There’s no denying that Batman and should, in theory, be able to take the Dark Knight out in seconds. However, Batman stans will, of course, argue the merits of his signature preparedness and contingency plans. As a result, there has always been debate over how a fight between the two would end. Yet DC has already proven that there is truly only one realistic outcome when these two Justice League heroes go head-to-head.
It’s been 25 years since the release of Christopher Moeller’s JLA: A League of One, yet this comic still offers perhaps the most realistic and believable take on how a fight between Diana and Bruce would end. In the story, Wonder Woman hears a prophecy that her Justice League teammates will die in battle against a dragon.
Determined to prevent their deaths and still save the day, she takes it upon herself to defeat her comrades first, then face the dragon alone. It’s an epic premise that makes Diana fighting her most trusted friends feel believable, and it provides a realistic battle between Wonder Woman and Batman, where Diana comes out on top in the way one would expect her to in such a scenario.
Wonder Woman vs. Batman: JLA: A League of One Settles the Score
Main Cover by Christopher Moeller for JUSTICE LEAGUE: A LEAGUE OF ONE (2000)
JLA: A League of One features a standout moment where Wonder Woman and Batman face off, and the best part of this fight is that DC doesn’t give Bruce any prep time to create a convoluted contingency plan that acts as plot armor. Instead, the two heroes are placed in a far more realistic scenario, forced to fight one-on-one using only the weapons and wits they have on hand. Knowing he can’t match Wonder Woman in strength, Batman tries to wage a mental war instead. He attempts to goad Diana into making a mistake by hurling insults while trying to entangle her with the line from his grapnel gun.
Dodging his attacks, Wonder Woman replies with a disgusted “You reptile,” and “...as Hera is my witness, how dare you call me a coward.” At first, it seems like Bruce might be getting in her head and gaining the upper hand. However, Diana soon reveals that she knows exactly what he is doing. She recognizes that his harsh words are a calculated attempt to provoke her. She then turns the tables, demonstrating how poorly his plan is going by ensnaring him in her Lasso of Truth and ending the fight in seconds, offering a definitive answer to the Batman vs. Wonder Woman debate.
Superman vs Batman: Who'd Actually Win, According to Wonder Woman
Everyone’s had their two cents on who would win in a fight between Batman and Superman, but Wonder Woman has the greatest insight of all.
No Prep, No Plot Armor: Why Wonder Woman vs. Batman in A League of One Is Their Most Realistic Fight Yet
Main Cover by Christopher Moeller for JLA: A League of One HC (2000)
It’s not just the outcome of the fight that feels realistic, but the fight itself. As previously mentioned, Batman doesn’t get any unrealistic prep time or the opportunity to execute one of his convoluted contingency plans. As a result, this stands as one of the most believable and grounded fights between Batman and Wonder Woman in comic history. It accurately reflects what one would expect from a battle between a mere mortal and a woman with superior physical prowess, experience, and no obvious weaknesses.
Granted, one could argue that the fight should have ended even faster, with Bruce being defeated almost instantly and given no real opportunity to fight back. However, that would not have made for much of a story. Additionally, it’s believable that Wonder Woman, known for her nobility and honor, would choose to engage with Batman as an equal. That gives him the chance to throw his verbal barbs and attempt to subdue her. For this reason, Moeller deserves plenty of credit for crafting such a realistic and entertaining battle between Diana and Bruce.
“Women With Power Become Absolute Monsters”: How DC Undermined Wonder Woman By Villainizing Her Legacy
As one writer pointed out in the past, DC has undermined Wonder Woman by villainizing her legacy, essentially equating powerful women with monsters.
Batman’s Contingency Plan for Wonder Woman: Using Her Strengths Against Her
Main Cover by Christopher Moeller for JLA: A League of One TP (2000)
Even though Batman didn’t have time to enact one of his contingency plans, fans may still wonder what his specific plan for Wonder Woman actually is. His strategy involves using Diana’s unwavering determination against her. Specifically, he developed nanites that, once injected into her body, trap her in a virtual reality battle against an opponent who matches her in every way. Her refusal to surrender would keep her fighting endlessly until she dies of exhaustion. However, even this plan isn’t guaranteed to work, proving that prep time alone doesn’t ensure Batman could defeat Wonder Woman.
JUSTICE LEAGUE: A LEAGUE OF ONE is available now from DC Comics!
-
Wonder Woman
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.
-
Batman
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.
