Throughout DC Comics history, Batman and Superman have gone toe-to-toe on multiple occasions.
Whatever their reasons, the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel haven't always been on the
best of terms.
On the surface, a god-like superhuman with the Man of Steel's powers would make quick
work of a billionaire in a cape and cowl; yet, Bruce Wayne is more than your usual costumed
vigilante - with more than a few tricks up his sleeve.
Here are 4 Ways Batman Can Beat The Man of Steel.
Weaken Superman with Kryptonite
Although Superman is near-impervious to human weapons, he does have an Achilles heel: Kryptonite.
Obviously, an invincible Superman wouldn't be much fun in a fistfight, so Kryptonite
is always the most likely way to even the odds.
But viewers have seen Superman weakened by Kryptonite again and again - meaning Zack
Snyder will need to find a new (and memorable) way for Batman to use the alien substance
to his advantage.
Fortunately, Batman�s cunning has led to several delivery methods, including Kryptonite
gas, a Kryptonite ring, or outright Kryptonite impalement � not to mention a Kryptonite-infused
Arrow (courtesy of Green Arrow).
Control Superman with Threats Against Others
Superman's vulnerability to Kryptonite is well-known - but it's not his only weakness.
Throughout comic history, Lex Luthor, Batman, and others have controlled the Man of Steel
with a threat of violence against innocent lives - especially those closest to Clark
Kent.
In John Byrne's "Man of Steel" origin story, Batman exploits the Kryptonian's bleeding
heart by promising that a bomb hidden somewhere in Gotham will detonate should Superman breach
an invisible field around the Batsuit.
He was bluffing - but Superman couldn't take the risk.
Thatt might sound far-fetched for some versions of the superhero - Adam West's Batman would
never think of sacrificing innocents to hunt a villain or keep Superman at bay - but other
versions have been less virtuous.
A crueler Batman might not think twice about using Clark Kent's love for Lois Lane, or
the people of Metropolis against him.
Most versions of the Batman have proven to be willing to do what their fellow heroes
aren't � and it could work � just as it did when threatening Darkseid himself (along
with his entire planet) in "The Supergirl From Krypton."
Fight Superman with Technology & Gadgets
Brawn doesn't always beat brains, and in Batman lore, brains come in two varieties: strategy
and technology.
Movie fans know most of Batman's signature toys (Batarangs, Bat-vehicles, and Bat-grapple
guns) but over several decades, Bruce Wayne has gone from a well-trained vigilante to
a full-on tech genius - a man who out-maneuvers opponents in and out
of his Batsuit, designing some of the most effective crime fighting weapons and vehicles
in the entire DC Universe.
Batman employs both in Frank Miller's "The Dark Knight Returns," setting up Superman
and Batman�s fight while utilizing a mechanized Batsuit to take on the Man of Steel.
Since its introduction, the utility belt has housed laser cutters, smoke pellets, remote
detonators, and even a collapsible sword - with Batman�s cowl sporting night vision, sonar
detection, and instant environmental analysis via Bat Computer uplink.
No single gadget could defeat Superman, but using multiple resources in the same fight,
Batman could easily stay one step ahead of the Man of Steel - until Kal-El is either
worn down physically (depleting his solar-powered abilities) or mentally (ready for a superhero
heart-to-heart).
An Ideological, Not Physical Victory
Achieving victory isn't always the same as winning.
And depending on the conflict, Bruce Wayne can still beat Kal-El - even if Batman loses
the physical fight.
In several Superman storylines, the Kryptonian refuses to be held accountable to anyone,
helping or harming world governments as he sees fit.
In those stories, Batman doesn't need to crush Superman to beat him - only show the world
that even a god can bleed.
Comic fans saw a similar idea at play in Zack Snyder's '300,' (where a group of Spartans
gave their lives to simply prove a 'god-king' was a mortal man), and "The Dark Knight Returns"
in which Batman simply opposes a government that wields Superman like a superweapon.
The Dark Knight still 'wins' if he shows the people of Metropolis (and Gotham) that, together,
they are not powerless against Superman - and that the Man of Steel doesn't get to decide
what's right or wrong.
If a single man can stand against a god - Kryptonite suit or not - it would make both Superman
and humanity think twice.
Three's a Crowd
The final possibility is that Batman wouldn't have to face Superman alone.
Depending on which DC heroes and villains are around, Wonder Woman, The Flash, or even
Lex Luthor could offer their help in takingd down the Man of Steel.
Just as Frank Miller's Dark Knight counted on Green Arrow to weaken Superman, Batman
could take a beating from the Man of Steel - simply distracting the Kryptonian while
other heroes take positions.
It takes sharp story-telling to introduce other players without undermining the main
event, but a third party (be it hero and villain) could be all that's needed to give Batman
the upperhand.
These are just a few ways that Batman could beat Superman.
Have your own theory about how the Dark Knight can beat the Man of Steel?
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