MOTEVENTURE’S “THIS…OR THAT: BATMAN VS. SUPERMAN

My first Superman? Christopher Reeve. My first Batman? Adam West.

Along with “Gilligan’s Island”, “The Partridge Family”, “Bewitched”, and “The Brady Bunch”, the TV show I loved to watch after school as a kid was the 60’s campy series “Batman”. The guest star villains each week were always fun to anticipate (Burgess Meredith’s “Penguin”, Cesar Romero’s “Joker”, Eartha Kitt/Julie Newmar’s “Catwoman”, and Frank Gorshin’s “Riddler” to name a few), and the oftentimes silly way Batman & Robin managed to foil a crime was always entertaining to an 8-year-old (I mean, who could resist the “Batusi“?).

In 1978, I recall the Christopher Reeve-led “Superman – The Movie” using the tagline “You’ll believe a man can fly”, and pre-IMAX and pre-CGI, it was a remarkable feat to see on the screen. Reeve’s chemistry with Margot Kidder’s Lois Lane was believable and fun to watch. Researching this film, I found that Reeve patterned his portrayal after Cary Grant to capitalize on both the character and strength of both Clark Kent and Superman.

More recently, I’ve seen “Superman Returns” (with Brandon Routh), Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, “Man of Steel” (with Henry Cavill), and the Justice League films as well. with some having a better degree of storytelling success than others.

HEADER IMAGE CREDIT: DC COMICS/WARNER BROS.

“Endure, Master Wayne. Take it. They’ll hate you for it, but that’s the point of Batman, he can be the outcast. He can make the choice that no one else can make, the right choice.”
Alfred Pennywoth, The Dark Knight

“I’m here to fight for truth and justice, and the American way.”
Superman, The Movie

Today’s “This or That” focuses on titans of good, one from Gotham City and the other from Kansas via Krypton.

“If you make yourself more than just a man, if you devote yourself to an ideal, and if they can’t stop you, then you become something else entirely… Legend, Mr. Wayne.”
Henri Ducard, Batman Begins

“There is a superhero in all of us, we just need the courage to put on the cape.”
Superman, Man of Steel

Before you vote, here are some fascinating facts about Batman and Superman (courtesy of The Fact Site):

Batman killed The Joker in Issue #1.
Superman dies numerous times throughout the comic books.
Bruce Wayne’s IQ is 192.
Superman’s television debut was in 1952.
Batman always carries kryptonitein in his utility belt just in case Superman goes rogue.
A farmer and his wife raised Clark Kent in Kansas after they found him as a baby.
The fearmongering city of Gotham actually landed its name simply from the writer randomly choosing a jeweler’s named Gotham Jewelers in a telephone directory.
When Superman is in his human form as Clark Kent, he works as a journalist for the Daily Planet.
The infamous Catwoman costume from the 1992 film, which initially seemed as if it was painted on, was actually a vacuum sealed costume. The actor, Michelle Pfeiffer, said she only had a small window to act before it unsealed.
Superman is not a magical being, he is a human with enhanced features, and he can’t win against magic. This lack of protection means that he is vulnerable to magical objects such as Aquaman’s trident and Wonder Woman’s sword.

With those thoughts in mind, “This…or That?” this week will unscientifically determine whether we gravitate more toward the Man of Steel or the Dark Knight.

While you consider your decision, watch a few videos that thematically deal with both superheroes.

You simply choose your favorite and review the results below.

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