# Wolfgang Petersen to direct "Batman vs. Superman" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 9, 2002, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117 "2002-07-09T17:56:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/21 "2002-07-10T19:41:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by El Elvis Rojo \* > **The big problem is, like Menocchio mentioned, is that for this to be a success, there needs to be a lot of background for these characters.** Are you sure about that? Do you really think there are very many people over the age of 8 who don’t already know who Superman and Batman are? ---
**Author:** ![G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c67d28/32.png) [@G.B.H.Hornswoggler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G.B.H.Hornswoggler)\ **Post date:** [July 10, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/22 "2002-07-10T19:45:41Z")
Well, if they’re not smart enough to call it **The World’s Finest Movie** , they certainly won’t get my money… ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/23 "2002-07-11T00:01:42Z")
THANK YOU, GBH. As he mentioned, not only have there been story arcs with the two nimrods fighting but an entire comic book series was based around the concept. The World’s Finest Team (I think it was also the basis for The Brave and the Bold) was all about Supes and Bats. Kids today. Criminy. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/24 "2002-07-11T00:38:51Z")
I don’t remember what “The Brave and the Bold” was like in the beginning, but it became a Batman team-up book up until the last couple of years, with most issues drawn by the late, great, never-got-the-fame-he-deserved Jim Aparo. There were some really odd team-ups in that book, like Batman and The Metal Men and Batman and a very old Sergeant Rock against Adolph Hitler (who could’ve been Satan…!). I think Batman and Superman first teamed up in “The Brave and the Bold” a few times, and the stories were so popular, they began appearing together in “World’s Finest” every month. Near the end of the book’s run, Batman left and it became a Superman team-up book before it was finally cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/25 "2002-07-11T12:31:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by jab1 \* > \*\*I don’t remember what “The Brave and the Bold” was like in the beginning, \*\* It was a try-out book just like Showcase. The Justice League, The Suicide Squad, Hawkman, The Metal Men, Metamorpho, the wonderful (but now forgotten) ‘Strange Sports Stories’ and The Teen Titans all got their start in Brave and Bold. It was purely a try-out book through issue 50 or so, had random team-ups (Green Arrow and Martian Manhunter or Robin, Kid Flash and Aqualad or Flash and Spectre or Black Canary and Starman) as well as try-outs through about #74 or so when it became “Batman and…” \*\* > [@](#): > > but it became a Batman team-up book up until the last couple of years, with most issues drawn by the late, great, never-got-the-fame-he-deserved Jim Aparo. \*\* Damned straight. Aparo shoulda gotten far more attention than he did. Wonderful artist. \*\* > [@](#): > > I think Batman and Superman first teamed up in “The Brave and the Bold” a few times, and the stories were so popular, they began appearing together in “World’s Finest” every month. \*\* Nope. Batman and Superman had appeared together on the covers of World’s Finest from like #3 up, but inside had seperate stories. Batman and Superman first met in the “Superman Radio Show” (Trivia: he met Robin first). They first met in in the comics in Superman #76 (circa 1952?). When that was a hit, they started teaming up in World’s Finest #71 (circa 1954?) and stayed teamed up until the book was cancelled in the mid '80s. Brave and Bold didn’t start until about 1956. \*\* > [@](#): > > Near the end of the book’s run, Batman left and it became a Superman team-up book before it was finally cancelled. \*\* Brave and Bold stayed a Batman team-up book 'till it was cancelled at #200 to “make way” for Batman and the Outsiders Superman’s team-up book started in the late '70s and was given the world’s dullest title: DC Comics Presents And if the movie is going for the “Batman and Superman don’t get along” thing then, yeah. I think it’ll suck. I _like_ the idea that Superman and Batman realize that their skills and approaches compliment each other and get along. Fenris ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/26 "2002-07-11T12:57:55Z")
> [@](#): > > Nope. Batman and Superman had appeared together on the covers of World’s Finest from like #3 up, but inside had seperate stories. Nitpick: I’ve never read (or even _seiin_) the comics in question, but **World’s Finest** started out as **World’s Fair** comics, back during the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair. Both Batman and Superman were in it, IIRC. I thought they were on the cover, as well. Also, IIRC, it became “World’s Finest” with issue #3. _Long_ before **Brave and the Bold** , which was a “Silver Age” comic that started in the late 1950s. ---
**Author:** ![Fenris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fenris/32/498_2.png) [@Fenris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fenris)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2002, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/27 "2002-07-11T13:44:53Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by CalMeacham \* > \*\* > > Nitpick: I’ve never read (or even _seiin_) the comics in question, but **World’s Finest** started out as **World’s Fair** comics, back during the 1939-1940 New York World’s Fair. Both Batman and Superman were in it, IIRC. I thought they were on the cover, as well. Also, IIRC, it became “World’s Finest” with issue #3. > . \*\* You’re right that"World’s Finest" _was_ originally “World’s Fair”, but I’m pretty sure that only Superman appeared in "World’s Fair\*\*, IIRC. Apparently the order of their joint appearances was/were: World’s Finest covers (but not stories)3-70 All-Star #3 and um…37? (may have appeared in a panel or two together but didn’t really interact) The Superman Radio Show (which also introduced Kryptonite) Superman #76 (first time they ever interacted in a story AKA 1st team-up) World’s Finest #71 up for stories and regular team-ups. I’m pretty sure they also met in the Superman Comic Strip, but I have _no_ idea when that would fit in the timeline Fenris ---
**Author:** ![Cubsfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Cubsfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cubsfan)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2002, 11:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/28 "2002-07-14T11:27:12Z")
Why do they call it “vs” when you know about half way thru the movie they are gonna start working together to fight the real enemy, Peter North and his Fountain of Love. ---
**Author:** ![jab1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ee7513/32.png) [@jab1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jab1)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2002, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/29 "2002-07-22T21:02:17Z")
An update from [_Entertainment Weekly_](http://www.ew.com/ew/report/0,6115,321972~1~0~holyfranchiseinsidebatman,00.html). Warner’s shortlist for the actors to play the leads includes: Johnny Depp, Colin Farrell, James Franco, Jude Law, and Paul Walker. I am NOT looking forward to this. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Intaglio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/71e660/32.png) [@Intaglio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intaglio)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2002, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117/30 "2002-07-24T00:38:04Z")
Superman Vs. Batman - Who cares, I mean really. Can’t Warner Bros/DC Comics find other comics to bring to life in film. Gee, let me see Wonder Woman (I’ve only been waiting for this movie forever) Green Lantern, Lobo (The Main Man - that would be cool) Catwoman, The Huntress, or Nightwing (I now they are (Bat-related), The Flash, Aquaman, The Green Hornet & Kano Come on, why do they have to hash out Tired Superman and Tired Batman. With the Marvel Universe doing so well with (X-men, and Spiderman) and movies that are either being filmed or waiting to be released (The Hulk, Daredevil {Electra-its spin-off}, X-men2, Spiderman2[hopefully - Black cat spin-off] [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wolfgang-petersen-to-direct-batman-vs-superman/118117.md?page=1)