been like the many mortals of myth, they might have succeeded. But Lex Luthor is no ordinary mortal. He's the smartest, most ruthless mortal that the gods have ever dealt with. They thought they could control him. They were wrong. In the end, it was Luthor who manipulated them. Now, he has both the Annihilator Armor and the power of Erebus at his disposal. Now, he's set to unleash this power on the world and take his rightful place as the true Man of Tomorrow.

The only ones standing in his way now are Superman and Wonder Woman. They stand as the final obstacle between Lex Luthor and ultimate triumph. But if they're to stand a chance, they'll need to trust in both each other and the influence they've had on those around them. Superman and Wonder Woman dared to defy the traditions of those around them, be it the people of Metropolis or the Amazons. They dared to show that love, trust, and understanding can be more powerful than hatred, fear, and mistrust. Will those efforts pay off? That's what this final battle will reveal.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 19: Pain and Sacrifice

The final battle is here, but the impact it makes has only begun. That impact will affect more than Superman and Wonder Woman. While this is a critical test in their relationship in terms of sharing each others' burdens, it is also a major turning point for those around them. What will this mean for Wonder Woman's exile? What will this mean for Olympus? What will this mean for Clark Kent? Those are all questions that will be answered in time. But for now, the big battle is here. And it's shows Superman and Wonder Woman at their best. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 18: Blind Darkness is LIVE!

There are certain villains that are in a class all their own. They don’t just embody all the traits we associate with evil and malice. They do it with a skill and refinement akin to a world class artist. In that sense, Lex Luthor is the Leonardo Da Vinci of supervillains. In fact, Lex Luthor would probably say that compared to him, Da Vinci was a hack. And the disturbing thing is he’s probably right.

If all the villains in comics were put into an arena and ranked as a whole, then Lex Luthor would be in the uppermost tier, most likely mocking all those who think he’s on his level. He’s a special kind of villain. There’s no doubt about it. He doesn’t just think he’s superior. He knows he’s superior. And for the most part, he’s absolutely right. According to his own Wikipedia entry, he is the most intelligent human being in the DC universe and one of the most intelligent beings overall. He doesn’t have superpowers, but with genius like his he doesn’t need it.

He’s not just smart. He’s got an ego that’s second to none. He never sees himself more than a man, but he believes his genius to be equal among gods. It’s that unique ego that has put him in a unique position in Strangers In Paradise. The Amazons and the Gods of Olympus are all powerful and daunting in their own respect. However, they’ve never dealt with a man like Lex Luthor. Ares and Apollo thought they could manipulate him, as the gods have manipulated mortals for centuries. They were wrong.

It was never a matter of if Lex would outsmart Ares and Apollo. It was only ever a matter of when. And in the previous chapter, just as Ares had unlocked the Tomb of Erebus, that time came. Lex made his move. He dared to defy the will of the gods. And he succeeded where every mythological hero before him failed.

Lex’s involvement in this conflict is very much a culmination of Superman and Wonder Woman’s greatest challenge in building a relationship. They went to such great lengths just to get together. But at some point, they were going to get caught up in each others conflicts. Superman was going to get caught up with the Amazons again. And Wonder Woman was going to get in the crossfire of Superman’s enemies. Between Lex Luthor and renegade gods, this is a conflict that they can’t hope to overcome on their own. In the greatest test of their relationship to date, they must stop Lex Luthor together. And that test begins now.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 18: Blind Darkness

There aren’t a lot of forces that can match the collective power of Superman and Wonder Woman. Together, they’re two of the most powerful beings in the DC Universe. However, Lex Luthor is still the smartest. And now he’s got the power of gods with which to fight. It’s the kind of clash that will either make them stronger or break them completely. This is still my first ever Superman/Wonder Woman story and I wanted to make the final battle be sufficiently epic. Thanks to Lex Luthor, I think I’ve achieved just that. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 17: Allied Hearts is LIVE!

There comes a point in every conflict where the forces of karma have a way of balancing out a massive clusterfuck that has become too lopsided. It doesn't always happen at once. Sometimes the process of biting someone else in the ass takes time and patience. The Vietnam War is proof enough of that. But when the enemy is Ares, the God of War, and a Lex Luthor, who might as well be the God of Ego and Baldness, there isn't much room for patience.

This is part of the challenge in writing a Superman/Wonder Woman story. These two characters are among the most powerful characters in the history of comics. Superman has moved planets, destroyed solar systems by sneezing, and made a sex tape with Big Barda (see Action Comics #592 and #593). Wonder Woman has battled entire armies, slain gods, and held the title of both Queen and Goddess. Even Disney would say she's pushing it. So when these two forge a relationship, who or what could possibly be strong enough to stand against them? It's a challenge, but it's one worth taking on.

