Superman: Speeding Bullets is a 1993 DC Comics story published under the Elseworlds imprint. It deviates from Superman's usual story when Kal-El’s rocketship lands in Gotham rather than Smallville, and is found by Thomas and Martha Wayne.
Instead of Clark Kent, Kal-El becomes Bruce Wayne and is raised in wealth rather than farm life. Tragically however, Thomas and Martha Wayne are still gunned down by a crook when Bruce is young. The trauma and rage awakens Bruce's Kryptonian powers and when the boy grows up he uses them as Batman.
Compare Batman: In Darkest Knight, another Elseworlds title that mashes up Batman with another DC Comics hero (in this case, Green Lantern).
Tropes include:
- Beware the Superman: He's not evil but he does have Superman's powers and uses Batman's method of striking fear in the hearts of criminals.
- Composite Character: The main gimmick of this story.
- This continuity has Kal-El adopted by the Waynes and becoming Batman before taking on the identity of Superman. As a result, this version of Kal-El has the name Bruce Wayne and "our" Bruce Wayne doesn't seem to exist.
- Lex Luthor is revealed to have become a bald version of The Joker.
- Corrupt Corporate Executive: Lex Luthor, naturally. He bought out the Daily Planet to silence them after losing a libel suit and also attempts to illegally acquire Wayne Enterprises.
- In Spite of a Nail: Regardless of the different circumstances of Kal-El's life after he arrives on Earth, he still falls in love with Lois Lane and becomes Superman.
- Laser-Guided Karma: In a literal fashion, as Joe Chill was accidentally killed by Bruce using his heat vision after the crook murdered Thomas and Martha Wayne.
- Love Redeems: When she learns his identity, Lois encourages Bruce Wayne/Kal-El to move away from the 'terror hero' style of Batman to become the more optimistic, inspirational Superman.
- Nature Versus Nurture: the story skews a bit more towards Nature, as despite living through Batman's tragic backstory, Bruce/Kal-El still manages to retain his trademark tender heart and idealism... as well as his penchant for also using journalism to fight the good fight. He's even still clumsy in his civilian identity. And by the end, he still becomes Superman.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: Luthor sends men to break into Wayne Manor and intimidate Bruce Wayne into remaining in reclusion so that he can continue his current takeover of Gotham, but Luthor’s actions inspire Bruce to get out of the mansion as both himself and as Batman.
- Self-Made Orphan: It is implied that Luthor killed his own parents.
- That Man Is Dead: Near the end of the story, Lex Luthor declares his former self dead and embraces his new identity as the Joker.
- Took a Level in Badass: Kal-El undergoes Bruce Wayne's training and Batman has Superman's powers; whichever identity readers regard him as, he's clearly far beyond what either hero was capable of on their own.
- Traumatic Superpower Awakening: Bruce's superpowers first manifest right after witnessing his parents' death, when he burns Joe Chill to death with his heat vision.
- Would Hurt a Child: Shortly after killing his parents, Joe Chill tried to shoot Bruce. This backfired horribly when Bruce discovered he was immune to bullets and accidentally killed Joe Chill with his heat vision.
- What Could Have Been: In-universe Lois/the Narrator wonders what could have happened if Kal El's rocket landed in a different location and he was raised by someone else. One of the possibilities she considers is a Kansas Farmer.
