Who’s better? They are both types, archetypes, even. Which do you prefer?
I’d say Batman, because we can relate to him. Anyone, if they worked hard enough, had enough motivation, enough money, enough time, could become Batman. Plus, he’s not preachy like Supes. He’s resourceful and even a bit vicious.
Superman, on the other hand, is very hard to get into. Call me xenophobic, but he IS an alien. Okay, he’s thoroughly American, but he’s got all this power – he can fly, he’s strong, he’s got heat and x-ray vision, and he can turn back time, if need be, and fix things. He is so good and noble and powerful that he makes all other heroes superfluous. And, by extension, he makes the rest of us normal folks look terribly foolish and inadequete.
In the movie “Angus,” the kid’s grandfather says “Superman isn’t brave. Good and decent and kind, but not brave.”
I agree.
FWIW:
On the one hand, I would much rather live in the Batcave than the Fortress of Solitude. On the other hand, Superman had better enemies than Batman (haven’t read one in a while, we’re talking 1960’s here, OK?). Batman mostly went after jewel thieves and international crime rings, with an occasional lunge at the Riddler or Catwoman. Superman had Lex Luthor, who I always thought was MUCH more fun than the Joker.
Batman, being mortal, was always in greater physical danger, and so wasn’t as much to read about. When Superman got into physical danger, it was always something outre like green Kryptonite, not simply being dropped into a tank full of alligators.
It’s a little early in the morning for me to participate in a deep metaphysical discussion here. Sorry. 
“Why, sometimes I’ve believed as many as six impossible things before breakfast!” - the White Queen
You say we can “relate” to Batman, because he has no super powers and Superman does (although they have been toned down in recent rewrites, no turning back time, etc.). But look at them as characters with a personality, not just as superheroes.
Clark Kent was raised by kind and loving parents, who choose to take the responsibility of raising him because they could not have a child of their own. The world was good to Clark, so he is good to the world.
Bruce Wayne saw his parents murdered for the sake of greed. He grew up bitter, and full of hatred. Eventually, he managed to focus this hatred into good deeds, but the basis for his actions is revenge, and preventing the horror that he endured from happening to others. This is also manifested by his taking in orphans and raising them as his “wards” (the previous Robins, with the exception of the most recent, who I believe has lost his mother but still has his father).
As you say, they are both “archetypes” but I would certainly not envy Batman. As to the question of who is “better”, as a fictional character I personally prefer Batman. Tragic characters tend to be more interesting in the long run. But I certainly do not dislike Superman, and the two complent each other well.
You don’t like Catwoman? What’s wrong with you? Heck, even heterosexual women think Catwoman is kind of sexy.
Lex Luthor’s better than the Joker? The Joker’s psychotic. And funny. He’s got a gas that kills you and makes your face stretch into a grisly smile. How cool is that?
Lex Luthor wants vengeance on Superman because, when they were both in college (yes, it was “Smalltown University”), Superman accidently fouled up a science experiment of Luthor’s, causing him to spill a beaker on his head with some chemical that made all his hair fall out permanantly.
Yes, they have since re-done that origin. But that’s how he started out. Pretty lame. The Joker started out as a small-time hood who Batman pushed/accidently-on-purpose knocked into a vat that gave him a permanant smile and clown face. Pretty strong motivation, I think.
Joe.
I agree with everything you said. No, I don’t particularly envy Batman (it’s like wishing you were Oedipus), but I don’t envy Superman, either.
Imagine confining yourself – out of some sense of duty, out of social responsibility – to a planet of total inferiors. Imagine looking down from space, seeing what needs to be done to fix the world’s problems, and then having to tell yourself, “No, I can’t do that. These plebes have to make their own way. I’m here for emergencies, only.” Then watch them screw it up, again and again, and have to clean up the mess, again and again, to no avail.
Sounds a little like hell to me.
I much prefer Batman. Batman isn’t held to the goody-goody moral standards that Superman follows. He has cool toys. I’ll bet the Batcave has been known to rock on occasion, but I doubt there’s ever been a party in the Fortress of Solitude. Superman is also, not particularly smart, whereas Batman is a genius.
Most importantly, Batman can have sex if he wants to. (though his affection to his “wards” always struck me as slightly suspect.)
If Superman so much as gets a stiffy, the whole world is in danger. This topic was amply and hilariously covered here:
http://www.blueneptune.com/~svw/superman.html
Think of the self-denial.
Maybe I should have called this post: “Could Batman beat Superman?”
I think he could, given enough time to prepare.
Ever read Batman:The Dark Knight series? Batman does indeed get to kick Superman around a bit, but only with a bit of help from the Green Arrow…
Alright! A true great debate! (no, just one I get to comment on)
One of my pals down here told me just yesterday some interesting things about Superman. Apparently he was originally supposed to take over the world in that first comic, but when World War 2’s shadow started spreading, the creators decided that he would instead save the world. And I agree totally with the idea that constantly saving the planet would be hellish.
And yes, I think that ‘Batman: The Dark Knight Returns’ answered the question of whether or not Batman could defeat Superman in a fight. And Batman also has the superior animated series too, IMHO.
Windows: Just another pane in the glass
One of the very best lines from the Lois and Clark show:
My experience is also out of the 60s, but I have to go with Superman.
Superman’s first memory was being separated from his parents just before his home planet blew up, destroying everyone and everything he knew.
Then he was adopted by a warm, loving family and had a peaceful youth – except that he always knew he was different and had to keep it a secret.
He was the most powerful person in the world and could do nothing to save his second set of parents, either.
He accidentally maimed a brilliant scientist, who blamed him and swore revenge, and couldn’t do anything about that, either.
And the public who idolizes him is more than willing to tear him down if he makes the slightest mistake or can’t respond in time.
