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At several points in Jasper Jones, Charlie Bucktin tries to convince Jeffrey Lu that Batman is superior to Superman. He argues that although Superman is stronger, faster, and generally invincible, Batman’s lack of superpowers actually makes him more, not less impressive. Because Batman is mortal, he requires tremendous bravery and drive to continue fighting crime—Superman’s adventures, on the other hand, have no stakes, since he’s always stronger than his opponents. Silvey makes the symbolism of this exchange very clear. Charlie’s fears and insecurities, like Batman’s, don’t disqualify him from acts of heroism—on the contrary, they make these acts even more impressive. By the end of the book, Charlie has concluded that he shouldn’t try to eliminate his fears, but instead he should learn to accept them and live with them, recognizing that they’re a crucial part of his character.
Batman versus Superman Quotes in Jasper Jones
The Jasper Jones quotes below all refer to the symbol of Batman versus Superman. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 2
Quotes
He doesn’t need superpowers. That’s my point. You’re an idiot. He can hold his own. He has an alter ego. He has a costume. He fights for Truth and Justice. He has arch enemies. And he does all this without any weird mutations. He’s just really determined. That’s what makes him interesting. The fact that with enough dedication and desire, we could all be Batman. Batmen. Batpeople. And that’s what makes him the best.
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Batman versus Superman Symbol Timeline in Jasper Jones
The timeline below shows where the symbol Batman versus Superman appears in Jasper Jones. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
...Jeffrey good-naturedly insults Charlie by calling him an idiot and a Communist. Charlie argues that Batman is the best superhero—despite the fact that he has no superpowers, he is highly intelligent,...
(full context)
...live there: bees, wasps, hornets, and more. Jeffrey and Charlie joke with each other about Batman and bees, and then part ways. Charlie notices that Jeffrey’s father yells something angry and...
(full context)
Chapter 7
...back—they need to project confidence. Charlie sees how false Jasper’s confidence is—it’s as superficial as Batman’s cape. Nevertheless, he follows Jasper to the front of the building.
(full context)
...have to learn how to “carry fear” and live with fear. Charlie remembers talking about Batman with Jeffrey—much like Bruce Wayne, people have to learn to achieve things while also struggling...
(full context)
