-Man

We have discussed Frank Miller's position that Batman should be the primary American symbol, taking precedence over Superman in particular. One of the specific points of this vision concerns masculinity. Through Batman, Frank Miller introduces his idea of the ideal conception of masculinity.

Throughout the work, Batman shows his appreciation for dangerous activities. The opening panel sequence shows him recklessly pushing the maximum speed of some sort of transport. He later goes on to fight heavily armed criminals during his Return. His plan to capture Harvey Dent involves shooting a grappling hook into Dent's moving copter, swinging out into empty space and tackling the man into a building from free fall. When face with the mutant leader he doesn't use his tank's rubber bullets to prove superiority, he fights him in hand to hand combat.

At the climax of the series, Batman performs his most dangerous act yet; fighting Superman himself.  The text in the last panel on page 190 states his idea that "--It's way past time you learned-- what it means-- --to be a man--", but the image and the following one show Batman winding up and violently punching Superman's face. Miller posits that we learn manhood not only through combat and danger, but through exploring vulnerability and feeling pain. This sentiment doesn't extend past the first punch, however. Superman's narrative immediately picks up and the conversation shifts even when the kryptonite arrow really exposes Superman's vulnerability.

This all suggests that masculinity must be tested amongst equals. Superman's extra invulnerability invalidates his manhood normally and his weakness to kryptonite in the latter part of the fight does so in the negative. Miller sets up Batman as one who isn't afraid of combat with the various villains in the work and therefore occupies the apex of (male dominated) society.

We see the punch on Superman's face in the funeral scene. The Man of Steel shows some rust colored bruising on the left side of his mouth, the same side that Batman's punch landed. Perhaps his recognition of Batman's power influences his decision to leave him alone.