At this point in my story, Superman and Wonder Woman have walked right into the trap laid by Ares and Lex Luthor. They entered the domain of the gods and they got beat. It wasn't because they were too weak either. Ares, Lex Luthor, and Apollo outsmarted and outwitted them. They put them in situations where they couldn't just fight their way out. It's the perfect tactic and one that even the strongest can't avoid. Now Superman is Ares' prisoner and Wonder Woman is in an unwinnable battle against Lex Luthor and her corrupted sisters.

However, all that cunning and treachery comes at a price. Eventually, even the gods and Lex Luthors of the world will piss off enough people that they can't avoid the backlash. And sometimes that backlash is more powerful than a romantically linked Superman and Wonder Woman. With the stakes getting higher and time running out, that backlash is set to begin. But will it be enough? That's what this latest chapter of "Strangers In Paradise" will start to reveal.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 17: Allied Hearts

The conflict is escalating to its highest point and so are the emotions. This is a conflict that Superman and Wonder Woman cannot overcome with their might as individuals. This is something that they'll have to get through together. It's a true test of strength, trust, and love. And it's only going to get harder as time runs out. But they wouldn't be much of a Power Couple if they couldn't rise to the challenge. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 16: Front Lines is LIVE!

There are a number of ways for a strong relationship to stay strong, but there are always many more ways to destroy it. Sometimes, those ways that destroy a relationship are outside anyone’s control. Nobody chooses their significant other to have asshole parents, crazy ex-lovers, or enemies at the IRS. Sometimes that’s just how shit plays out. If they love each other enough and fight hard enough, a couple can overcome this. Sometimes it takes money, lawyers, and a significantly bruise ego (among other things), but it can work.

For Superman and Wonder Woman, they’re kind of used to having crazy, fucked up forces working against them. Superman tries to fight for truth, justice, and the American way in a world where Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are serious presidential candidates. Wonder Woman tries for honor, compassion, and empathy in a world where dictators, tyrants, and reality shows undermine every one of those concepts. They’ve been able to fight those battles pretty well on their own. Then, they come together and they have to fight an entirely different set of battles to make it work. But for love, that shit is worth it.

I know it’s cheesy. I know it’s the basis for every song by every boy band in history. But no matter how cynical or jaded someone might be, they understand on some levels that love is worth fighting for. So as I’ve explored Superman and Wonder Woman’s relationship in “Strangers In Paradise,” I’ve tried give them a worthy fight. That’s not easy. These are two of the most powerful characters in the DC Universe. Superman can wipe his ass with entire planets and Wonder Woman can bust the balls of every male creature within the same galactic neighborhood. But in this story, they face a threat that no amount of brute strength and cheesy love songs can solve.

Right now, they’re facing a shit storm convergence, courtesy of familiar faces that just love stirring up shit. Lex Luthor, the gods of Olympus, and the Amazons have all coordinated to create the kind of conflict that tests more than just their relationship. Superman and Wonder Woman are basically at ground zero of a divine clusterfuck with Lex Luthor providing extra lube. Ares has subdued his father and taken over Olympus. Apollo has set up shop in the mortal realm. The Amazons are now being mind-controlled by Ares and Lex Luthor is packing divine muscle in the Annihilator Armor. Even by Superman/Wonder Woman standards, this makes for a pretty shitty day.

And it’s about to get worse. Superman and Wonder Woman have already taken the first steps into this shit storm, working together as best they can in an effort to stop it. But even with their power, they can only do so much. And they’re about to find out just how shitty it’s going to get. All I can say is they’re going to need more than a romantic getaway to recover from this one.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 16: Front Lines

This isn’t just about testing Superman and Wonder Woman’s relationship. It’s also going to test their resolve and their ideals, as any great struggle against those who stir up shit storms ought to. It’s not enough to test them physically. It’s not even enough to test their relationship. The way they go about being heroes is always being challenged and they have to find a way to rise to that challenge. But this is one challenge they can’t take on as individuals. They have to do it together.

Again, I know that sounds like a lyric from an old Brittney Spears song, but it’s true. Even two of the most powerful beings in comics can be challenged in a way that doesn’t feel bland and contrived. It’s a hard story to tell, but it’s one that’s worth telling. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 15: Heart Shaped Box is LIVE!

There comes a point in every relationship where just leaving the toilet seat down isn’t enough. Despite what every love song since 1955 might claim, it takes more than just love for a relationship to succeed. Most stories about relationships center around the will they/won’t they dynamic that Friends exploited to no end. Others revolve around love triangles or hook-ups that make every romantic comedy more predictable than GIECO commercial. With Superman and Wonder Woman, there seems to be a concerted effort to not stick to every formula that Disney has ever tried.

