Batman and Superman, the most iconic superheroes of all time. Ying and yang. Goes better together than burger and fries. They say that opposites attract, and Superman and Batman fit that bill exactly. To really delve into their chemistry, we need to delve into who they are first, and then show their true magnetism.
I see Batman and Superman having three identities, basically a lantern corp they can join, and having sharp contrasts with their secret identities and superhero personas. I am going to explain these all to you.
Lets start off with Batman.
Bruce Wayne struggles with his three identities:
THE BRUCE WAYNE THE PUBLIC KNOWS:
A ruse to shy people away from ever thinking someone like this would EVER be Batman. He is a playboy billionaire who was handed his fortune, didn't break a sweat. He lives off his forefathers work, and has it all easy, but this isn't who he really is. Never was, never will be.
BATMAN:
His escape tool, his time to let his anger, frustration out against criminals who dare deface his dear city. I see Batman as Bruce’s inner demons coming out, showing no mercy. He uses this to protect himself and his close ones. But I don’t think this is the true Bruce Wayne.
THE TRUE BRUCE WAYNE:
Under all the media stunt Bruce Wayne, and the Batman identity, there lies a little boy, still struggling against his parent’s death. He has pushed himself to human perfection to avenge that horrible night. He tries to make himself something he’s not, but only Alfred and a select few know this little boy, who even though a man, is still unable to move past his personal demons for all the losses he’s suffered.
THE LANTERN CORPS:
Batman would belong to the Sinestro Corps. While he has an incredible willpower, Batman’s main tool against perps is fear.
Now time for Superman.
Superman has three identities he struggles with:
SUPERMAN:
The protector of Metropolis. The man of tomorrow. I consider this to be his weakest identity, for he uses this only as a way to protect himself and his family and friends. While this is the identity the general audience are most are familiar with, when you really look at it, this is his most shallow of his character.
CLARK KENT:
The alien baby raised in Smallville, Kansas. Raised on good morals from his adopted parents, he is quite admirable. He has a middle class wage job he pushed himself to get, and he is the epitome of a hardworking American.
KAL-EL:
While the other two matter, this one is his true identity. His alien heritage. His struggle with not knowing Jor-El and Lara-El, his losing a home world he would have belonged to. Not very many people in the DC Universe know this side of him, and not a lot can relate.
THE LANTERN CORPS:
Superman would definitely be apart of the Blue Lantern Corps. He can inspire hope very well to the citizens of Metropolis and the world. He is always hopeful for the world, and his community.
So how does this make a good magnetism between the two characters?
Well, you can already unearth this just by looking at their identities. With the Bruce Wayne everyone knows, he got everything handed on a silver platter. Clark Kent, on the contrast, earned his way to his status at The Daily Planet, and wasn’t handed anything. However, when looking at their superhero identities, Superman didn’t really have to work to get his powers. He learned to use them for the good of Earth, but he didn’t earn his powers, he was given them by our yellow sun. Batman, on the contrary, pushed himself so hard to get where he is. He pushed himself to peak human condition, and then some.
We also have the true characters, the ones with not a lot of people to turn to, that being Kal-El and the true Bruce Wayne. This could create a very insightful and meaningful idea of each character, and build great chemistry. But also, with the lantern corps in mind, we could have a internal struggle between the two characters over one another’s view of the world, and their techniques. Speaking of techniques, another thing that would really create great chemistry is their crime fighting styles. Superman is always used to doing things with his bare hands, while Batman is a master strategist, he likes to do things not always with blunt force.
Well thanks for reading my horrible editorial, and sound off your comments in the usual place!