Can we stop with the "Batman is more relatable than Superman" thing?

[Souplex]

The thing is, Batman has more superpowers than any other superhero: The idiocy/incompetence of everyone around him to make him seem more intelligent/competent, (See anything involving the Riddler, where he's the only person in Gotham who can solve what are often some pretty simple riddles) increasing ability to avoid attacks based on how harmful they might be, (He'll get smacked by a thug with a baseball bat, but he will avoid bullets) he has a fortune that clearly stretches what a billionaire can afford, (You can't buy a supercar, a jet, a chopper, a spaceship, and an orbital space station without leaving a massive papertrail that will lead directly back to you) and the willing suspension of disbelief that enables fanboys to think he can stand a chance against a man who could cause an extinction event if he were so inclined.
Batman is more powerful than Superman, because while Superman is a god among men, Batman is a Mary Sue.

Superman is the story of a refugee who comes to embody the virtues of his adoptive home.

Batman is the story of a rich man spending countless amounts to beat up the poor when he could probably have spent that money on social programs and to buy the Gotham PD a BatComputer and body-armor.

 

[Souplex]

Batman is a revenge-crazed invincible ninja billionaire. With a civilian persona that consists of acting like a complete hedonist and indulging his random whims. His parents are dead, and tragically so. But so are lots of peoples, and its his own refusal to deal with it healthily.

Superman is an invincible alien, who has to deal with xenophobes and worry about controlling his powers to avoid destroying the earth. With a civilian side that is basically working middle-class joe constantly impaired by his secret identity. Which largely makes him a bit of a social outcast.

All in all, I'm betting Supes has the more relatable struggles for most people. Moreso considering that Batman could just stop being Batman and live as Bruce Wayne. Superman is always stuck with being an alien among humans and having to deal with day to day work and life.

A major fundamental difference between Ubermensch and Fledermaus is that while Superman is a costume Clark Kent puts on to hide his true self, Bruce Wayne is a costume Jason Bateman puts on to hide his true self.

 

[RealRT]

Batman is rich. If anything, he's way more alien to me, than Superman.

 

[RealRT]

Because he is the face of DC now to alot of people. And has the more popular comic books and the more popular video games and the more popular movies.

Well that's a self-fulfilling prophecy right there now, ain't it? He's got more popular video games and movies because DC doesn't market (or make, for that matter) non-Batman video games and movies nearly as much as the Batman stuff.

 

[Squilookle]

I know right? The nerve of people relating more to Batman than that... other guy.

Who was it? Oh yeah- the original caped crusader and direct inspiration for Batman. Way more relatable!

On Topic: Super-who?

 

[Redryhno]

No, because Batman, for all the hate people have of him, is still a very human character. He has always been INCREDIBLY pissed with himself for what happened to his family, as well as people that would do said things, as well as the way things are run to force/enable people to do said things.

He's got the grief of his parents deaths, his anger at their killer, his bargaining of putting on the cowl and taking in exceptional orphans, and eventually his acceptance that he might not be able to change the past, but he can help others through a mixture of the above.

Yes, he's a rich kid that was born with a platinum thermometer in his ass. Yes, he has a utility belt filled with way more than he should be able to. But the thing is, he's still a person that everyone can relate to on the basic level. That of hiding themselves from all but those closest to them and still trying to do the best they can with what they've got.

Wayne Enterprises is in alot of pies all around Gotham and the world trying to help better the living conditions so that what happened to him doesn't happen to at least one other family. He's the guy we all hope to be if we ever came into gigantic sums of money(at least the idealistic version). He's the guy we all wish we could be, that anonymous donater. No glory, no fame beyond antics, just someone trying to do the right thing.

On the other hand, you've got Superman. I will agree that alot of the problem is that too much is focused on what he can do that his humanity is largely forgotten, but even still, he is Clark Kent, bumbling Daily Planet journo. He does some good as the journalist, don't get me wrong, but doesn't attempt to use his full potential all that often. And this is ignoring that very few people can grasp the basis of his entire being being his entire community dying. Everyone can understand close family, but it's rare for Johnathan Kent to be the focus of any story when they delve into backstory and flashbacks beyond "oh, he's dead now".

I'm honestly wondering(because I haven't ever been a huge Superman fan) if any storylines focus on his strong work ethic and morals as a reporter, especially in today's media circus, because I honestly think that would help alot of the problems he's got with his image due to there not exactly being an exact reason for why glasses hide his identity that much(which is the only common factor) as well as people talking about how boring Kent is.

Basically, it sorta boils down to this, Superman does the right thing in full view of everyone and is a symbol of the perfectly idealized form of humanity in a far flung potential future, Batman does the right thing(and potentially the wrong thing) from a position of what humanity currently is because everyone can relate to having strong emotions drive them onwards(or stop them completely in their tracks) for long amounts of time. Superman does the right thing because he wants to, Batman because he feels he NEEDS to.

 

[Mister K]

Yeah, is it any shock people tend to find the angry, violent loner more relatable than the guy who is an embodiment of nobility?

I'm pretty sure Batman is who most people would be if they had the money, training, and opportunity.

