Widely hailed as the King of Horror, Stephen King has earned his title by crafting stories that push the boundaries of the human psyche, blending spine-tingling terror with profound psychological depth. However, King’s talents extend beyond horror, as he has also explored genres like fantasy, sci-fi, and comics. It's no surprise, then, that the legendary writer has thoughts on superheroes, and his remarks about one DC hero make it clear they’re his favorite.

It almost feels like fate that the King of Horror would be drawn to a hero who wields fear as a weapon.

Even some of the most devoted Stephen King fans may not be aware of his work in comics, with the writer having contributed to some of the most popular characters of all time across both Marvel and DC. In 1985, King ed other icons such as George R. R. Martin to write for the special Heroes for Hope: Starring the X-Men #1.

King later ventured into DC, penning the backup story in the first five issues of Scott Snyder's horror comic American Vampire (2010). However, it was in 1986, through his foreword titled “Why I Chose Batman” in the landmark 400th issue of Batman, that it became clear the Dark Knight held a special place in King’s heart above all other heroes.

Sorry, Superman: But Stephen King’s Loyalty Belongs to Batman

Main Cover by Bill Sienkiewicz for Batman #400 (1986)

Stephen King’s foreword reads like a love letter to the Dark Knight, specifically addressing the age-old question, “Batman or Superman?” Whenever someone says they’re a DC fan, this question inevitably comes up, and King was no exception. In his foreword, he offers a brief but clear explanation of why he “always chose Batman” over the Man of Steel. While he its to liking Superman, there was something about the character that didn’t quite click with him. Superman felt too “preordained.” To King, Superman was “too strong” and “too capable,” possessing what he saw as an unfair advantage, while Batman was “just a guy.”

King acknowledged that Batman was rich, strong, and smart, but the key difference was that “he couldn’t fly.” This element was perhaps the biggest reason King landed firmly on Team Batman. He recalled the famous tagline from the 1978 Superman film, “You Will Believe A Man Can Fly,” and itted, “Well, I didn’t.” In contrast, he found it easy to buy into Batman swinging down from a rope into the Joker’s lair. Ultimately, when it came to choosing between Batman and Superman, King favored the Dark Knight because there was a stronger sense of believability that he could connect with.

The King of Horror’s Praise for Batman’s Fear Tactics

Cover B Gabriele Dell'Otto Variant for Absolute Batman #10 (2025)

Continuing his discussion of his favoritism for Batman, Stephen King noted, “Maybe the real reason Batman appealed more to me than the other guy [was because] there was something sinister about him.” He went on to describe how much he enjoyed the “creature of the night” persona that Batman embodied, stating rather poetically, “You saw him fighting crime in the day once in a while, but mostly he was a shape in the shadows or a grim-faced man-thing crashing through a window at some small hour of the morning, his cape floating around him like a great shadow.”

King also highlighted the fear that Batman brings with him, saying, “In those Batman-busts-in s [in comics], you almost always saw a horrid species of fear on the faces of the hoods. Yeah, that’s right, they should look scared. I’d sure be scared if something like that busted in on me. I’d be scared even if I wasn’t doing something wrong.” The fact that King ires this element of fear is perhaps the least surprising of all his revelations in the essay. It almost feels like fate that the King of Horror would be drawn to a hero who wields fear as a weapon.

Stephen King Chose Batman Over Superman, But Would He Pick Him Over Every Hero?

Main Cover by Hayden Sherman for Batman: Dark Patterns #3 (2025)

While King’s foreword in Batman #400 primarily focused on why he favored Batman over Superman, there is no denying that the ion with which he speaks about the hero reveals his clear favoritism for the Dark Knight. Since fans don’t see King writing forewords that wax poetry about other heroes, it’s safe to assume he would choose Batman every time, even when compared to other iconic characters from both DC and Marvel. This sentiment is further solidified by the simple yet profound way Stephen King ends his foreword, addressing Batman directly: “Big Guy, I’m on your side. I always was.”

Batman #400 is available from DC Comics!