Batman vs Superman

This is an argument that has come up several times in the last week or so amongst my group of friends. Who is the better hero Batman or Superman? I could think of nothing else to blog about so I figured I would merely recycle the best points from the arguments.

So who would win in a fight between the two poster boys of the DC universe? Well it depends, if the fight was a random unexpected encounter then obviously Superman's Kryptonian powers would give him a distinct advantage. However if the battle was one that Batman saw coming then 'the worlds greatest detective' would ensure he was prepared and play to Superman's weaknesses, either the physical weakness to Kryptonite or a psychological weakness such as Superman's need to see good in humanity. Alternatively Batman would attack Clark Kent instead ruining Superman's alter ego and in doing so bringing the 'Big Blue Boy Scout' to his knees.

Although Batman versus Superman is an interesting match up, in reality the two are uneasy allies (in the Justice League) for the most part and are too busy fighting their own nemesis' to duel each other. Both exist in cities that reflect their personalities or more accurately their personalities reflect the cities they live and their villains who oppose them. Gotham City is a bleak, dark horrible place full of murderous criminals who epitomise the very worst nightmares imaginable. Metropolis on the other hand is a far more hopeful place. Although criminals still exist there they tend to be corrupt businessmen or shady underground characters, but on the face of it the city is thriving. Both men are the hero their city needs, one is the symbol of hope turning people away from crime and the other is a symbol of fear for criminals.

Both men have their vast wealth of emotive back-story and psychological problems that give a vast depth and complexity to their character. Both have an arch nemesis that fit them perfectly and make them whole. I guess in the end no one is better than the other it is just preference. For me Batman has the far stronger rogues gallery than Superman's and Batman's gritty determination in a dark bleak world struck a chord with me that I just never got from Superman's alien loneliness. Plus as soon as a character can reverse time by running in the opposite direction to the Earth's rotation any sense of drama or danger has kind of been killed in my eyes. Batman is twisted by hate and revenge but he is essentially just a man trying to do what he can to make the world a little better. Maybe we should all strive to be more that way inclined. Next time a problem comes up ask yourself, what would Batman do?