Comparison Of Batman And Superman, And Theit Impact On America

Superman is the embodiment that represents America and the American way suggesting that America is the epitome of what makes a great country. However, Superman is too idealistic and not connected to the social conditions that America often overlooks. The figure of Batman changes this American ideology by creating a paradox that questions the idea of the true meaning of justice and the fight against crime.

Batman revises this understanding by illustrating the realism of America’s social and economic problems. Batman was born out of violence and crime when his parents were murdered during a robbery in the streets of Gotham City and from that moment Batman devoted his life to fight against crime and serve justice. Gotham City plays a major role in shaping what it means to be Batman because Gotham City reflects his character and his mission to protect the people. In the animation “Batman: Year One,” Jim Gordon describes Gotham as “time in hell. ” Hell can be described as darkness and night; which Gotham is heavily emphasized through the darker color scheme of the animation. This is important because it illustrates the dark side of America, full of corruption and crime. Also according to the biblical text, hell is also characterized in flames which similar to Gotham’s flashy city lights in locations such as brothels and clubs surrounded with prostitution, robbery, and other crimes which is the cause of economic hardships. Gotham City mirrors the dark side of America, characterized by cities filled with crime and corruption. In contrast, Superman is an alien originating from the planet of Krypton which can be compared to an immigrant from another country migrating into America. While Batman is the reflection of Gotham City and the reason why he fights, Superman has the same goal for the city of Metropolis. In “Action Comics No. 1,” the setting of the city is not only characterized with villains and crimes but is also full of colors contrary to “Batman: Year One,” suggesting a clear outlook between good and evil. In this way, Gotham and Metropolis imitate many American cities: where Metropolis offers the American dream and American way of life, while Gotham represents the true nature of America full of crime and corruption.

Batman focuses on the corruption of the system through a lens while Superman only sees the bigger picture through an idealistic point of view. As previously mentioned, Superman is the symbolic hero that influenced and inspired Americans during the 20th century. However, Superman sees justice and crime as a big picture from those who threaten peace and world order from the outside of America. On the other hand, Batman sees justice and crime through the American social fabric of corrupt politicians, corrupt law, and those who create chaos that is destroying America from the inside. For example, in “Batman: Year One,” Batman challenges government officials such as Commissioner Loeb associated with Gotham’s corrupt politician and crime syndicates to bring justice to Gotham and the people that suffer from this. This means that Batman has to go against government law to bring justice and order. However, Superman isn’t like Batman because he fails to see the flawed criminal justice system in America. As an example, in “Action Comics No. 1,” Superman rushes to the Governor’s house to try to save a woman from execution but what he fails to do is to question why is someone being trialed for crimes that they did not commit. These two contrasts exemplify that Superman represents American and its government system, but Batman represents the people in America struggling against America as a whole.

Batman and Superman aren’t just superheroes with superpowers and flashy customs, but they are part of the American culture. When we analyze them, they not only define the meaning of what’s good and evil but also help us find the boundaries between what’s right and wrong. The one thing that I’ve learned from this essay and the characters of Batman and Superman is that America seeks to police up other countries, but America itself needs to be policed up from its flawed system.