Who’s a greater superhero mentor, Superman or Batman? We’ve seen how their methodologies differ relating to crimefighting, however what about mentoring? Does Superman’s bedside method make him a greater trainer than Batman, or does the Darkish Knight’s observe report converse for itself? As I learn the newest arc of Mark Waid’s Batman/Superman: World’s Best, I started to ponder these questions.
Lots of the team-ups between Batman and Superman are likely to deal with the distinction between the 2 heroes. The consequence has been many years of tales exhibiting the variations that trigger rigidity in Batman and Superman’s friendship and partnership. A big a part of the 2003 collection Superman/Batman performed with this angle, proper all the way down to the dueling narration. The present collection takes a distinct method, setting apart the stress and presenting the World’s Best staff as finest pals. Tremendous pals, if you’ll.
Nevertheless, the collection has additionally closely featured Robin and Supergirl, which modifications the dynamic considerably. For one, we’ve been capable of 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 up to now, again when Dick Grayson was nonetheless Robin, and earlier than Superman grew to become a father. One shock has been the revelation that Supergirl and Robin as soon as went out on a date, which resulted in catastrophe.
Sadly, the date occurred off-panel, nevertheless it raises so many questions. Dick Grayson’s love life continues to shock us! In truth, 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 Best #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 rigidity between them, implying that he was unaware of their historical past. Nevertheless, Batman/Superman: World’s Best #8 makes it clear that Bruce was effectively conscious of their failed romance. In truth, Batman encourages Robin to have a dialogue with Supergirl to chop previous the stress 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 method to have a look at this, nevertheless it isn’t totally truthful to Clark. For one, Bruce and Dick dwell collectively, making it extra doubtless that the Darkish Knight will pay attention to the Boy Surprise’s leisure actions. Plus, Batman is a detective. Think about dwelling with the World’s Best Detective and attempting to cover the truth that you’re going out on a date with a strong alien refugee.
We also needs to give Clark extra credit score right here. Maybe this demonstrates how Clark provides Kara her house, reasonably than attempting to be privy to each element of her life. In the event you’ve ever cared for a teen, then you definately would know that belief and house go a good distance.
Batman/Superman: World’s Best #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 would all the time put him in an orphanage.”
It’s clear from the artwork that her assertion is oozing in resentment. It is 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 wanting 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 just isn’t 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 present 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. Against this, Batman will always remember the trauma he felt seeing his mother and father gunned down.
When Bruce Wayne met Dick Grayson, he knew precisely what the boy was going by way of. He was capable of empathize with the younger orphan and provides him the assist he wanted. Clark had no sense of the trauma Kara felt dropping her total world. Don’t get me fallacious, it’s not Superman’s fault. It simply signifies that he and Kara had totally different life experiences, which meant he might 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 once you’re a millionaire with your individual mansion and butler.
Batman/Superman: World’s Best #7-11 introduces a brand new teen sidekick often known as the Boy Thunder. David Nikela is a teenage refugee from an alternate Earth. His mother and father 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 beneath his wing, Batman performs a job in his coaching as effectively. That is the place a few of the distinction between their mentoring kinds actually comes into play. Batman provides the teenager some stern recommendation in Batman/Superman: World’s Best #9: “Logic over coronary heart. Curb your feelings within the discipline, or they’ll blind you.”
David is confused by this recommendation, since Superman has all the time 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 just lately noticed everybody he beloved killed, and now he’s on an odd new world. It is a lot for any teenager to deal with, and neither Batman or Superman appear really 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 Best #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, approach down as a result of I needed to be like Kal, who retains his cool 24/7.”
As I beforehand theorized, Superman was unaware of the personal ache Kara was feeling. Had he been conscious of what Supergirl was going by way of, he would have needed her to precise her emotions, so he might assist her by way of them.
It appears that evidently that is the place Batman and Superman differ as mentors. Superman’s coronary heart is in the correct 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 unhealthy recommendation. What does all of this imply for David? In the event you’ve learn final week’s Batman/Superman: World’s Best #11, then you definately already know.
In the long run, I believe I’ve been asking the fallacious query. Each Batman and Superman are distinctive mentors. One isn’t higher than the opposite, they’re simply totally different. Each teenager wants their very own particular steering, and mentorship just isn’t a “one dimension matches all” scenario. Once we have a look at Nightwing, Supergirl, Superman (Jon Kent), Superboy, Robin and plenty of others, it’s exhausting to argue with the outcomes. They could have their faults, however Batman and Superman are really the World’s Best mentors.
Batman/Superman: World’s Best #11 by Mark Waid, Dan Mora and Tamra Bonvillain is now out there in print and as a digital comedian ebook. Behind on the collection? Get caught up on DC UNIVERSE INFINITE.
Joshua Lapin-Bertone writes about TV, films and comics for DC.com, is an everyday contributor to the Sofa Membership and writes our month-to-month Batman column, “Gotham Gazette.” Observe 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 replicate these of DC Leisure or Warner Bros.
