He's the Caped Crusader, the protector of Gotham, the Batman. She's the Amazonian princess, warrior born and bred, she's Wonder Woman. The two of them are very, very different people and yet, more often than not, they make a superb team. What would the Justice League be without Batman and Wonder Woman?
Over the years, there have been countless stories of their dynamic and how they work together for the greater good, as well as stories where they find themselves on opposing sides. Yes, Batman and Wonder Woman make a dream team, but what about when they don't get along?
10 GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES: Different Priorities
In Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia by writer Greg Rucka and artist J.G. Jones, a woman on the run from Batman finds sanctuary with Wonder Woman after performing an ancient ritual which puts the woman under her protection and binds the two women to each other. Batman understands the ritual but he insists on taking the woman to the police, which Wonder Woman cannot allow due to the consequences of breaking their bond. The Hiketeia shows what the two prioritize when it comes to duty.
9 DREAM TEAM: They Understand Each Other
Batman's intellect and Wonder Woman's empathy are two personality components that allow them to understand each other. So much of Diana's perspective is based on her ancient greek origins and Batman, being a pantomath, understands where she comes from when she draws from these traditions. On the other side of it, Diana's rich compassion and empathy for others allow her to see through Batman's darkness and see him. A common appreciation for their very different backgrounds and experiences make these two a real dream team.
8 GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES: Batman Doesn't Appreciate Magic
Batman is pessimistic and pragmatic, which means that he's not the biggest fan of magic. Magic can get in the way of his calculations and can be a tool to learn his secrets. Case in point: Wonder Woman Annual vol. 5 #1, which featured a story by writer Greg Rucka and artist Nicola Scott. Superman and Batman meet Wonder Woman for the first time, and they use her Lasso of Truth so that they can each look into the others' hearts, causing derision from Batman.
7 DREAM TEAM: Underlying Attraction
Over the years, there have been different versions of Batman and Wonder Woman, or Bruce and Diana, where the two are in love or have some attraction to each other. From the animated series Justice League or the DCEU films, there are major hints that there's more to Bruce and Diana's relationship than one may expect.
Even imagined scenarios, where they fall in love and have children, have popped up, specifically in JLA #90 by writer Joe Kelly and artists Chris Cross and Tom Nguyen.
6 GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES: Different Methods Of Dealing Out Justice
This point is usually brought to its extreme in certain storylines and with different writers but when looking at Batman/Superman/Wonder Woman: Trinity #2 by Matt Wagner, there's never a more clear example. After Wonder Woman has tracked down Superman and introduced herself, Wonder Woman eventually meets with Batman and things do not go as smoothly as one would expect. After using the Lasso of Truth to get a goon to talk, Batman punches his lights out, causing Wonder Woman to react in disgust.
5 DREAM TEAM: A Proper Balance Of Hearts & Minds
Wonder Woman is a warrior born and raised, but she leads with her heart. Batman is a compassionate man, but he's also calculating and emotionally insulated. It's these differences between the two that make them an excellent team because they're able to balance each other out. In Rebirth's Trinity #2 by Francis Manapul, Batman and Wonder Woman have met the pre-Flashpoint Superman, and when the three are sent to a strange place and time, these differences play out in a way that doesn't hinder them.
4 GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES: From Different Worlds
As a demi-goddess and Amazon princess, Diana of Themyscira's entire being is wrapped up in Greek mythology. The ideals of her ancient world are the core of her being, and for Bruce Wayne, his core is Gotham City and all of its harsh realities. These origins carry themselves in the two characters as they live their adult lives and there have been instances of tension between the two over Bruce's skepticism and Diana's beliefs, whether it be Diana honoring Hiketeia or Bruce dismissing a prophecy.
3 DREAM TEAM: Two Parts Of The Trinity
With Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman being the most popular DC characters, it stands to reason that the two would make such a dream team. There have been various "Trinity" comics over the years that utilize the camaraderie and teamwork between the three. While some of these stories have had Wonder Woman and Batman being initially at odds with each other, they eventually see that they're on the same side and must rely on each other's strengths. Readers mustn't underestimate the power of the Trinity.
2 GET ON EACH OTHER'S NERVES: At Odds In Certain Stories
When there are versions of the Justice League that deviate from the mainstream iterations, Batman and Wonder Woman generally find themselves at odds. A few quick examples being Kingdom Come, Injustice, and All Star Batman and Robin, the Boy Wonder.
In the case of Injustice, Wonder Woman has joined Superman's side as they become authoritative and evil, while Batman tries to bring them down. In All Star, Batman is especially cruel and fascistic, and a hyper-aggressive, misandristic Wonder Woman suggests that the JLA kill him.
1 DREAM TEAM: Deep Respect For Each Other
In the end, Batman and Wonder Woman are pillars that uplift the Justice League, and the two of them make excellent teammates. At the core of this teamwork, the two have such deep respect for each other and it has been a driving force for their successful leadership amongst the other superheroes of the DC universe. Even when taking Superman out of the equation, like at the beginning of Rebirth's Trinity series, it's obvious the high regard Wonder Woman and Batman hold for one another.