Batman and Superman - Who has the biggest franchise?

So there are way too many threads on the Vine relating to Batman vs. Superman fights, often revolving around silly assumptions like 'If Batman had prep...' or 'If Superman was bloodlust' etc. Hence why I carefully worded the title of the thread to Batman and Superman as opposed to versus.

So here's a question to ask, who do you think has the biggest franchise? This question extends to the world of non-comic-book-readers as well, and we should consider each franchise since...let's say 1939.

Points to consider:

- All those Superman shirts you see people wearing

- All the fanboys over-obsessed with 'The Dark Knight' film

- Superman-mania in the 1940s and 1950s

- Bat-mania in the 1960s and 1980s

Well as for right now in time - 2012. Batman is the biggest.

Batman

Batman probably. But Superman is the coolest.

However Superman is more iconic than Batman

Batman because his comics sell more and his movies make more currently

@coolguyr99 said:

Batman because his comics sell more and his movies make more currently

Very true.

Throughout their entire history? Superman has the bigger franchise.

@coolguyr99:

@Skunkstein:

I believe he means throughout their entire history, since 1939, not just now.

Batman

@Jnr6Lil said:

Batman

@TheCannon said:

Batman

@sethysquare said:

Batman probably. But Superman is the coolest.

I agree that as of now, Batman has the bigger franchise, but the OP asked SINCE 1939 who has the bigger franchise? I'd have to say, I think Superman has a lot more big budget movies than Batman (If you count big budget for the time) When Superman came out EVERYONE loved him to death. Even your Grandma knew Superman when he first came out. They're almost neck and neck when it comes to issue appearances (according to CV) and more people IN THE WORLD know Superman than would know Batman. I guarantee that if you asked a little kid who never read comics before in some poor country who a super hero was, they would respond with Superman. He's just the most recognizable and the most iconic.

batman

@primepower53 said:

@TheCannon said:

Batman

@sethysquare said:

Batman probably. But Superman is the coolest.

I agree that as of now, Batman has the bigger franchise, but the OP asked SINCE 1939 who has the bigger franchise? I'd have to say, I think Superman has a lot more big budget movies than Batman (If you count big budget for the time) When Superman came out EVERYONE loved him to death. Even your Grandma knew Superman when he first came out. They're almost neck and neck when it comes to issue appearances (according to CV) and more people IN THE WORLD know Superman than would know Batman. I guarantee that if you asked a little kid who never read comics before in some poor country who a super hero was, they would respond with Superman. He's just the most recognizable and the most iconic.

Definitely, I would also say Superman is more of an inspiration also.

Batman is the new Chuck Norris on internet.

I'd actually love to see some line graphs about this that cover the time period mentioned.

Batman

His comics are selling more than Superman.

total sales on all Batman films have a huge gap on the total sales of Superman films. Batman films has earn better

More Batman cartoon series.

More shirts and merchandises, Thanks to his movies and cartoon series.

Batman also beat Superman in total sales and copies for video games.

@Jnr6Lil said:

@primepower53 said:

@TheCannon said:

Batman

@sethysquare said:

Batman probably. But Superman is the coolest.

I agree that as of now, Batman has the bigger franchise, but the OP asked SINCE 1939 who has the bigger franchise? I'd have to say, I think Superman has a lot more big budget movies than Batman (If you count big budget for the time) When Superman came out EVERYONE loved him to death. Even your Grandma knew Superman when he first came out. They're almost neck and neck when it comes to issue appearances (according to CV) and more people IN THE WORLD know Superman than would know Batman. I guarantee that if you asked a little kid who never read comics before in some poor country who a super hero was, they would respond with Superman. He's just the most recognizable and the most iconic.

Definitely, I would also say Superman is more of an inspiration also.

Agreed.

@Deadcool said:

Batman is the new Chuck Norris on internet.

@jhazzroucher said:

Batman

His comics are selling more than Superman.

total sales on all Batman films have a huge gap on the total sales of Superman films. Batman films has earn better

More Batman cartoon series.

More shirts and merchandises, Thanks to his movies and cartoon series.

Batman also beat Superman in total sales and copies for video games.

True, Lets make counts!

Animated Series:

• Supes: TAS (3 seasons), part of the team in Legion of Superheroes, JL and JLU. TOTAL: 4
• Bats: TAS (3 seasons, first one with 65 and the others regular) Beyond (2) , The Batman (5), The Brave and the Bold (3), part of the team in JL and JLU. TOTAL: 6

I didn't count YJ because both weren't part of the main cast.

