World's Finest: Trinity

Synopsis
The immortal Vandal Savage enacts his long awaited plan for world domination, and only the world's finest can stop his nefarious scheme!

Chapter One - The Bargain
In the mountains of Western Mongolia, Vandal Savage stages three coordinated attacks across the world: As nations enter a worldwide panic, Savage broadcasts a message across the planet: "He is Vandal Savage, and he will execute the three leaders unless all countries surrender their nuclear weaponry."
 * A bomb explodes in the White House, and the President is escorted out by military personnel led by Steve Trevor. The group is attacked by Savage's forces, who take the President.
 * A group of ninjas invade the Chinese capital at Beijing, taking the General Secretary hostage.
 * In Moscow, Russian forces are overwhelmed by a masked individual wearing Superman's crest. The being takes the President from the Kremlin, escaping into Siberia.

Batman locates and infiltrates Savage's base in Mongolia, exchanging words with the terrorist. Savage escapes while his troops are subdued by Batman. Batman contacts Superman, believing that they need to "meet up again."

Chapter Two - The Call
In Washington DC, Wonder Woman visits Steve in the hospital, where she is encountered by Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne, who ask her to come with them. The three go to the Batcave, where Clark and Bruce reveal their respective identities. Batman explains that Savage has taken the three leaders to three separate locations, and they need to rescue them before the situation escalates into a worldwide nuclear war.

With their combined intel, the group discovers the three locations: With Robin guiding them from the Batcave, the three heroes split up to secure the leaders.
 * The Russian president was taken by the masked being to Siberia.
 * The Chinese secretary general was taken by ninjas belonging to the League of Assassins, and is now on Infinity Island.
 * The American President was taken to Greece.

Chapter Three - Brave New World
In Siberia, Batman arrives at an abandoned LexCorp outpost where he is attacked by the masked being wearing his crest. The being exhibits the same abilities as Superman, and they fight across the wasteland. Batman uses the Batwing's arsenal to attack the juggernaut, blasting off the being's mask; revealing it to be a deformed clone of Superman. An unknown observer of the battle activates a device, causing the clone to glow with energy. The clone explodes, and Batman flies back to rescue the President from the compound.

On Infinity Island, Superman enters the chamber of Ra's Al Ghul, who stands beside the Chinese secretary general. As Superman disables the League's assassins, he asks for Ra's motivation for helping Savage. Ra's states that the League is always eager to offer its services for the right price. Ra's unveils a Kryptonite blade, wounding Superman. Batman arrives and shatters the sword with an explosive batarang. The two escape with the Chinese secretary.

Wonder Woman arrives in Greece, encountering Savage in the Athenian ruins. He recalls his encounter with the Greeks millennia ago, and how their armies were ravaged by the arrival of the Amazons. He taunts Diana; remark about how he might pay a visit to Diana's mother and sisters on Themyscira. She lunges towards Vandal, and the two clash. Diana gains the upper hand, slashing Vandal's face, and stabbing him in the chest. Vandal smacks her away, removing the blade, and regenerating his wounds effortlessly.

As Vandal toys with her, he explains that he was given his powers 50,000 years ago after bathing in the cosmic radiation from a fallen meteorite. Vandal believes that humans are meant to evolve and conquer the universe itself. He pulls out a remote, revealing that he already had access to the nuclear weaponry, and hostages were merely a distraction. Just as he activates the remote, Superman and Batman arrive, defeating the villain.

The three heroes destroy the remote, preventing Savage from doing any more harm. The trio convene back at the Batcave, resolving to come together again whenever the world is in need of their effort. Superman presents Batman with a lead-lined box containing a Kryptonite fragment from their battle with Savage, ordering him to use it if he ever loses control. Later, as Batman examines the broken remote, he discovers that Savage was bluffing; he never had any access to the world's nukes.

As Savage is transported to Belle Reve, his convoy is intercepted by the assassin Deathstroke, who takes him to meet with Lex Luthor and Ra's Al Ghul. The three agree that their true plan succeeded; to stage the means to bring together a superhero team that would further their own goals for world domination.

Timeline

 * This event is part of The Golden Age.
 * It is preceded by Green Lantern: No Fear.
 * It is followed by Justice League: Origin.

Links

 * Full Reading Order
 * Justice League Reading Order
 * Superman Reading Order
 * Batman Reading Order
 * Wonder Woman Reading Order