Super BFFs: The History of Superman and Batman

They’re the two biggest, most popular superheroes in history.  They’re the two most influential people in the DC Universe.  They’re allies.  They’re oftentimes enemies.  They’re the leaders of the Justice League.  They’re the original Super Friends.  They’re Batman and Superman.

 

Artwork by Jim Lee

Originally meeting in the pages of Superman #76 (1952), the friendship of the Dark Knight and the Man of Steel has endured over the course of six decades.  In that first story, Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent have been booked as cabin mates on a cruise.  Throughout the story, they learn each other’s secret identities and team-up for the very first time.  Granted, the story is a little goofy, but it was the 50’s, so things weren’t all explosions and convoluted plot twists like they can be today.

 

Superman (vol. 1) #76

Together, Batman and Superman had been headlining a book called World’s Finest Comics since the Spring of 1941, but always appearing in separate stories, never together.  Okay, quick general comic book industry history lesson:  Comic books became super popular during World War II.  The main reason for this being that comics were a highly mobile, inexpensive form of entertainment for G.I.s stationed overseas.  When the war ended, interest waned and sales dropped.  Pretty much every comic outside of the titles starring the main three heroes of DC (Action Comics, Batman, Superman, Detective Comics, Wonder Woman, All Star Comics starring the Justice Society of America lasted until early-1951, but ended after that, and World’s Finest Comics) was cancelled due to the decline.  So, rather than having Batman and Superman in separate stories in World’s Finest Comics as a double-sized book, DC pulled a cost cutting move (and a promotional tactic) and had Batman and Superman (and more often than not Robin as well) begin appearing in regular-sized team-up stories beginning with World’s Finest Comics #71 (July 1954).

 

World's Finest Comics #142 featuring Composite Superman

The characterization of the two heroes from the early 50’s through about 1985 was that of best friends.  Chums.  Pals.  Lots of laughing, smiling, and bright, fun adventures.  By ‘85, DC Comics had come to the conclusion that quite a bit of their history had become convoluted and, in a move to simplify things, the maxi-series (as opposed to mini-series…) Crisis on Infinite Earths was launched.  Throughout the years, continuity had changed so many times- alternate earths were visited, multiple versions of characters existed, Superman used to be Superboy, but then there was a different version, etc. and so forth.  Confusing, see?  With Crisis on Infinite Earths, a cataclysmic event occurred, all the alternate earths were destroyed, history was rewritten, and various characters were given clean slates.  Batman remained relatively untouched other than de-aging the character considerably and allowing him to continue on the road away from the campiness of the Batman television show of the 60’s and more toward the Dark Knight that we know today.  Superman, on the other hand, was in bad shape.  He had gone from the Last Son of Krypton to being one of a handful of Kryptonians that survived: There was Supergirl, Superboy, Krypto the Superdog, to name a few.  In addition, Superman had come to a level of having nearly godlike powers.  So much so that writers had a hard time coming up with obstacles for him to overcome.  After Crisis on Infinite Earths, Superman’s history was “rebooted” to return him to those lone survivor roots and to de-power him quite a bit.

 

The Man of Steel #3 writing and art by John Byrne

In 1986, the series The Man of Steel, written and drawn by John Byrne, was launched.  The series served as a new origin for Superman and Clark Kent in the post-Crisis universe and by issue #3, the first encounter of Superman and Batman was ready to be retold.  This time, there were no cruise-liner shenanigans.  Rather, this story featured Superman and Batman at odds with one another (fore(post?)shadowing their confrontation from The Dark Knight Returns, a story released earlier that year, but set in the future of both men).  Superman travels to Gotham after hearing of the existence of a vigilante operating there.  Ultimately, Batman and Superman are forced to team-up to take on a villain together which doesn’t return them to the status quo of being super best buddies, but it does end with both men having a high level of respect for the other.  

 

Cover art to the collected edition of Superman/Batman

In later years, they would once again star in an ongoing series together in the same vein of the World’s Finest Comics series of the past.  This time titled Superman/Batman, the first 25 issues were written by acclaimed writer Jeph Loeb and a rotating crew of artists including two of my favorites: Ed McGuinness and Michael Turner.  Notable stories include the two icons clashing with Lex Luthor (who had been elected President of the United States), the reintroduction of Supergirl into the DC Universe, and a time travelling story featuring super-villains to the future.  Superman/Batman #26 was set to be the writing debut of Sam Loeb, Jeph’s 17-year-old son.  Tragically, Sam lost a three-year battle with cancer on June 17^th, 2005.  A veritable army of comic creators who had known Sam collaborated on the issue to produce a story that served as a dual-eulogy for Sam as well as Superboy (who had recently been killed).  The total of 26 contributors (including Joss Whedon and John Cassaday (who were Marvel-exclusive creators at the time), Geoff Johns, Jim Lee, and Jeph’s longtime partner and friend Tim Sale) on the issue donated their fees and royalties the Sam Loeb College Scholarship Fund.  A back-up story written by Jeph Loeb just ten days after Sam's death depicts young Clark Kent's friendship with a boy named Sam who gets cancer. 

 

Superman/Batman #26

The Superman/Batman series ran for 87 issues (plus five annual issues) before cancellation during DC’s “New 52” reboot of their publication line.  After a hiatus, a version of the series with an inverted title, Batman/Superman was re-launched with a brand new #1 issue in June 2013 with writer Greg Pak and artist Jae Lee.  Their initial story portrays (another) first meeting of DC’s premier heroes, this time in the New 52 continuity.

 

Batman/Superman #1 by Greg Pak and Jae Lee

Despite 75 years of existence and 60+ years of friendship, Batman and Superman have never appeared together on screen (in live action, anyway).  It seems strange, but it’s true.  These two icons will, however, meet for the first time cinematically in 2016.  Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, slated to also include fellow Justice Leaguers Wonder Woman and Cyborg, will be a momentous occasion.  I gave my first thoughts on Ben Affleck’s Batsuit, but earlier this week, the official title (it had just been called "Man of Steel 2" or "Batman vs. Superman" to this point) and logo for the film were revealed.  There isn’t a lot to say about it, as its simplicity and minimalism speak for themselves, so I’ll just say: it’s about damn time.

 

Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) Official Logo

I compare their friendship to that of my best friend and myself.  One is bright and optimistic; the other is dark and brooding.  One is friendly and likeable by nature; the other is… Not.  But, together, it works.  They’re the classic “good cop, bad cop”.  They’re two sides of a coin.  They’re peanut butter and chocolate.  They’re inspirational.  They’re best friends.

Thanks for reading.

-Josh

Sources: excerpts from primary source interviews; Wikipedia

Batman, related characters, and images in this blog are owned and trademarked by DC Comics, a division or Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc.