# Batman Vs. Nite-Owl II, both are Prepared, who'd win? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 17, 2009, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386 "2009-09-17T01:24:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2009, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/21 "2009-09-17T19:26:25Z")
> [@The\_Falling\_Reverend](#): > > But here is the real question, NO got stomped by Onymandias, is Batman faster than Ozy? There are tons of incarnations of Batman and only one, really, of Ozymandias, but I would say the Oz man is quicker and more agile, with Batman perhaps stronger. In turn this is making me wonder what Ozymandias vs. The Joker would look like. ---
**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/22 "2009-09-19T01:20:29Z")
Ozymandias kills half the people in the world as part of an elaborate plot to keep the Joker from killing the other half. The Joker just laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/23 "2009-09-19T01:25:35Z")
Try to read the comic book. Everybody except Manhattan sucks. I found the movie gave everybody quasi-superpowers that they never were supposed to have. Batman would destroy them all, except Manhattan. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/24 "2009-09-19T01:48:03Z")
Look at it from a psychological angle. Even if we assume Batman and NOII have comparable gear and are equally physically fit (a big assumption), it would still be no contest for the B-Man. Why? Because Batman’s on a MISSION. One to which he’s fanatically devoted. He. Just. Won’t. Stop…Ever. On the other hand, NOII is just in it for the thrills and to get his freak on. When Nixon banned masked heroes, he was perfectly content to mothball the costume and get complacent. Batman vs. Rorschach would be a much more interesting matchup. Both are badass and equally obsessed. And while Bats has the cool tech, R doesn’t have any moral qualms about playing dirty or offing his opponents. ---
**Author:** ![Superhal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Superhal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Superhal)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/25 "2009-09-19T02:31:12Z")
> [@Hodge](#): > > Batman vs. Rorschach would be a much more interesting matchup. Both are badass and equally obsessed. And while Bats has the cool tech, R doesn’t have any moral qualms about playing dirty or offing his opponents. Hmm, interesting point. While I think Batman would still beat R, R represents the extremes of human endurance. If any particular person fought with R’s conviction, how many fights would they lose? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 3:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/26 "2009-09-19T03:31:38Z")
> [@Hodge](#): > > Batman vs. Rorschach would be a much more interesting matchup. Both are badass and equally obsessed. And while Bats has the cool tech, R doesn’t have any moral qualms about playing dirty or offing his opponents. I agree. I’d be much more interested in a Batman-vs.-Rorschach matchup too- although such a matchup would probably end with Batman dead or seriously injured. ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2009, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/27 "2009-09-19T03:39:18Z")
Nite Owl 2 and Rorschach are the two halves of Batman: The Millionaire crime fighting playboy with superscientific tech, and the revenge obsessed vigilante psychopath. Thus the only fair fight would be Batman against the old Rorschach-Nite Owl team up. ---
**Author:** ![Orbifold](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orbifold](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orbifold)\ **Post date:** [September 20, 2009, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/28 "2009-09-20T09:36:41Z")
> [@mobo85](#): > > I agree. I’d be much more interested in a Batman-vs.-Rorschach matchup too- although such a matchup would probably end with Batman dead or seriously injured. … … Are you mad? Rorschach is just a guy with a mean streak and under-developed morals. That’s all he’s got. If being mean, determined, and morally stunted was enough to kill Batman, one of his rogue’s gallery would have offed him long ago. ---
**Author:** ![ZeusRockape](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a698b9/32.png) [@ZeusRockape](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZeusRockape)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 9:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/29 "2012-05-08T09:59:15Z")
This might be quite an eye opener. Ive always been fascinated by both characters, generally finding Rorschach to be a more sinister and realistic approach on Batmans character. [![](https://media.photobucket.com/image/batman%20vs%20rorschach/TheDissenter/batman_vs_rorschach_sig.jpg?o=1) ](https://media.photobucket.com/image/batman%20vs%20rorschach/TheDissenter/batman_vs_rorschach_sig.jpg?o=1) I find it pretty funny xD ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/30 "2012-05-08T10:15:20Z")
Having seen the Watchmen movie (although never reading the comics), I’d say Batman could probably beat any of them, with the exception of Dr Manhattan, probably. ---
**Author:** ![Bakhesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3da27b/32.png) [@Bakhesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bakhesh)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/31 "2012-05-08T10:29:10Z")
Nite Owl’s fighting style would be hampered when halfway through the fight, he gets an erection ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 10:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/32 "2012-05-08T10:30:31Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Having seen the Watchmen movie (although never reading the comics), I’d say Batman could probably beat any of them, with the exception of Dr Manhattan, probably. Ozy could probably give him a run for his money, but, yeah, most of the Watchmen characters would fall pretty fast. On the other hand, scenario 2 from the OP? I’d actually give that to Dan. Bruce would probably end up getting distracted by one of his big name enemies, while Dan would just go out and smack around gang bangers and muggers, as usual. Bruce’d win on quality, sure, but Dan’d kick his ass in quantity. ---
**Author:** ![Chastain86](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Chastain86](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chastain86)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/33 "2012-05-08T17:20:54Z")
There is no Batman equivalent in the Charlton Comics characters used in “The Watchmen.” As someone else said, the DC equivalent for Dan Dreiberg was Ted Kord, the former Blue Beetle. The archetype equivalent of Rorschach was The Question. Neither Blue Beetle nor The Question are powerful enough to defeat Batman. I’m not certain Ted or The Question would even stand a fighting chance against Tim Drake or Dick Grayson, much less the man that taught both of them. Ozymandias against Batman provides a better fight, predominantly because both men are in peak physical condition. However, Ozy is essentially a slightly younger and more spry version of Rah’s Al-Ghul, who Batman has fought and defeated many times. Doctor Manhattan is so ridiculously overpowered that he’d be the only Watchmen character that Batman might have problems defeating – but, as we saw, Manhattan is only as strong as his mental faculties. I’m not sure how to take advantage of that mental fragility (aside from employing something similar to Scarecrow’s fear gas) but you can bet that Batman would use everything in his power to gain the figurative high ground on a man that could level planets. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Q](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/898d66/32.png) [@Johnny\_Q](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Q)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/34 "2012-05-08T19:05:19Z")
Keep in mind that Manhattan is a strict determinist and only does what he sees himself doing in one particular timeline. He feels obligated to go through the motions and in the words of Stephen Colbert “he believes the same thing on Wednesday that he believed on Monday, no matter what happened on Tuesday.” Then again, if one of my stray thoughts could change the nature of reality, I’d probably try to keep my mind on track too. ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2012, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/35 "2012-05-08T21:01:55Z")
When Silk and NO went into the prison to spring Rorschach, they were both kicking the asses of rioting convicts with apparent ease. I don’t think he is quite the creampuff some say. BUT, he hung it up when the government outlawed masked avengers. Batman, at least in some versions, was always outside the law. Advantage of Will to Batman. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/36 "2012-05-09T19:30:43Z")
> [@spooje](#): > > When Silk and NO went into the prison to spring Rorschach, they were both kicking the asses of rioting convicts with apparent ease. I don’t think he is quite the creampuff some say. In the comic, NO and SS are each shown dropping a grand total of one guy – neither of whom is actively rioting – during that encounter; the emphasis is more on how the bulletproof Owlship can swoop past armed guards and blanket the area with sonics to incapacitate folks who aren’t wearing ear protection like our heroes. ---
**Author:** ![Alka\_Seltzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c89c15/32.png) [@Alka\_Seltzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alka_Seltzer)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/37 "2012-05-09T21:05:20Z")
If they fought in Batman’s universe, Batman would easily win, due to the laws of narrative causality. Batman is a grade A hero, while Nite Owl is just a tourist. If they fight in the Watchmen universe, all bets are off, as there Batman would mearly be an unhinged obsessive. ---
**Author:** ![It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/it_s_not_rocket_surgery/32/312_2.png) [@It\_s\_Not\_Rocket\_Surgery](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/It_s_Not_Rocket_Surgery)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/38 "2012-05-09T21:36:45Z")
> [@MacTech](#): > > I tended to empathize with **Rorshack** out of all the characters OOOH! OOOH! Mr. Kotter! Ozymandius is gonna blow up Manhattan! ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Scud](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f08c70/32.png) [@Tom\_Scud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Scud)\ **Post date:** [May 9, 2012, 9:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386/39 "2012-05-09T21:55:43Z")
> [@Alka\_Seltzer](#): > > If they fought in Batman’s universe, Batman would easily win, due to the laws of narrative causality. Batman is a grade A hero, while Nite Owl is just a tourist. If they fight in the Watchmen universe, all bets are off, as there Batman would mearly be an unhinged obsessive. Well actually, in the Bat universe, it would depend on how early in the story it was; the laws of narrative would heavily favor the newcomer if the fight took place in the first 30-40%, say. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/batman-vs-nite-owl-ii-both-are-prepared-whod-win/510386.md?page=1)