Why is DC editorial mandating that Batman be older than Superman?

[Mat001]

But that is the real world origin of Batman. Superman became successful so they wanted another character like SUperman. Also that was the original shared world origin of Batman.

Which has nothing to do with how it's been in the comics. Pre-Crisis, Bruce was going to be a crime fighter regardless of anyone else. He chose the way of the vigilante because he found that being a lawyer, a cop and an FBI agent was too limiting. Mind you this was all before the DCU as we know it in the 70's. Post Crisis, Bruce and Clark debuted mere weeks apart. But Bruce didn't choose to wear a costume because of Clark, but because he wanted to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. Once he was aware of Superman, he knew that it wouldn't be long before they crossed paths, hence he prepared for it. Batman has never been inspired by Superman in any continuity. The closest was in "Year One", when Alfred joked that Bruce should take up flying like the fellow in Metropolis. This then inspires Bruce to create the first Bat Glider.

[lalala]

I don't understand how Superman being younger then Batman is disrespecting him at all.

I mean I think the way Superman has been presented in the New 52 is great; he was the first public super hero, before him anyone who wanted to change the world and help people (like Batman) did it from the shadows becasue they didnt' thnk people would accept/respect them, Superman announcing himself to the world inspired others to do the same. I think this fits really well with his image as an inspirational hero that's determand to do what he thinks is right no matter what anyone thinks, he ushered in a new age.

To me, Superman being younger only adds to all that, even though Batmans older/has been around longer he couldn't change the world like Superman did just by announcing himself, and Superman was able to bring in that change even though he was youger.

In saying that, I'm a huge fan of Batman/Superman team ups because I think they compliment each other really well so I possibly am not capable of understanding this riverly/biterness that some of the posters seem to have against Batman and his fans.

I can understand some of the worries people have because some writters can only make Batman seem smart by making superman stupid which is insulting to hischaracter, but at the moment DC seem to be being pretty respectfull to Superman, he has his 2 titles, his place in the JL and Superboy and Supergirl both also have their own titles, I hardly thik that's shunting him into obscurity

[Mr. Holmes]

Smallville was never meant to go more then 4 seasons I think. Once they picked it up for the fifth season the writers had no clue where to go with it. They should have had him go to Metropolis University date Lori Lemaris and showed his college years learning his powers.

For once I agree with you.

[Superlad93]

I don't understand how Superman being younger then Batman is disrespecting him at all.

I mean I think the way Superman has been presented in the New 52 is great; he was the first public super hero, before him anyone who wanted to change the world and help people (like Batman) did it from the shadows becasue they didnt' thnk people would accept/respect them, Superman announcing himself to the world inspired others to do the same. I think this fits really well with his image as an inspirational hero that's determand to do what he thinks is right no matter what anyone thinks, he ushered in a new age.

To me, Superman being younger only adds to all that, even though Batmans older/has been around longer he couldn't change the world like Superman did just by announcing himself, and Superman was able to bring in that change even though he was youger.

In saying that, I'm a huge fan of Batman/Superman team ups because I think they compliment each other really well so I possibly am not capable of understanding this riverly/biterness that some of the posters seem to have against Batman and his fans.

I can understand some of the worries people have because some writters can only make Batman seem smart by making superman stupid which is insulting to hischaracter, but at the moment DC seem to be being pretty respectfull to Superman, he has his 2 titles, his place in the JL and Superboy and Supergirl both also have their own titles, I hardly thik that's shunting him into obscurity

This, just this all the way. I've read through this whole thread and have only found a few I agree with but this just sums it all up. I am a Superman AND Batman fan.

The fact is Batman's books were selling better. So keep his history. This is the same for everyone. WW were not doing so good so change history but GL was so keep history. But they all got de-aged. Batman is only older because his history demands it.

Look at it like this: Since his (batman) books were selling well and we know people were getting them then you sprinkle bits of the old books history in with the new 52 so that the old ones get new readers aswell as giving old readers some new books to read because the can just jump in. (not say that the new guys couldn't do that aswell but you know what I mean.)

This would be dumb to do with Superman because the old book didn't sell well. So make a new history to replace that one, right? Yes and no, because 1) you're trying to get completely new readers on bored so you need to into the character nice and fast to keep mass interest. So you give him a history yet you don't bog it down to much and you make it very addressable (AKA Action comics)

2) this made Superman far more (and I know every Superman fan is done with this word but..) relatable, yes it did. Because statistically the people reading comics are guys in their teen and up. So the group AS A WHOLE will be able to relate to the man in his early 20s (Action comics) to mid to late 20s (Superman). This is a very good middle that all should be able to get behind. Don't bring up the "well we're not meant to relate to him" thing because that is only really the view of fans who are already here and reading him not the ones who wanna start. And if it's done in a smart way then we can all pretty much be happy ( AKA Action comics doing it right)

Now you ask "well what about Batman why isn't being brought down to be "relatable"?" Simple. His sales were and are (for the most part) better. This shows that nothing really needed to be fixed just streamlined (LIKE THE WHOLE DCU WAS). But he need the extra years to keep his story.

