Squared Off: Superman V.S. Batman

This entry marks the debut of my Squared Off series in my blog. In Squared Off, I would be squaring off two (or more) characters and give out a small photo essay about the fight and eventually reveal my choice of winner. In today's entry, I would like to touch upon the unending debate regarding who would win in a fight between Superman and Batman. 

Superman has always been known as the first Superhero ever created in the Comic Book industry. And with that thought, it comes natural that all of the fantastical powers that one writer could have ever thought of would belong to Superman. Of course I'm sure you all know that he could fly, he's faster than a speeding bullet, and most of all he's indestructible. It would also be revealed that Superman  is actually an alien from planet Krypton and it's the Earth's yellow sun which fuels his powers. Batman on the other hand is just a plain human being who is highly skilled in acrobatics, different combats, and detective works. While both are Superheroes in their own right, there are traits that separates them in terms of attaining the end results that they commonly share. Their upbringing is the main reason why although both fight crime in the name of truth and justice, they have different methods in attaining it. 

Superman was raised in a small town in Kansas by an elderly couple who taught and guided him about the basics of truth and justice. It was their guiding light which became Superman's compass to fight crime and trying to right the wrongs as he tries to become an inspiration to humans that despite all of the powers that he possess, he still chose to use them responsibly and aid those who are in need. 

Batman on the other hand lost his parents at a young age and grew up guided by vengeance to attain justice and prevent what happened to his parents to others. While Superman thinks and fights in a positive way, Batman leans more towards the dark side of justice and chose to instill FEAR in contrast to Superman's choice of instilling HOPE. 

In most of the comics written about Superman fighting Batman, it always ends up with Superman being beaten. And the reason for this is because Superman cannot live with his conscience of knowing that he was able to maim, beat, and possibly cripple a human being. Batman on the other hand as they would write him operates with no conscience. And works on the maxim that the ends always justifies the means. Superman is written to become a brainless wimp, a spineless coward, and under control by higher authorities. Batman on the other hand becomes the DAVID who is out to topple a GOLIATH. Below is the small skit I made with consideration that Superman is no longer the boy scout that we know (Well that's actually who he is in the DCNU Reboot though). Kinda like how the Elseworlds Superman Red Son graphic novel where Superman, instead of being raised by the Kents, were raised by Nazis. He created a dictatorship and crushed all those who opposed him. (Though in the end he found redemption)

"Let's settle this debate once and for all Bruce"

"Not so fast Clark, I've got an ace up on my sleeves... Kryptonite" 

"I always came prepared for this day Clark..." 

"But not today Bruce... Not today!" 

"You see Bruce, I'm fed up being a Boy Scout... so i'm taking your approach..." 

"So tell me Bruce..." 

"How does it feel for you to taste your own medicine?" 

"When there are no longer any morals holding me back" 

"I'm sorry it had to be this way Bruce..." 

"The writers decided to be honest, stripped my goodness away, and just left me with pure rage and fury..." 

"Today a Batman dies..." 

But it doesn't have to be that way...

They are the best of friends after all 

In telling my story and my opinion about this matter, there is really no reason for this silly debate in the first place. Whoever wins between the two rests solely on the writer's decision. Batman is just a plain bad ass human being who writers and majority of the readers prefer because his being powerless and matched against all odds is a very good narrative. Kinda like a David v.s. Goliath situation. It makes Batman's feat to overcome the odds extraordinary. In contrast, since Superman is God like, any victory is diminished because Superman is always expected to prevail against the odds. So in making his story a bit interesting, writers tend to write a Superman with weaknesses. But really if there is indeed a fight and Superman goes ballistic, it is highly unlikely for a human being to beat a God. I cannot imagine how Batman could win a fight against a deranged Superman. So far all of those storylines where Batman beats Superman, those are ridiculous. Case in point the Hush storyline. It took Batman to coordinate a plan with Catwoman to kidnap Lois Lane and held her hostage so that a mind controlled (by Poison Ivy) Superman would snap back to his senses. In fact most of the fights that Batman won against Superman were never really clear wins simply because Superman always held back his punches. And for this reason alone, Batman gets the upper hand. Hence he ends up victorious. But if indeed Superman doesn't hold back his punches, I'm sure the results would go by the same results of the Red Son Superman storyline. But in my opinion, even if DC continues to have Superman get beat up by Batman, I would never trade the Boy Scout Superman for a Ruthless one who can easily take down Batman. The beauty of Superman's character (as i'm sure a lot of Superman fans agree) is it's pureness and his honesty to fight the good fight. It's the inspiration he brings, the hope he would like to share, and the right ideals in life that he chose to follow which makes him Superman. But then again I'm tired of Superman being written as a wimp. And I'm also not too happy about the new direction that they are taking Superman in the New 52 Reboot (which was explained that because both of his adoptive parents died early, Superman never had the guiding hand he used to have before the reboot). But really, DC should stop writing about Superman always having his behind beaten by Batman. With this new direction that they are taking with the character they should have Superman beat Batman's behind for a change. But really, I'd rather they work together and complement each other.



The three action figures that I used in this entry comes from Mattel's DC Universe Classics. Batman is from Wave 10 while the Red Eyes Superman comes from the Superman/Brainiac clash of the cosmos two pack. The regular Superman on the other hand came from the Gotham City 5 pack.