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It occurred to me as I watched Batman Begins, specifically near the end (I'll try not to put in any spoilers here, but if I do accidently you're warned here). It suddenly hit me what the mjor differences and similarities there are between Bats and Supes. The thing is, both have secret identities, both of which are somewhat slightly themselves, but only to an extent. The real difference is in the lies. Bruce Wayne is a cover for Batman, but he's not really real, at least, not the one he normally gives. His true identity is Batman. I find it interesting that he puts on a mask to become himself, but in doing so, he becomes a lie to everyone else.
Superman on the other hand, is not entirely either of his characters. He is simply himself. The Clark is the weaker human side he gets to be, and the Superman is the heart with the strength to do what needs be done. I've heard people remarking on how he's really Clark putting on Superman, or really Superman putting on Clark, but really, he's both, getting to show and strengthen the different parts of himself. There is even a third, more solitary person in his being Kal. I think he could, and would, go a bit crazy if he were not able to be all of those things. If he ever was unable to be Clark, or Clark-like as he only needs to be Clark where people know who he is, he would lose some of his humanity. And if he were unable to help people as Superman, he would lose his heart, probably grow cold and uncaring a bit. And if he couldn't have the occasional solitude... I recently read the newest issue of Superman, though maybe it was last month's now, but anyway, I saw him in some south american rain forest, rebuilding his Fortress of Solitude, which was apparently destroyed in the arctic. Anyway, I saw him in a village full of simple people, where he got to be whole, as it were. He didn't have to worry about secret identities or anything. He was in uniform, but he got to be all three of his identities in one, at least for a little while, and it was all him.
Batman, he's not really like that. He might not be fully Batman, but he's not really Bruce either. He's more a third person who becomes Batman most of the time. I must think more on this.
Superman on the other hand, is not entirely either of his characters. He is simply himself. The Clark is the weaker human side he gets to be, and the Superman is the heart with the strength to do what needs be done. I've heard people remarking on how he's really Clark putting on Superman, or really Superman putting on Clark, but really, he's both, getting to show and strengthen the different parts of himself. There is even a third, more solitary person in his being Kal. I think he could, and would, go a bit crazy if he were not able to be all of those things. If he ever was unable to be Clark, or Clark-like as he only needs to be Clark where people know who he is, he would lose some of his humanity. And if he were unable to help people as Superman, he would lose his heart, probably grow cold and uncaring a bit. And if he couldn't have the occasional solitude... I recently read the newest issue of Superman, though maybe it was last month's now, but anyway, I saw him in some south american rain forest, rebuilding his Fortress of Solitude, which was apparently destroyed in the arctic. Anyway, I saw him in a village full of simple people, where he got to be whole, as it were. He didn't have to worry about secret identities or anything. He was in uniform, but he got to be all three of his identities in one, at least for a little while, and it was all him.
Batman, he's not really like that. He might not be fully Batman, but he's not really Bruce either. He's more a third person who becomes Batman most of the time. I must think more on this.
