Battle of the Week: Batman vs. Iron Fist

I think its too close to call. Both are brilliant martial artists, Batman has an arsenal of tools he can use but deception and theatricality are only powerful agents against the uninitiated. And they are both initiated, Danny and Bruce. Captain America astonished Iron Fist by blocking attacks and revealed he knew a few fighting styles himself. I imagine it would be a similar experience with Batman.

This fight will be entirely decided during those 100 meters they have to close. Both are supreme close combat fighters but the chi of Shou Lao will give Danny the edge up close. His martial arts are also slightly superior to Batman's, and as evidenced by Hellicarrier example above, the superior armor will not be a major factor for him.

That being said Danny still has to close those 100 meters before he can effectively use his powers. He has no real ranged attacks, while Batman can do substantial damage over the distance. As much as I want this fight to be in Iron Fist's favor, I do not think he will be able to get close before Batman can incapacitate him.

I vote for Batman vs. John "Hannibal" Smith with one week prep time for the fight.

I say a close win for Batman. They are very similar in their fighting style but Bat is smarter and have more gadgets and that will totally give him the victory for me

Iron Fist is overall a better fighter than Batman.
And he has more versatility than Mr Wayne with his Chi Powers.
Iron Fist wins the confrontation.

@chaos911: Batman vs. Darkseid. Batman won. He never met him, and Apokalips is in another dimension.

no prep Iron Fist

@mattknowsbest: When has this ever happened? And it makes he would of have a file on him because some superheroes have already encountered him, two are even from Apokolips, and he has attacked the league before

in my opinion i believe the rules would have to be expanded for which universe they are in. for in dc chi to my knowledge would only be half as effective(mainly cause i can't think of a chi wielding villain in dc) as in marvel chi can be manifested as a tangible energy. f.i. Danny's powers. it would be foolish to think that batman wouldn't be able to use chi (obviously not to the same degree). most martial arts speak of chi as a spiritual power that can be unlocked through training and wisdom.

if anyone remembers i think it was batman #0 or detective comics #0 he had to sit on ice and not move. not even shiver. he essentially had a problem with this but after he cleared his obstacle he melted the ice below him and didn't move an inch. i would believe that is also chi manipulation. in marvel i believe he would manifest his own chi on a subconscious level and be able to defend for a little bit. his gadget would also work, especially a combo of smoke and destroying the lights with a couple of batarangs could help. look at what some of you said about Danny, some or multiple aspects of Danny. Bruce has already beaten (with some prep time yes) but the experience he gained from those fights would make him wary of Danny, i mean just looking at Danny you could guess he's a martial artist.

after a hugely tough fight for both i still think Danny would come out on top thought i am still voting for Batman

@pirate_king: Well, Daniel Rand had learned to shot is CHI as a ranged blast energy! Other Iron Fist [his predecessor] had used CHI with arrow or guns, and Daniel had learned this tecnique. One time, e broke a cell phone, and charged the shard, throwing them and take down multiple Hydra soldier ["Gambit-Style"] all in a single move! So, even ad distance, Daniel can be quite dangerous!

In addiction, all seem to forghet that The Iron Fist may be used for Hypnotize an enemy or make Illusion, both thing extremelly dangerous...

@ebon368:

Well, the problem is that in Marvel there are many other strong martial artist, that in a pure martial fight may compete with Daniel Rand. For exemple Shang-Chi, Master of Kung Fu, is really an Iron Fist/Batman Martial arts level.

But none of them can manifest CHI.

Maybe slight manifestation, such as resist heavy heat in a flaming room, or resist to snake venom, but nothing above them. And so also Batman into a "Marvel World".

The Chi of Iron Fist is a Unique Chi, the energy of an Immortal Ancient Dragon. Daniel Rand master a mystical force of mythical proportion, and not simply "chi" as other martial artist may do!

[as a paragon: many in DC may have an incredible Willpower, but only a Green Lantern may create energy construct]

So, even in Marvel, Batman cannot produce any tipe of CHI, at least nothing that can be compared or usefull with The Heart of Shu-Lao, the energy of the Immortal Dragon that Iron Fist use as a "CHI"

that is true and thanks for not spamming me. i didn't think about shang chi when making this post, still i believe that they would still have a problem with rules of the other universes, but your post makes me think. i beileve more now than ever that Danny is still going to win, but batman would still give a good fight.

@chaos911: it happened in Superman/Batman: Supergirl, and in Batman: R.I.P.. He's Batman, he is ALWAYS prepared, ALWAYS informed. The rules of the debate state no prep time- as in Batman won't have time to have Zatana make a chi-nullifing batarang or something. However it isn't out of the realm of possibility that Batman would know his universe crossed over into a Marvel universe and would gear up just ont he off chance he meets another super that has to be put down. It's what makes him.. well.. BATMAN.

