Superman < Batman < Iron Man

[Maxperson]

I doubt it makes much difference, but for what it's worth Tony also has more money than Bruce.

It doesn't make any difference whatsoever. Neither one drives themselves anywhere near broke with their creations. It's like saying that Tony's swimming pool has 10,000 gallons more water than Bruce's. You don't use all of the water in the pool when swimming. The rest of the water just sits there.

 

[delericho]

It doesn't make any difference whatsoever. Neither one drives themselves anywhere near broke with their creations.

I'm not so sure. Per "Dark Knight Rises", Bruce's money supply is vulnerable, and Tony has both the expertise and the willingness to exploit something like that. Cut off the money supply, and you quickly cut off his supply of cool toys.

Bane's only real mistake in DKR was that he should have left someone watching Bruce - to make sure he was indeed watching that TV Bane left for him. Said goon would then have been conveniently well-placed to deal with Bruce's magical healing ability when they manifested.

But in terms of Tony vs Bruce, I do think it would pretty quickly shift away from the physical arena and into a more business-oriented arena. Because both those guys are pretty dependent on their gear, and thus on the money that provides that gear.

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

Tony would become impatient and start with parent jokes.

I can see Tony easily winning the insult battle.

 

[Tonguez]

It doesn't make any difference whatsoever. Neither one drives themselves anywhere near broke with their creations. It's like saying that Tony's swimming pool has 10,000 gallons more water than Bruce's. You don't use all of the water in the pool when swimming. The rest of the water just sits there.

I always liked the line when Bruce offers to organise a fundraiser for Harvey Dent

Bruce: Well, I'm sold. Dent, I'm going to throw you a fundraiser.
Harvey: That's very nice of you Bruce, but I'm not up for election for another three years. [Bruce interrupts]
Bruce: No, no, no, you don't understand. One party with my pals, and you'll never have to worry about another cent.​

I can see Tony easily winning the insult battle.

Batman doesn't do insults, he does intimidation. Batman would find and exploit Starks fears and weaknesses and then apply them tactically.

 

[Umbran]

Batman doesn't do insults, he does intimidation.

Stark's ego makes him largely immune to intimidation. He faces off with gods, *without his armor* without blinking.

Batman would find and exploit Starks fears and weaknesses and then apply them tactically.

Looking back, I find one of Stark's fortes is, "having one more thing up my sleeve you don't know about". He doesn't stick with one set of armor for long, and he is always changing, improving, and swapping bits out, so knowing his exact capabilities, strengths, and weaknesses is difficult.

As for his fears - the guy is a (usually) recovered alcoholic. He's already been to the bottom. It is kind of hard to find something new to scare him with.

We can play this game for *weeks*

 

[Umbran]

But in terms of Tony vs Bruce, I do think it would pretty quickly shift away from the physical arena and into a more business-oriented arena. Because both those guys are pretty dependent on their gear, and thus on the money that provides that gear.

Both Bruce and Tony have, at various points in their careers, been without their financial backing. So, yes, both are vulnerable there.

 

[Homicidal_Squirrel]

Batman doesn't do insults, he does intimidation. Batman would find and exploit Starks fears and weaknesses and then apply them tactically.

Yeah, I'm not sure how good Batman really is at scaring and intimidating people. He dresses up as a bat, so criminals can "share his fear." That would be great in a non-super-powered universe with beings that look far scarier than Batman. Batman wouldn't be able to figure out Iron Man's fears, not because he isn't smart enough, but because when it comes to fear, Batman is lazy and just figures he can make people afraid of what he is afraid. Also, Iron Man probably isn't afraid of much. At least nothing hat Batman can actually use. If you really think about it, Iron Man has faced some pretty scary enemies. I mean, Fin Fang Foom is a freaking giant dragon monster thing, and Stark didn't seem afraid. What is Batman going to do to try and scare him?

 

[Maxperson]

I'm not so sure. Per "Dark Knight Rises", Bruce's money supply is vulnerable, and Tony has both the expertise and the willingness to exploit something like that. Cut off the money supply, and you quickly cut off his supply of cool toys.

Bane's only real mistake in DKR was that he should have left someone watching Bruce - to make sure he was indeed watching that TV Bane left for him. Said goon would then have been conveniently well-placed to deal with Bruce's magical healing ability when they manifested.

But in terms of Tony vs Bruce, I do think it would pretty quickly shift away from the physical arena and into a more business-oriented arena. Because both those guys are pretty dependent on their gear, and thus on the money that provides that gear.

Outside of Dark Knight Rises I haven't known Bruce to be vulnerable like that. Movies take liberties and I wouldn't place too much stock in that aspect. Bruce is far, far more ruthless than Tony every will be, in every arena. However, if you want to pull movies into it, Stark lost control of his business to Stane, so it's a wash

I just googled and in the New Avengers as of just a few months ago, Tony is broke. No idea why or for how long.

And Umbran is right. We can do this for days.

 

[Umbran]

I just googled and in the New Avengers as of just a few months ago, Tony is broke. No idea why or for how long.

The real reason why is that you get better stories when you shake up what is assumed to be a 'given' for a character. Since, 'rich' is a given for both, over the course of their history, each has had to make do without their moneybags.

And, of course, each has come back from that same state.

 

[Maxperson]

The real reason why is that you get better stories when you shake up what is assumed to be a 'given' for a character. Since, 'rich' is a given for both, over the course of their history, each has had to make do without their moneybags.

And, of course, each has come back from that same state.

Yeah, I knew why the writers went about making him broke. I don't know specifically why it happened in the comic.