Zack Snyder's big-budget Batman vs Superman spectacle was a bladder-testing 153 minutes long, but a new study suggests it should have been over in seconds.
Student-led research at the University of Leicester into superhero powers found Superman the most powerful of the 12 they looked at, while Batman came in last.
Wolverine, Mystique and Thor couldn't match Superman, but would likely make the quarter-finals of any superhero knockout competition; while the Flash, Spider-Man, The Lizard, Iron Man, Silver Surfer, Iceman and Black Bolt would fight it out for spots five through 11.
While Marvel's Black Bolt has the most explosive attack, with his "high energy output capable of resulting in planetary annihilation", DC's solar-powered Superman has a wider range of powers at his disposal.
"Superman, if obeying the 'Law of Energy Conservation', could exhibit a calculated stored solar energy output of 7.07x10^5 joules per second for his 'Super Flare' attack," the university said in a statement.
"It is also shown that the Man of Steel, in theory, could have higher density muscle tissue than the average human which could aid in several of his superhuman abilities."
His ability to fly suggests his cells can convert the sun's rays with 656000 percent efficiency.
How each of the superheros stacks up - click to enlarge (University of Leicester)
The only potential weakness the students could find was that Superman's innermost cells probably wouldn't get much sunlight to turn into energy -- but having alien physiology, this might not even be a problem.
Meanwhile Batman -- arguably the coolest superhero with his brooding persona, tragic backstory and array of gadgets -- would kill himself every time he tried to land a jump.
"Though his cape proves to be a vital utility when gliding in comic and media depictions, the research suggests that when gliding, Batman reaches velocities of around 80km/h -- which could be fatal upon landing.
"This inability to perform even the simplest of superhero feats suggest Batman would struggle to get off the ground, let alone save Gotham from the likes of The Joker and Bane."
Spider-Man would constantly be hitting the ground as his web expands, while Iron Man's suit would need to be about three metres thick to withstand the punishment it gets in the films.
The Flash would probably cause more harm than good every time he rescued someone at speed, and his shoes would burn completely off once he got to a speed of 1400km/h.
The research was published in the Journal of Interdisciplinary Science Topics and the Journal of Physics Special Topics, and arguably a better use of money than the $350 million spent on Snyder's Batman vs Superman: Dawn of Justice critical flop.
(University of Leicester)
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