Who Better Superman Or Batman

Superman V Batman: Who is better? Our writers debate

Man of Steel or Caped Crusader? Read The New Day's writers' views then cast your own vote

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Image: Warner Bros)

Batman: by Luke Chialton

Batman is the hero any one of us could be. As a child reading the comic books, it was easy to fantasise about being Batman.

With the mind of Sherlock Holmes and the physical prowess of David Beckham, he had no need for X-Ray vision or bullet proof skin.

While Superman was actually "Kal-El", a mysterious alien with superpowers, Batman was human like you and me.

After witnessing the murder of his parents at the hands of a mugger at just eight years old, Bruce Wayne vowed to spend the rest of his life fighting crime. Dressed as a bat, of course. All it would take to become the Caped Crusader would be a few hours in the gym and a quick trip to the fancy dress shop.

Read more:Our film review

Not afraid to get his hands dirty, Batman tackles an endless gallery of evil foes – from The Joker and Catwoman to the more unusual Killer Croc (a human alligator), The Ventriloquist (an insane puppet) or Gentleman Ghost (the spirit of a dead highwayman).

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Meanwhile, Superman can't even defeat balding mad scientist Lex Luthor (who he could have easily have simply burnt to a crisp with his laser eyes). Sure, Batman might not be able to fly, but who needs that when you've got all the best gadgets?

A utility belt packed with gizmos, a kitted-out cave and let's not forget the world's coolest car, the Batmobile. Of course it helped that Bruce Wayne was rich enough to afford all these toys.

In fact, with his billions of dollars, Bruce Wayne is a sort of vigilante Donald Trump.

Like Trump, he'd be fairly useless at bringing world peace or helping out with natural disasters, but he'd be extremely effective at sorting out anti-social hoodies and littering.

And don't get me started on Superman's weedy alter-ego, Clark Kent. Constantly out-scooped by much better journalist Lois Lane and owner of the worst disguise in comic book history: A pair of glasses and hair gel.

Batman rules Hollywood, too, with only the classiest actors playing The Dark Knight. Former Batmen Michael Keaton and Christian Bale continue to bother the Oscars while Dean Cain (Superman in 90s TV show Lois and Clark) is still squeezing himself into lycra, only now he's flinging himself off snowy mountains in The Jump.

So when they go head-to-head, I'm sure Batman will have the upper hand. You don't have to be a detective to know Superman has one massive Achille's Heel: Kryptonite. One whiff of that and "Kal-El" is a goner.

Superman: by Tamsin Oxford

As a child I watched wide-eyed as Christopher Reeve brought Superman to life on the big screen.

From that moment my world was transformed. The scene where the teenage Clark Kent, played by Jeff East, raced through the field to out-race a train made me want to believe in Krypton and superpowers and saving the world.

I've watched every movie at least 10 times, seen every spin-off show – Smallville, Lois & Clark, even the cartoons – and devoured the comic books. Superman is the definitive superhero. Created in 1938, he was the first, and best of his kind. When Superman arrived, he changed popular cuture forever.

While thousands of costumed characters followed, none could hold a candle to his perfection. Without him, there would be no Spider-Man, no Iron Man, no Incredible Hulk and certainly no Batman. If Superman were to really exist, he'd be like Nelson Mandela: Kind, generous, quick to see all sides of an argument and open to forgiveness.

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He has a genuine concern for the world and the people who inhabit it, no matter how flawed. The same couldn't be said for a spoilt playboy who has never had to struggle financially and runs around buying all the latest toys.

However, I will concede that Batman has significantly better hair. He doesn't, however, stand a chance of beating Superman. Yes, his car is impressive, but Superman can fly so fast he can reverse time (Superman: The Movie 1978), so I think he can probably outrun a souped-up sports car.

Superman is capable of melting solid metal with his eyes, that's after his incredible strength has torn a building in half or stopped a plane from falling out of the sky (Superman Returns).

What's that Batman? You have some anti-shark repellent in your utility belt? Thanks for that. Batman might be able to stop the Joker, a man who likes to wear make-up and a nice line in purple suits, but Superman has defeated and destroyed the God-like space criminal Zod (Man of Steel). Try doing that with one of your bat-shaped boomerangs.

Yes, it's very sad that Batman's parents were shot down in an alley, but Superman's entire planet blew up. Try that for motivation for saving the world.

Of course, with any Superman vs Batman debate there comes the moment when the Dark Knight fan hauls out the "but his underwear is on the outside" barb.

Yes. Superman's outfit is a bit silly. But at least he's not dressed as a flying rodent. When I look up in the sky, it's not a bat, a bird or a plane I want to see. It's Superman.

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