I am a giant fan of the Dark Knight. Let me just get that out there in the open. This post is going to avoid all opinions and strictly stay with the facts. Empirically, many think that Superman is the superior hero. At first glance it would make sense, he is the last son of Krypton and he kind of has any power that he needs whenever he wants them (looking at you DC, why in the hell would he be able to throw the logo on his suit?! but I’m off topic). While Batman is a human with no powers, nada.
My first assertion as to why Batman is the superior hero should be enough to settle the whole damn thing, but I’ll provide more anyway. This is because the other members of the Justice League fear him. Literally piss themselves when he is around. Why is this? Why are god-like heroes afraid of someone who is not as strong as them? As long lived as them? As fast as them? Its because Batman could take out the JLA in one swift motion, and the other members just have to live with that. Think I’m being biased? In JL: Doom, the enemies of the JLA get into Batman’s hard drive and find his files on the other members of the league. Using this information and the plans that the Bat created, they take them out. And I mean all of them. This means that Batman could have at any point done this himself. And once the situation is settled and peace is restored, they tell Batman that he has promise to never have contingenicies for them again. And what does he do? He quits the JLA, saying that he would not be a part of a group that felt they were above the laws they enforce.
Second, when Batman and Superman have fought hand to hand, the Great Detective won. He looked Superman in the face and told him that he will remember the only human to defeat him. This happened in Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. Yea, Frank Miller, the same guy who wrote 300 and Sin City. The man kind of has weight in the world of comics. The best part about Superman losing? Batman was well into his golden years and had just come out of retirement two weeks earlier. Impressive right? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vU94I6SjVow
Third, costumes. And I’m not talking about looks and color schemes and that bullshit. I’m talking utility. Every part of Batman’s costume is designed to help him fight crime in one way or another. Ears on the cowl? Supersonic hearing. Cape? To help him glide across Gotham. Bullet-resistant Kevlar suit. And lets not even discuss the shit in his belt. Superman does not need the cape to fly, he’s a damn alien. And the tights? No reason besides to make everyone else around him uncomfortable.
Forth. Rogue Galleries. Quick how many villains can you name of Superman? Did you even get Lex Luther? Now, try the same with the Bat. Still naming them off? According to IGN, Batman has five of his rogues in the top fifteen, with Joker coming in at number two, and Superman has two. And most people couldn’t even tell you who the hell he is. Its the reason why Batman games and movies sell so well and Superman is always touch and go. I’m sure half of the audience for the premiere of The Dark Knight were there not only to see the Dark Knight, but to see the Oscar winning performance of Heath Ledger.
And my last point, alter-egos. Bruce Wayne vs Clark Kent. Which would you rather be? A struggling reporter living in a shitty apartment in Metropolis or a billionaire playboy who is also a master at martial arts and engineering. You want to come home to Lois Lane every night or have Alfred arrange a date with one of the many models who call you constantly? Yeah, tough choices.
Some will argue that IGN is a better judge than I and the fact that Superman received the number slot ahead of Batman as enough to settle the argument. And the reason why they placed him ahead of the Bat makes sense, Clark Kent is the reason all other heroes exist. They were modeled after him. But Batman has become the antithesis of Superman, using logic and wit over brawn and dumb luck. I love both of these characters, and there are few as excited to as I to see the Man of Steel this summer. But at the end of the day, my dreams are not of flying across the sky as fast as a bullet. They are of sitting in a dark cave thinking about how I defeated a god, and now he fears me.
I won’t lie, I was pretty excited for the release of JT’s new album. His old albums had not only been fun to listen to, but the way he was able to tell a story through music helped me deal with stuff that I was handling in my own life. I was not expecting the same meta connections with 20/20 Experience as I had with Justified or FutureSex/LoveSounds, but I was expecting more than this. When Suit & Tie was released, I thought ok this is good, but it pales in comparison to a normal radio release like Rock Your Body. Even with a feature from Jay-Z, the song just wasn’t good enough for me to listen to it on repeat. But still, I pre-ordered the album and thought, it’ll be better. I am sad to say that I was disappointed friends. With the exception of Mirrors, which is a beautiful ballad and the toe tapping That Girl, the album was average at best. I can only assume that the man is spread too thin, with acting, music and his new wife. But still, don’t get your fans hopes up for more songs like Senorita only to have me thinking, “Why the fuck is there a song called Strawberry Bubblegum and why is it so God damn awful?!” Rumors have already started that there will be a 20/20 Experience Part II, and I can only hope that Timbaland comes out of hiding, smacks Justin in the head, and literally walks him through it. Otherwise, I won’t be listening.
Grade: C-
As the American political world gets drowned in bureaucracy I find it hard to continue to watch CNN without wanting to slap everyone in Washington. Instead I turn to Hollywood. Unfortunately most sites glamorize the stars and don’t give fair reviews because they are afraid of what the repercussions will be from their parent organizations. Not so with me. I will post honest opinions and reviews from the standpoint of one who truly loves the entertainment industry. Feelings will be hurt, truths will be told, and maybe a laugh or two will come out. If you have requests for reviews or opinions send them my way, I am an open book.
— LB
Pop Culture Ponderings 