DCU: Why Bringing Superman into Reeves’ Bat-Verse isn’t a problem

3. Batman and Superman: Best of different worlds

There’s this misconception about the way Matt Reeves’ Bat-Verse is set up in terms of whether or not Superman can exist. Zoe Kravitz, Matt Reeves’ Catwoman, believes that the worlds of Batman and Superman “kind of just don’t work together,” according to CBR. She’s right; they don’t, which is why they are separated.

Take Gotham City, for example; there’s a brooding darkness the city exudes. It’s a city built in shadows and mysteries, with towering buildings looming over narrow alleys. Neon lights flicker, casting an eerie glow on a city with a crime rate higher than Snoop Dogg on 4/20. It’s a city where gargoyles sit perched on skyscrapers in the misty rain that drizzles down. There’s a gothic charm to the city that Batman protects through intimidation and fear.

Now, Metropolis. It’s the city of tomorrow, with vibrant energy coursing through its busy streets. Skyscrapers stretch toward the sky, adorned with shimmering glass panels that reflect sunlight like a beacon of hope. There’s lively rush hour traffic and laughter echoing in the parks. Protecting this city is the red-caped hero, someone who is more than a man; he’s a symbol of inspiration and hope, Superman.

So yeah, Clark Kent in Gotham City would not drop his identity or expose himself as the Man of Steel to take on Batman’s villains. Batman wouldn’t hop on a jet and try to live his life in Metropolis, taking on Brainiac or Metallo. Gotham’s Batman and Metropolis’ Superman aren’t anything alike, and that’s okay. They should feel different—that’s what we love about them.