Winner: Batman by far

Life-Action Movies:

• Supes: 5
• Bats: 6 ( 7 counting 60' one and 8 with the DKR)

Winner: Batman.....again

Tv Shows

• Supes: 3
• Bats: If Adam West's one count, will be 1 :D

Winner: Ok this round goes for Supes >:(

Animated Movies:

• Supes: 3 by himself (One of those the upcoming) , 5 as part of the cast (JL and S/B movies), 1 in Showcase TOTAL: 9
• Bats: 8 by himself ! and 5 as part of the cast TOTAL: 13

Winner: Let me guess...... Batman? *looks at numbers* Oh my I was right!

Final Results: Batman 3 - Superman 1

Oh and also he doesn't just win on quantity of media, but for also get more money for them.

EAT THAT SUPES!!! (I did it and checked Wikipedia for making it sure, I NEED get a life)

PS: Cartoons just are to 90' to now, The rest is too horribly funny to take it seriously.

PS2: I'm not that insane to look for videogames quantity, that's more than I can count with my hands' fingers

@RedOwl_1: I don't think the difference is actually that big. The popularity Batman enjoys over Superman today is nowhere near some of the levels that Kal-El had over Bruce.

I can see it going either way, with the winner nabbing it by a nose.

@RedOwl_1 said:

@jhazzroucher said:

Batman

His comics are selling more than Superman.

total sales on all Batman films have a huge gap on the total sales of Superman films. Batman films has earn better

More Batman cartoon series.

More shirts and merchandises, Thanks to his movies and cartoon series.

Batman also beat Superman in total sales and copies for video games.

True, Lets make counts!

Animated Series:

• Supes: TAS (3 seasons), part of the team in Legion of Superheroes, JL and JLU. TOTAL: 4
• Bats: TAS (3 seasons, first one with 65 and the others regular) Beyond (2) , The Batman (5), The Brave and the Bold (3), part of the team in JL and JLU. TOTAL: 6

I didn't count YJ because both weren't part of the main cast.

Winner: Batman by far

Life-Action Movies:

• Supes: 5
• Bats: 6 ( 7 counting 60' one and 8 with the DKR)

Winner: Batman.....again

Tv Shows

• Supes: 3
• Bats: If Adam West's one count, will be 1 :D

Winner: Ok this round goes for Supes >:(

Animated Movies:

• Supes: 3 by himself (One of those the upcoming) , 5 as part of the cast (JL and S/B movies), 1 in Showcase TOTAL: 9
• Bats: 8 by himself ! and 5 as part of the cast TOTAL: 13

Winner: Let me guess...... Batman? *looks at numbers* Oh my I was right!

Final Results: Batman 3 - Superman 1

Oh and also he doesn't just win on quantity of media, but for also get more money for them.

EAT THAT SUPES!!! (I did it and checked Wikipedia for making it sure, I NEED get a life)

PS: Cartoons just are to 90' to now, The rest is too horribly funny to take it seriously.

PS2: I'm not that insane to look for videogames quantity, that's more than I can count with my hands' fingers

on video games. don't worry. Batman takes it still as well as sales.

and according to this site, Batman also has more appearance in comics than Superman.

Name	Gender	Origin	Publishers	Issues	Last Edit
	Batmanfirst appears in Detective Comics #27	Male	Human	DC Comics	8,453	04/12/2012
	Supermanfirst appears in Action Comics #1	Male	Alien	DC Comics	8,423	04/12/2012

@sinestro_GL: Depends a lot also because Batman is more likely to do a Animated stuff, while Superman is more useful to Life-Action Series, both are good at movies but DC had kinda give up on Supes till Superman Returns (2006 was the last one and the upcoming is for 2013, lot of time between both)

Batman-bigger franchise, Superman-Bigger name

Coincidence that Batman and Superman have a nearly-equal number of comic book appearances?

@Static Shock said:

Coincidence that Batman and Superman have a nearly-equal number of comic book appearances?

And have their own specialty comics, Detective and Action

@RedOwl_1:

Are we forgetting something?

Batman at the moment and by a large margin.

