Brian Truitt

USA TODAY

Writing one of DC Comics' top superheroes is great for Peter Tomasi, so why not the whole Trinity trifecta?

The Batman and Robin scribe has the same gig on the Superman/Wonder Woman series beginning in November as part of the new creative team, which also includes artist Doug Mahnke. And with Issue 13, Tomasi is bringing back some old villains and continuing the high-profile romance between the Man of Steel and his Amazon princess girlfriend.

"I want to stare hard into the heart of both of these characters and their true love and see what that love means to us, the DC Universe and the people of Earth," Tomasi says. "Does it pose a danger or a threat? If two people like that are together and in love, where is the drama in that, and what repercussions does it have?"

They're strong equals, as are the trio on the cover of Batman and Robin No. 36, also due in November. The next chapter of Tomasi's "Robin Rises" story line features Red Robin, Red Hood and — with definitely a different look than usual — Batgirl herself, Barbara Gordon, sporting Robin togs much like those worn by the late Damian Wayne.

"All of these characters at this point are in the Robin mix," Tomasi says. "The Bat-family will, in the end, rise to the challenge of helping a new Robin come to be in the DCU."

Over in Superman/Wonder Woman, though, a mysterious crew of bad guys is ascending upon the world, beginning with the reintroduction of Atomic Skull and Major Disaster. Those two fit into a major scheme that will pique fans' interest, according to Tomasi.

"Something wicked this way comes," he says. "It's really the initial salvo, and we'll see these characters are the shock troops — they're hitting the front line first, and there's a lot bigger stuff behind them."

Although he's getting free reign in terms of supporting villains, it's the two heroes in the title who really brought Tomasi on board: "They're two obviously headstrong characters, physically strong characters and characters who have very strong opinions on how the world should work."

He wants to continue what previous writer Charles Soule started and explore the external and internal forces that push and pull on their relationship. Tomasi feels he can go close to the fire with Superman and Wonder Woman and push their buttons romantically, emotionally and physically, more so than with other characters.

With so many love affairs in movies and TV for inspiration, from Dave and Maddie of Moonlighting to Nick and Norah of Infinite Playlist fame, "there'll be little bits of all the classic romantic characters coming out probably in some small way through these two big icons," he says.

Their distinctive upbringings — Clark Kent's Midwestern childhood growing up in Smallville, and Diana being raised in a community devoid of men — also will play a large role in their love for each other and conflict between them, not to mention the fact that Wonder Woman is pretty much a god of war now.

That was Tomasi's way in, he says, to really think about where they would be at this point in their lives and how they would deal with the opposite sex and their moral values.

"I don't want to write 22 pages of them staring into each other's eyes with them going, 'Oh, I love you, Supes!' 'I love you, Wonder Woman!' I really want to shake it up," he adds.

"It's not strong love if it's not tested. Anything with two hearts in mind, if they're not put at odds or built through hardships and tough times, I don't think they're real relationships."