In almost any case of Comic Book Character 1 vs. Batman, people, almost as if by default, say “Batman, assuming he has prep time”. Sure, he’s a beloved character, maybe the most popular comic book character of all time, I dunno, and represents the pinnacle of what mankind can be with enough drive, brains, and unlimited wealth, at least he seems to be written that way
Here’s my problem with that, he doesn’t really have any supervillain enemies. His roster of bad guys includes a few physical freaks, but nothing close to what Superman or even a gimpy Spiderman faces, a laughing psycho, a guy who likes puzzles, a half-man, half-bird weirdo, and an immortal who seems like his only power is martial arts (I’d expect anyone with the lifespan of Ra’s al Ghul to be somewhat smarter than the average person, so his intelligence doesn’t stand out to me)
I don’t read Batman, that seems to be my problem. But I want to know why people have that opinion of him. Can anyone give me any comic book examples, stuff considered canon, where Batman faces someone he typically shouldn’t even be able to annoy and comes out on top? Because to me, yeah technology and batarangs and an obsession with justice is cool and all, but even a drunk Juggernaught would probably eat his lunch and make him cry
Well, there’s one frame of the overhyped and pointless DC vs. Marvel that shows Batman squaring off with Venom, which by all logic should end with a dead Batman.
Penguin. And I realize he’s not actually half-bird, though I don’t really know his canon origin, its mostly what I’ve gathered from the cartoons and Batman 2.
I forgot to put in my OP, can you give examples of HOW he defeated some of these people? I’ve heard about the Superman one before, but it wasn’t like Superman was trying to kill Batman, right?
Batman is extremely smart, talented, well-prepared and well-equipped. It’s cannon that Batman has a database of enemies and knows, or at least has some battle plan, on how to take each one of them out. Batman was able to go toe to toe with Superman, the Man-O-Freaking-Steel for instance, because he has a stash of kryptonite on hand and various ways to administer it. It follows that Batman has like techniques and abilities to go after any other baddy. Yeah, an over-the-top cartoon super-villian like Magneto might be a challenge, but if he ever presented himself in the Batman world, you can be sure that Batman will at least think of some way to even the fight.
Batman is a member of the premier superhero team in his universe, the Justice League. The writers have had to go way beyond the “well trained normal human” in order to allow him to survive on a team with folks who can fly through the center of the sun. They do that by making him virtually omniscient and to have a plan ready for just about every being in his universe. Perhaps the most iconic version of this was in “JLA: Tower of Babel” where Ra’s al Ghul found his plans for all the other members of the Justice League and takes out the league using Batman’s prepared plans. Batman regularly takes on and beats Superman level bad guys.
I think it’s a memetic mutation from a Justice League plot (which I’ve never personally seen) which reveals that Batman has plans to take down and defeat literally EVERY other superhero in the JLA, that are completely set up and could be activated and completed at a moment’s notice. In said arc I believe most (or all) of them are actually used and succeed (not sure why they’re used, I hear it involved copying powers/clones/mind control or some such).
There’s Bane. Originally a normal human, he uses science fiction steroids to give himself super-human strength. I’m not sure where he’s supposed to stack up versus other super-strong villains, though. Certainly not up in Superman’s range.
Clayface has straight up super-powers: he’s an amorphous, vaguely humanoid blob in his “natural” form, but can change his form to imitate other people.
I’d count Mr. Freeze as a super-villain. He doesn’t have innate powers, but he’s got pretty impressive tech-based powers - mostly, a freeze ray and a power suit that gives him super strength.
I’ve never been clear on exactly what Killer Croc is, but he’s clearly not a normal human. Again, super strong, with some animal traits that most humans don’t have, like keen scent, and razor sharp claws and teeth.
Superman gets taken out with red kryptonite
Wonder Woman … a never ending battle in her mind
Martian Manhunter … fire, or hallucinating fire
Flash … bullet that causes seizures
Aquaman … hydrophobia, leading to loss of powers
There’s hardly more to it than that. It’s not very good for as often as it is mentioned. Everyone gets taken out in a couple pages each. Meanwhile, Batman is with Superman as Supes is taken out with Batman’s own plans. Batman gets to shout something like “I did this!” in horror.
The definitive prep time Batman is the Bruce vs Clark fight at the end of DKR.
