Despite the Dark Knight's reputation as the smartest man alive, Flash doesn't actually believe Batman is the where Batman traditionally falls short, and takes on new meaning given recent events with how Bruce Wayne treats his Bat-Family.
In Geoff Johns, Howard Porter, John Livesay, James Sinclair and Rob Leigh's Flash #209, Wally West is accosted by the Justice League, having magically removed his secret identity from their memories. As Batman begins interrogating him, Flash reflects that Batman is, "the world's greatest detective, the smartest member of the Justice League of America -- next to Superman."
Flash explains that he sincerely considers Superman to be smarter than Batman, primarily because the Man of Steel has figured out how to actually balance his civilian and crime-fighting lives in a way that brings his life happiness and meaning. In contrast, Flash believes Batman has failed at this goal, unable to balance the two halves of his life and allowing 'Batman' to consume 'Bruce Wayne.' Barry thinks:
Despite it all, Superman figured out how to have a life. A job, a wife, and a family. Bruce? Bruce has money. Money and a cave full of gadgets.
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Flash Believes Superman Is Smarter Than Batman
The Man of Steel Has Figured Out How to Have a Real Life
Batman is often seen as the Justice League's smartest hero and even DC's smartest man alive, with the heroic Mister Terrific and villainous Lex Luthor constantly nipping at his heels. However, Flash argues that this title overvalues Batman's deductive skills and logical reasoning, pointing out that it's actually Superman who managed to achieve what all the Justice League's heroes actually want - a life where not everything is governed by his duty to protect the innocent.
It's an interesting way of re-examining Batman's credentials, especially because he both wants what Superman has and has failed time and again to achieve it. Most recently, Bruce Wayne was left at the altar by Catwoman after she realized that the happiness of their relationship would undercut his cynical edge, putting Gotham and his own life at risk. Batman has had many relationships fail for the same reason, usually with him choosing his war on crime over personal happiness.
Even among the Bat-Family, Batman has spent years in conflict with his various wards - who he considers his children - and has feuded with every version of Robin, from his original sidekick Dick Grayson to his biological son Damian Wayne (born out of a one-night tryst with supervillain Talia al Ghul.) When Batman's own father figure Alfred Pennyworth died, he pushed the family away, allowing Damian to blame himself for the death in a way that shattered their relationship for years.
Batman's intelligence is hard won, and he's dedicated years of his life to studying every possible crime-fighting skill, from chemistry to escapology and even (though he failed to master it) magic. However, he's never put this kind of work into his emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills, often fighting his sons and friends when he most needs their help. Given that Batman has itted countless times that he loves the Bat-Family and doesn't want to be miserable, it seems fair for Flash to call out the fact that Bruce Wayne hasn't managed to achieve this goal, but Superman has, enjoying an enduring marriage to fellow journalist Lois Lane and a caring relationship with their son Jon.
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However, while Batman has traditionally been terrible at seeking out any semblance of balance in his life, he is getting better. Following the Gotham War that pitted him against his family and the attack of the robotic Failsafe, Bruce Wayne revealed the Pennyworth Manor - a new home that he hopes to share with the Bat-Family, stating that, "Someone called us an 'army' recently, but they're wrong. We're a family."
While this move follows a period of Bruce pushing his family away to an extreme extent - essentially going to war with Catwoman over her plan to curtail crime in Gotham City - it certainly seems like Batman just turned a major corner. Unlike Superman, Bruce Wayne isn't able to balance two lives. He is first and foremost Batman, and so any meaningful connection has to exist through that lens. Truly embracing the Bat-Family as his family is his version of Superman's happy life - something he's finally figured out he needs to prioritize after years of discord.
Hopefully, this character growth sticks, as having finally caught up to Superman's achievement, Batman may finally be able to reclaim his 'smartest Justice League hero' mantle in the Flash's eyes, even if it did take him an extra few decades to work it out.
- Alias
- Kal-El, Clark Kent, Jonathan Kent
- Created By
- Joe Shuster, Jerry Siegel
- Franchise
- D.C.
- Race
- Kryptonian
- First Appearance
- Action Comics
- Alliance
- Justice League, Superman Family
The icon who launched the entire world of superheroes, the last son of Krypton escaped his dying world to crash land on Earth and be raised as Clark Kent. The world knows him better as Superman, the Man of Steel, the leader of the Justice League, and the most well-known hero in the DC Comics Universe. Blessed with the powers of a demigod, Kal-El of Krypton fights enemies both small and cosmic in his endless pursuit of truth, justice, and a better tomorrow.
