Superman and Spider-Man are today’s most famous superheroes. We’ve seen them grow from being ordinary individuals to powerful world defenders. We’ve witnessed them fight crime, exterminate monsters, go on a date, live normal lives and uphold justice. They’ve always been our favorite superheroes. And I believe you’ll agree with me when I say that they have already conquered the world. But if we were to make a comparison, who do you think will stand out? Will the Last Son of Krypton rule this battle? Or will your friendly neighborhood hero make his way to the top? Let the Ultimate Showdown begin!
Before we initiate the clash, let us first set the criteria for judging. The Ultimate Superhero will be based on 3 factors: Superhero Superiority (physical prowess and far-fetched ability), Superhero Victory (conquest over battles and triumph over villains) and Human Relatability (audience sympathy and hero viability).
Superhero Superiority
Clark Kent isn’t human (we all know that!). He is an alien from Planet Krypton who has extreme abilities far from what anyone can imagine. The Man of Steel, as he is fondly called, has god-like senses. He has x-ray, heat and microscopic vision, super strength, stamina, hearing, intelligence and speed. He is vulnerable to nothing but a kryptonite. He has regeneration and the gift of flight. He is DC Comics’ Most Valuable Player, always at the forefront of every battle.
Peter Parker, on the one hand, is a human/spider (as his Spider-Man name suggests!). He has super strength, stamina, speed, intelligence and reflexes. Like a spider, he can cling to most surfaces and sense danger through his Spider Sense. He can produce and shoot extremely strong and resilient spider-web strings. He is Marvel’s Flagship Character, always ready to save the day.
With regard to physical prowess, the point goes to Superman. Even though Spider-Man is extremely fast, Superman can still outrun him and crush him into pieces. However, according to the School of Chemistry in the University of Bristol in UK (2002), Spider Silk is incredibly tougher and stronger by weight than steel. Hence, if Spider-Man will be able to weave lots of web and place Superman inside it, then he may win the duel. Nevertheless, given Superman’s strength and heat vision, he’ll still win over Spidey.
Superhero Victory
The Man of Tomorrow has already faced a list of supervillains from normal human criminals to intergalactic monsters and demons. On top of the list are Lex Luthor and Doomsday (the one who killed Superman). Lots of wars have already been fought alongside prominent warriors and members of the Justice League (Batman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern).
The Web-Slinger has also defeated a lot of mischievous creatures. Some of them are Green Goblin and Venom. Aside from guarding the city of New York, he’s also partnered with other heroes to protect the planet (e.g. X-Men, The Avengers, Fantastic Four).
For this round, the point goes for both of them. They’ve been Earth’s mightiest guardians and they’ve sacrificed their lives to save mankind. Besides, they don’t reside in the same universe so occurrences aren’t the same and levels of hazard and conquest are indeterminate. As far as their own world is concerned, they’ve given so much impact to their respective societies.
Human Relatability
Clark Kent is an alien, but does that make him less of a person? Legions of fans worldwide can attest to the fact that being an alien won’t matter when your purpose isn’t invasion but protection. Superman has become an icon. He has contributed to pop culture more than any member of the superhero race. People sympathize with him.
Peter Parker is a human. Box-Office records tell us that Spider-Man draws more attention from the crowd. Is it because the human race can relate to him more?
Superman is a symbol of idealism – perfection. He has all the powers a normal person dreams of. On the contrary, Spider-Man is a symbol of hope – compassion. We all know him as the nerdy guy, who accidentally became a superhuman due to a spider bite. I believe his story is more relatable mainly because he started out first as a weakling until he amazingly transforms as the world’s most popular superhero. The storyline is more viable in the sense that incorporates hope and the idea of optimism amidst crisis in life. The concept of perfection is overbearing, but the idea of hope is awe-inspiring.
For this round, human relatability is dominated by Spider-Man.
The Ultimate Verdict
After 3 diverse rounds of battle, we are now to find out the last man standing. Is Superman the better guy? Or is Spider-Man the better hero?
The 3 rounds tell us that we have a tie! (Oh Man!)
I guess it only goes to show that the 2 of them are superheroes in their own right. They are leaders in their own universe. They have guarded us from danger and they have given their all to every duel. But if I were to choose only one (taking into consideration my biases and preferences), I’ll go for Spider-Man.
Superman is a cool guy, but Spider-Man (and everything that surrounds him) is much cooler than anything else I know. But I’m a big fan of both of them. I’ve collected several comics and watched series and movies of them. Truly, they are on top of everyone else.
At the end of the day, let us remember that being a superhero does not only rely on your superpowers. More importantly, the idea of heroism lies on how you make use of your gifts, your concern for the welfare of everybody and the inclusion of compassion in your reformation. Without doubt, Superman and Spider-Man embody that idea.