@deadcool_xd: COMPLETELY agree. Well said

@mattknowsbest: In that instance, Batman didn't defeat Darkseid in a fight, he just threatened to blow up Apokolips... in all seriousness ..... without PIS Darkseid would squash Batman like a bug... also if you are going to make such a claim, a better example would have been when Batman shot Darkseid with a Radion bullet at the end of Final Crisis.

Next Battle: Macgyver vs. Batman

I gotta give this to Danny! I am a die hard Batman fan! Always have been, and always will be. I've known about Iron Fist my entire time I've been reading comics. It wasn't until recently with the Immortal Iron Fist series that I truly became interested, and since then he's taken off and become a mainstay of the Marvel U along with his best friend and brother in arms Luke Cage. But the fight would play out pretty much in Danny's favor if you ask me. Bruce may be a preeminent martial artist in the DCU and held his own and even beaten a lot of skilled martial artists, but they don't have the Iron Fist, and they can't manipulate chi the way Danny can.

The myriad uses of the Iron Fist that Danny gleaned from the Book of Iron Fist allows him to tap into his chi and perform some amazing feats, many of which can offset Bruce's gadgets. Taking those off the table a hand to hand fight with iron Fist is not going to be easy even for the greatest warriors. If he isn't holding back (like sparring) he's lethal, and his chi actually enhances his normal abilities like agility, speed, strength, etc. His senses are heightened due to training and meditation, and he knows martial arts styles and techniques that haven't been seen except by a small few. Bruce would hold his own, and definitely get some good hits in, but eventually he'd begin to tire, and Danny could tap into his chi to regain some endurance and over power Bruce. And that's not using the Iron Fist strike. It would be a long, drawn out, and brutal fight, but in the end, it would be the Iron Fist standing over the bloody body of The Batman. And he would honor his opponent by taking him home, patching him up, and offering him a business proposition of opening up a Dragon Dojo in Gotham under Bruce's ownership.

@thatlyn_yoaeg_ill_rymmin - My thoughts exactly. I didn't want to repeat what you already wrote so I just added my lil take. I love Batman, but in this fight he's out of his depth with the amount of skills and abilities Iron Fist can do with his Chi

Perhaps Batman could win this using some knockout gas etc This would probably his tactic if Iron Fist gives him enough time to figure that he is up against a superpowered enemy.

@captain13: boards... do not fight back. :X

@cloudzackvincent: Yes the story in particular where he shot Darkseid IS Batman: R.I.P.; AND threatening to blow up Apokolips is a prime example of Batman's preparation for the unexpected- he had no idea he was going to run into Darkseid, but he was prepared for it. He avoided Darkseid's omega beams(NO ONE has done that before or since), and forced Darkseid to concede the fight- which by the rules of this forum is a win for Batman. Iron Fist is an excellent combatant, but Batman has fought all manner of demons, sorcerers, and masters of combat and beaten them all. BECAUSE HE'S BATMAN.

@mattknowsbest: I don't think movie showings count and Batman is using his standard gear, nothing specialized to any particular encounter.

@avilon: I did not refer to any movie showings. And there is no such thing as "standard" gear for Batman. Every night is different

@mattknowsbest: he already knew they we're going to Apokolips so he had to know an encounter with Darkseid was inevitable. While I haven't read Batman RIP from what I've heard, assuming it's the one where shot him, he didn't beat him. He shot him then the flashes brought in the black racer to kill. Hopefully I'm not confusing stories. Anyways I'm done with you if you keep your belief that somehow bats will have a plan for someone he'd never heard of from a universe he never heard of.

@chaos911: Read the story. He was already suited up when they decided to go and went, and he reprogrammed alien tech that he had never seen in order to gain his victory in a fight he didn't know was going to happen. I have equal knowledge of both Batman and Iron Fist and have answered every objection with details and sources, yet you have offered none. In reality it is I who am done with you. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.

You mean the Kryptonian won't cross the line.

I really can't tell if you're joking and I don't want to troll cause I came back from a ban today so I'll just tell you that everything you wrote is irrelevant to this fight. Just read the rules.

@dimitridkatsis: Not what I said. Besides, Supes is more willing to kill than Bats IMO

@dimitridkatsis: Everything I wrote is supporting my original opinion that Batman would win over Iron Fist because he has more in his character than simple fighting skills. Iron Fist is NOT a better martial artist than Batman, and has a chi-powered punch as his main offensive weapon. Batman brings nukes to a fist fight- he is more prepared on an average day than Iron Fist. So if you are disputing that then tell me why amd support it.

