One silly question coming up.
In all of the “Batman vs. [whatever]” threads I’ve read recently, there seems to be the consensus that Batman can beat anyone and anything if he’s had the occasion to prepare for it. Since this seems to be a standard answer, I’m assuming it’s part of the canon somehow. Can anyone explain where this idea comes from?
A jar of pickles.
Just because it’s a silly question doesn’t mean I want a silly answer 
OK… 
My take on it:
Since Batman doesn’t have any super powers, he has to rely on his ‘genius’ in selecting and using the right tools. If he knows what he’s up against, he can devise a plan, based on his resourses, wherein he will prevail. He seems to be almost Data-like in his knowledge of stuff.
I have no idea when this developed.
I think that Grant Morrison’s take on the character during his (increasingly terrible as it wore on) run on JLA had a lot to do with it.
(Complete non-expert)
Part of it at least comes from the fact that, since Superman is superstrong and flies and has X-ray vision and can bite through trees and all that, he never had to work out his brain. Whereas Bats, in a world of superheroes and supervillains, had to be more clever than anyone else (and better-armed) just to survive.
But I think a lot of it may come from the fight between Bats and Supes in Frank Miller’s Dark Knight comics. Not to put too fine a point on it, Batman decides he needs to beat the crap out of Superman. So he builds a power suit and has the Green Arrow shoot Supes with Kryptonite, among many, many other little failsafes. He makes it very clear that, with enough prep work, he could trounce the guy.
[spoiler]
Indeed, in Dark Knight Strikes Back Bats does indeed trounce the guy quite handily and then tells him to get the hell out of the Batcave. Best scene in an otherwise terrible miniseries. Good thing I got it from the library.[/spoiler]
The actual phrase, IIRC, comes from an interview Grant Morrison did in WIZARD prior to his JLA run. WIZARD asked Morrison who’d win if the JLA fought, and Morrison said Batman, if he had time to prepare.
Which I don’t buy, by the way, but that wasn’t the question asked.
Fenris
Which is, of course, quite false. Superman has often had to use brain power to outwit his foes.
Still, it’s a common misconception, especially among a rabid segment of Bat-fans.
yeah, Superman’s pretty smart. And frankly I liked him better when he had his electric blue powers. But with Batman, it’s all he’s got, so he needs to use it well.
This attitude, of course, stems from the fact that it’s hard to justify the presence of someone like Batman in the JLA, which includes such powerhouses as Batman and the Flash.
But Batman is simply way too cool (not to mention popular) to be left out of DC’s premier superteam. Thus, he’s explained as a nigh-omnipotent strategist and tactician.
I’m a believer in the Batman if prepared camp, given that Batman is actually prepared, and that the situation is winnable for any human power, given sufficent resources.
In other words, say a cosmic fanboy appeared at a JLA meeting, and brainwashed the team to fight each other, Batman’s head would be squashed between the fists of Flash and Superman in the first nanosecond.
But if this fanboy gave Batman a few week’s warning…
Well, the Flash may still beat him, but he’d have to fight hard for it.
heh, rabid bats…
I suspect it has to do with your basic “Batman” plot. Not only was this basic plot used in innumerable comic book stories, but it was the ESSENTIAL plot in durn near EVERY ONE of the television show episodes.
The plot is as follows:
Bad guy does something bad in Gotham City.
Batman goes out and finds him.
Bad guy beats the doodle out of Batman.
PICK ONE:
(a) Batman narrowly escapes with his life.
(b) Batman is captured and placed in a deathtrap but escapes.
Batman returns to the Batcave and, armed with his new knowledge of his foe, devises some new widget or tactic that will permit him to stomp the guy. Meanwhile, Bad Guy romps around Gotham City, merrily slaughtering policemen and doing his bad guy thing.
Batman appears out of nowhere and soundly trounces the bad guy, armed with his new widgetry and/or tactics.
This plot has been operating seamlessly, repeatedly, since 1939. The power levels and abilities of his opponents have been repeatedly shown to be irrelevant. Hell, this exact same plot structure was used for the 1980s crossover hit “Batman Vs. Predator,” based on the movies of the same name… and everyone loved it. And Batman’s matchoffs with Superman have already been mentioned.
I would think that this pretty much reinforces the idea that Batman, if he has knowledge of his opponent, and a little time to get ready in the Batcave, could theoretically defeat GOD if he had to…
BTW, I feel I have to congratulate the OP, Short Guy, on his creative use of the word Belgium. I mean, he used it as a location! Pure genius.
What Fenris said. (Hey, Fenris!)
Uhm… Am I missing something here?
Only an in-depth knowledge of the Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galalxy.
Don’t sweat it.
It all started from the Adam West Batman movie. Batman was attacked by a shark - but good old Batman was prepared ! He just removed “Bat Shark Repellant” from his utility belt.
Oh… I see. I should have caught that.
so your that guy