# If Superman was prepared...
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [June 20, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720 "2007-06-20T15:07:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/1 "2007-06-20T15:07:28Z")
We all know Batman wins if prepared. What confluence of supervillains and events could defeat Superman if he were prepared at Batman-levels?
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### Author:  [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/2 "2007-06-20T15:16:22Z")
Batman, but only if he’s prepared.
Enjoy,
Steven
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### Author:  [@Fiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiver)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/3 "2007-06-20T15:34:43Z")
Not Doomsday, but almost.
Therefore: _two_ Doomsdays.
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### Author:  [@Winston\_Bongo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winston_Bongo)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/4 "2007-06-20T15:35:13Z")
Superman could never be “prepared at Batman levels,” because by definition that means he could beat everybody. Which sounds plausible enough, except that in this case “everybody” would include a prepared Batman. And since Batman is himself unbeatable when prepared, then we have a paradox to which I see no possible resolution.
Well, unless you transport Superman to the Marvel universe or something, where Batman is taken out of the equation.
(How many Geek Points have I earned with this?)
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### Author:  [@The\_Controvert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Controvert)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/5 "2007-06-20T16:24:07Z")
One possibility is Batman is dead (from, say inoperable brain cancer). That leaves the door open for Superman for the top spot.
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### Author:  [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/6 "2007-06-20T16:26:53Z")
What kind of “preparation” would Superman need, really, aside from a can of Kryptonite-B-Gon?
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### Author:  [@Lochdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lochdale)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/7 "2007-06-20T16:41:08Z")
Depends on who he is trying to take out. There are any number of villans in the DCU that can beat the tar out of him.
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### Author:  [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/8 "2007-06-20T16:47:04Z")
[QUOTE=OneCentStamp]
What kind of “preparation” would Superman need, really, aside from a can of Kryptonite-B-Gon?
[/QUOTE]
Really, OCS, I can’ t believe you wrote that. You’re leaving yourself open to an out-geeking.
Superman has two other major weaknesses, remember: magic and red-sun radiation. No, make that two and a half, as he can also be mind-controlled. Therefore a completely prepared Man of Steel would need the Supermobile (which can protect him from all sorts of radiation), plus some magical gizmo to protect him from the mystic arts and with training in resisting telepathic incursions. (I know there’s a specific Kryptonian mental discipline that would be appropriate, but I’m going to give you a chance to regain geek points by naming it yourself.)
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### Author:  [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/9 "2007-06-20T16:55:26Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer]
Really, OCS, I can’ t believe you wrote that. You’re leaving yourself open to an out-geeking.
Superman has two other major weaknesses, remember: magic and red-sun radiation. No, make that two and a half, as he can also be mind-controlled. Therefore a completely prepared Man of Steel would need the Supermobile (which can protect him from all sorts of radiation), plus some magical gizmo to protect him from the mystic arts and with training in resisting telepathic incursions. (I know there’s a specific Kryptonian mental discipline that would be appropriate, but I’m going to give you a chance to regain geek points by naming it yourself.)
[/QUOTE]
_ **OCS** strains under weight of comic book minutiae, his own personal kryptonite_
See, all my knowledge of Superman comes from the 80s Christopher Reeve movies and the old _Super Friends_ cartoons, where nothing ever really messed him up except for kryptonite. The _SF_ cartoons were especially egregious: Superman usually let the other guys do their thing (run really fast, call fish, make glowing green things, etc.) to make them feel useful, but the only real function of the other Super Friends was to keep kryptonite off of Superman.
🙂
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### Author:  [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/10 "2007-06-20T17:47:29Z")
yeah, I’m opening this can of worms.
who the hell decided Batman would win if “prepared”? Does preparedness include kryptonite, magic, or red-sun radiation? If so, that’s kinda low.
I’ve seen Batman punch Superman in the face before and almost break his knuckles. The only reason he didn’t, in fact, was that Superman rolled with the punch.
