Shadows Inc. said:
Valiance said:
What's that quote? Any sufficiently advanced technology can be perceived as magic? I'm paraphrasing here but Batman is a super-hero just by kicking ass physically and with his gadgets.
I'd say his bat-cave/car/equipment/money alone would make him a superhero.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
-Arthur C. Clarke
"Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced."
-Barry Gehm
I'll always say however, "Any technology, no matter how primitive, is perceived as magic to those who don't understand it."
(I can't believe I remembered the quotes and names exactly)
By the way, my take on the matter is no, Batman, Ironman, Green Lanturn, The Beetle, Catwoman (debatable as a hero), Etc. are not superheros.
You may argue sufficiently to any effect that any of the 'non-superhero' characters on your list are 'super' or not.
For example: Green Lantern - Yes, the ring is technically a conduit for an energy source and is thus a form of technology. However, it is the will of the person wearing it that enables the ring to function. Thus, you could say that all of the Green Lanterns have 'super' willpower, because the rings choose them for their exceptional ('superhuman', in the case of human GLs) will.
Batman, Blue Beetle, Catwoman, and Iron Man are even hazier on their use of technology as a 'super' ability. One could argue, however, that their ability to use and develop these advanced technologies is itself a super power. Granted, it is kind of a weak argument to say that advanced technology is akin to magic, but it's a valid philosophy that many share.
Of the group mentioned, I believe that Batman still does have a superpower in spite of his use of advanced technology - his detective ability. His ability to know instinctually what criminals are up to, and what their next moves will be surpasses even super-powered heroes like Superman. You could chalk this up as a byproduct of the same intellect he uses to come up with gadgets, but it is worth noting that the amount of
investigation Batman does is minimal when compared to his innate 'crime-sense'.
Investigation = the act of gathering evidence and deducing a sequence of events.
Super Detective Sense = knowing that the Joker is going to kidnap the mayor because you find a deck of cards minus a King and a Joker at the scene of a crime.