The eternal fandom struggle: Gotham’s Caped Crusader vs. Metropolis’ Man of Steel. Since the dawn of time (well, since the dawn of DC comics, at least, let’s leave time travel out of this) fans around the globe have been debating the merits of both Batman and Superman, especially given how often the two seem to clash in both comic and cinematic universes.
Today, we’re talking all about their spinoffs. It’s a three point breakdown from games to films to miscellaneous fan material and only one comic book superhero can come out on top – except in the case of this B vs. S duvet cover from B & Q.
1. Movie Madness: Batman 1-0
Is there really any contest? When it comes to movies, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight trilogy blows all other contenders out of the water. Sure, Superman has had some success on the big screen, starting with the titular Superman back in in 1978 and ending with Warner Bro’s Man of Steel in 2013. But Batman Begins and its successors are miles ahead, both in critical and fan reception – earning over $1bn at the box office alone.
They’re iconic. They’re arguably the start of the grittier, darker and more realistic take on superheroes that stands strong to this day in both the MCU and DCEU. Michael Shannon as Zod in Man of Steel? Eh. Heath Ledger’s Joker in The Dark Knight? Outstanding.
2. Gaming A-Z: Batman 2-0
This one’s a little trickier. There have been so many games involving these two heroes over the years, each of varying quality. You can go ahead and pick almost any genre and there’ll be a Batman or a Superman in and amongst it somewhere. Want a fighting game? Injustice, at your service. A beat-em-up? Arkham Asylum is cheaper online and off than ever before.
Buzz Bingo has a Superman-themed slot game, but there are also slot games titled the Dark Knight Rises and even Batman v. Superman – Dawn of Justice, making it a tough choice. In terms of MOBAs there’s Infinite Crisis for PC. In terms of shooters there’s… Well, not that much actually. But you get the point. Once again it comes down to a highlight series of games that tilts the competition in one hero’s favour – and it’s Batman again. The recent Arkham games for modern consoles are too good to ignore.
3. Miscellaneous Media: Superman 2-1
That’s not to say Superman’s going down without a fight, however. Miscellaneous media means everything from t-shirt prints to underpants to lunchboxes – and overall we’re pretty sure Superman wins out in that regard. His symbol and colour scheme are simply more applicable to graphic design and while Batman might be more relatable in the modern day, good old Clark Kent remains someone for us all to aspire to, whether he’s on our blankie or on our bookshelf. I mean, just check out this Superman sleeved blanket!
Batman VS. Superman will always be a subjective argument in terms of fandom. But in terms of movie ticket sales? In terms of brand popularity? For now, the Bat remains on top.
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