Superman and Batman - Essay Example

here 26 September Superman and Batman: The Caped Crusaders Compared To most, the characters Superman and Batman seem about as American as apple pie. It is hard for most today to believe that there was ever a time when America did not have the concept of the superhero. And when one hears this term, the names Superman and Batman always come to mind. In fact, the superhero genre did not exist until these two fictional characters arrived on the scene. Even though many subsequent superheroes spawned from these caped crusaders, they have rarely been overshadowed, with only the web-slinging Spiderman popping up as a formidable rival to the two over the years. Taking a brief look at these American icons, many differences and similarities can be found in regards to their attributes. First off, let us get the differences of the two superheroes out of the way, starting with the most apparent. The main distinguishing factor between the two is huge one; they are from different worlds. Many might look at this as advantage, Superman, as he not only comes from the faraway planet of Krypton, but he has inborn super powers that make him virtually invincible to his foes. He can fly, has herculean strength, is bullet proof, can shoot laser beams out of his eyes, and has x-ray vision, just to name a few, while Batman, on the other hand, is a mere earthling with the same limitations as any other human being. But instead of superhuman powers, Batman uses his clever mind (as a scientific genius) and gadgets to defeat criminals, along with his robust human strength, martial arts skills, and the seemingly infinite material resources at his disposal, due to his great wealth. The superhero’s socioeconomic status brings up another disparity. When Batman is living his civilian role as Bruce Wayne, he is a successful businessman (a billionaire) while Clark Kent, Superman’s alter ego, is just an ordinary writer for a newspaper making a modest salary. These differences make the ordinary citizen side of each character like night and day. But the differences do not end there, especially when it comes to their families and relationships. It should also be noted that Superman is raised by two parents (even though not his own), while Batman is raised by his butler, Alfred Pennyworth, who he continues to live with throughout adulthood. Furthermore, Batman has a partner, the Boy Wonder, also known as Robin, to assist him in his fight against crime, whereas Superman is always a one-man show with no sidekick. The people the superheroes surround themselves with are worlds apart. Another major difference between the two characters can be seen when looking at the settings in which they were raised. Superman grew up in the modest rural setting of a Kansas farm, while Batman grew up in a very luxurious lifestyle in a mansion, in the crowded metropolitan area known as Gotham City. These places of their upbringing are almost polar opposites. And finally, there are the physical and material differences between the two. Batman wears a mask, whereas the other caped crusader does not, as Superman’s disguise (or mask) is essentially the glasses he wears and his nerdy personality as Clark Kent. Furthermore, Superman’s sole means of transportation is his flying ability, whereas Batman primarily uses his popular Batmobile to speedily get from place to place, not to mention his other high-tech rides, including a plane, helicopter, motorcycle, and speedboat. Even though all of these differences may seem great in number, they pale in comparison to the striking similarities one can find between the two by digging a little deeper. There are many likenesses shared between the caped crusaders. The first key similarity to note between the superheroes is that both Superman and Batman were conceived (in the imagination) in the 1930s as comic book heroes. In Cleveland, Ohio, in June 1932, Jerry Siegel, an American writer created Superman and Canadian American artist Joe Shuster drew him before they sold the concept to Action Comics, which quickly published their stories in comic book form (Daniels, 1998, p. 11). Just seven years later, writer Bill Finger created and wrote stories about Batman and artist Bob Kane drew the images, as both concepts were sold by their creators to Detective Comics in May 1939. Both stories and concepts started off as being formed exclusively for the comic book industry, with both ending up being published by DC Comics; the unique storylines introduced the new genre of superhero to the industry during this time. Both comic concepts were greats hits when they were introduced in the 1930s. Adding to the similarities, both comic lines also saw success in the entertainment industry, from television, to the big screen, to the toy shelves. Both superheroes had popular cartoon series (Superman cartoons hit the television tubes as early as the 1940s) and live actors also eventually played their roles on both radio and television waves (the first Superman TV show aired in the 1950s and the Batman series began in the following decade), further adding to their rising popularity. By 1978, Superman hit the big screen with Christopher Reeves playing the role of the brown hair, blued-eyed hero and Marlon Brando playing his father in a movie that brought much more stardom and millions in box office receipts