Big Belly Burger

Big Belly Burger is a fictional fast food chain of restaurant in the DC Comics universe.

Fictional history

Big Belly Burger is the go to fast food joint that can be found in every major city of the DC Universe that was inspired by “Bob's Big Boy”. Big Belly Burger's very first appearance was in Adventures of Superman #441 from June 1988.

Big Belly Burger is one of the largest fast-food burger chains in the United States. The restaurant was founded in Coast City and has since expanded nation-wide. Big Belly Burger specializes in bellybusting hamburgers, french fries, and shakes. Big Belly Burger has its own mascot in Big Belly himself, he is a grinning, bearded, man whose likeness adorns all Big Belly Burger locations.

While a nationwide chain, Big Belly Burger has played a minor part in the legend of Superman. Mr. Mxyzptlk, the malevolent imp from the fifth dimension, animated one of the Big Belly statues, and used it to fight Superman. Also, Jimmy Olsen and Perry White were used in a recent promotion by the chain.

"You'd better hustle with those big belly burgers, Mr. White -- " says Olsen in the ad. "Great Caesar's Ghost! I'm grilling as fast as I can, Olsen... and don't call me Chef!", replies the chief, Perry White. (from Superman Secret Files & Origins #2).

As a subsidiary of LexCorp, the company enjoys widespread marketing and is only rivaled by O'Shaughnessy's. Their mascot is a large, bearded man holding a giant burger though recent promotions have indicated his exposure is being limited in favor of a newer design.

Vulcan

Orphan Miguel "Mikey" Devante, 14, is taken hostage by the Floronic Man at the Big Belly Burger in Miguel's hometown of Charlton’s Point. A relatively unknown hero named Vulcan tells Mikey to free the other hostages while he battles the Floronic Man. Miguel stays back after freeing the other hostages to ensure Vulcan is safe. Miguel saves Vulcan from danger by chopping off Floronic Man's arm with Vulcan's sword.

Booster Gold

The superhero Booster Gold has both worked at a Big Belly Burger franchise (in JLA Classified #6) and done commercials for them on television and mentioned them during improvised photo opportunities. Big Belly Burger appears on Booster Gold's casket along with other corporate sponsors including Soder Cola, Cap's Hobby Shoppe, EZ Caskets, Guardian Cigarettes, Lit Beer, Pep Cereals and Vertigo Comics.^[1]

In other media

Television

• Big Belly Burger regularly features in the Arrow television series. John Diggle brought Oliver Queen and Tommy Merlyn to a Big Belly Burger restaurant after they were beat up by Max Fuller's henchmen. John later came here for a meal, and for a chat with his sister-in-law, Carly, who was a waitresses there. Oliver has also taken his younger sister Thea and his mother Moira Queen there. Thea Queen has even taken Roy Harper to eat there.The Canary first appeared outside of the restaurant after a female employee was attacked by a group of thugs.
• Big Belly Burger is also featured in the Arrow spin-off television series The Flash.

Video games

• Big Belly Burger is referenced in DC Universe Online, it is a Franchise Briefing that can be found in the Little Bohemia and Chinatown districts of Metropolis & in the Burnley and Diamond Districts of Gotham. There are four parts that comprise this briefing.

• Big Belly Burger is referenced in Batman: Arkham Origins. There are billboards throughout the city advertising the restaurant. There are also discarded burger wrappers and drinks in the Gotham City Police Department.

References