KAPOW! Batman and Superman fans face-off at premiere
We talked to two of Hamilton’s largest Superman and Batman fans ahead of the midnight premiere of Batman vs Superman and found some surprisingly passionate opinions!
Fans of Batman and Superman will be flying into cinemas this week as two of the most popular comic book superheroes are set to fight each other on the big screen for the first time.
And while the title Superman vs Batman may promise an evenly pitched battle between the two heroes some fans are in no doubt who the victor of any fight would be.
“The answer is pretty obvious if it’s a straight-up fight,” said Hamilton man Keith Samara.
The 29-year-old graphic designer, bodybuilder, and owner of two independent United Video outlets in Te Awamutu and Otorohanga describes himself as having been a fan of Superman since before he was old enough to read.
He credits Superman with everything from inspiring his bodybuilding to improving his reading.
He now has an extensive collection of hundreds of dollars worth of action figures and memorabilia, including a backlit Burger King sign from a Superman sales promotion.
Samara’s father even gave him the middle name of ‘Kal El’ – the name Superman was given on his home planet of Krypton – that Keith now proudly wears on his car licence plate.
“My parents thought the licence plate was pretty crazy.”
So it should come as no surprise that he firmly backs Superman to win in any real battle – “but then, Batman cheats.”
From the other corner, Sash Nixon, a 38-year-old Hamiltonian filmmaker and Batman fan who has created several comic-book inspired films, thinks Batman’s wealth may be how he ends up beating Superman.
But despite the superhero’s fortune Nixon sees Batman as being the more relatable figure for most.
“I could actually apply myself and become Batman. All I need is, you know, money and determination.”
That is a process he attempted when he was 6 years old and asked his mother to make him a Batman cape, then tried to get her to correct her design.
“After she gave me a clip around the ear, she changed it.”
Both Samara and Nixon are planning on attending the first midnight screenings of the movie on Wednesday night.
Hoyts Metro duty manager Rochelle Monk said customers had turning up hoping to see the movie since advance sales went on sale “about a month ago”, although sales were still less than those for the latest Star Wars movie.
