People say that Batman only exceeds Superman in being a tactician and detective, but other than that, Superman is far smarter, like a supercomputer.
Is Batman really smarter than Superman?
There are many aspects to intelligence and both characters intellect fluctuate depending on writers but generally Batman is smarter in the categories related to being a detective i.e. deductive reasoning and what not. An example of this is when Batman deduced Amazo was being repaired by nanites and Superman admits he has no idea how someone can know that without X-Ray vision:
Superman on the other hand is generally better at processing information like, as you mentioned in OP, a supercomputer:
Superman is definitely smarter than Batman in most areas.
Sex Luthor considers only Superman as an intellectual rival, Sex Luthor is the smartest man on earth.
@emperor777: Proof?
Superman has the potential to have more knowledge than batman due to his mind being exponentially faster than a super computer. well, that and the fact that superman in the new 52 has tinkered with alien tech more than batman has. but batman is still smarter.
Are there any actual SCANS from comic books instead of comments that prove that Batman is smarter than Superman? All I see are comments, but not the books themselves.
Superman only exceeds Batman in rote memory (raw data) and arithmetic calculation. In terms of intuition, knowledge (not raw data), pattern solving, analysis, and psychological insight, he is vastly outmatched by Batman. Almost every author that has covered these characters has tried to make this clear to readers. The fact that Superman has access to alien technology and history does not make him smarter than Batman anymore than if he found a newspaper from the future and used it to bet on horse races.
Believe it or not, the real life Kim Peek had information processing capabilities very similar to the fictional Superman (though unlike Superman, he was deficient other cognitive areas). He had an IQ of about 87. Intuition and pattern solving play a greater role in intelligence than calculating arithmetic and rote memorization. Superman could read volumes of information faster than Batman, but his comprehension and ability to notice patterns in that information is not on the same level. The two of them working together have a very unfair advantage as Superman can make inhumanly accurate observations and Batman can draw conclusions from those observations. They would be banned from any casino in the world. LOL.
For example, in the "Son of Krypton" storyline Clark Kent explains that Lex Luthor (a human, like Bruce Wayne) IS more intelligent, even though Clark Kent can process information faster due to his alien mind. Clark acknowledges that he lacks the creativity, discipline, and focus of Luthor. He was clearly in awe of Luthor's intellect, though he was appalled at Luthor's lack of conscience.
According to most authors, Superman is brilliant, but he is not on Batman's level.
and a more practical thinker while Superman is too much of a boy-scout.Superman can rely on his powers though.
this isn't a very useful question.
the word "smart" is too vague.
Intelligence
Depends on the version.
I want to know the general thing. What is usually depicted in most comics.
He's Batman.
I'm black
Here's the thing, Superman thinks fast. But think fast is nothing but to have a "longer amount of time" to think. Think of it this way, if you give a retarded person the ability to think fast. Maybe for example, 100 times faster than a normal human being. If it would take a person to invent a phone in a year, do you think the retarded person can invent a phone just because he had 100 years to invent it? No. But thankfully, Superman is a really smart person even without his super thinking.
And here's the other thing, Batman is suppose to be the "brain" of the league. The writers are still human, they still have limits. If they are to give a brilliant thing for Superman to do, it is really hard for them to think of anything even SMARTER to do, therefore they often make Superman less intelligent than his own comic when they're together. Superman did do smarter thing in his own comic, but if the question is if Superman meant to be smarter than Batman? Then no, Superman is not smarter than Batman.
@xlr87t3: Superman IS smarter. He outsmarts Gods and Supercomputers all the time!! He outsmarts Lex Luthor and Myxy always.
Meantime Batman can't stop the Joker, a Robin died on his clock, had contingency plans against his friends but never bothered to have a contingency in case those plans were stolen by one of his enemies. Batman is an idiot if you think hard about it. lol, don't kill me.
@jackiplier: what issue did Superman say that about Batman?
I seem to remember a panel where Superman looks at Batman's tech and admits that he sees several ways to improve it, but doesn't want to hurt Batman's pride.
EDIT: Found it, or at least one where he admits he can improve the tech. Could've sworn that specific other one exists though.
@xlr87t3: Superman IS smarter. He outsmarts Gods and Supercomputers all the time!! He outsmarts Lex Luthor and Myxy always.
Meantime Batman can't stop the Joker, a Robin died on his clock, had contingency plans against his friends but never bothered to have a contingency in case those plans were stolen by one of his enemies. Batman is an idiot if you think hard about it. lol, don't kill me.
I've alerted the public to the underlined and italicized portion of your comment. The rioters are on their way. Happy Purge Day.
@xlr87t3: Superman IS smarter. He outsmarts Gods and Supercomputers all the time!! He outsmarts Lex Luthor and Myxy always.
Meantime Batman can't stop the Joker, a Robin died on his clock, had contingency plans against his friends but never bothered to have a contingency in case those plans were stolen by one of his enemies. Batman is an idiot if you think hard about it. lol, don't kill me.
*raises pitchfork*
Smarter as in technical knowledge.
Bruce is the better tactician and strategist.
But, yeah.
Depends on who's writing Clark.
Clark can calculate faster but Bruce is better at lateral thinking so that he has the upper hand either way.
If Batman is the second smartest on DC earth than Marvel blows them out of the water with their geniuses.
@laughingbatman: You've just started a war!
xd
@laughingbatman: You've just started a war!
xd
Yes, but Superman is probably more knowledgeable in certain areas because he can read and absorb knowledge faster and has perfect memory IIRC. Both are geniuses though.
@jackiplier: what issue did Superman say that about Batman?
It's been a while, I forgot. I remember briefly, it was during when Superman lost his power and Batman amnesia. He was talking to Grayson.
@marvelz0mbie:I found it, Grayson Annual 2
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