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| Big Belly Burger | |
|---|---|
| Publication information | |
| Publisher | DC Comics |
| First appearance | The Adventures of Superman #441 (June 1988) |
| Created by | John Byrne |
| In-story information | |
| Type of business | Restaurants |
| Owner(s) | LexCorp |
Big Belly Burger is a fictionalfast food restaurant chain in theDC Comicsuniverse. It has appeared in a number of comic book titles and stories, alongside multiple appearances in other media, most notably including various television series set in theArrowverse.
Big Belly Burger was created by writerJohn Byrne in the comic bookAdventures of Superman in June 1988. The fast food chain was given its initial visual appearance by pencillerJerry Ordway.[1] The restaurant was inspired byBob's Big Boy, a real-world chain of restaurants.[2]
In DC Comics publications, Big Belly Burger is said to be one of the largest fast-food chains in the United States. Founded inCoast City[3] in the 1950s,[4] the chain opened restaurants across the world following its purchase byLexCorp.[3] Big Belly Burger is well known in the DC Comics universe for itsFrench fries,milkshakes, and largehamburgers. Its signature menu items include three burgers: the Belly Buster,[5][6][7] the Belly Flop,[7][8] and the Cheesemeister Deluxe.[9][a] Its signature milkshake is the "Chocorrific",[11] although it also sells a strawberry-banana shake.[12] Desserts sold includeapple pie and a "Drizzle Doodle" (whose exact composition is not defined).[11] The restaurant is depicted as also sellinghot dogs[6]egg salad sandwiches,[13] chickensliders, fish sandwiches,[12] and breakfast items.[14] The chain's products include "value" combination meals (main item, side, and drink)[14] and "Jolly Meals",[15] a child's meal that comes in a box with anaction figure.[16] The "Smiley Meal" is a similar boxed meal including a burger, fries, and cookie.[17]
The Big Belly Burgermascot is a smiling, bearded, red-haired man with glasses (modeled on comic book writer and editorAndy Helfer).[18] The mascot is often depicted holding aloft a plate on which a large hamburger rests.[19] Variations of the mascot also appear, such as a mascot with an upraised arm and no plate.[20] Beginning around 2008, a Big Belly Burger logo began to be depicted in DC Comics. This logo consists of a large red circle with a heavy black border, a smaller whitesmiley off-center at the top of the red circle, and two three-fingered cartoonish hands (one in the red circle, one opposite the smiley at the top of the red circle). The image looks like a rotund, smiling person patting a fat stomach and giving a thumb's up.[21] Big Belly Burger also has a catchphrase, "It's Belly Belly good" (a play on the words "very very good").[17][22][23] The slogan "Big Choices, Big Value, Big Belly!" has also been used.[14]
All Big Belly Burgers have a drive-through.[12][15] Some Big Belly Burger locations are depicted in the comics as having a "Playplace", an area where small children can play onjungle gym equipment andslides.[16] At least one has ajukebox.[13]
Big Belly Burger frequently appears inSuperman comics. One notable appearance was in a 1990 story in which the villainous magical impMr. Mxyzptlk animated a Big Belly Burger mascot statue and used it to fight Superman.[22] In 1999, Superman charactersJimmy Olsen andPerry White were depicted in an advertisement for the fast food chain:[24][b]
Jimmy Olsen: You'd better hustle with those Big Belly Burgers, Mr. White.Perry White: Great Caesar's Ghost! I'm grilling as fast as I can, Olsen... and don't call me Chef!"
In January 2016, Jimmy Olsen mentions that the first time he andClark Kent spent time together was at a Big Belly Burger, and that he had his first interview with Superman at the same restaurant after the meal. A background image in the same issue ofSuperman shows a Big Belly Burger "Employee of the Month" named Stan, who bears a strong resemblance to legendary comic book writer, editor, and publisherStan Lee.[25]
The superheroBooster Gold was once depicted as working (for a brief time) at a Big Belly Burger.[26] He also is depicted appearing in Big Belly Burger television advertisements,[27] and a Big Belly Burger sticker appeared on Booster Gold's coffin along with other corporate sponsors (including Soder Cola, Cap's Hobby Shoppe, EZ Caskets, Guardian Cigarettes, Lit Beer, Pep Cereals, andVertigo Comics).[28]
Big Belly Burger made two appearances in theSon of Vulcanlimited series comic book. The first issue of the publication depicted Big Belly Burger as the location where 14-year-old orphanMiguel "Mikey" Devante worked when he met the superhero Vulcan and received his powers from him.[29] The fictional restaurant appeared again in the limited series' final issue, after Devante defeated a group of supervillains.[30]
Will Payton, the teenage version of the superheroStarman, is depicted as a Big Belly Burger employee in a 1989 story,[31] and the DC Comics alienNix Uotan is depicted working at Big Belly Burger during his exile on Earth in a 2008 story.[21] The superheroineSkyrocket of the superhero groupPower Company also was depicted working at a Big Belly Burger in order to earn money prior to becoming a hero-for-hire in a 2002 tale.[32]Captain Marvel ate a Big Belly Burger at almost every meal during his time with theJustice League.[33]
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