Getting together was the easy part for these two in the comics. In “Strangers In Paradise,” I made them work for it a little more. They had to fight just to have a chance to get together, but I never intended that to be the full story. To really make this relationship stronger, I set out to challenge them in a major way. But I didn’t want that challenge to come from another love interest. The last thing Superman/Wonder Woman needs is a fucking love triangle. Unless it’s in a porn parody of Man of Steel, it just has no appeal. For this story, the challenge goes beyond their relationship, but it’s not something they could’ve avoided.

Right now, “Strangers In Paradise” is entering a very volatile conflict. While Superman and Wonder Woman have been working on establishing their relationship and sharing their lives, their enemies have been plotting. The gods of Olympus are causing trouble again. Lex Luthor is causing trouble too, as only he can. Even the Amazons are getting in on the act. What makes this conflict so difficult is that Superman and Wonder Woman made all the right decisions for all the right reasons. Wonder Woman was right to leave her home when she did. Superman was right in not fighting the Amazons all those years ago. But despite their efforts to do the right thing, their enemies are still trying to tear them apart.

Now, as this conflict finally finds them, their relationship will face its biggest challenge to date. It’s not enough to just get through this together. They have to be stronger as individuals as well. That’s what makes a relationship solid, the ability to make each other stronger. Superman and Wonder Woman could probably fight this battle without being romantically entangled, but they would never be able to fight it with the kind of strength they give each other as lovers. The struggle is going to escalate and so are the emotions. It’s bound to get volatile, but in all the right ways.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 15: Heart Shaped Box

This story has been an interesting exercise in exploring a relationship between two iconic characters. It’s been challenging, but insightful. I believe we’re entering an era where people just aren’t satisfied with the same formula for love stories. We’ve seen enough crap with the Ross and Rachels of the world. Let’s try something different and that’s exactly what I think the Superman/Wonder Woman relationship offers. And I hope to capture it in the pages of “Strangers In Paradise.”

Since it’s still my first ever Superman/Wonder Woman story, please take the time to submit feedback. I appreciate any reviews anyone can offer, constructive or otherwise. It’s the only way people like me will be able to tell stories that are more interesting than a Hugh Grant movie. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 14: Homeward Bound is LIVE!

The gods of mythology often represent the best and worst of humanity. Some of the stories surrounding these mythical figures are pretty fucked up. I imagine some of them weren't told while in a completely sober state of mind. That's not entirely wrong. An entirely sober mind is not a full human mind in my opinion. That said, there are a number of themes that have played out in these mythological tales that have found their way into stories about Superman and Wonder Woman.

Part of what makes these two so compelling as characters and as lovers is how they represent the ideals they espouse. Superman is the epitome of a male hero. Wonder Woman is the epitome of a female hero. They are the standard by which their peers are measured. And some of the greatest stories about them occur when their peers fail miserably to measure up.

That's what's happening in Strangers In Paradise right now. Superman and Wonder Woman have been trying to build a strong, lasting relationship. They came together after being torn apart by forces beyond their control. Now some of those forces are trying to destroy them. With Superman, it's Lex Luthor trying to prove himself again. For Wonder Woman, it's her sisters and the gods she once served abandoning the ideals that she championed. Neither one of them did anything wrong in making the decisions that brought them together. But to those around them, doing the right thing just isn't enough.

Now they have to pay the price for being in love and making the right decisions. That's exactly as unfair as it sounds, but you won't hear Superman or Wonder Woman complain about it. They will still do the right thing, even if it means testing their relationship and confronting those who gave a big middle finger to the values they champion. The price of doing the right thing is about to get very high for them, but they won't be without hope. It's part of what makes their relationship so compelling. And it's going to be the key to overcoming the challenges before them.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 14: Homeward Bound

Being the embodiment of an ideal and being in love is supposed to be a challenge. However, in the same way real relationships encounter problems that can't be foreseen, Superman and Wonder Woman will have to do the same. And these are problems that they might not be able to overcome on their own. If they're to have any hope at all, they need to rely on each other and trust each other. That's what makes them true embodiments of modern legend. It also makes them even sexier on so many levels. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 13: Crown of Thorns is LIVE!

There comes a point in every relationship where one partner's problems become the other's by default. The good relationships are able to share in the burdens. The bad relationships usually end up on Jerry Springer. As much as I love Jerry Springer, that's not the kind of story that I've been telling in Strangers In Paradise. That said, not even Jerry Springer could deal with the kind of conflicts that Superman and Wonder Woman are dealing with it. Springer can deal with fat strippers and hillbilly incest all day long. But problems that involve Lex Luthor and a pissed off God of War are way beyond him.

I spent the first part of this story just establishing the circumstances in which Clark and Diana had to come together. They faced a lot of challenges, but they were able to overcome them. However, getting together was just the first big challenge. Now they're trying to share each others' lives and shoulder each others' burdens. With Lex Luthor rubbing elbows with the Olympians, that's an unholy clusterfuck if there ever was one. But like I said, it's what helps distinguish some strong relationships from all the others.

