Who’s a greater superhero mentor, Superman or Batman? We’ve seen how their methodologies differ with regards to crimefighting, however what about mentoring? Does Superman’s bedside method make him a greater instructor than Batman, or does the Darkish Knight’s observe report communicate for itself? As I learn the most recent arc of Mark Waid’s Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting, I started to ponder these questions.
Lots of the team-ups between Batman and Superman are inclined to deal with the distinction between the 2 heroes. The consequence has been many years of tales displaying the variations that trigger stress in Batman and Superman’s friendship and partnership. A big a part of the 2003 collection Superman/Batman performed with this angle, proper right down to the dueling narration. The present collection takes a special method, setting apart the strain and presenting the World’s Most interesting group as greatest associates. Tremendous associates, if you’ll.
Nevertheless, the collection has additionally closely featured Robin and Supergirl, which adjustments the dynamic considerably. For one, we’ve been in a position to distinction how the Man of Metal and the Darkish Knight deal with their younger companions. It’s value noting that this collection primarily takes place prior to now, again when Dick Grayson was nonetheless Robin, and earlier than Superman turned a father. One shock has been the revelation that Supergirl and Robin as soon as went out on a date, which led to catastrophe.
Sadly, the date occurred off-panel, nevertheless it raises so many questions. Dick Grayson’s love life continues to shock us! In actual fact, as I discover the variations between Batman and Superman as mentors, the failed Supergirl/Robin romance is a good place to start out.
When Supergirl arrives in Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting #2, it’s someday post-date and she or he and Robin are visibly uncomfortable round one another. Superman is stunned and confused on the stress between them, implying that he was unaware of their historical past. Nevertheless, Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting #8 makes it clear that Bruce was nicely conscious of their failed romance. In actual fact, Batman encourages Robin to have a dialogue with Supergirl to chop previous the strain between them. He even teases Dick about asking her out once more.
Does this imply Batman is aware of Robin higher than Superman is aware of Supergirl? That’s a technique to have a look at this, nevertheless it isn’t solely honest to Clark. For one, Bruce and Dick dwell collectively, making it extra seemingly that the Darkish Knight will concentrate on the Boy Surprise’s leisure actions. Plus, Batman is a detective. Think about dwelling with the World’s Biggest Detective and making an attempt to cover the truth that you’re going out on a date with a robust alien refugee.
We also needs to give Clark extra credit score right here. Maybe this demonstrates how Clark offers Kara her area, fairly than making an attempt to be privy to each element of her life. In the event you’ve ever cared for a teen, you then would know that belief and area go a great distance.
Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting #8 additionally reintroduces an attention-grabbing little bit of continuity to Kara’s historical past. When Superman asks Supergirl how he ought to deal with Boy Thunder (extra on him in a bit), Kara replies, “You possibly can at all times put him in an orphanage.”
It’s clear from the artwork that her assertion is oozing in resentment. This can be a reference to Kara’s first look again in 1959’s Motion Comics #252. After Supergirl arrived on Earth, Superman positioned his younger cousin in an orphanage. It appears a bit cold-hearted trying again at it with fashionable eyes, particularly since Kara had simply misplaced her total household and was now alone on an odd new world.
Superman will not be a cold-hearted individual, and he would by no means deliberately damage his cousin. He simply wasn’t considering. When Batman met Dick Grayson, he took the boy in with no considered putting the Boy Surprise in an orphanage. (In fact, it’s additionally value mentioning that Batman was initially intending to provide Dick again to the circus after their first mission.) I believe the large distinction right here is Superman was a child when Krypton exploded, so he has little or no reminiscence of the trauma. In contrast, Batman will always remember the trauma he felt seeing his dad and mom gunned down.
When Bruce Wayne met Dick Grayson, he knew precisely what the boy was going by way of. He was in a position to empathize with the younger orphan and provides him the assist he wanted. Clark had no sense of the trauma Kara felt shedding her total world. Don’t get me flawed, it’s not Superman’s fault. It simply implies that he and Kara had completely different life experiences, which meant he could have been blind to the assist she wanted when he positioned her in an orphanage. Plus, let’s be actual, it’s additionally simpler to undertake an orphan whenever you’re a millionaire with your individual mansion and butler.
Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting #7-11 introduces a brand new teen sidekick referred to as the Boy Thunder. David Nikela is a teenage refugee from an alternate Earth. His dad and mom despatched him to Earth-Prime as their world was dying in a fiery apocalypse. Does any of this sound acquainted? The Boy Thunder serves as Superman’s sidekick, and a probationary member of the Teen Titans.
David’s case is attention-grabbing, as a result of though Superman’s taken him below his wing, Batman performs a job in his coaching as nicely. That is the place among the distinction between their mentoring types actually comes into play. Batman offers the teenager some stern recommendation in Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting #9: “Logic over coronary heart. Curb your feelings within the area, or they’ll blind you.”
David is confused by this recommendation, since Superman has at all times warned him to not be cynical. Batman dismisses this, telling the teenager that Superman has grown accustomed to cheering crowds.
Sadly, David is a teen who lately noticed everybody he beloved killed, and now he’s on an odd new world. This can be a lot for any teenager to deal with, and neither Batman or Superman appear actually geared up to assist him. Nevertheless, Kara’s scenario was a bit related. When Supergirl talks to the Boy Thunder in Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting #8, they share their difficulties dealing with survivor’s guilt.
Throughout this dialog, Kara tells David how she coped throughout her early days on Earth: “I packed it away, method down as a result of I wished to be like Kal, who retains his cool 24/7.”
As I beforehand theorized, Superman was blind to the non-public ache Kara was feeling. Had he been conscious of what Supergirl was going by way of, he would have wished her to specific her emotions, so he might assist her by way of them.
Evidently that is the place Batman and Superman differ as mentors. Superman’s coronary heart is in the suitable place, however by way of no fault of his personal, he usually misses the large issues. Batman is conscious of what his younger companions are going by way of, however his cynicism results in some dangerous recommendation. What does all of this imply for David? In the event you’ve learn final week’s Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting #11, you then already know.
In the long run, I believe I’ve been asking the flawed query. Each Batman and Superman are distinctive mentors. One isn’t higher than the opposite, they’re simply completely different. Each teenager wants their very own particular steerage, and mentorship will not be a “one measurement suits all” scenario. After we have a look at Nightwing, Supergirl, Superman (Jon Kent), Superboy, Robin and lots of others, it’s laborious to argue with the outcomes. They could have their faults, however Batman and Superman are actually the World’s Most interesting mentors.
Batman/Superman: World’s Most interesting #11 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain is now accessible in print and as a digital comedian e-book. Behind on the collection? Get caught up on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, films and comics for DC.com, is a daily contributor to the Sofa Membership and writes our month-to-month Batman column, “Gotham Gazette.” Comply with him on Twitter at @TBUJosh.
NOTE: The views and opinions expressed on this column are solely these of Joshua Lapin-Bertone and don’t essentially mirror these of DC Leisure or Warner Bros.
