Iron Man VS. Batman Options

[Trebor]

Where as Stark actually has alienated a fair number of his fellow heroes, most of which would now only come to his aid in the event of a world shattering crisis.

[TwinkyMaster]

Where's Zatanna when you need her?

[Trebor]

Plus we all know Iron Man sucks at magic.

[retro22]

Yes. Keep in mind, he built all of his equipment himself, and had a successful technology company until it was suborned from him. The "Countdown to Infinite Crisis" special had a screen in which Brother Eye listed various heroes' special abilities; Blue Beetle's was listed as "Genius IQ: 192". Keep in mind, average is the range from 90-110. Genius is considered to start at 140.

Wow, that IQ makes my 142 look measly (though I haven't taken a recent test...that is relatively out of date...kinda want to see my updated scores)

Where as Stark actually has alienated a fair number of his fellow heroes, most of which would now only come to his aid in the event of a world shattering crisis.

but he can always count on war machine and pepper potts...I hope

Plus we all know Iron Man sucks at magic.

Took someone long enough


And do DC and Marvel have stat rankings on these people? Like a ranking system of sorts.
So that we could get the official word on this matter. Or perhaps just make our own ranking system and then mail it off to them to see if they concur? *shrugs* maybe I'm just a bit overzealous.

[TwinkyMaster]

Wow, that IQ makes my 142 look measly (though I haven't taken a recent test...that is relatively out of date...kinda want to see my updated scores)

Let us know when you start creating super hero tech.

And do DC and Marvel have stat rankings on these people? Like a ranking system of sorts.
So that we could get the official word on this matter. Or perhaps just make our own ranking system and then mail it off to them to see if they concur? *shrugs* maybe I'm just a bit overzealous.

Marvel does on their website - Here's Iron Man's page. You gotta love that background image they used for him. Very heroic.

As for DC, I don't think so really. They had an RPG from the late 80's/early 90's but it wouldn't really be valid nowadays. I think you pretty much have to go off of one of Marvel's ranking systems and take your best guess at where DC characters would stack up on it. I've done that with a few of the Marvel RPGs I've bought over the years.

[KilljoyBob]

Really, the question of who each hero could call to his aid is invalid anyway. Then, the fight is no longer "Batman vs. Iron Man," it's "JLA vs. The Avengers."

[K26dp]

It varies a bit depending on continuity; Silver Age was definitely a genius, as he was given super-intelligence by the yellow sun in addition to his other abilities. This is why Silver Age Krypto was essentially human intelligence as well; he was a super-intelligent dog. Post-Crisis, this does not appear to be the case, but you've still got a person who is able to figure out alien technology with a minimum of documentation and create and use all sorts of devices for himself, so genius is still probably valid.

CO pretty much nailed it. In the Silver Age, Superman was always building something up in the Fortress to aid mankind (much to the chagrin of Lex Luthor). He made robot duplicates of himself (as both Superman and Clark Kent to aid in the keeping of his secret identity) as well as Lois, Perry, Jimmy, and Batman. This is reflected in Superman: The Animated Series; watch the first season, and count how many times he figures out some technological or scientific thing that baffles STAR Labs.

Post-Crisis this was downplayed, along with all of his other powers. I attribute this also to the popularity of Dark Knight Returns, in which Miller depicts essentially a meathead all-American Superman. However, post-Infinite Crisis, the re-powered Superman seems to regain his heightened analytical skills. In Morrison's All-Star Superman, he takes the "techno wiz" Silver Age Superman and magnifies times 20... the Fortress Of Solitude is a technological marvel.

[retro22]

He made robot duplicates of himself (as both Superman and Clark Kent to aid in the keeping of his secret identity) as well as Lois, Perry, Jimmy, and Batman.

Would that be Cyborg superman, or is that something completely different?

[Chaomancer Omega]

Cyborg Superman is different, and just a teensy bit complicated:

Short gist is that DC did an arc of Superman which was a bit of a Fantastic Four pastiche, with the twists that all the powers were fairly negative, and all the characters wound up dying despite Superman's efforts to save them. With one exception: Hank Henshaw. Superman thought he had died, but this turned out to not be the case. Henshaw has the ability to manipulate metal, and his spirit stayed alive even when separated from his body. Eventually he found an old Kryptonian spaceship and used that to build himself into the Cyborg Superman, as he had come to blame Superman for all of his problems and wanted revenge by destroying Superman's reputation while the real thing was dead. Didn't work, due to Superman's actual resurrection. All these years later, he still holds a grudge, and is still looking for a way to die himself.

[Revil Fox]

and is still looking for a way to die dye himself.

Fixed that for you. The guy really wants to be part of the Blueman Group.

[retro22]

Wow, that's quite a bit different. Very insightful, thank you CO.

back, more on topic at least:

Who does batman get his gadgets from, or does he build them himself as stark does?

As I just remember in TDK that there was a store house, but I can't remember for the life of me who his supplier was.

[Chaomancer Omega]

He designs them himself, and orders the necessary components. Some from his own companies. Of course, some designs are modified from existing Wayne Enterprises projects.

[Revil Fox]

When I was younger, I had two different short story compilations about Batman. I can't remember what they were called, but one of the stories was about the guy that makes the costumes for Batman and his villains. I think. It was a long time ago.



A quick side note: If anyone remembers the books I'm talking about, please let me know. One of them contained one of my favorite Joker stories ever, where the Joker, while hiding out from the cops in a hotel room, decides to call a "party line" and convinces one of the people on the line to kill himself (or tries, at least. I can't remember if he actually gets him to do it). I would LOVE to own that book again.

I just remembered another Joker story, where Batman has to go undercover as a stand-up comedian because the Joker is killing shitty stand-up acts. That one was also very good.

[retro22]

Were they supposed to be children's books, or just books you had when you were younger?

That'll just help my search when I go looking for them(once I get back to regular net access).

[TwinkyMaster]

Tales of the Batman

The story you're thinking of Revil is called "Neutral Ground". About a shop owner named Kittlemeier who repairs and builds new costumes and gadgets for Batman and a few less reputable figures. One of the things I loved the most about this short story was that none of the clients are identified by name but by very distinct and obvious (to Batman readers) characteristics. This was also one of my favorite stories from the collection and is actually included as an excerpt in the Amazon listing.

This was a really great book. My dad used to read me one story each night before bed. I'd highly recommend it to anyone interested in some less conventional Batman stories. I also remember the other story Revil's talking about where Batman disguises himself as a nightclub comedian (I don't remember if he ever went onstage though) but it was a very cool example of one of Batman's many talents. Much like Batman: The Animated Series, the short stories were excellent at showcasing the different abilities that Batman is a master of. I don't remember the other Joker story where he tries to get someone to kill themself but we may not have gotten to that story.

Here's a list of the stories contained and their authors:

Neutral Ground - Mike Resnick
Command Performance - Howard Goldsmith
Subway Jack - Joe R. Lansdale
Northwestward - Isaac Asimov
Museum Piece - Mike Resnick
Wise Men of Gotham - Edward Wellen
Robber's Roost - Max Allen Collins
Brothers in Crime - William F Nolan
Death of the Dreammaster - Robert Sheckley
On a Beautiful Summer's Day, He Was - Robert R. McCammon
The Joker's War - Robert Sheckley
Endangered Species - Greg Cox
Copycat - John Gregory Betancourt
A Harlot's Tears - Ed Gorman
Reformed - John Gregory Betancourt
Vulture: A Tale of the Penguin - Steve Rasnictem