@sinestro_GL: That's what I'm talking about when I say Superman beats Batman.......in live-action series, I mean put that against 60' Batman...............COMPLETELY DEFEATED

Currently, Batman is more bigger than Superman. With a successful tv show in the past decade, two spectacularly amazing and best-selling games, box office shattering films, and best selling comics, Batman is leagues above Superman in popularity as of now.

@RedOwl_1: Sorry...misread your comment. I thought you said that they gave up on Supes in all forms of non-comics media until Superman Returns. Got it now (Y)

@Strider92: @Deranged Midget: question goes back to include all time past since 1939...so would your answers still be the Caped Crusader?

@sinestro_GL said:

@Strider92: @Deranged Midget: question goes back to include all time past since 1939...so would your answers still be the Caped Crusader?

Of course not, hence the reason I used "at the moment" in my reply. If you're talking overall then it's supes.

I'm not a huge fan of Batman but he's the clear winner.

Nolan's Movies & the Arkham games are the biggest two (recently) and they blow anything Superman has done. This is just an opinion however.

@Strider92: It's actually a very interesting thing to consider. Bat-Mania was largely apparent throughout the 1960s, and Batman's popularity also soared in the 1990s thanks to Batman (1989) and Batman: TAS.

@sinestro_GL: The problem with Supes now is that the hero hype has evolved. Characters like Batman, X-men, Spider-man etc... have been able to evolve a long with it because they are down to earth and in keeping with the modern idea of a superhero. Superman because of his vast array of abilities makes it very hard to make a believable story out of him. I'm looking forward to see if Nolan can prove me wrong though.

@sinestro_GL: My original statement still stands for the most part. He's held superior popularity since the early 90's, but he barely edges Superman out.

@Strider92 said:

@sinestro_GL: The problem with Supes now is that the hero hype has evolved. Characters like Batman, X-men, Spider-man etc... have been able to evolve a long with it because they are down to earth and in keeping with the modern idea of a superhero. Superman because of his vast array of abilities makes it very hard to make a believable story out of him. I'm looking forward to see if Nolan can prove me wrong though.

Batman.

Batman easily....................

Donner/Reeve was classic and AdamWest Bat series was good but a bit too weak, comical and campy

Reeve movies after the first 2 were never that good

Dean Cain and the woman from Desperate Housewives BORING Smallville TERRIBLE SH*T

Burton gave Batman real life putting it ahead of Superman

The 90s animated Batman great

Singers movie sucked

Comicbook Superman is annoying and outdated in today's modern gritty entertainment, Superboy Prime worse and all the clones bizarro, supercats, superdogs etc are boring

Batman has great video games

Brave n the Bold is a fun toon

Nolan made 2 of the best comic book movies ever

Batman stomps

@Hoboseid said:

Donner/Reeve was classic and AdamWest Bat series was good but a bit too weak, comical and campy

Reeve movies after the first 2 were never that good

Dean Cain and the woman from Desperate Housewives BORING Smallville TERRIBLE SH*T

Burton gave Batman real life putting it ahead of Superman

The 90s animated Batman great

Singers movie sucked

Comicbook Superman is annoying and outdated in today's modern gritty entertainment, Superboy Prime worse and all the clones bizarro, supercats, superdogs etc are boring

Batman has great video games

Brave n the Bold is a fun toon

Nolan made 2 of the best comic book movies ever

Batman stomps

I have to disagree. Even though I'm not sure who has the bigger franchise, I can be pretty confident in saying that no one will stomp.

For the sake of argument, I will promote some points for Superman.

Superman had the George Reeves live-action series in the 1950s that was hugely popular, as well as the 1940s cartoon from Fleischer studios - also hugely popular.

The Man of Steel also had a radio show and his comics in the 1940s ans 1950s were being printed and sold at insane amounts.

Batman had also taken a huge dip in popularity and it was contemplated that DC cancel his title altogether.

Superman has also had a larger number of television shows (live action and animated) - whereas Batman has struggled as far as live-action television is concerned (although the Adam West Batman was very popular as well) and Kal El's popularity again soared with the 1978 film.

However, it is very true that as we get to the mid-to-late 1980s, Batman's popularity has been second to none, enjoying a considerable amount of success. However, the question is whether this is enough to offset the above?

Also, the question isn't about who had the better television show, or which film was better...but who has the biggest franchise. By the way, I see you also forgot to mention the Joel Schumacher Batman films - not very fair to be on Superman's case without mentioning Bat's epic fails as well.