B. Wayne and T. Stark: would they be friends, enemies, or "frienemies?"

[Buried Alien]

If Bruce Wayne (Batman) and Tony Stark (Iron Man) coexisted in the same fictional universe, would they most likely be friends, enemies, or "frienemies?" On the one side, as extremely intelligent and wealthy men, Bruce and Tony would likely "get" each other in ways that many of their fellow superheroes wouldn't (because very few of them share a similar level of intelligence, vast wealth, and social influence), and this could be the basis for a friendship. On the other hand, it's hard to see Bruce taking a benevolent view of Tony's recklessness, impulsiveness, and lack of discipline in the face of such temptations as women and alcohol (Tony has many personality characteristics in common with Hal Jordan, someone with whom Bruce frequently clashes), while Tony likely would have little patience for Bruce's brooding and occasionally borderline unsocial attitudes and behaviors.

Would you say they're more likely to be bros, or would they probably rumble every time they saw each other?

Buried Alien (The Fastest Post Alive!)

[carabas]

I'd say friends who have a bit of a rivalry going on about who builds the fanciest toys, dates the hottest models, and occasionally play extremely competitive golf games for charity.

[TonyStark1012]

I'd say friends who have a bit of a rivalry going on about who builds the fanciest toys, dates the hottest models, and occasionally play extremely competitive golf games for charity.

In agreement here. More frienemies than anything else. They would be cool, but each one has way to big on an ego not to have a rivalry.

[LostinFandom]

It would be like matter and anti matter meeting, the universe would implode.

I think they'd get along fine at first and then slowly get bothered by everything about the other for the reasons Burried Alien mentioned. I think Bruce Wayne would be uncomfortable with someone who really is the type playboy billionaire he pretends to be, and Tony Stark would be uncomfortable with someone who apes his lifestyle as a mask that barely hides contempt. With the right writers the conflict with someone so similar to themselves would have them rethink all the cynicism they had directed at Superman and Captain America.

[carabas]

It would be like matter and anti matter meeting, the universe would implode.

I think they'd get along fine at first and then slowly get bothered by everything about the other for the reasons Burried Alien mentioned. I think Bruce Wayne would be uncomfortable with someone who really is the type playboy billionaire he pretends to be, and Tony Stark would be uncomfortable with someone who apes his lifestyle as a mask that barely hides contempt.

That interpretation only flies if you go from the outdated presumption that Bruce Wayne is the mask.

[LostinFandom]

That interpretation only flies if you go from the outdated presumption that Bruce Wayne is the mask.

Eh, Bruce Wayne may not be a mask per say, but he and the whole Batman Universe depend more on self conscience, and occasionally manipulative performances in a way that Tony Stark's doesn't. Anyway, I still think they would finds themselves most uncomfortable with the areas of their lives that have the most in common.