You think Batman is a tragic figure? At least Bruce Wayne is a wealthy, respected member of his community. Clark Kent is a nobody, living on a reporter’s salary, in love with a co-worker who thinks he’s a dork.
I understand all the words, they just don’t make sense together like that.
I wouldn’t care to be Superman, and even as a kid I would sometimes get irritated by him. I mean, he has superpowers and can pretty much do anything, but he spends time pretending to be a reporter? What for?
He’ll fly by and see a car falling off a bridge, so on the way there, he saves those people. How about the 100 people dying in a ferry accident in the Philippines? Are they worthless?
The whole Superman as hero idea comes with too many difficult issues that aren’t resolved very clearly. I haven’t read Superman in a while, but I do remember seeing one recently where at the end of the story he was helping some starving farmers sow crops. Maybe he should be doing more of that!
My gosh, people! Of course it would be better to be Superman! The man has x-ray vision for pity’s sake! Need I say more??!!??
OK, here’s my impression of Superman using his x-ray vision on Lana Lang: :eek:
–In France I’m considered a genius.
Personally, I prefer Spider Man.
Batman rules.
He’s way smarter than Superman and has a nicer @$$. Utility belt full of interesting
– shall we say, “apparati”? (What girl could say no to that!?? 
) Bruce also runs all kinds of businesses and charity foundations while saving the city at night! He’s great! Not some mamby-pamby reporter who waits for Lois to show up with the story before he scoots over and saves the day. Yawn! At least Superman doesn’t whine like Spiderman does. Yuck!
Bruce/Batman is my hero.
http://www.thecats.com/images/batarang.gif
Yes, it’s mine, and yes, it’s very, very sharp, and yes, it’s fun to throw it and slice stuff.
A girl
A girl wrote:
That’s 'cause Superman doesn’t have a major newspaper decrying him as a menace to society, to the point where the police actually think he’s a crook, like Spiderman does.
First, no, we could not become Batman. He’s got a genius level IQ,is a world class athlete, and has virtually no fear. He is also almost psychotically driven. It would be nice to think we could, but then the character wouldn’t really be Batman.
Superman in “The Final Night” is willing to risk his life to save the earth when he has no powers. Same thing in the end of “Reign of the Supermen” (okay, he has a little of hois power, but he just came back from the dead!). Same in a JLA episode where he has his consciousness switched to another body. So, he is brave. But, I’ll admit they did that (losing powers sometimes, reducing them generally) to make his more interesting.
P.S. The original Luthor/hair bit was at Smallville High School–Clark went to Metropolis for college.
Bucky
Then he should MOVE! Sheesh!
A girl
Move away from NEW YORK CITY?
Where else is there?
(to be serious for a second, as this is an incredibly serious topic, Spidey NEEDS to be in New York, so he can swing from skyscraper to skyscraper. What would he do in L.A.? Run through the streets? He could swing around the lakefront in Chicago, but if Doctor Octopus committed a crime four blocks west, he’d be stuck running through the streets again.)
Bucky. Thanks for your good info about Luthor and Supes in high school, although you have to admit “Smalltown University” has a nice, ironic ring to it.
As for any of us being Batman, well, I wasn’t trying to imply that anyone could dress up like a bat and do everything he does, in the exact same way he does.
What I was trying to say is that anyone could push themself to become a great crimefighter and super-athlete IF they had the motivation. No, they probably wouldn’t end up as cool as Batman, but you could become something very like him. But you’d have to develop your own gimmick. Batman’d get pissed and come after you if you went around calling yourself “Batman.” As a scientist and inventor with a host of hired lawyers, he knows all about copyright infringement.
The one thing I’ve always felt about Bruce Wayne and his intelligence is that it has less to do with natural gifts or him being born with a genuis level IQ than it does with hard work and endurance. If he’s brilliant, it’s because he wants to be, forces himself to be. I admit I don’t really have any proof of this. But I think we are meant to take his origin – in which he was a totally normal, goofy kid until he watched his parents die – as the ultimate turning point. He snapped, inside, and his insanity took the form of dedication, organization, and relentless hard work rather than the “drooling in the corner” kind of craziness.
I think that’s what all of his villians are about, too. They’re reflections of him. They’re all insane, as equally obsessed with riddles, jokes, cats, coins, and penguins, as Batman is with hard work. (Don’t say Batman is obsessed with bats – the bats are the method, not the madness.)
So Batman’s a good guy, but only because his obsession and insanity comes in a more palatable form.
As for Spider-man, yeah, I think Peter Parker is a whiner, too. At least, he used to be – I dunno what he’s like now. Spider-man, the costumed hero, tho, was very cool and not at all like Peter Parker. He was like an alter ego, which was interesting Batman, I think, is just Bruce Wayne in a mask. Superman is Clark Kent in a cape. But Spider-man, in costumes, was totally different from wimpy, put-upon Peter Parker. Spider-man cracked jokes and made fun of the bad guys, enraging them, while he was beating them up. Very cool. And while I prefer Batman, I think Spidey’s powers are super-cool and I’d love to have them. They are, at least, internally consistent in a way Superman’s are not. There’s no real connection between superbreath, x-ray vision, heat vision, and strength and the ability to fly.
But Spidey’s are all spider-related – he’s as agile and fast and strong as a spider of proportianate size, and he can stick to walls just like a spider can. No, he can’t spin his own webs, but I’d say if he could, that’d be okay. Although he’s better off with web-shooters, since a big spider couldn’t sling webs as far and fast and for as long as his web-shooters can.
My final feeling on Spider-man is that, yeah, he’s cool. Peter Parker is not cool or interesting at all. And as for “everybody in the city hates me and thinks I’m a criminal,” big whoop. Rub some dirt on it.
You think Batman would care if everybody hated him? You think he’d let it bother him? No way.