Upon the recent release of the DC juggernaut “Batman v. Superman,” everyone, even those unfamiliar with the superhero storylines, seems to be choosing which caped crusader to stand behind.

 
For some it’s a no-brainer, while others are torn on where their allegiance truly lies. Comic book movie fans will be put to the same test soon as “Captain America: Civil War” inches closer to hitting big screens everywhere. Yet, I don’t believe the uproar will be as deafening.

 
So, Supes and Bats going toe-to-toe, luckily, didn’t put me in between a chunk of kryptonite and a hard place. I knew without a doubt which hero I’d be backing.

 
Batman.

 
Why? Well, I personally believe Batman is better than Superman. Batman has such an enthralling backstory, and the demons he fights everyday make him such a compelling and intriguing character. Plus, there are the villains he tussles with that make the story all the more colorful.

 
Batman, to me, is the more relatable of the two. I mean, I’m no orphaned billionaire with a knack for punching thugs’ lights out, but Batman is human, a human being that makes choices and is haunted by some of them.

 
Superman is not human. He’s an alien, and he’s practically immortal. This distances him from humanity and some people like that about him, but to me, his storyline’s a bit too far fetched. OK, Batman’s can get a little out there as well, but it’s not as hard to believe.

 
Batman is gritty and dark, another aspect that draws me to him. Superman is too squeaky clean. He’s almost too perfect.

 
I know in “Man of Steel” they tried desperately to make Superman possess the same murky atmosphere of the Nolan “Batman” franchise, but it seemed a tad forced. It was like they were shoving Superman into a mold he didn’t quite fit into, a square peg into a round hole. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure Superman has faced dark times as much as the Dark Knight, as all superheroes do, but perhaps America and pop culture has painted Superman as the poster boy of plastic realism.

 
He’s what we should aspire to be, but we’ll never get there, we’ll never accomplish his level of immortality and perfection. Batman, on the other hand, has hit rock bottom again and again—whether it’s watching his parents get gunned down, losing his faithful sidekicks, getting his spine snapped by Bane or tirelessly trying to reel Gotham out of the cesspool it always sinks into.
Superman’s only real chink in his armor is kryptonite. Batman, while having an inheritance and gadgets galore, is more vulnerable, and it’s in these precarious moments where he becomes especially great.

 
Batman is pretty hardcore, but even he makes mistakes. He regrets, and is often haunted by guilt. Yet, he’s still considered one of the ultimate heroes of all time. He’s not as immaculate as Superman, but he’s still adored by millions of dedicated fans, me included. We love him for his vulnerability and the moments where he has to dig deep into himself in order to conquer evil.

 
Batman and Superman are definite polar opposites. One will greet you with a million dollar smile and perhaps a salute, while the other will bombard you with a sandpaper growl demanding you “swear to him” or that “he’s not the one wearing hockey pads”. They’re both superheroes and both have fans supporting them. However, when going head to head, my money will always be on the vengeance–the night–the Batman.