The Caped Crusader, the Worldʼs Greatest Detective, the Dark Knight, defender of the innocent, crusader for justice, and defender of Gotham City. Now that sounds like a real superhero and someone to look up to. Playboy, Spare Parts Man, alcoholic; does that sound like someone youʼd call a hero? Batman and Iron Man are very different kinds of heroes, but the men behind the masks seem to be very similar on the surface. While Batman has a very strict moral code and refrains from killing anyone when he can, Iron Man has no qualms about killing. Both Bruce Wayne and Tony Stark are billionaires, both seem to be good with the ladies, and both are extremely intelligent. Neither have any real “super-powers,” but both used their intellect to make themselves into heroes. Bruce Wayne outside of his suit could hold his own in a fight with his martial arts background. Tony Stark, on the other hand, seems to have no desire to better himself in hand-to-hand combat. As a child, Bruce witnessed his parents being murdered and swore to keep the city safe. While being held hostage by a group of terrorists, Tony makes the Iron Man suit purely to save himself. After these life changing experiences, both take to the vigilante life but for different reasons: Bruce to protect citizens so that no one else would have to feel the pain he felt, and Tony for the recognition and fame. Letʼs talk about motivation. Batman began because a little boy was left devastated and traumatized. Bruce Wayne was orphaned as at the age of eight after seeing his parents gunned down by a mugger. That same night, Bruce swore to protect the city of Gotham from criminals so that no one else will feel the pain he felt in losing his parents.

So if you like your superheroes without morals and making up the rules as they go along, and just living for themselves, then Iron Man is your guy. Letʼs talk about motivation.