EDITORIAL: Why WB Should Look To Superman/Batman: Public Enemies For the World's Finest Movie

EDITORIAL: Why WB Should Look To Superman/Batman: Public Enemies For the World's Finest Movie

Hit the link to see why I think WB should look to Superman/Batman: Public Enemies for the upcoming movie, and my thoughts on what ideas they could take from the story arc for the movie's plot.

Editorial Opinion
By ConnerKent - Aug 01, 2013 09:08 PM EST
Filed Under: Batman

First off, this is just my opinion, so please don’t get upset if you don’t like this article, and feel free to disagree.

Now, I am a big Superman and Batman fan, and I am excited that the two of them are finally getting a big, live-action team-up film. I would prefer that Warner Bros. do a solo Man of Steel sequel and a solo Batman reboot before leading up to a World’s Finest film, but the reality is Warner Bros. is going straight into a team-up movie.

Zack Snyder has stated that they are not adapting “The Dark Knight Returns,” only using it to “inform” them, but I think WB should be looking at other Superman/Batman stories for inspiration and information. After all, even though “The Dark Knight Returns” is good for what it is, a nearly-crazed Batman and a Superman that answers to the president are far from the classic versions of the characters, and the graphic novel is not a “first encounter” meeting between Superman and Batman.

I believe WB should be looking at the first story arc Superman/Batman comic series that started in 2003, and the animated film “Superman/Batman: Public Enemies,” as a source of inspiration. I’m not saying that they should directly adapt it, just use it as a reference for a more classic version of the characters and their friendship. While they don’t always get along, as it should be, they are not completely antagonizing of one another, and they even crack a few jokes. I want the relationship between Superman and Batman to be enjoyable to watch, with witty banter and a legitimate friendship where they treat each other as equals and know each others’ strengths and weaknesses. I do not want their relationship to be some total rivalry where they are always at each others’ throats. I want this film to be more fun than Man of Steel or The Dark Knight, maybe not as humorous as The Avengers, but still really entertaining.
Even though this upcoming film is currently often referred to as “Superman vs. Batman” or “Batman vs. Superman,” I actually do not want Superman and Batman to engage in a physical fight for many reasons. First of all, let’s be honest, it wouldn’t be much of a fight, especially after how powerful Superman was in “Man of Steel.” But more importantly, it is usually not in Superman’s character for him to physically attack a human, and in most “Superman vs. Batman” stories I’ve seen, Superman is either possessed or under some kind of mind control in order for this fight to happen, which is a plot idea I don’t care for. The climatic fight in “The Dark Knight Returns” is an exception, but they still had to greatly change both characters for that fight to occur.

Another reason I’m against a fight is because Zack Snyder and WB put a lot of effort to rejuvenate the “fallen king” and make Superman “cool” again for people who weren’t exactly fans before Man of Steel, and wouldn’t it be a step backwards if a human was a challenge for him? Also, while I am a huge fan of The Avengers, I don’t want every team-up movie to feature the future teammates fighting. I believe most people don’t succumb to blows when they first meet, and I would like to believe level-headed people like Superman and Batman can meet for the first time and not duke it out.

As far as story goes, I think some elements from “Public Enemies” could work well in a movie too. Obviously not a direct adaption because Superman and Batman know each other pretty well in “Public Enemies,” and because the storyline uses a lot of characters that are not yet introduced in DC’s Cinematic Universe.
But, you could use some ideas from that story arc, and here is my idea for the movie’s plot. You could have a powerful businessman like Lex Luthor, who has no trust in Superman, organize a clever anti-superhero campaign after all the destruction caused in Metropolis when he fought General Zod to the death. Then, when a slightly inexperienced Batman accidentally causes some collateral damage when he stops a villain in Gotham, Luthor’s campaign also targets Batman.
This could lead to Luthor reaching out to the government to recruit fan-favorite comic book characters to take down Superman and Batman (IMO Captain Atom, who has been kept secret from the public, because he works for the government and they trust him unlike other super-powered characters; and a mercenary like Deathstroke). And now that they are both being targeted, Superman and Batman form an unlikely friendship to fight off those after them.

