Although Batman and Superman both fight crime, Superman reveals the way in which his missions differ from that of the Dark Knight. Scroll down to know the details!
It is well known that the Man of Steel and The Dark knight have a great deal in common. However, Superman has revealed the core philosophy that drives his heroic impulse, and it is safe to say that his crime-fighting stems from the exact opposite impulse to his colleague (Batman).
How the iconic super heroes are similar
Although they present their heroism very differently, these two heroes are somewhat similar in their ongoing journey to right the wrongs, bring evil to justice and protect the powerless. However similar they might be in their quests, writer Phillip Kennedy Johnson has finally stated the reason that separates these timeless heroes in his latest issue, Superman #30, and states what makes the man of steel so different and special.
How is The Man of Steel different from Batman?
The pages of Superman #30 (written by Johnson with art by Scott Godlewski), has a small but touching moment where Clark Kent is able to state why he continues his never-ending quest to end the evil. Amidst playing miniature golf with his wife, Lois Lane, and their time-tossed son Jonathan Kent (Superboy), Clarke is seen having a moment of peace, nothing is going wrong in his life at the moment and he can simply enjoy life with his family, which is extremely rare. He thinks to himself,
“Today is perfect, Why aren’t more days like this? Isn’t this what all the fighting is for? How many battles will it take before everyone gets a day like this one?” This monologue not only makes his motive crystal clear but also points out the stark difference between his philosophy and that of Batman’s: Superman fights the evil so that everyone can live as happily as him while The Dark Knight fights evil so that no one has to experience the misery he once did.
After seeing his parents get gunned down in front of his eyes at a very early age, he vowed to never let anyone else go through what he went through. We must note that Bruce’s mission is obsessive, his zeal to save the innocent takes over everything else in his life while Johnson and Godlewski have depicted Clarkas completely opposite as his main motive is to make everyone feel safe. He wants to give everyone a world where they feel happy and contented, by getting rid of any evil.
Ever since their conception in the late 1930s, Batman and Superman have been two of the most abiding icons of selflessness. Comicdomhas spun hundreds of stories that show their approach to fighting crime, oppression, and supernatural evils as epitome of heroism. Given their long and enduring history, the lines of differentiation often blur but they still are distinct if viewed from a deeper philosophical aspect. This point of differentiation is depicted clearly in that small but important portion of the issue.
Is this the end of Superman’s happy life?
Dismally, it seems as though Superman’s happy life might be on the brink of being taken away from him as at the beginning of the issue he stated that this will be one of his final adventures before he departs Earth, for life. The downside of Superman’s affirming motive is that while Batman has already faced one of the worst times of his life, Superman’s time is waiting for him in the future.
