When Batman and Superman went head-to-head for the first time in the DCEU, the Dark Knight could have utilized one of the Man of Steel's weaknesses that would have ended the fight before it even began. The two heroes' partnership is one of the most iconic in all of comics, but they have fought several times, from Injustice to The Dark Knight Returns. At first, fans may think matching the two up is unfair because Superman is one of the most powerful characters of all time. What they may not realize is that Batman seldom fails. The critically mixed Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice is still one of the most iconic moments Clark and Bruce have battled each other in recent years. Batman wins by utilizing several weaknesses to take Superman down, from sound dampeners to kryptonite.

What Batman doesn't realize is that he doesn't need to try as hard as he does. Superman is willing to team up with Batman from the moment he lands in front of him. Superman's good heart is a vulnerability that gives Batman the edge; when they fight, Superman willingly tries not to hurt Bruce, while Batman unrelentingly exhausts Clark as much as he can. But when Superman loses his temper, which he's known to do, Batman needs to be on his guard. Although magic has not been introduced to the DCEU as a Kryptonian weakness at this time, there is one method Batman does not use when fighting Superman.

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Kryptonians do not have powers on Krypton in the comics or the DCEU. In Man of Steel, Jor-El even tells Kal-El that Earth's yellow sun gives Superman his abilities. Of course, this means Batman could use energy from Krypton's red sun to dampen Superman as well, without having to go through all the trouble of stealing the kryptonite rock from Lex Luthor. Unlike kryptonite, red solar radiation causes Superman no pain; it only reverts him to a human-like state. Incidentally, Batman has used red solar-powered weapons against Superman in the comics. The best example is in Superman: Red Son. In this story, Kal-El lands in Soviet Russia instead of Kansas, becoming an agent of the USSR. Batman becomes a vigilante to strike against his government and Superman. When the two foes meet, Batman immediately powers up high-energy red solar lamps. For the first time, Batman makes every hit feel like Superman is merely another common street thug. Furthermore, it makes Superman feel vulnerable on the inside, perhaps for the first time in his life.

Batman Superman Fight Red Son Comic

In the New 52's Batman/Superman #20, by Greg Pak and Ardian Syaf, Batman uses a red sun generator against some hostile Kryptonians from the Phantom Zone. Bruce explains that Martian Manhunter extracted a drop of Krypton's red sun and used it for a superpower suppressor. Batman and Superman are on the same side in this story, but the Kryptonians return to the Phantom Zone within seconds after the generator turns on.

In the DCEU, having Batman use red sunlight may not have eased the critical response to the movie, but it could have created a more visionary fight scene. The effects of Krypton's red sun against Superman would have certainly looked immaculate if directed by Zack Snyder. Moreover, Bruce's entire goal in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice is to make Clark feel he is neither a god nor a man. Red solar energy could have made for a more interesting dynamic, as Superman would have to fight like a human for the first time in his life. It would have proven how, although Batman doesn't have powers, he's "more of a man" than Superman is in the DCEU.

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