This is all very basic and simple and most people are just mad because the already have preconceived notions of Superman and won't let something new have some room to walk.

Also neither Superman or Batman was 1st because the Forgotten Superman showed up before both at Blake farm....so there.

But if you wanna argue over who was 2nd have fun I guess.

[Francisco]

I just want to say something: Batman doesn't compliment Superman. Superman doens't need Batman at all. Superman could handle Batman's entire rogue galery with his eyes closed and both hands tied to his back. Batman is an street level character who doesn't have a place in Superman's world. You don't like it? Suck it!! It's the truth.

[Mat001]

Smallville was never meant to go more then 4 seasons I think. Once they picked it up for the fifth season the writers had no clue where to go with it. They should have had him go to Metropolis University date Lori Lemaris and showed his college years learning his powers.

There was never any specific time table for when the show was set to end. Hence due to it's popularity, it ran for ten years. And since the goal of the show was Clark trying to be normal and yet, accept who he is meant to be, his leaving home wouldn't fit.

The fact is Batman's books were selling better. So keep his history. This is the same for everyone. WW were not doing so good so change history but GL was so keep history. But they all got de-aged. Batman is only older because his history demands it.

More like they weren't going to tell Grant Morrison that they're not going to let him finish his Batman run and thus they left him alone. Same with Geoff Johns on Green Lantern. Otherwise, those books would have been rebooted. I guarantee it.

[Lexrules]

There was never any specific time table for when the show was set to end. Hence due to it's popularity, it ran for ten years. And since the goal of the show was Clark trying to be normal and yet, accept who he is meant to be, his leaving home wouldn't fit.

Maybe not, but it would have made for a hell of a lot better show that's for sure.

[lalala]

I just want to say something: Batman doesn't compelement Superman. Superman doens't need Batman at all. Superman could handle Batman's entire rogue galery with his eyes closed and both hands tied to his back. Batman is an street level character who doesn't have a place in Superman's world. You don't like it? Suck it!! It's the truth.

i think you misunderstood my use of the word compliment, i didn't mean that Superman NEEDS Batman, I meant that i think they play off eachother really well with their contrasting personalities. I'm not trying to insinuate thhat Batman is in some way physically stronger then Superman because obviously he's not, but i do think that they each have something the other lacks and that they can work together really well when given to a talented writer

It's the same with all the Justice League, when writen well they all have something they're best at and when put together they all make up for eachothers faults to make a great team.

And as for Superman being able to hande all of Batmans rogue galery, ya he probably could, seeing as Superman can see through walls to find where the rogues are hiding then has super strength to subdue them, negating the need for a lot of Batmans detective skills and gadgets. However, I wouldn't put it past the Joker to hide out in a led lined room with a kuckle-duster made of krypronite(if he has the money for some of the other stuff he's used over the years then he could afford kryptonite), but anyway, that's a diferent debate that doesn't really have anything to do with my main point.

Just so i'm not sompletely off topic i'll add that in the Smallville show a lot of super heros were operating before Superman decided to make himself public(or even came up wth the concept of Superman) and i don't think the decision to make Batman older had anything to do with what's happening in the main DCU as they don't seem to be connected at all.

[Superlad93]

More like they weren't going to tell Grant Morrison that they're not going to let him finish his Batman run and thus they left him alone. Same with Geoff Johns on Green Lantern. Otherwise, those books would have been rebooted. I guarantee it.

....Ok but is me saying that the sales for both books were better than most books at DC in question? No, right? Also The fans who were following these ongoing stories that have been hyped for years (Grants Batman anyone). Why would DC just cut them loose? This is (Like I said in my 1st post) a way to keep new and old fans that could only really work with these two books who had 1) good sales 2) ongoing to finish 3) marketing for days (tv movies anyone)

Oh and they got all of that (last 2) because of the sales. So then logically they would keep what made them good in this era. Simple.

I actually don't even know why this is even a thread. This never even comes up in the comics at all. The only way you would know this is if you followed interview and what not like most of the guys on this site but we don't make up the majority.

So really almost nobody knows or they don't really care. Doesn't hurt or help Superman at all. He still got his point across and is still the 1st Superhero in the public eye. What does this matter in a story stand point aside from ifs and buts.

Nothing.

[Superlad93]

LOL yea in Smallville Superman was LAST to come out. Maybe there should be something on how Cyborg and Green arrow are stealing the spotlight of being the 1st. Maybe their all working with Batman to undermine Superman's spot as the 1st Superhero. Oh yea and Bart and Aquaman too. Clark was last to join the Smallville JL too lol

Well mission accomplished fellas the plan worked lol

Oh yea then we have the JSA *gasp* they were here 1st too.....Hawkman you fiend!!!

[super1man]

Which has nothing to do with how it's been in the comics. Pre-Crisis, Bruce was going to be a crime fighter regardless of anyone else. He chose the way of the vigilante because he found that being a lawyer, a cop and an FBI agent was too limiting. Mind you this was all before the DCU as we know it in the 70's. Post Crisis, Bruce and Clark debuted mere weeks apart. But Bruce didn't choose to wear a costume because of Clark, but because he wanted to strike fear into the hearts of criminals. Once he was aware of Superman, he knew that it wouldn't be long before they crossed paths, hence he prepared for it. Batman has never been inspired by Superman in any continuity. The closest was in "Year One", when Alfred joked that Bruce should take up flying like the fellow in Metropolis. This then inspires Bruce to create the first Bat Glider.

