Comments on: Batman=smart, Superman=superpowerful

Batman=smart, Superman=superpowerful

braun_richard — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 10:45:10 -0800

Today's weird correction from the NY Times (reg required, of course). More fuel for the old "who would win in a fight, Superman or Batman?" debate.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 10:50:28 -0800

Awesome.

By: braun_richard

braun_richard — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 10:50:30 -0800

Sorry, make sure you scroll down to the last correction.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 10:51:40 -0800

Here's the text: • An obituary of the innovative comic-page illustrator Will Eisner yesterday included an imprecise comparison in some copies between his character the Spirit and others, including Batman. Unlike Superman and some other heroes of the comics, Batman relied on intelligence and skill, not supernatural powers. You know there was some freelance Times copyeditor who sent a terse email from his Mom's basement about this.

By: picea

picea — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 10:55:33 -0800

So they're saying Superman is an unskilled dullard? He's gonna go Krypton on someone's ass when he hears about this.

By: bibliowench

bibliowench — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:13:04 -0800

Batman relied on intelligence and skill, not supernatural powers. And a buttload of money. Goddamn meritocracy. Excuse me while I write a letter to the Times.

By: bibliowench

bibliowench — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:14:30 -0800

oops. Please insert "my ass" after "meritocracy."

By: bonehead

bonehead — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:20:33 -0800

"Are you asking me if I have supernatural powers?"

By: logovisual

logovisual — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:21:52 -0800

This reminds me of the time in the summer of 2003 (movie release season, natch) when the CNN quickpoll was "Who would win in a fight: The Terminator or The Hulk?" (Answer, wisely shared by the masses: Hulk smash.)

By: caddis

caddis — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:28:23 -0800

So, Batman carries Kryptonite in his bat utility belt?

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:34:41 -0800

Batman won, both in current and possible-future realms on continuity. caddis: Yes, he does. Superman gave it to him in case he was ever mind-controlled and had to be put down.

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:35:04 -0800

God, I'm ashamed of writing that instantly.

By: banished

banished — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:42:33 -0800

I thought Batman swore never to kill anyone though... so I can't imagine him killing Superman with Kryptonite.

By: cyrusdogstar

cyrusdogstar — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:42:40 -0800

I am such a humongous, flaming superhero comics geek posted by XQUZYPHYR at 2:34 PM EST on January 6 I kid because I love :D Also, note that my use of the semi-derogative adjective 'flaming' is not in any way related to latent homophobia. Especially if AlexReynolds is around.

By: Sparx

Sparx — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 11:50:46 -0800

Wouldn't kryptonite in the utility belt give Batman cancer of the 'nads, like Luthor got in his hand from his kryptonite ring? On preview: I never read comics, ever, and never will again.

By: logovisual

logovisual — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 12:06:15 -0800

Sparx: If you think Batman isn't wearing a lead cup, you're fooling yourself.

By: Arch Stanton

Arch Stanton — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 12:06:36 -0800

Wouldn't kryptonite in the utility belt give Batman cancer of the 'nads Not if the kryptonite is in a protective lead casing.

By: robocop is bleeding

robocop is bleeding — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 12:11:51 -0800

He's got it sealed in lead, while Luthor kept his out in the open. Bats doesn't want Superman to get sick everytime they show up at the JLA office parties together.

By: XQUZYPHYR

XQUZYPHYR — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 12:15:23 -0800

Batman's nads are too awesome to get cancer. And if he ever did get cancer, he could beat it with enough prep time.

By: Sparx

Sparx — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 12:15:51 -0800

Thanks for clearing that up, guys. I think we'll all sleep just a bit better knowing that the Batster's swimmers and wedding tackle are going to be just fine.

By: mowglisambo

mowglisambo — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 12:19:59 -0800

Someone was going to say this anyway, so... Marge: There's someone here who wants to talk with you. Homer (exitedly): Is it Batman? Marge: No, it's a scientist. Homer: Batman's a scientist. I always knew that Simpsons dialogue wasn't really a joke.

By: KS

KS — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:02:23 -0800

Oh no! Will Eisner is dead!

By: rushmc

rushmc — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:13:11 -0800

If one is going to say that Batman could beat Superman in a fight because he can use kryptonite, then one might as well say that anyone on earth can beat Superman in a fight via the same means.

By: The Thnikkaman

The Thnikkaman — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:15:04 -0800

The Batman correction isn't the only funny one. Notice the Department of Mental Retardation correction near the top?

By: Verdant

Verdant — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:16:53 -0800

Will and Abe's Guide to Superheroes.

By: Cyrano

Cyrano — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:19:48 -0800

If one is going to say that Batman could beat Superman in a fight because he can use kryptonite, then one might as well say that anyone on earth can beat Superman in a fight via the same means. Yes, but they wouldn't brood properly afterwards.

By: jefbla

jefbla — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 13:53:23 -0800

By: spinifex23

spinifex23 — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 14:17:53 -0800

Agility and quickness? We'll just have Lance Armstrong chase Superman down with a kryptonite bike. That'll save Earth!

By: bDiddy

bDiddy — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 14:24:32 -0800

And Lance already beat the testicular cancer once! No lead casing needed!

By: logovisual

logovisual — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 14:27:22 -0800

Metafilter: Could beat cancer (or Superman) with enough prep time.

By: graventy

graventy — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 14:33:35 -0800

Not likely, for a number of reasons: 1. We don't have the resources to get our own kryptonite. 2. We don't have the name recognition to successfully beat Superman. Face it people, if anyone was going to beat Superman, kryptonite-style, it'd have to be someone big. Like, Lex Luthor big. And since Luthor can't do it, no villain will. However, Batman, being not a villain, can beat him down. Also, Batman is awesome.

By: Hildago

Hildago — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 15:33:44 -0800

Superman's powers aren't supernatural, they derive from the yellow sun of Earth, and the difference in gravity between Krypton and Earth! Now Dr. Strange, his powers are supernatural. If one is going to say that Batman could beat Superman in a fight because he can use kryptonite, then one might as well say that anyone on earth can beat Superman in a fight via the same means. No way. In The Dark Knight Returns, it's trickiness, scientific genius, unparalleled strategery, and downright orneriness that defeated Superman. Ok, the Kryptonite helped, but who else could have pulled it off, I ask you? Nobody, that's who! Now, to quote The Onion: "When you are ready to have a serious conversation about Green Lantern, you have my e-mail address."

By: humannature

humannature — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 17:27:23 -0800

The film coming out this summer shows just HOW rich Bruce Wayne is. Like, way beyond Trump. (Geez, can you see Trump running around in that outfit?) It's true - that enormous wealth is the REAL superpower.

By: yeoz

yeoz — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 19:43:17 -0800

KS: that was the first thing I thought of too :( *sad*

By: sdrawkcab

sdrawkcab — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 19:48:24 -0800

bDiddy wins.

By: Darkman

Darkman — Thu, 06 Jan 2005 22:09:04 -0800

Yeah, but The Flash could beat both Batman and Superman in a footrace. That said, George W. Bush could beat any of these guys in an election. And that's kinda sad.

By: biffa

biffa — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 01:43:53 -0800

No way. In The Dark Knight Returns, it's trickiness, scientific genius, unparalleled strategery, and downright orneriness that defeated Superman. Ok, the Kryptonite helped, but who else could have pulled it off, I ask you? Nobody, that's who! And because superman has been massively weakened by being at ground zero for a nuclear explosion and has only had limited access to sunlight due to the dust thrown up by it. Plus Batman has help.

By: austinspace

austinspace — Fri, 07 Jan 2005 14:36:48 -0800

I bet Jean Loring could kill Superman.