# Who could defeat Batman if he WEREN'T prepared? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 16, 2006, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747 "2006-07-16T15:49:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/41 "2006-07-17T01:31:09Z")
[Battle Pope](http://www.woofofsteel.com/woof_blog/archives/p00.jpg) could kick his ass while chatting up a cute barmaid. ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/42 "2006-07-17T01:31:35Z")
In recent memory: Bane Lady Shiva Rick Flagg Bronze Tiger ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/43 "2006-07-17T01:34:49Z")
Wilfred Brimley could beat Batman. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/44 "2006-07-17T02:06:40Z")
Skipping the super-powers joke… Pre-crisis Karate Kid. In a walk, whether Batman’s prepared or not, unless “prepared” means “has just be made herald of galactus and thus has the power cosmic.” Spider-Man, Captain America, and Wolverine. Any of the X-Men, in fact, with the possible exception of Kitty Pryde. Of course, Batman could also beat most of them, in the sense that on any given sunday any team can beat any other…it just depends on which way’s the wind is blowing. Xena. Jack Bauer. But NOT MacGyver. Old Angus is the universe’s best fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants engineer, true, but he sucks in actual hand-to-hand combat. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/45 "2006-07-17T02:44:11Z")
> [@Ukulele Ike](#): > > The Blimp could hover over him in his sleep, then crash down and smother him, like **Chronos** said. > > I’m likin’ the idea of a Plastic-Man-versus-Unprepared-Batman matchup. Any ideas on how it might go? And can Woozy Winks take on Robin? “Powered” Woozy Winks was pretty unbeatable. Batman would not be able to face Plastic Man. His pantsless power is too great. ---
**Author:** ![Dante](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dante/32/9673_2.png) [@Dante](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dante)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/46 "2006-07-17T02:46:56Z")
Duran Duran. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/47 "2006-07-17T03:39:32Z")
I’m sure all his writers facing the monthly need to devise ever more ludicrous ways to have him survive the attacks of ever more powerful supervillains would gladly bash his head in with their keyboards. Or The Inferior Five, they could do it. ---
**Author:** ![Snooooopy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ee7513/32.png) [@Snooooopy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snooooopy)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/48 "2006-07-17T04:00:27Z")
Urkel. ---
**Author:** ![Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Sunshine\_and\_Smiles](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunshine_and_Smiles)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/49 "2006-07-17T04:29:30Z")
Dracula. The Bride, from Kill Bill. A 1920’s style death ray. ---
**Author:** ![Pixiesnix](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/898d66/32.png) [@Pixiesnix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixiesnix)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/50 "2006-07-17T04:34:35Z")
The Spanish Inquisition. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/51 "2006-07-17T05:54:51Z")
> [@Sunshine and Smiles](#): > > A 1920’s style death ray. God dammit. /me leaves thread, head hung in shame. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 10:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/52 "2006-07-17T10:22:23Z")
> [@Pixiesnix](#): > > The Spanish Inquisition. Who of course should be able to defeat Batman on their own terms any time they liked. ---
**Author:** ![Seymour\_Gams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8797f3/32.png) [@Seymour\_Gams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seymour_Gams)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 12:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/53 "2006-07-17T12:39:29Z")
Super Demolition Christ! ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/54 "2006-07-17T15:59:30Z")
After the reminders in this thread, I think Batman would be ready for anything! ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/55 "2006-07-17T17:42:11Z")
Would he be ready for… another Batman? I’d love to see the Dark Knight Batman take on the Neal Adams one, or the “definitive” Englehart/Rogers Batman square off against Adam West Batman! ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/56 "2006-07-17T18:35:34Z")
> [@Revenant Threshold](#): > > Ah, so _that’s_ what JLA stands for! Well, duh! **J** ustice **L** e **A** gue! ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/57 "2006-07-17T18:40:25Z")
Wolverine. Spiderman. My sister. Anyone. Let’s face it, Batman is cool but other than having some neat gadgets and good training, he has no super powers. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/58 "2006-07-17T19:07:02Z")
> [@control-z](#): > > My sister. Anyone. Let’s face it, Batman is cool but other than having some neat gadgets and good training, he has no super powers. Ahem. Good train and gadgets \> your sister, and quite a few other people. _She_ doesn’t have super powers, either, being handicapped by being real. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/59 "2006-07-17T20:24:31Z")
> [@](#): > > The Spanish Inquisition. I wasn’t expecting that. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2006, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747/60 "2006-07-17T21:30:52Z")
If you review the 1960s _Batman_ TV series, you’ll note that each and every week, Batman and Robin are trapped in a death scenario. The only reason they are able to escape is because Batman just happens to have the exact gadget he needs in his utility belt. In other words, he survives only because he is **prepared.** Take away that essential element of preparation, and Batman would have died each week. Ergo, an unprepared Batman could be defeated by: Joker Riddler Penguin Catwoman Mr. Freeze Archer Clock King King Tut Egghead Siren Chantelle Bookworm Lord Ffogg Louie the Lilac and a bunch of others. An unprepared Batman makes for a lousy crime fighter. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-could-defeat-batman-if-he-werent-prepared/364747.md?page=4)