I seem to remember reading some old World's Finest comics where Batman explicitly says he was inspired by Superman.

[super1man]

i think you misunderstood my use of the word compliment, i didn't mean that Superman NEEDS Batman, I meant that i think they play off eachother really well with their contrasting personalities. I'm not trying to insinuate thhat Batman is in some way physically stronger then Superman because obviously he's not, but i do think that they each have something the other lacks and that they can work together really well when given to a talented writer

It's the same with all the Justice League, when writen well they all have something they're best at and when put together they all make up for eachothers faults to make a great team.

And as for Superman being able to hande all of Batmans rogue galery, ya he probably could, seeing as Superman can see through walls to find where the rogues are hiding then has super strength to subdue them, negating the need for a lot of Batmans detective skills and gadgets. However, I wouldn't put it past the Joker to hide out in a led lined room with a kuckle-duster made of krypronite(if he has the money for some of the other stuff he's used over the years then he could afford kryptonite), but anyway, that's a diferent debate that doesn't really have anything to do with my main point.

Just so i'm not sompletely off topic i'll add that in the Smallville show a lot of super heros were operating before Superman decided to make himself public(or even came up wth the concept of Superman) and i don't think the decision to make Batman older had anything to do with what's happening in the main DCU as they don't seem to be connected at all.

Superman is not that stupid you know. He got a job as an investigative reporter. If he sees a lead box in a suspicious place especially if it can fit a human being he will investigate.

[super1man]

LOL yea in Smallville Superman was LAST to come out. Maybe there should be something on how Cyborg and Green arrow are stealing the spotlight of being the 1st. Maybe their all working with Batman to undermine Superman's spot as the 1st Superhero. Oh yea and Bart and Aquaman too. Clark was last to join the Smallville JL too lol

Well mission accomplished fellas the plan worked lol

Oh yea then we have the JSA *gasp* they were here 1st too.....Hawkman you fiend!!!

At least n Smallville he started helping people before anybody else. In new continuity too the saving grace is he is shown to be helping people at least from the age of eight as shown in Action comix.

And yes DC does try to take things away from Superman. Batman came before him and Action was not the first comics to start the new 52 superhero world.

[Francisco]

i think you misunderstood my use of the word compliment, i didn't mean that Superman NEEDS Batman, I meant that i think they play off eachother really well with their contrasting personalities. I'm not trying to insinuate thhat Batman is in some way physically stronger then Superman because obviously he's not, but i do think that they each have something the other lacks and that they can work together really well when given to a talented writer

It's the same with all the Justice League, when writen well they all have something they're best at and when put together they all make up for eachothers faults to make a great team.

And as for Superman being able to hande all of Batmans rogue galery, ya he probably could, seeing as Superman can see through walls to find where the rogues are hiding then has super strength to subdue them, negating the need for a lot of Batmans detective skills and gadgets. However, I wouldn't put it past the Joker to hide out in a led lined room with a kuckle-duster made of krypronite(if he has the money for some of the other stuff he's used over the years then he could afford kryptonite), but anyway, that's a diferent debate that doesn't really have anything to do with my main point.

Just so i'm not sompletely off topic i'll add that in the Smallville show a lot of super heros were operating before Superman decided to make himself public(or even came up wth the concept of Superman) and i don't think the decision to make Batman older had anything to do with what's happening in the main DCU as they don't seem to be connected at all.

I understand you perfectly. The thing is I disagree with what you say. Superman and Batman doesn't play each other that well. They don't match at all because Batman doesn't have what it takes to handle the types of treats Superman faces daily. What is Batman supposed to do in a fight with Brainiac? Toss a batarang to him? Superman's team ups should be with guys like Green Lantern, The Flash, Wonder Woman or the Martian Manhunter... Batman is street level. The writers have to severly dumb down and depower Superman (And everyone else for that matter) for Batman to stand at the same level. A well written Superman wouldn't let anything for Batman to do in a team up. An smart Superman with his level of power can handle almost anything. And the things he can't handle Batman won't stand a chance against. I want you to watch the animated movie "Public enemies" and to tell me that's not the case. To tell me that no one was dumbed down and depowered so Batman could look good. All of sudden Major Force's energy blasts couldn't smash through solid rock because Batman was hiding behind it when just seconds before they could with ease.

[Sacred Knight]

And yes DC does try to take things away from Superman. Batman came before him and Action was not the first comics to start the new 52 superhero world.

But there are plenty of people like me, who find those two facts completely inconsequential. I don't care that Bruce was fighting crime in Gotham a couple years before Superman became public knowledge in Metropolis, and I care far, far less that Action wasn't the first issue of the new 52. More events and history in the new 52 revolve around Superman than anything DC has done for at least a decade, probably longer. I find that far more consequential.