If you’re one of the many who are hotly anticipating “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” then you’ve probably seen the trailers (here’s the latest one), watched the Comic-Con panel from last weekend, and have been keeping close tabs on the development of the movie since it was first announced. It’s not difficult to understand why a movie featuring Batman and Superman fighting each other would be a matter of great national interest. But, if you aren’t as keen on your comic book history, or haven’t read many DC comic books in general, you may be curious about the history between these superheroes and wondering how often they’ve been at odds with each other in the past.
Luckily, comic book enthusiast Rob Jefferson, who runs the popular YouTube channel Comics Explained, has given us a pretty detailed and concise examination of the history of Batman and Superman as well as the battles they’ve had with each other. In 11 minutes, Rob explains how the initial creation of Batman, by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, was the result of wanting to create a superhero who was the exact opposite of Superman in many ways. But for several decades, the only times the two superheroes ever met was to fight in tandem with each other. This did not change until Frank Miller’s “The Dark Knight Returns” comic book miniseries, released back in 1986, which pit Batman and Superman against each other in the final, climactic battle.
Then, the video explains how Miller’s comic book inspired other subsequent Batman/Superman battles, leading up to the eventual ‘Batman v Superman’ movie which comes out next March. Overall, it’s a pretty thorough overview and should give everyone a better understanding of what to expect in eight months. Check it out below.