Warning! Spoilers for Superman: Red and Blue #3
Batman and Superman are normally allies, but the two have also formed a bit of a rivalry over the years, and their sense of competition evidently extends to their superhero lairs. However, Superman just ended the debate once and for all by proving that his Fortress of Solitude is way better than the Batcave.
Superman: Red & Blue is a relatively new series from DC featuring various short stories about the Man of Steel. While each story has a self-contained narrative, they all showcase core aspects of Superman’s character. The fourth entry in issue #3, titled “Something To Hold On To” by Nick Spencer, takes place in Superman’s iconic Fortress of Solitude - except this time, it's not so solitary. The Man of Steel is actually chaperoning a school field trip for a class of young children, showing them all his Fortress has to offer. Needless to say, the kids get way more than they bargained for.
After the children finish playing with Krypto the Superdog, Superman leads them deeper into the Fortress. As they continue the tour, one of the kids asks the Man of Steel what the Batcave is like. “Damp,” he replies. “And you know what it doesn’t have? These.” Superman then proceeds to give all the kids special rings that allow them to fly through the Fortress. As they soar, he shows them some of the other amenities in his base, including the Bottle City of Kandor, robot chess, various alien creatures, and a device that can give glimpses into possible futures. Kind of puts Batman’s giant penny to shame.
The Batcave gets points for being undeniably iconic, but the Fortress of Solitude has it beat in just about every way. Batman’s lair was built more for function, whereas Superman’s was made to commemorate the cultures of Krypton and other alien races. The Fortress is essentially a museum - full of alien technology and wildlife that doesn’t exist anywhere else on Earth. In a way, due to the destruction of Krypton, the Fortress of Solitude is the last link Superman has to his people, and that personal connection gives it even more of an edge over the Batcave. Add in a sassy British butler and Clark would truly have Bruce beaten on all counts.
Batman and Superman’s lairs each fit their respective characters very well, but while serves Bruce's purposes, the Batcave is dark, damp, and depressing. In contrast, the Fortress of Solitude is just as functional in terms of appliances, but also has an air of amazement and wonder, and that makes it a far more interesting place.