Superman was my childhood favorite, but by middle school I really connected with Batman. Those were tough years, and I admired how he overcame a rough past, mastered martial arts, and fought evil using only his skills.
What I’ve struggled with over time is that most of his villains are too over-the-top. I’ve always wondered what a grounded Batman story would look like—taking on corruption instead of superpowered or insane foes.
That’s also why live-action Batman is hard to get right. He’s human, yet often portrayed as almost superhuman. A truly believable version would show him getting hurt, struggling, and paying the price for his choices.
Thank you for sharing how these characters connected with your life story! It’s really fascinating to see how certain stories speak to us based on where we are in life. And your perspective on a grounded Batman fighting corruption sounds exactly like how I (Ceylan) prefer my villains and heroes—grounded, complex, relatable to struggles I also face in life. Those kinds of characters in stories always stand out and strike a deeper chord with me.
Thank you for reading and for sharing this one—glad to see it meant something to you!
My journey is similar to yours. As a kid Superman was a golden ray of hope and goodness. As an adult, Batman made more sense than Superman.
But they serve as a reminder and checkpoint to each other that sometimes hope has its place, and sometimes justice takes precedence.
My other fascination with Batman is that he doesn't have superpowers. But he's put his vast resources to push himself to superhuman physical and mental limits, so he comes across as superheroic. And uses the superstition of criminals against them by using an outfit that evokes fear of a creature without remorse.
Thank you for sharing your journey with these characters! You made a great point about Batman not having any physical superpowers besides how he chooses to utilize his resources, too. He reminds us that anyone can be heroic if they choose to put in the effort to do as much good as they can with what they have.
Yes. To him his actions make sense, and they're heroic in a way. But Superman is a reminder to him so he doesn't get completely swallowed by his dark side.
Superman was my childhood favorite, but by middle school I really connected with Batman. Those were tough years, and I admired how he overcame a rough past, mastered martial arts, and fought evil using only his skills.
What I’ve struggled with over time is that most of his villains are too over-the-top. I’ve always wondered what a grounded Batman story would look like—taking on corruption instead of superpowered or insane foes.
That’s also why live-action Batman is hard to get right. He’s human, yet often portrayed as almost superhuman. A truly believable version would show him getting hurt, struggling, and paying the price for his choices.
Thank you for sharing how these characters connected with your life story! It’s really fascinating to see how certain stories speak to us based on where we are in life. And your perspective on a grounded Batman fighting corruption sounds exactly like how I (Ceylan) prefer my villains and heroes—grounded, complex, relatable to struggles I also face in life. Those kinds of characters in stories always stand out and strike a deeper chord with me.
Thank you for reading and for sharing this one—glad to see it meant something to you!
You've made persuasive arguments for both heroes.
My journey is similar to yours. As a kid Superman was a golden ray of hope and goodness. As an adult, Batman made more sense than Superman.
But they serve as a reminder and checkpoint to each other that sometimes hope has its place, and sometimes justice takes precedence.
My other fascination with Batman is that he doesn't have superpowers. But he's put his vast resources to push himself to superhuman physical and mental limits, so he comes across as superheroic. And uses the superstition of criminals against them by using an outfit that evokes fear of a creature without remorse.
Thank you for sharing your journey with these characters! You made a great point about Batman not having any physical superpowers besides how he chooses to utilize his resources, too. He reminds us that anyone can be heroic if they choose to put in the effort to do as much good as they can with what they have.
Yes. To him his actions make sense, and they're heroic in a way. But Superman is a reminder to him so he doesn't get completely swallowed by his dark side.