Even though Batman and Superman have fought and won against one another multiple times in the past, it’s always worth paying attention when they do, because the heated, ongoing debates about how Bruce could ever body Clark are never going to end.
Superman under Poison Ivy’s mind control. Image: Mike Jann, June Chung (DC Comics)
Everyone knows that Batman is the greatest detective in DC’s universe, and he has detailed contingency plans specifically designed to take out virtually any person with super abilities should the need ever come. Kryptonite has always been one of the most immediate solutions people bring up when discussing how Batman would fight Superman, but writer Tom King knows that the mineral has no place in a truly interesting brawl between the two.
One of the most delightful things about reading King’s current run on Batman has been seeing the interesting, curious ways the writer draws so much out of the series’ characters without ever letting the larger story arc feel too large and unwieldy. As is almost always the case, less is more.
Because Bruce and Selina Kyle insist on being costumed vigilantes who live in Gotham City, they have been largely unable to enjoy their recent engagement thanks to Poison Ivy’s latest scheme to reclaim the Earth in the name of the Green. As “Everybody Loves Ivy” begins in Batman #41, Bruce is startled awake just as Ivy is pulling literally every single sentient being on the planet under her control through some unknown botanical means. Bruce is unaffected by Ivy’s effect (see: Contingency plans) and he’s able to dose Selina with a serum to protect her just in time to make them the last two people alive who are free of Ivy.
The newly-engaged Batman and Catwoman enjoying a drive through Poison Ivy’s apocalyptic utopia. Image: Mike Jann, June Chung (DC Comics)
Because Ivy is now connected to everything through everyone, she’s more than content to let Bruce and Selina wander through the new world, presumably helpless to reverse what’s happened. But Ivy still knows that Batman’s never to be underestimated entirely, so she sends a mind-controlled Superman to chaperone from a short distance as Bruce and Selina go for a pleasant drive to discuss their upcoming wedding.
Both Selina and Bruce know that Ivy can hear everything they’re saying by using Superman’s enhanced hearing, and while Selina uses it as an opportunity to point out to Ivy how ridiculous she’s being, Bruce sees it as a chance to show off one of the ways he devised to best Clark.
As the couple are driving along with Superman diligently following them, Bruce leans in to whisper into Selina’s ear, gradually pushing his voice lower and lower to make sure that Clark is straining to listen in. And then Bruce whistles very loudly and the intensity of it knocks Clark right out.
Batman whistling to incapacitate Superman. Image: Mike Jann, June Chung (DC Comics)
It turns out that the whistle manoeuvre was what Bruce was telling Selina about, and she admits that she was wrong to doubt whether it would work as Clark hangs unconscious in a tangle of power lines. To Clark’s credit, Bruce explains that the only reason his trick worked was that Clark would know better than to listen so closely and that, technically speaking, he was exploiting Ivy’s lack of familiarity with Clark’s ability.
But the point still stands that Bruce has planned for virtually anything, and that even without glowing green rocks on his side, he has more than a few ideas in his head about how to at least get a couple of good hits in on Superman.
Comments
5 responses to “Batman Just Kicked Superman’s Arse In The Pettiest Way Possible”
Alright, that was a pretty simple and clever little ploy.
Simple like a Smallville farm boy.
Also complete bullshit. Superman’s physique is super strong, and that includes his cochlea. Implying that a normal human whistle would be enough to cause pain to Superman’s cochlea, when the guy could take a bullet to the ear and not flinch, is just crazy.
I think the concept of Ivy not knowing his limitations isn’t an awful explanation, allowing the whistle to reach a point where it can damage him through over extension.
Much like somebody with enough strength can smack Supes around, somebody with a strong enough whistle can hurt his ears, but in this instance it was Superman who created a situation where the whistle became “super”
At least that’s how I’ve read it.
Honestly though, they are both very annoying characters for me overall, never been much of a fan.
It’s always nice to see people doing new things with them
Like namiwakiru, I read it as Superman effectively hurting himself. Its his cochlea translating the soundwaves that’s doing the damage, not the soundwaves themselves.
Superman’s basically punching himself.