Who is the better character: Batman or Superman?

[[]D[]/\/\[]D @ Nite/So-tite]

Out of the two, who is the better character? Please explain why.

*Note that this doesn't exactly mean the "better hero" or "better person"*

[Shellhead]

Superman is too perfect. He has great power and a flexible power set, so writers sometimes struggle to present him with worthy challenges. His nice upbringing by the Kents has left him a little too perfect in terms of character traits, as well, leaving him seem somewhat bland compared to most other fictional characters. He isn't a bad character, there still some interesting ideas worth exploring, but he is somewhat less compelling than Batman. As an untarnished ideal and symbol, Superman can only experience minor changes before reverting to form.

Batman represents the peak potential of a non-superhuman man in the DCU. Though his exploits are sometimes really a bit superhuman, he still has to work for every win the way Superman rarely does. While on the surface, Bruce Wayne also seems perfect, with his wealth, his physique, his intellect and his good looks, he is actually a flawed individual, obsessed with fighting criminals like the one that killed his parents. Because he is flawed, Batman is capable of going through changes and actual character development, at least to the extent that any character that has been around for 70+ years can really change. Look at the brilliant Planetary/Batman one-shot for a quick review of how many phases Batman has gone through over the decades: gun-toting vigilante, bland silver age hero, eccentric gentleman, urban legend, and even grim anti-hero.

[Nyssane]

Wonder Woman.

[InSovietRussia]

Neither. Superman's been mostly deadly dull ever since COIE, and Batman's been turned into Batgod. Alternate portrayals (All Star Superman, Batman: the Animated Series) aside, they're about as interesting as watching paint dry.

[Apathetic-piggy]

These threads so quickly descend into a contest of preference as opposed to objective critique on characters. To really argue which is better is going to belittle them both because they represent very different concepts and to pit each against the other will always be preference.

They're night and day, almost literally, and comparing them is a bit difficult. One's powered, one's not. One's an obsessive vigilante, the other a relentless but passive protector.

They each have immense potential for great stories. Being "too perfect" or "Batgod" is a failure on the writer's part to effectively present the character as a whole, and on the fan's part for not understanding that. Animal Man doesn't seem like the most revolutionary concept, nor does Swamp Thing, and yet...

Or do you want to compare their marketing power? Because sales are what put them together to begin with, and what keeps them DC's top two characters.

[Hulk_Is]

My vote is for Superman. Argubaly they both have their merits, but since today's world is geared towards Batman, I'll be the loner and vote for ole Supes. hahaha

For some odd reason, people feel that Superman is too powerful (in the context of superhero comics - are they serious?) and/or too perfect. I think neither claim makes much sense.