There’s no denying that the friendship between Superman is one of the greatest things DC has to offer. But let’s be honest, some of the publisher’s most iconic and best-loved storylines happen when the Trinity are at each other’s throats. As much as fans enjoy some good ol’ fashioned teamwork, it’s the tension, drama, and inner conflict that really keeps them hooked.

Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman share one of the most powerful bonds in the DC Universe, built through years of fighting side by side to protect Earth and its people. While the Trinity is often portrayed as an unstoppable dream team, it’s the moments when their alliance falls apart that truly resonate with fans.

As much as readers enjoy seeing them work together, there’s no denying that they’re at their most captivating when their differences push them into conflict, whether it’s a clash of values, strategy, or a straight-up brawl between DC's mightiest.

How the Trinity’s Clashing Ideals Turn Unity into Unforgettable Conflict

Main Cover by Howard Porter for JLA: The Tower of Babel – The Deluxe Edition HC (2001)

Despite Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman all having decades of experience as heroes and often achieving similar results, they approach heroism in fundamentally different ways. These differences in strategy, values, and tactics are a consistent source of conflict in DC's storytelling. What makes these clashes so compelling is that the Trinity shares the same ultimate goal: protecting Earth and its people. However, they rarely agree on how that goal should be achieved. Their conflicting methods often challenge each other’s core beliefs, leading to intense and emotionally charged confrontations that leave a lasting impact.

A prime example of this dynamic can be seen in the way Batman's deep-rooted paranoia and lack of trust have repeatedly put him at odds with Superman and Wonder Woman. Unlike Bruce, they value transparency, seeing it as a show of mutual respect, and they view his controlling nature as a violation of personal boundaries and a serious threat to the unity of their team. One of the clearest and most powerful depictions of this conflict is found in Mark Waid’s Justice League: Tower of Babel (2000).

In this storyline, Batman's secret contingency plans are stolen and used against the Justice League. When Superman and Wonder Woman learn the truth, they see it as a profound betrayal. Although Batman believed the plans were a necessary safeguard, his decision to keep them secret fractures the team. Tower of Babel stands as one of the most iconic examples of the Trinity at odds, and its continued popularity highlights just how much fans are drawn to these internal conflicts. The story’s impact proves that while unity among DC’s greatest heroes is inspiring, it’s their clashes that truly leave a lasting impression.

It’s Not Just Batman: The Whole Trinity Fuels Their Divisions

Main Cover by George Pérez & Tom Smith for Infinite Crisis #1 (2005)

While Batman is often criticized for his problematic methods, it's important to recognize that he isn’t solely responsible for the disconnect within the Trinity. It is a group effort when the Trinity finds itself divided. Matt Wagner’s Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity (2003) clearly showcases how their contrasting values and approaches create friction, even when they are working toward the same goal. Superman’s unwavering morals, Batman’s paranoia, and Wonder Woman’s warrior ethos frequently clash, making cooperation a challenge despite their shared mission.

Other iconic storylines that explore this theme include Mark Waid’s Kingdom Come (1996), Geoff Johns’ Infinite Crisis (2005–2006), and Justice League: The Darkseid War (2015–2016), also written by Johns. In each of these stories, the Trinity experiences deep internal division, most often stemming from conflicting moral philosophies. Sometimes these ideological rifts escalate into physical confrontations, further intensifying the drama. These storylines are among DC’s most defining and beloved works, and it is worth considering whether a key part of what makes them so exceptional is the fact that, rather than standing as unwavering allies, Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman are placed at odds.

Elseworlds Explores the Trinity’s Most Explosive Breakdowns

Main Cover by Daniel Warren Johnson & Mike Spicer for Wonder Woman: Dead Earth #1 (2019)

For the most part, when it comes to mainstream continuity, DC doesn’t push the conflicts between the Trinity too far. There is usually some form of reconciliation between Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman, or at the very least, a mutual agreement to disagree. However, DC’s Elseworlds imprint, which features stories set on alternate Earths separate from Earth-Prime, offers fans a chance to see just how epic it can be when Wonder Woman, Batman, and Superman become enemies. More accurately, these stories show how powerful it is to witness their friendships break down to the point of full-blown war.

Kingdom Come is part of the Elseworlds line and allows for a more volatile exploration of the Trinity’s collapse than is typical in main continuity. Similarly, titles like Tom Taylor’s Injustice: Gods Among Us and Daniel Warren Johnson’s Wonder Woman: Dead Earth show the complete breakdown of the Trinity bond. In Injustice, Batman fights against a tyrannical Superman and Wonder Woman after the Joker commits an unthinkable act. In Dead Earth, a nuclear crisis leads to fatal bloodshed between the three when they cannot agree on how to respond. These are some of DC’s most intense Elseworlds stories, and it is the collapse of DC’s most iconic friendship that makes them so unforgettable.

The Snyderverse Proves the Trinity Is Best in Conflict

Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman in Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016)

Granted, not everyone is a comic buff. As a result, some of these stories hold little, if any, significance for Trinity fans who have come to love the trio through the silver screen. Yet, the argument that Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman are at their best when at odds still stands. A core theme of the Snyderverse movies was the conflict between the Trinity, with Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) relying entirely on their clash for its plot. No matter the medium, DC seems to agree that some of the most compelling stories about Wonder Woman, Superman, and Batman are those where the three are at each other’s throats.

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  Wonder Woman

  Alias

  Diana Prince

  Created By

  William Moulton Marston, H. G. Peter

  Franchise

  D.C.

  Birthday

  March 22

  Height

  5'8"

  Race

  Amazon-Olympian

  Wonder Woman is the superhero identity of Diana, Princess of the Amazons. Created on the island of Themyscira, Wonder Woman is a super-powered demi-goddess with extreme physical strength who utilizes magical gifts (like her famous Lasso of Truth) to defeat her foes. As mighty as her fellow heroes Superman and the Justice League, Wonder Woman is unmatched in her comion and virtue.

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  Batman

  Alias

  Bruce Wayne

  FIRST APP

  Detective Comics #27 (1939)

  Created By

  Bob Kane, Bill Finger

  Franchise

  D.C.

  Race

  Human

  First Appearance

  Detective Comics

  One of DC's most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world's leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.

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