Compare and Contrast: Batman and Superman

[CBright]

I'm writing a paper on comparing and contrasting Superman and Batman. I have plenty to contrast the two, but I don't have much to compare to the two. So far, I've said that they both stand for justice. Both suffered traumatic events which changed their history (The Death of Superman and Knightfall), and both have a equally famous arch nemesis. Can anyone help me out and give me a few ideas?

[filthysize]

One of my favorite aspects of the two is the orphan angle. Their loneliness is very compelling stuff, and everytime they bicker about it, it raises an interesting question:

What's worse for an orphan -- having a happy childhood and then have it taken away from you in front of your eyes -- or growing up knowing that you have never and never will meet your real parents or know who you really are.

And they are lonely in very different reasons. Batman purposely makes himself lonely, because he couldn't handle the prospect of being happy. Superman, however, feels that he was destined to be lonely, and tries to reprieve that.

[Mia]

Superman is more trusting and believing in people. Batman isn’t. I don’t think it’s so much being paranoid as it is refusing to be a victim of life.


Superman (probably because he’s invulnerable) is more likely to just ‘go with the flow’. Batman prepares contingencies. Or plans everything out.

Superman is more humble and down to earth. If he fails or falls on his butt. He will dust himself off and try again. Batman will brood and brood and beat himself up with the ‘Should have known better.’


Superman is an extrovert and a people person. Batman is an introvert and more solitary.

Superman loves and adores his wife. Batman would rather play the field.

Superman is a hero partly from the moral upbringing he received along with the duty he feels as a Kheran to teach humans how to be better. Batman is a hero partly out of revenge and so that others do not have to suffer the same way that he did.

Superman is a middle class reporter. Batman is a billionaire tycoon.

[Punch]

Superman is an extrovert and a people person. Batman is an introvert and more solitary.

I don't see anything introverted about Batman.

Another comparison is that both are successful at their "day jobs",

[Mia]

I don't see anything introverted about Batman.

Another comparison is that both are successful at their "day jobs",

Really? And why do say that?

[filthysize]

Really? And why do say that?

An introverted person bottles his problems, not take it out on thugs while wearing a vampire get-up. :D

[The Batman]

Well you also have to consider which characterizations you're looking at, Batman and Superman have been portrayed differently depending an the era you're looking at, and this is something you might want to consider as a way of organizing your paper or expanding it or even just something to include in the intro/conclusion.


btw, both are sentimental what with the trophy rooms and momentos and all.

[Mia]

An introverted person bottles his problems, not take it out on thugs while wearing a vampire get-up. :D

That has nothing to do with introversion or does not characterise an introverted person. An introvert is a a reserved or shy person. Or a person who tends to shrink from social contacts and to become preoccupied with their own thoughts. Describes Batman perfectly to me.

[Punch]

Really? And why do say that?

Because obviously Bruce Wayne is not an introvert. As Batman, he's the "quiet type" because he's observing and paying attention. An introvert is shy.

[Hellstormer]

You know what I realized, Batman and Clark Kent are similiar, and Superman and Bruce Wayne are similar.

[Kaos]

just batman is really vex breh

[Mia]

Because obviously Bruce Wayne is not an introvert. As Batman, he's the "quiet type" because he's observing and paying attention. An introvert is shy.

An introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.

Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to "recharge."

When introverts want to be alone, It means that they either need to regain their energy from being around people or that they simply want the time to be with their own thoughts. Being with people, even people they like and are comfortable with, can prevent them from their desire to be quietly introspective.

The opposite of an introvert is an extrovert. And an extrovert is characterised by pronounced engagement with the external world. Extraverts enjoy being with people, are full of energy, and often experience positive emotions. They tend to be enthusiastic, action-oriented individuals who are likely to say "Yes!" or "Let's go!" to opportunities for excitement. In groups they like to talk, assert themselves, and draw attention to themselves.


Batman fits far more comfortably and neatly into the definition of an introvert than an extrovert.

An introvert is a a reserved or shy person. Or a person who tends to shrink from social contacts and to become preoccupied with their own thoughts. Describes Batman perfectly to me.

I want to partly reverse myself in that statment. When I used 'shy' above. I meant in terms of a person who doesn't like to be around people very much. I didn't mean in terms of someone who is timid and afraid.

[Punch]

An introvert is a person who is energized by being alone and whose energy is drained by being around other people.

Introverts are more concerned with the inner world of the mind. They enjoy thinking, exploring their thoughts and feelings. They often avoid social situations because being around people drains their energy. This is true even if they have good social skills. After being with people for any length of time, such as at a party, they need time alone to "recharge."

When introverts want to be alone, It means that they either need to regain their energy from being around people or that they simply want the time to be with their own thoughts. Being with people, even people they like and are comfortable with, can prevent them from their desire to be quietly introspective.

I don't see Batman as introspective, he's not lost in his thoughts. He has to be keenly aware of his surroundings. I also don't see Batman as the type to "explore his feelings". Batman has trust issues, he's not introverted.

To me Batman is a paranoid type of person.Stanley Kubrick has a great quote
'A paranoid is someone in full possesion of the facts'

[Mia]

I don't see Batman as introspective, he's not lost in his thoughts. He has to be keenly aware of his surroundings. I also don't see Batman as the type to "explore his feelings". Batman has trust issues, he's not introverted.

To me Batman is a paranoid type of person.Stanley Kubrick has a great quote
'A paranoid is someone in full possesion of the facts'

I don't think you understand what the meaning of 'introverted' is, as nothing of what you wrote ties into the definition of introverted or what characterises an introverted person. Just because someone is paranoid does not mean they are not introverted. I don't see why they should be mutually exclusive.

[The Batman]

I don't see Batman as introverted for two reasons. One, he's acting out his feelings on a fairly large canvas every night. There's alot of theatricality and showmanship involved in what Batman does and I think someone who was fairly introverted might not be so comfortable with all the one on one that Batman does. Also I think that alot of the silence and disengagement that Batman does is part of the act or a matter of necessity. He doesn't avoid the spotlight because he doesn't like it, but rather because it makes it that much easier to keep a secret identity and makes that urban legend/myth/mystique that much easier to create or maintain.

Batman not being exactly open about his feelings doesn't make him an introvert, just a private person or someone with trust issues. Not being an introvert also doesn't make him automatically and extrovert, at least not for me. I see him as the strong, silent type. Not a chatterbox like Plastic Man might be or one for the quips like Spidey nor is he berserk like Orion but also not someone who is afraid to speak out, he's pretty good at giving orders, or to shrink from the spotlight for any other reason than it's advantageous for him to not be prominent.

That and when you're busy working on protocols and stuff you're going to be a little too distracted to take a big part in any conversation. It's better for him to just not say anything than to say at a JLA meeting "Oh sorry, I wasn't paying attention I was too busy working on protocols to take you guys out just in case."

;)