Batman and Superman fight a lot. Who wins?
Fans have been interested in Batman and Superman fight scenes since the beginning of comic books. The superheroes are portrayed as friends more often than enemies, but that doesn’t mean they’re not above good old-fashioned fisticuffs. Whether it was the result of a simple misunderstanding, clash of morality or supersize egos, fights between the Dark Knight and Man of Steel have played out on small (and smaller) screens many times before the epic battle coming to theaters this week. THE DARK KNIGHT RETURNS The 2012 direct-to-DVD movie is an adaptation of Frank Miller’s graphic novel, which features an aged Batman returning to the crime-fighting game after 10 years in retirement. The bitter and inflexible Batman ends up fighting his former friend, who has become a government pawn.
In a fight that inspired Zack Snyder’s Batman v. Superman (out Friday), Batman dons a mechanical exoskeleton and, aided by Green Arrow and some artificial Kryptonite, defeats Superman.
Winner: Technically Superman. But the fight belonged to Batman. “WORLD’S FINEST,” SUPERMAN: THE ANIMATED SERIES The two-part episode brought Bruce Wayne to Metropolis, chasing down the Joker on a case that involved Lex Luthor and a whole lot of Kryptonite.
After a brief scuffle, the two discover each other’s secret identities and reluctantly team up. Though their first fight isn’t too bloody, Batman’s skills catch Superman by surprise, as do his pockets full of Kryptonite.
Winner: Batman. Kryptonite
is scary. HOLY MUSICAL B@MAN An Internet musical by Starkid Productions, the makers of the
viral A Very Potter Musical, Holy
Musical B@man pits the ultra-serious (and a little ridiculous) Batman against Superman, who just wants to be friends. Batman’s continuous attempts to one-up Superman and his spurning of their friendship cause Superman to snap.
Naturally, their fight is all done to a song called To Be a Man, in which Superman and Batman call each other riveting insults such as “butthead,” pants each other and dance their troubles away. After Superman beats Batman to a pulp, Batman manages to win the battle with Kryptonite. It ultimately starts a beautiful friendship.
Winner: The friends they made all along. But technically, Batman. JUSTICE LEAGUE: WAR After Justice League: Flashpoint rebooted the DC Animated Universe, every direct-to-DVD animated movie became a direct sequel to the last. Justice League:
War was the one where all the superheroes meet — and it wasn’t always smooth.
Batman and Superman’s encounter gets off to a rocky start, with Superman mistaking Batman for one of the bad guys, knocking both him and Green Lantern to the ground. Batman holds his own but ultimately loses after the Man of Steel puts him in a chokehold.
Winner: Superman. But Batman lasted longer than Green Lantern, at least.