to the legendary pop-culture marvel, which basically started the superhero movie genre. The move Batman was introduced in theaters about a decade later in 1989, directed by Tim Burton and starring Michael Keaton, a movie that also gained mass appeal and lucrative profits at the box office. During these two decades, action figures and toy lines based on the superheroes (primarily generated by toy giant, Mattel) further added to their pop culture and frenzied popularity with youth of all ages. Even though Batman always lagged about a decade behind Superman through various realms of the entertainment industry, both superheroes enjoyed similar success since their debut in American history in the 1930s. Aside from their similarities through the various forms of entertainment, the storylines and characteristics of the superheroes reflect each other in many ways. To begin with, both characters begin their lives without their biological parents, from whom they are separated at early ages due to disastrous events from which they survive, and they are raised by benevolent caregivers who raise them to be men standing who boldly stand for justice and integrity. When they grow up, they both feel compelled from their similar upbringings to use their talents and resources to fight crime and bring about social justice, rooted in their great desire to uphold the law, based on a biblical sense of honoring much of the moral code laid out in the Ten Commandments, such as “Your shall not murder... You shall not steal,” (The NIV Study Bible, Exo. 20.6, 8). Their similar backgrounds end up forming their similar character traits. Both superheroes also have recurring enemies who stand for evil and deceit. Going directly against their ethical ideals are their rival super villains who always try to take down the caped crusaders, as both heroes have these relentless criminals popping up in their lives, never seeming to go away. These antagonists are resurrected time and time again in the comics and movies, such as Lex Luther and General Zod in their rivalry against Superman and the Joker and the Penguin pitted against their mortal enemy, Batman. These enemies stand for evil and deceit (the direct opposite of what the superheroes stand for). Both superheroes also go by aliases and try to fit romances into their busy lives fighting crime. Ironically, both men’s alter-egos go by one-syllable first and last names (Clark Kent and Bruce Wayne), as their true identities as superheroes are concealed from public knowledge. Their civilian characters are bound to relative lives of seclusion and obscurity, so as to keep their true identities under wraps. Each superhero also is seen as having a romantic relationship with a girlfriend (Superman with Lois Lane and Batman with Batwoman) yet they never let these romances come in the way of their primary goal of fighting crime and keeping order in their hometowns of New York City and Gotham City, respectively. Each superhero manages to balance his identity and relationship effectively in order to keep fight crime. One last similarity to note between the superheroes is their strikingly similar costumes, save Batman’s mask. Both have symbols that have gained worldwide recognition (the red and yellow triangular “S” shield of Superman and the bat logo with the yellow ellipse for Batman), which are the centerpieces of their relatively identical costumes (Daniels, 1999, 159-160). Close-fitting tights that highlight the characters’ muscular physiques are covered with briefs and a large belt around their waists, along with capes draped over their shoulders and calf-high boots. With the numerous likenesses noted between Superman and Batman, one would almost come to think that the superheroes were created by the same maker or borrowed from each other, but they also have their own attributes that set them distinctly apart from the other. Because most people do not usually compare Superman with Batman, few have come to realize the dynamic ways in which these characters match up against each other. Even though they appear similar in costume and build, some aspects about these characters are as different as day and night, with Superman being an alien from another planet with superhuman strength and powers and Batman being a mere mortal, but with many technological gadgets and devices at his disposal to ensure his enemies’ doom. Yet, beyond the superheroes’ physical natures, their character and moral standards are generally alike, as both put their lives on the line for justice and to bring about social order. Because of the popularity of these crime-fighting superheroes since their inception in the 1930s, there has been a positive influence on youth, causing them to want to bring illegal activity to justice. By examining the similarities and differences between Superman and Batman, one can appreciate the various aspects of each character that has made them the widely embraced cultural phenomena that they have become over the decades. Works Cited Daniels, Les. Batman: The Complete History. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1999. Print. Daniels, Les. Superman: The Complete History: The Life and Times of the Man of Steel. San Francisco: Chronicle Books, 1998. Print. The NIV Study Bible. Ed. Kenneth Barker. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House. 1995. Print. Read More