If you’re  just a casual comic book fan, your immediate reaction to this match-up is that Superman would crush Batman. I mean how could he not right? Superman has super powers, and Batman doesn’t. End of story. Whoa, whoa there buddy. Let’s not jump the gun here. It’s a little more complicated than that.             

First off, the data collected for this match-up is based on the comic books, which ARE the official word on what is and what isn’t. Movies are the worst places to gather info. All too often movies take too many liberties on the books they’re based on. Example: In 1978′s Superman movie, Superman turns back time by flying around the Earth and spinning it backwards. Are you serious?! You mean to tell me that some how, by simply spinning Earth the opposite way, really fast, you can turn back time? No. All that would do is…spin Earth the opposite way really fast. Superman would have wrecked the planets surface, and actually killed most of Earth’s population, as humans flew off the surface. Not to mention he kisses Lois and erases her memory. But I digress. Superman can’t do any of that. Moving on…            

For years DC has teamed up their two premiere characters in several series, as well as pitted them against each other. Time after time, one of these men has consistently come out on top. If you’re an avid comic book reader, and your reading this now with one of your friends who is a casual reader, don’t spoil the ending for them.              

Superman is widely regarded as one of the most powerful heroes in the DC universe. ONE of the most powerful, not the most. He’s the leader of the Justice League. The Blue Boyscout. While Supes has tremendous strength and stamina, he has been beaten before. Killed even. Doomsday single           

Batman: "Nope, never had a bad one". Superman: "Oh c'mon! Not a single one"? Batman: "I challenge you to name one". Superman: "Ok, Batman Forever"? Batman: "I have no idea what you mean". Superman:"...oh and Batman & Robin". Batman: "Shut up Clark".

handedly defeated the Justice League’s second string, and defeated Superman without the help of Kryptonite. So it’s not impossible to beat him. Difficult yes, but not impossible. Superman’s fast too. Real fast. Much, much faster than a speeding bullet, but not faster than his buddy The Flash. Superman is, overall, incredibly powerful without a doubt. However, even his other buddy Hal Jordan (Green Lantern) could beat him. In fact Green Lantern is actually considered to be the most powerful hero in the DC universe. So, now that you understand that it is in fact possible to beat Superman, let’s move on.             

Batman is one of the most respected and feared human members of the Justice League. The Dark Knight. Batman is void of super powers, but he’s not without amazing skills. He possesses olympian level strength and speed, and although that doesn’t even come close to what Superman can do, it at least gets you to start viewing Batman as more than just a guy in a suit. He is also well trained in several forms of martial arts, and is a genius. Combined with his near limitless finances to fund his heroic enterprise, Batman is a force not to be shrugged off. However, Batman too has had his brushes with death. While he’s never actually died, he has come close (Note: Article pre-dates Batman RIP novel).  The most memorable was when Bane broke his back. Bane possesses superhuman strength, but he’s still not nearly as powerful as Superman. It would take nothing more than a bullet to the head to stop Bruce Wayne, but would someone ever get the chance to? After all these years, why hasn’t Batman eaten dirt when he’s faced so many super-powered villains?             

While Superman’s advantages are his incredible powers, Batman’s are his ability to strategize. Don’t underplay the importance of strategy. Any average football team could defeat a perennial pro-bowl squad if they are well coached, and devise plans to counter their opponent’s moves. Military forces know that having the biggest guns and the most bullets doesn’t guarantee victory. Superman would have to fight Batman on Earth, or at least in a solar system with a yellow sun (which activates his powers). Otherwise, Batman would easily man-handle Superman without so much as a bead of sweat on his brow. If Superman attacked Batman at random, without any warning, he would in fact win. No question. However, as always when weighing all the variables in a match, like speed, strength, and weaponry, you still have to consider a fighter’s personality.             

"I could snap you like a twig...but I won't"

A fighter’s willingness to make certain decisions is very important. Superman would not randomly attack a person. He would need to have good cause to harm someone. Superman operates on the side of law. Batman doesn’t always. While Batman too would not randomly harm a person, he would without pause attack some one if he felt it would serve the greater good. It is possible that some thing could control Superman and force him to act out of character, like the parasite worms did to Captain Marvel (who is similar in ability to Superman) in the Justice mini-series. Not even threatening him with harming some one like Lois Lane would forcibly make him attack Batman at random. So 99% of the time, it would take Batman doing something Superman deemed incredibly unlawful or immoral for him to harm Batman. There would have to be previous knowledge. And it’s not implausible to imagine Superman disagreeing with something Batman did. They disagree all the time. So this is where our battle begins.             

Maybe Batman kidnaps the President because he has some information about the location of an American military strike on a group of innocent people, that Batman is trying to stop (very 24, the tv show). Superman gets wind of this from some intelligence agency’s APB on Batman, and tries to rescue the President. Batman usually never makes decisions without a sound plan, and at least two back-up plans. So chances are he has a “Superman contingency plan”, which means he’s prepared himself in the event he may have to battle Superman. Superman knows this too. He has fought Batman before and knows just how tricky, and resourceful he is. He would have to come at him hard and fast, but do it with caution. For this scenario, he might try and avoid confrontation with Batman all together and go for rescuing the President. Batman has already planned for this, remember, he does know Superman very well. He would have the President in a secret location. Supes would have to confront him to find out the location. Bats isn’t talking. The battle kicks in to high gear. Batman is wearing his Super suit. Oh yea, you didn’t know he had one. Yes. In the series, The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller, Batman had constructed a suit strong enough to handle blows from Superman.             

In the future Batman will be even more dangerous. Yea. Think about that.

Also, the suit was designed to utilize the electrical energy of Gotham city. It is then very reasonable, that he would have a suit designed to handle Superman, if only for a little while. Depending on how much time Batman had to prepare, he could make the suit fairly durable. Marvel’s Iron Man had designed a “Hulk Buster” suit so that he could fight The Hulk. Clearly Bruce Wayne has the financial resources, technology, and brains to develop an effective suit.             

Eventually Superman would be able to smash the suit to pieces, leaving Batman’s body vulnerable. Superman could handle just about anything that someone throws at him. Doomsday was the most powerful adversary he ever faced. Doomsday was able to match him blow for blow, something that Batman’s suit probably couldn’t do for long. So just as Superman is about to rip Batman out of his Super suit, Batman pulls out his Wild card: a Kryptonite ring. This may seen like an unfair advantage, but honestly, Superman was the one who gave Batman the ring in case he became too powerful and reckless. He trusted Batman, knowing that he would have the fortitude to stop him if he absolutely had to. Weapons can not be discounted in a fight if it’s something that is specific to a character. It would be like discounting Green Lantern’s ring, or Punisher’s guns. It’s all part of battle strategy. Also keep in mind, in even normal circumstances, Batman’s not afraid to cross the line. Superman stands at that line. Batman, using the ring and his knowledge of martial arts, plants the ring on Superman’s jaw.             

In actuality, Superman is more human then Batman is. Take away his powers and Clark Kent has no skills that would help him win a fight. He’d be just a normal man. Batman has no powers, so he is what he is. Even if you took away his weapons and gadgets, Bruce Wayne is still a master tactician and a highly skilled fighter. Like a cornered animal, Batman would do everything he could not to end up some one’s meal. Superman gets a quick start, leaving little doubt that he’s a titan, but in the end Batman uses brains to overcome brawn.               

Winner: Batman             

Originally published on October 5th 2008, Miyamotocup.com