Back in 2002, TV Guide Magazine printed an article of the 50 most popular cartoon characters of all time. I wrote an essay a couple of years later, detailing my opinions of the TV Guide's poll choices. The following is an excerpt of that essay, pertaining to Superman and Batman.
"Numbers 40 and 39 present another fascinating statement about our perception of heroes. Coming in at number 40 is Batman, the socially conscious man’s hero; and at 39 is Superman, easily the personification of the whole concept of the super-hero, to the entire world. When you think of the ultimate superhero, Superman immediately comes to mind. He has the perfect combination of super-human might and social accountability, and that alone is why he deserves to be just a notch above the Caped Crusader.
Superman’s abilities are explained by the fact that he is from another planet, and crash lands on earth as an infant to be raised by a poor but loving rural American couple. He clearly becomes a hero because he already has inherent super powers, and decides to use them for the purpose of good. He has a special place at the head of the hallowed hall of heroes, because he is the idealized version of our great protector. He is physically impenetrable, and he is morally incorruptible.
By contrast, media surveys of people on the street have indicated that the hero they would most want to be like is Batman. This is probably because his particular brand of heroism seems more tangible to us, and more obtainable. The Batman is a mortal human being, exactly like the rest of us, only he is equipped with cool gadgets.
Batman’s beginnings were firmly planted on terra firma. He was born into wealth and privilege, right here on earth, and an act of violence robbed him of the only things his money could not replace—his parents. He was still a child—but old enough to remember the tragedy and be permanently affected by it. Batman does not become supernatural, and we are just lucky he happens to be on our side. His motivations for crime fighting are more selfish, and stem as much from vengeance than from a moral obligation to society. Batman kicks criminals’ asses simply because he hates them. That’s what makes him the common man’s hero: he represents the vigilante in all of us."
