Batman and Dirty Harry are surprisingly similar in method. Both fight against the forces of evil, and they aren’t afraid to skirt the law to get the job done. So, then, this comes down to their choice of weaponry. Harry has his trademark .44 Magnum while Batman favors hand-to-hand combat and his trust utility belt. Will Harry catch Batman off-guard and get in a few well-placed shots, or will the Caped Crusader take down Callahan before he has time to make anyone’s day?
Harry Callahan
Clint Eastwood, “Dirty Harry”
Few have done more for the Smith & Wesson Model 29 .44 Magnum revolver than “Dirty” Harry Callahan. An inspector in the San Francisco Police Department, Callahan’s an icon among those who root for the vigilantes in our society; he’s appeared in five flicks and, in each of them, he’s gladly doled out his patented brand of lethal justice. Harry’s not an easy guy to like, and the feeling’s mutual; his former partner, Frank DeGeorgio, once offered a laundry list’s worth of racial epithets to describe everyone Callahan hates. But, then, police work ain’t a popularity contest, is it, asshole?
Definitive badass moment: When he offers a brief monologue to a young punk, concluding it by wondering aloud if his new friend feels lucky.
Classic badass line: “Go ahead: make my day.”
Seed: #1
Occupation: Police inspector
Strengths: Speaks softly, carries a big-ass gun, and hates just about everyone
Weaknesses: His steadfast desire to make sure innocent bystanders don’t get hurt means he’s not that cold-blooded
Bracket History: Defeated #16 Travis Bickle in round 2, 80%-20%
Batman
Christian Bale, “Batman Begins“
Many would argue that Batman is nothing without his toys, but just try and mess with the guy and see if he doesn’t punch you in the face. He’s been angry for nearly 20 years, and dressing up in a tight, neoprene batsuit every night certainly doesn’t help with one’s psychosis. Okay, so he’s afraid of bats, but everyone has their weaknesses, right? And Batman uses that fear to transform himself into one of the coolest vigilantes to ever walk the Earth. Plus, he’s got an array of gadgets that would make even Superman jealous, including a sweet ride that’s one part Corvette and one part tank.
Definitive badass moment: Privy to the Scarecrow’s hallucinogenic drug after having already been sprayed with it once, Batman turns the tables on the doc and gives him a taste of his own medicine. The result? The Dark Knight like you’ve never seen him before.
Classic badass line: “I won’t kill you, but I don’t have to save you.”
Seed: #8
Occupation: Caped Crusader
Strengths: Cunning, brave and has a gadget for every situation
Weaknesses: Borderline crazy, no real superpowers, afraid of bats
Bracket History: Defeated #9 Buffy Summers in round 2, 60%-40%
WINNER:
The marquee battle between Dirty Harry and Batman was certainly the most exciting of this round, with the Dark Knight eeking out a win over the Enforcer by just over 100 votes. Check out our Badass Bracket for all of the results!
