Neil DeGrasse Tyson knows how Batman could theoretically beat Superman

The lengthily titled Batman V Superman: Dawn Of Justice will not arrive in American theaters until March 25, 2016, but it has already inspired as much online theory-spinning as any non-Star Wars film possibly could. The public has apparently been waiting a long time to see the Man Of Steel and the Caped Crusader battle each other, even though these two have already thrown down in the comics countless times. And now, astrophysicist Neil DeGrasse Tyson has entered the fray, addressing from a purely logical standpoint whether regular dude in a costume Batman could possibly take almost inconceivably powerful, seemingly invincible alien Superman in a one-on-one fight. The question was posed to the famed scientist and radio host by Tech Insider, and DeGrasse Tyson approached it in his usual, entertaining way. Of course, Batman’s best strategy might be to buy a pair of Kryptonite BVDs with Bruce Wayne’s money, but DeGrasse Tyson does not take such an unsportsmanlike approach into consideration. At first, he acknowledges immediately that the fight would be ridiculously lopsided.

We all know, of course, that Batman is human and Superman is Superman. They both have capes. But Batman can’t fly, and Superman flies. Superman would wipe his butt with Batman. That’s basically what would happen there.

And yet the famed astrophysicist would not automatically grant the W to Superman. Sure, Superman has super strength, flight, and heat vision, but Batman many have something even more powerful: the court of public opinion. After acknowledging that Batman would probably also get his ass kicked by fellow rich-dude-in-a-fancy-suit Iron Man, DeGrasse Tyson suggests that Batman’s greatest advantage might be that the general public is on his side. After all, the Dark Knight is a human being and not, to quote the old Adventures Of Superman intro, a “strange visitor from another planet who came to earth with powers and abilities far beyond those of mortal men.” Society, DeGrasse Tyson suggests, might be understandably wary of Superman, and Batman could capitalize on that wariness. As a way of judging public sentiment, it is perhaps telling to notice which of these two heroes receives top billing in the upcoming skirmish.



[via CINEMABLEND]

 
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