It’s not even a fair fight. Superman is not human. He can _fly_, for chrissakes. I don’t think he needs extra preparedness in beating a human, even one as awesome as Batman.
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### Author:  [@Scuba\_Ben](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scuba_Ben)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/11 "2007-06-20T18:05:58Z")
[QUOTE=nevermore]
It’s not even a fair fight. Superman is not human. He can _fly_, for chrissakes. I don’t think he needs extra preparedness in beating a human, even one as awesome as Batman.
[/QUOTE]
His overconfidence is his weakness.
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### Author:  [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/12 "2007-06-20T18:32:07Z")
If preparation included a complete removal of all the mental and ethical restraints Superman has then nothing. What good is being a magic user out to get Superman going to do when he’s four hundred miles up shooting heat vision through your brain? How effective is kryptonite when he’ll just bury you in molten lead at the first sign that you might have it?
At that point you’d need someone just as ridiculously overpowered to stop him. As per the ancient internet traditions, I recommend Goku (from Dragon Ball Z).
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### Author:  [@mazinger\_z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazinger_z)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/13 "2007-06-20T18:38:32Z")
[QUOTE=Lochdale]
Depends on who he is trying to take out. There are any number of villans in the DCU that can beat the tar out of him.
[/QUOTE]
Physically beat the tar out of him? Really? Who? Even magic users have to be somewhat weary to overcome Supe’s speed and strength.
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### Author:  [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/14 "2007-06-20T18:46:44Z")
[QUOTE=mazinger\_z]
Physically beat the tar out of him? Really? Who?
[/quote]
Hand to hand? Darkseid, usually.
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### Author:  [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/15 "2007-06-20T19:10:43Z")
[QUOTE=Scuba\_Ben]
His overconfidence is his weakness.
[/QUOTE]
and your faith in your frie–
What?
Sorry.
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### Author:  [@bouv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bouv)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/16 "2007-06-20T19:25:01Z")
[QUOTE=mazinger\_z]
Physically beat the tar out of him? Really? Who? Even magic users have to be somewhat weary to overcome Supe’s speed and strength.
[/QUOTE]
Well, I’m going to go out on a limb and say…Doomsday. You know, the monster who _killed_ Superman. By physically beating the tar out of him, no less.
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### Author:  [@nevermore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nevermore)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/17 "2007-06-20T19:44:43Z")
[QUOTE=bouv]
Well, I’m going to go out on a limb and say…Doomsday. You know, the monster who _killed_ Superman. By physically beating the tar out of him, no less.
[/QUOTE]
Except he didn’t actually overcome Supe’s speed and strength, since he died from his wounds as well.
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### Author:  [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/18 "2007-06-20T19:47:42Z")
[QUOTE=Skald the Rhymer]
Hand to hand? Darkseid, usually.
[/QUOTE]
Well, isn’t that really eye-projected-death-beams to hand? 🆒
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### Author:  [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/19 "2007-06-20T19:51:37Z")
[QUOTE=Winston Bongo]
Superman could never be “prepared at Batman levels,” because by definition that means he could beat everybody. Which sounds plausible enough, except that in this case “everybody” would include a prepared Batman. And since Batman is himself unbeatable when prepared, then we have a paradox to which I see no possible resolution…
[/QUOTE]
So… could Batman lift a rock that was so heavy he could never be prepared enough to lift it? Um, if he prepared?
Never mind.
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### Author:  [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)
#### Post date: [June 20, 2007, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-superman-was-prepared/408720/20 "2007-06-20T20:18:43Z")
Black Adam could kill him. Any of the Marvels probably could, if properly motivated. Martian Manhunter certainly could. Firestorm…likely, but it wouldn’t be easy.
Alan Scott could, and MAYBE Hal Jordan. (For extra geek points I’ll throw in Mogo too. 🆒 )
I could name more. Superman is incredibly powerful, but he’s neither omipotent (well, not anymore) or invincible.
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