In a match-up of Batman vs Superman – who wins? We break it down for you with the line by line Batman vs Superman graphic below… Check it out and then be sure to start your own superhero training with either the Batman Workout Plan or the Superman Workout Plan!
Batman vs. Superman
You’d think that a fight between a super-powered alien from another planet and a dude in a scary costume would be over quick, but these two have been the subject of the nerd, geek, and dweeb debate for years. Both have HUGE followings in the comic book world, and hordes of loyal fans who know their every strength and weakness and have extravagant reasons why their favorite character would win and how they would do it. We’ve broken down these two iconic comic book legends into their relative strengths and weaknesses in our own attempt at answering who would win: Batman vs. Superman.
Batman
Going alphabetically, we’ll start with Batman.
Background
Aliases: A master of disguise, Batman goes by many names, but frequently uses the alias‚ Matches Malone, who (in what is possibly an anti-smoking message) almost always has a match in the corner of his mouth, but never smokes.
Nicknames: The Dark Knight, the Caped Crusader, The World’s Greatest Detective
Birthplace: Gotham County
First Appearance: Detective Comics #27 (Fun Fact: in an episode of the Cartoon Network series‚ Justice League, when the heroes are captured by their less-than-nice counterparts from another dimension, the good, Batman breaks them out of prison using a security code modeled on the publication date of his first comic.)
Alignment: Good
Physical Characteristics
Gender: Male
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 210 lbs
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black
Other Info
Occupation: Businessman
Base of Operations: The Batcave, Stately Wayne Manor, Gotham City, Hall of Justice, Justice League Watchtower
Connections
Relatives: Dr. Thomas Wayne (father, dead), Martha Wayne (mother, dead), Philip Wayne (uncle, foster father, dead), Alfred Pennyworth (butler, foster father), Dick Grayson (Robin I, Nightwing, adopted son), Jason Todd (Robin II, adopted son, dead), Tim Drake (Robin III, Red Robin, adopted son, protege)
Team Affiliations: “The Batman Family” (a group of closely connected/loosely-affiliated characters including the Robins, Batgirl, Catwoman, and the Huntress, among others), Batman Incorporated (a worldwide network of “Batmen” working to stop crime on a global scale), the Justice League (various incarnations, including “International”), the Outsiders (a darker, edgier group that Batman formed to take the jobs that the Justice League couldn’t do, operate in the shadows, and be unpopular with the public – but not with comic book fans, many of whom liked the group’s collection of offbeat, often-neglected characters), Wayne Enterprises, Club of Heroes
Friends: The Bat has no friends
Enemies: The Joker, Bane, Catwoman (sometimes!), Harvey “Two Face” Dent, The Penguin, Mr. Freeze, among many many many others (nicknamed his “Rogues Gallery”)
Superman
Names: Clark Kent / Kal-El (Kryptonian birth name)
Nicknames: The Man of Steel, the Man of Tomorrow, the Last Son of Krypton, Big Blue (also “the Big Blue Boy Scout,” due to his always trustworthy, loyal, friendly ways!), the Metropolis Marvel (often unused), the Action Ace (also often unused)
Birthplace: the Planet Krypton (destroyed), found outside the town of Smallville, Kansas
First Appearance: Action Comics #1, June 1938
Alignment: Good
Physical Characteristics
Gender: Male
Height: 6’3″
Weight: 225 lbs.
Eyes: Blue
Hair: Black (note: black hair and blue eyes together is a relatively rare combination, genetically speaking – however, both Batman and Superman have this combo. Superman’s Kryptonian physiology, however, makes that genetic comparison somewhat moot)
Other Info
Occupation: Reporter for the Daily Planet, Novelist
Base of Operations: Clark Kent’s apartment in Metropolis, the Fortress of Solitude in the Arctic Circle (also called “Fort Superman!”)
Connections
Relatives: Lois Lane (wife), Jor-El (father, dead), Lara (mother, dead), Jonathan Kent (adoptive father – dead in some continuities, alive in others), Martha Kent (adoptive mother, almost always alive), Seyg-El (paternal grandfather, dead), Zor-El (uncle, dead), Alura (aunt, dead), Kara Zor-El/Supergirl (cousin – as UNLIKELY as that is!), Conner Kent/Kon-El/Superboy (partial clone).
Team Affiliations: The Justice League (various forms), The Legion of Superheroes (pre-Crisis, as “Superboy”), Justice Society of America (pre-Crisis, Earth 2 version), All-Star Squadron (pre-Crisis, Earth 2 version – and if you know what all these mean, then please stop reading this IG and go outside!)
Friends: James “Jimmy” Olsen (“pal”), Bippo the Sailor (informant)
Enemies: Lex Luthor, General Zod, Doomsday, among MANY others
Head to Head Comparison: Batman vs. Superman
Origins: Parents murdered in front of his eyes, vs. whole planet destroyed in cataclysm
Batman:
- Peak physical prowess, strength, and endurance
- Mastery of almost every known martial art
- Weapons Mastery
- Top level detective skills
- Intimidation (so intimidating and fear-inspiring that during the “Synestro Corps” storyline, he was eligible for membership, only his indomitable will allowed him to resist)
- Indomitable Will (a result of innate mental strength and stubbornness combined with meditation training that allows him to perform under intense stress and pain, as well as resist most forms of mental manipulation)
- Master Interrogator
- Genius Level Intellect
- Among Many Others!
Superman:
- Inhuman Strength (ranging from 1,000,000 ton lifting capacity, to the ability to move the planet Earth within its orbit, depending on the writer)
- Night Invulnerable
- Combat Training from Wildcat (world champion) and Mongul (universe champion)
- Genius Level Intellect (Kryptonian physiology gives him an incredibly fast mind, father Jor-El was Krypton’s leading scientist)
- Indomitable Will (pure, incorruptible)
- Torquasm Vo (Kryptonian mental discipline used to fight mental control)
- Torquasm Rao (Kyroptian mental discipline used to separate his body and mind)
- HEAT VISION!
- Super Senses
- Flight
- Among Many Others!
So…Who Wins?
And the winner of the Batman vs Superman match up is… Ahh, come on – did you really think we could pick one? What do YOU think?
What? That’s a cop-out? OK, if we are forced to choose then… SUPERMAN!
Maybe the question is – who would you rather look like? Give either the Batman Workout Plan or the Superman Workout Plan a try and start your superhero transformation!