Is it just me or are all the debates about Superman Vs Batman absolutely stupid? It seems obvious to me that there can only ever be one winner between the two and the examples given always seem so off base and abstract that they make no sense. I think Batman would win, every time, hands down, and here is why.
History
Every time Batman and Superman have collided in battle against each other, Batman has won. This is a historical fact that should be observed when ever discussing Batman vs Superman.
How Did Batman Win?
It's simple, really, in Frank Millers The Dark Knight Returns, Bruce Wayne is an old man who decides to once again dawn his old mask. He faces Superman, who is still young and as powerful as ever, and tells Superman that he is a puppet for the government. They get into a fight, later on, and Batman dies of a heart attack. How is that winning, you ask? Because he had beaten Superman pretty badly. Superman might have survived but it was Batman who made him fall to his knees. It was Batman who had his hands around Superman's neck as he died. Batman enlists the Green Arrow, a special type of Batman costume with extreme padding to soften Superman's punches, and a high energy, super bad ass tank version of the Bat mobile.
Batman thinks a lot more than Superman, and Superman knows this. He willingly gave Bruce a chunk of Kryptonite, just in case he ever becomes evil. Even Superman knows that Batman would not hesitate to take him out, if he has to.
There have been other battles, but in the end the DKR fight is probably the best example of Bruce's brains vs Superman's powers.
Why Did Batman Win?
When writing a story, one has to imagine the most dramatic story possible. The hero or protagonist of a story needs to be up against the world, and win.
Batman is a character who is defined by his sense of right and wrong. This black and white vision of justice is what creates a persona that is cold and impersonal. He has no emotional value in his friends and if one is doing something wrong, he will correct the problem.
Superman is defined by his sense of doing good. He is a boy scout type guy who always wants to do the right thing. This is why Superman is a character who will always do what he is told.
In Batman's cynical world view, in the narrations of his story, it is easy to see a situation where the boy scout will be mislead and forced to do evil, or would become a corrupt leader.
In Superman's optimistic world view, and story narrations, one can't imagine a world where his closest friend would turn on him so completely that Superman needs to eliminate Batman.
In the End
This is where it gets obvious. When Batman fights Superman it is like David vs Goliath. It is biblical and mythological. When Superman fights Batman it is like he is a bully picking on someone who is seen as weaker and less skillful. It's like Mike Tyson challenging Sylvester Stallone because he thought Rocky was an OK boxer.
