WARNING: Contains Potential Spoilers for WONDER WOMAN #20 (2025)!
There’s no denying thatCatwomanwill always be one ofBatman’s most iconic love interests; no one’s arguing that. Selina Kyle is the definition of a queen. However, the Dark Knight’s latest love interest just raised a powerful question: where does a queen stand when she’s up against a goddess?
Tom King and Guillem March’sWonder Woman#20takes a step back from the series’ main narrative involving The Sovereign, revisiting one of Diana and Bruce’s past team-ups. In this story, she calls on the World’s Greatest Detective to help solve the mystery of Ares’ murder, where her mother, Queen Hippolyta, is the prime suspect.
The issue is jam-packed with interactions between the duo and the gods of Olympus, including the goddess of love, Aphrodite. During their encounter,DC reveals that Aphrodite was once a potential love interest of the Dark Knight, a scene that’s already sparking major controversy among fans.
DC Confirms Batman Could’ve Dated the Goddess of Love
Main Cover by Daniel Sampere & Tomeu Morey for Tom King’sWonder Woman#20 (2025)
While investigating Ares’ murder,Wonder Woman and Batmanpay Aphrodite a visit, as she was one of the last beings to see Ares before he was found dead in Hippolyta’s bed. The Dark Knight begins his line of questioning, but it quickly becomes clear thatthe goddess of love is far more interested in Bruce than the murder itself.She asks him to remove his mask, wanting nothing more than to see the rest of his face. Aphrodite answers their questions willingly and without hesitation, showing no concern over admitting to adultery by revealing she slept with Ares that night. Her focus remains entirely on Bruce, and he allows her to remove his mask.
As Wonder Woman continues the questioning, Aphrodite keeps responding, but as Guillem March’s art makes clear, the goddess is wholly absorbed in Batman. With each answer, her lips inch closer to his. Finally, she closes the distance, sharing a chaste kiss with the Dark Knight before pulling away and telling him,“Whatever you want. Whenever you want it. The answer is yes.”It becomes abundantly clear that, had he wanted to, Batman could have pursued an affair with a literal goddess.
Catwoman’s Iconic Status Framed Through a Goddess-Level Comparison
Cover B David Nakayama Variant forWonder Woman#20 (2025)
As previously mentioned,this scene has stirred significant controversy among fans.Some have criticized how the goddess of love is portrayed, while others simply find the interaction distasteful. There may also be frustration over this article’s comparison between this brief moment and Batman’s long-established romance with Catwoman. To be clear, this article is not suggesting that a fleeting flirtation with Aphrodite should be seen as more meaningful than Bruce’s relationship with Selina. That would be absurd and would disrespect the deep, complex history that Batman and Catwoman share. If anything, the comparison is meant to highlight justhow iconic Catwoman truly is.
Aphrodite is a literal goddess. So, equating her to a rival, or in other words, an equal to Selina, speaks volumes about how highly this article regards Catwoman.It puts Selina Kyle on the same level of character prestige as a mythological deity.This point becomes even clearer when looking at Bruce’s most recent love interest in current mainstream continuity:Joe Chill’s daughter, the child of the man who murdered Bruce’s parents. This is by far one of the most bizarre love interests DC has ever introduced for the Dark Knight, and honestly, it is an insult to Catwoman that Batman is even entertaining the idea. In contrast, a goddess catching Batman’s eye feels far more acceptable.
Batman’s Brief Flirtation with Aphrodite: A Romance Better Explored in Fanfiction
Cover C Guillem March Variant forWonder Woman#20 (2025)
Whether you loved or hated the scene between Batman and Aphrodite, it’s undeniably epic that Bruce’s charm is powerful enough to attract a goddess. However, it’s clear that this was just a fleeting flirtation from the past, not a relationship he actively pursued. Still, the idea of the Dark Knight with a goddess is intriguing. Yet, most would agree that exploring a romance between Bruce and Aphrodite fits better in fanfiction than canon. While the notion ofBatmanwinning over a Greek goddess is entertaining, there’s no denying thatCatwomanultimately trumps Aphrodite in Bruce Wayne’s romantic history.