I think this guy gets it. Everytime we "experience" a character we do so through ourselves. And to be frank I think people dislike Superman novadays because in the past people were taught to be a good person that does good things for the sake of other people, while today people are taught that life is about them, precious, unique, the best them. I bet if someone today had Supermans powers, they'd either use it to ease their routine lives or to be a terrorist-extorsionist. But Superman goes as far as sacrifice his own time, his peace and his career oppotunities to aid those in need.

Batman, however, is a rich, egoistical bastard, who got in crimefighting because he had a sad about his parents dying (it's about HIS family), protects HIS own city, although he has enough power, money and influence to do so at least in a few other cities and, instead of sharing his inventions with police, keep all the toys TO HIMSELF to continue to prove to himself that he is amazing. And most of his most canonical enemies are just mobsters or supers with D- level powers. The fact that he is now "being always prepared" to fight gods is just a logical extreme finale in this characters development. Its all about him, the perfect him, and modern readers can surely relate.

Tony Stark is at least honest about it.

 

[Fox12]

Well, he is more relateable then superman. A rock is more relateable then superman. My distaste for the man of steel has only increased after a certain hero blew open how incredibly stupid a bland, OP character really is.

Spoiler

I don't care that Superman is powerful. He's just so boring, and poorly developed. No personality whatsoever.

Cue someone talking about how he's a symbol of hope/what we should aspire to yada yada

 

[Godhead]

How does that make him less relatable? Batman has got ambition, and I can get behind that!

 

[Paradoxrifts]

Like a critique tells you more about the views of the critic then they do about the views of the author themselves, I think that you can tell a lot more about the person who hates a fictional character by which fictional characters they despise, then whether or not you yourself (the third party) will find the work entertaining or not. The opposite of both love and hatred is after all, indifference.

For the record I've never bought and issue of Superman or Batman in my life, but I've found the various films of each brand to be at least entertaining.

 

[Remus]

Batman - has more money than god.
Superman - is a god.

I find neither of these as relatable, at all.

 

[chocolate pickles]

I relate more superman. Behind the powers, superman is just a regular dude. Bruce Wayne, however, is just a mentally ill, angry man.

For everyone saying Batman is more relatable because he doesn't have powers: he had mastered way too many skills, without appearing to suck at anything. He might as well have superpowers.

 

[Spider RedNight]

I think a lot of people find Batman more relatable because people like the "tortured upset dark mysterious" thing that Batman used to be about whereas Superman was more of a figure to look up to and someone to model after; like Batman's the attainable facade but it's in a better interest to yearn to be more akin to Superman, if only because of the ideals he represents.

That being said, screw both of 'em; *I* relate to the Riddler more than either of those guys. Or Rorschach. It's a toss up half the time.

 

[Godzillarich(aka tf2godz)]

Superman does the right thing because he wants to, Batman because he feels he NEEDS to.

I don't feel like that's much of a problem with Superman character. Too many protagonists only do good because something tragic in their life drove them to do it. Superman does it because he can and that's what he's going to do. in this age where everyone wants to be Batman or the Punisher I find it refreshing. it's also the key that makes Lex Luther a great foil for him, he's a man who in some way has great power but chooses to support his own ends. also a lot of people forget that Superman often fights people just as powerful as him all the time. He's not actually the last son of krypton.

 

[ObsidianJones_v1legacy]

You take away Superman's power, he will continue to fight. He'll lose. But he'll continue to fight.

You want to defeat Batman? Put a psychiatrist in front of him with a handful of prozac. And that's the end of the caped crusader.

I think Batman is more relate-able to the masses because Batman stopped growing at one moment in life. The fear of moving on, of growing even through undesirable circumstances is very in-tune with the modern, self centered society. "I was hurt, Life must pay" type of thinking.

I think Batman is boring. Superman at least has weaknesses. No one will let anything besmirch their ideal of the perfect bat hero so they insist he can beat everything... then decry Superman for the very thing they love and champion Batman about: He can't be beaten.

Make no mistake in your mind. Being straight out invincible is no less or more boring than "Technically he CAN be beaten... but he'll never be because he's Just. That. Good".

It comes down to really one fact: Batman is the symbol of the new Atheist society. Man above all. That's really the reason he's championed.

 

[Thaluikhain]

It comes down to really one fact: Batman is the symbol of the new Atheist society. Man above all. That's really the reason he's championed.

Huh...I'd more or less agree with you up until then, but not so much that bit.

 

[Scarim Coral]

So just because he's a "god" now automactically means we should just abandoment him being relatable as a human being and competely forget all the times of his struggle and hardship as a human???

This argument is in the same league on why Superman Prime should be consider to be a fantastic villain!

FYI, if DC had tone down everyone powers then it would had been fine since they would no longer be consider to be god like.

EDIT- Also last time I've heard wasn't Bruce was supposely "died" and Gorden became a mecha Batman? What happened after that event?

 

[chocolate pickles]

I relate more superman. Behind the powers, superman is just a regular dude. Bruce Wayne, however, is just a mentally ill, angry man.

<_< Hmm, that might explain why I identify with Batman more lol.

You mean your utterly consumed by vengeance, have very little interest in anything outside said vengeance, and take your frustrations out by beating up other mentally ill people?

I might be able to identify with batman if he actually had a 'human' side. But as they say, Bruce Wayne is the mask. Batman/vengeance is all the character has.