Batman (Dick) vs Year One Batman (Bruce)

So as we know Bruce returned to Gotham after his training when he was 25, and first became Batman several months later, making more or less the same age Dick was when he dawned the cowl... but at this time in their careers, when they both dawned the cowl for the first time, Dick was a much superior crime fighter and martial artist than Bruce was. Is the only thing that makes Bruce superior to Dick his age? Is there any point where the two are equal in age / experience that Bruce would be superior to his protege? Who's max potential is better? When Dick is the same age Bruce is known, who will be superior? Bruce is largely considered the by the finest human specimen in DC, but at equal points in there development it seems to me that Dick has always been two steps a head of Bruce. Discuss.

Batman (Dick) vs Year One Batman (Bruce), and hypothetical 35 year old Dick Grayson vs current Batman.

Bruce is more intelligent, obsessed and borderline insane in his approach with being the best he can be, so while Dick is now better than Bruce was at the same age, a huge factor being the fact that Bruce himself trained him and he was fighting Trigon before Bruce even started his career as Batman, he will never get as far as Bruce has gotten, in any shape. The rate of progression is exponentially different.

Wouldn't Dick have better technology currently than Bruce did when he first started?

Originally posted by srankmissingnin
So as we know Bruce returned to Gotham after his training when he was 25, and first became Batman several months later, making more or less the same age Dick was when he dawned the cowl... but at this time in their careers, when they both dawned the cowl for the first time, Dick was a much superior crime fighter and martial artist than Bruce was. Is the only thing that makes Bruce superior to Dick his age? Is there any point where the two are equal in age / experience that Bruce would be superior to his protege? Who's max potential is better? When Dick is the same age Bruce is known, who will be superior? Bruce is largely considered the by the finest human specimen in DC, but at equal points in there development it seems to me that Dick has always been two steps a head of Bruce. Discuss.

Batman (Dick) vs Year One Batman (Bruce), and hypothetical 35 year old Dick Grayson vs current Batman.

Originally posted by Philosophía
Bruce is more intelligent, obsessed and borderline insane in his approach with being the best he can be, so while Dick is now better than Bruce was at the same age, a huge factor being the fact that Bruce himself trained him and he was fighting Trigon before Bruce even started his career as Batman, he will never get as far as Bruce has gotten, in any shape. The rate of progression is exponentially different.

Agreed.

dick would win--too big of a headstart. year one was one of my favourite batman arcs ever.

Originally posted by Philosophía
Bruce is more intelligent, obsessed and borderline insane in his approach with being the best he can be, so while Dick is now better than Bruce was at the same age, a huge factor being the fact that Bruce himself trained him and he was fighting Trigon before Bruce even started his career as Batman, he will never get as far as Bruce has gotten, in any shape. The rate of progression is exponentially different.

So do you feel Dick will hit a glass ceiling that unlike Bruce he wont have the drive to pass, or just that there will start to be a drastic decline in his rate of progress compared to Bruce?

it depends on whether or not they ever retire bruce 😛