@mattknowsbest: I have read the story. Of course he was already suited up why wouldn't he. Unless you're talking about the extra gear, which he took from big barda's husband (can't remember his name. Mr. Miracle?) I do give him props for reprogramming alien tech, but why would he take the time to do that for a fight he didn't think would happen. Also you're missing the fact that it is him who started the fight, so if you use logic that means he would know that fight would happen. And he didn't beat him, he was getting thrown around until he revealed that he had control over the fire pits and would blow them up. That's when darkseid stopped. I also think he was bluffing because if he won't kill someone as evil as joker I seriously doubt he would blow up a planet.

@chaos911: Mr. Miracle is correct. Anyway, according to the rules of the forum a "tactical retreat counts as a loss" which, bluffing or not, is what he made Darkseid do. Iron Fist is not as powerful as Darkseid- Batman would be in his head from the begining.

Iron Fist is a better martial artist and he can do a lot more stuff with his chi than throw a punch, he can heal himself quite fast, he can sense if someone's trying to blindside him, produce range attacks etc. This is new 52 Batman meaning most of the showings You mention don't count. So what's his best h2h feat, fighting some pirate guys for 28 hours? Danny beat a DRAGON with his hands to become the Iron Fist.

@mattknowsbest: had a feeling but wasn't sure about it. Him making a tactical retreat does not change the fact he was stomping him. Here is a quote from the story: "The beating I'm getting is only for his personal enjoyment. But, Barda's Mother Box will protect me from him for only so long" His only chance at survival was him believing him. Of course iron fist is not as powerful as darkseid who said he was? He can't get into his head without knowing anything about him.

@dimitridkatsis: umm what??!

"To make sure the fight is as balanced as possible, we've increased the starting distance (read the rules!) and yes, you can use pre-New 52 feats for Batman."

"This is New 52 Batman (aka he has his standard new 52 attire/gear), however, pre-52 combat feats can be used in the debate."

It states it 2x in the forum fight rules that EVERYTHING I SAID IS VALID.

LOL, can't believe I didn't notice. Still you refer to showings that have prep for Bats and Darkseid wouldn't kill him.

@chaos911: Again Batman is the world's greatest detective. Think deductive skills of Sherlock Holmes on overdrive. Batman is in Iron Fist's head within the time Iron Fist is finishing introducing himself.

I think this is a bit of a miss match, thus Iron Fist Wins.

No he's not.

@mattknowsbest: he doesn't know a single thing about him. He's not a telepath, he can't just look at him and instantly know everything about him. It's not like Danny gonna give him his whole life story, he'll probably just tell him his name and make a cool boast. If you can prove batman has faced an opponent he has no knowledge of and instantly get in his head, I'll concede to your argument till then I am done with you.

@dimitridkatsis: I still contend that the "prep" was environmental and incidental- he didn't go back to the cave and gear up. He anticipated numerous outcomes and acted accordingly. Batman doesn't stroll down sidewalks, he effectively materializes from the shadows and disappears just as efficiently. Batman assesses the situation long before Iron Fist knows he is there, Iron Fist approaches and in seconds Batman has deduced the quickest and most effective way to neutralize Iron Fist

@chaos911: I've proven more than enough. Instead, how about YOU explain to me how Iron Fist would beat Batman and I'll educate you further.

WTF dude? You trynna make it look like he's got superpowers, I already told you trying to take IF by surprise won't work beacause of his chi awarness.

@cdiddyman911@wyldsong i do believe the man issued a challenge to Iron Fist peeps... maybe ya'll could oblige?

@dimitridkatsis: Batman has snuck up on Superman, super hearing and all. Iron Fist has to concentrate to use his powers, they aren't on tap 24/7. Batman doesn't need superpowers to do what he does. That's part of the mythos of The Batman

@serrure: The more the merrier, though I have no idea where my Batman peeps are, I'll give it my best!:-)

@mattknowsbest: read my posts. I haven't said a single time iron fist would win I just pointed out the absurdity that batman would have a plan for someone he has never heard over and from a universe he hasn't heard over (excluding non canon crossovers of course)

@chaos911: Then that's kinda trollish behavior, sir or madame. Pick a side.

@mattknowsbest: how is it trollish behavior? I'm trying to figure this out based off of IF's chi vs bats gadgets. I can even pick to close to call in the poll. If anybody is having trollish behavior its you saying he'd instantly have plan because, basically, HE'S BATMAN!!

Iron Fist has fist of iron, Batman has magnets, do the math.