I do not have any ideas where the plot would go after that, but I would like this kind of plot more than a story where Superman and Batman are set up to fight each other, only to discover later on that some villain set it up. To me, the latter sounds a little too silly, but that’s just my opinion.

Again, this is just my thoughts on what I want from a World’s Finest movie. Even if the upcoming movie is nothing like this, I am still very excited for it, and I hope it’s every bit as awesome as it should be.

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Tainted87
Tainted87 - 8/1/2013, 9:45 PM
I understand your reasoning, and I love Public Enemies myself - MUCH MORE than TDKR.... but there's one problem.

Batman and Superman haven't met yet. Batman puts a TREMENDOUS amount of trust in Superman for Public Enemies, and is hunted down by his own "friends" because he believes in Clark.

That wouldn't happen in their first outing.

What I can somewhat imagine, however, is that the TDKR fight is vaguely used as a contingency that Batman develops for Superman. Thousands of people died in Man of Steel. Superman claims to be on our side, but with the lives lost and property damage is in the billions, there doesn't seem to be a whole lot of concern for human life on his side.

I'd like to see Batman analyze footage of Superman killing Zod and determine his motivations before having even met him.

I'm sure we'll get Public Enemies in the future someday.
superotherside
superotherside - 8/1/2013, 11:10 PM
I have an idea on this actually. I should do an article...
ConnerKent
ConnerKent - 8/2/2013, 8:18 AM
@Tainted87 Yeah, I thought about that. But my plot idea literally just takes the very basic premise from Public Enemies, and I was kind of thinking of it as a superhero version of Midnight Run, where Superman and Batman have to learn to trust each other and cooperate if they want to succeed. Hardly an original idea, I know, but just my thought.
I do like the idea of Batman developing a contingency plan because of Superman's abilities, and that would be part of the reason he doesn't trust him at first. But, I hope that's all they take from TDKR.
@superotherside Yeah, write an article. I'll read it. There's a lack of plot ideas on this site I feel. And besides, WB said they're reading our sequel ideas. Here's hope they use one of ours.
TonyChu
TonyChu - 8/2/2013, 8:22 AM
I can honestly see some sort of mixture between Worlds Finest, TDKR, and Public Enimies.
LEVITIKUZ
LEVITIKUZ - 8/2/2013, 8:25 AM
Wait if Bruce Wayne and Superman were hunted down?

Not Batman and Clark Kent?

Just saying.
ConnerKent
ConnerKent - 8/2/2013, 8:36 AM
@LEVITIKUZ
That's an interesting idea, that could work.
kong
kong - 8/2/2013, 11:27 AM
Instead of Captain Atom and Deathstroke they should use Metallo and Deadshot.
kong
kong - 8/2/2013, 11:37 AM
If your aiming for a Public Enemies type story I think this should be the plot

Lex Luthor is a business man from Metropolis that has more power over the city than the mayor. After all the damage done in the kryptonian invasion Luthor decides to rebuild Metropolis from the ground up. Luthor runs for mayor and a big part of his campaign is to stop Superman. He wins the election and now controls every bit of Metropolis.

Luthor then launches a national plan to take down all the vigilantes that have popped up across the country. Batman comes to Metropolis to help Superman in stopping Luthor.
ConnerKent
ConnerKent - 8/2/2013, 2:29 PM
@RedHood13 I like the idea of Lex Luthor running for some sort of political office, and it surprises me I didn't think of that considering Lex is president in Public Enemies.
Maybe the plot could all four opponents (Captain Atom, Metallo, Deathstroke, and Deadshot). Some would be less developed than others, but so be it. That way, it ensures Superman and Batman fail in the first match up when they're not really working as a team, and forces them to work together and come up with a plan for the next bout. After all, Superman fought a couple other Kryptonians to a stand still in Man of Steel; it would make sense to have more than one powerful opponent.
thedude2936
thedude2936 - 8/2/2013, 11:39 PM
I would like to see metallo as the main supes villain with Lex being the man behind the scenes and maybe clay face or two face as the main batman villain that they team up against
thebug022
thebug022 - 8/6/2013, 3:21 AM
I agree that maybe Luthor Corp could create Metallo as a... distraction. We would find out at the end of the film that Lex knew about the creation of Metallo all along... of course.
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