Clark and Diana have had six months to establish the basics of their relationship. Now they need to jump a few levels to the advanced shit because Lex Luthor and Ares are about to make their move. It's going to affect them in a big way and it's going to force them to trust each other in ways that usually doesn't happen without a pre-nup or an overpriced diamond ring. Superman and Wonder Woman can take on damn near anything with their strength and abilities, but this is something that requires more than that. It's a test of their wills, their hearts, and everything in between. And they can't rely on Jerry Springer to mediate the conflict.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 13: Crown of Thorns

The line between good relationships and bad relationships isn't nearly as thin as we think. Some couples put in a real, genuine effort. Others expect everyone else to put in the effort for them. In the same way Superman and Wonder Woman represent the ideals of masculinity and femininity, they also represent the ideals of functioning relationships as well. And the strength of that relationship is going to be tested in a huge way in this story. In the post-Jerry Springer era, it's rare to see functioning relationships being celebrated. But I think for these two, it's worth making an exception. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 12: Family Ties is LIVE!

I know I've probably said it before on this blog. I might have even gone on a couple of drunken rants that I can't remember. But I'm fucking sick of love triangles. I'd like to publicly state to every TV show, comic book publisher, and movie that love triangles have been done to death, so much so that they might as well fuck the corpse. There have been so many bullshit love triangles in comics that I'd prefer a bad hangover to reading about another one at this point. It already ruined the X-men movies and nearly every 90s sitcom. We don't need it ruining anything else.

I say this because when I started writing "Strangers In Paradise," I committed to avoiding having a love triangle between Superman, Lois Lane, and Wonder Woman. A story like that is like a carwash that runs on elephant piss. Nobody can go through it without smelling afterwards. That's why I made sure that there would be no love triangle here. Lois Lane has someone else she's in love with. This means Clark and Diana can pursue their relationship in peace and focus on more pressing issues, like planning romantic nights on the surface of the moon or testing the bed springs at the Fortress of Solitude. Their relationship has already started to mature and I don't need a damn love triangle to set it back. They're about to have enough problems on their hands.

This is how the second part of "Strangers In Paradise" will unfold. It took six years for Clark and Diana to come together again. Now their relationship is going to be tested in a big way. They've got the Olympians, the Amazons, and Lex Luthor working against them, plotting all sorts of ways to screw them over. It's going to test their love and their trust for one another in ways no love triangle ever could. And it begins with this chapter.

Part of that process involves Lois Lane taking on a different role. She's not going to be Superman's love interest. She's not going to be Wonder Woman's rival either. She's going to be something else entirely. Lois doesn't need to be Superman's love interest/damsel to be interesting. I'm a firm believer that she can be awesome on her own accord and that's exactly what I hope to accomplish with this chapter and future chapters, among other things.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 12: Family Ties

So if you're reading this story hoping to see Diana clash with Lois, I'm sorry to disappoint. You'll have to look elsewhere for that shit. There's a time and a place for Wonder Woman and Lois Lane to clash, but it's not going to be in this story. This story is going to focus mostly on Superman and Wonder Woman building a relationship in the midst of a fuckton of new challenges. If you're interested in that, then I think you'll have a smile on your face and a boner in your pants. Nuff said!

Strangers In Paradise Chapter 11: Broken Dreams is LIVE!

I've noticed that for the most part, comics put a lot of effort into the story that hooks two characters up and only ever gives half the amount of fucks necessary to develop that relationship. It's like once two characters get together, everyone just shrugs and leaves it at that. Because that's exactly how it works in the real world apparently. That's all there is to this romance and love shit.

I wish there was a font for sarcasm because that would have made that last paragraph so much more meaningful. Instead, I'll just come out and say until recently, comics have sucked donkey balls at developing meaningful romance. That's why I've found the way DC has developed the Superman/Wonder Woman relationship so refreshing. They didn't just put them together. They've actually shown a little progression. Granted, that progression has been slow. But it's still world's better than some of the shit I've seen with other relationships. That's exactly what I'm trying to capture with my own Superman/Wonder Woman story.

I went to great lengths to make getting Superman and Wonder Woman together in a meaningful way. But that's not even half the story. That's an important part, but there's a lot more shit to deal with that I want to explore. Now that Clark and Diana are together, how are they going to progress? Can their relationship deal with the challenges that come? That's exactly what I'll be exploring moving forward and this latest chapter starts that process.

Strangers In Paradise

Chapter 11: Broken Dreams

Not every epic romance has to be built on the same misguided principles that made Twilight way more successful than it deserved to be. Good romance can emerge in a way that's balanced and compelling. It can both soak panties and evoke boners. It shouldn't be restricted to one gender or one kind of underwear. And that's what I hope to develop here with Strangers In Paradise. If I can make both genders equally horny by the end, then I'll know I've succeeded. Nuff said!