I always try to give at least two different publishers some love in this weekly feature, but this week, Marvel absolutely ripped apart the competition. Sure, there were some pretty solid action sequences in issues I read over in the worlds of DC and Valiant, but man-oh-man, Marvel brought their "A" game with crazy fights this week and took all three featured spots. Once you're done with the read, be sure to chime in with your own top three.
Venom vs. Toxin
Writer Cullen Bunn has been dangling a rematch between these two in front of our anxious-looking faces for months now. Well, the moment has finally come and watching the two symbiotes clash was nothing short of joyous and a frenetic festival of fun. Masterfully illustrated by Declan Shalvey,aka the best symbiote artist ever, the melee begins with Toxin immediately taking an edge. With just one move, Toxin uses his ginormous claws to tear into Flash's chest.
If you know anything about symbiotes, then you know Toxin has a huge physical advantage over his grandpa. It's not debatable at all, really. Toxin's simply stronger. Thankfully, this isn't one of those totally cliche cases where the hero manages to hold their own against the odds and defy all logic. No, sir, this is Toxin brutally and relentlessly manipulating the fight and all Venom can do is try to survive the onslaught.
Eventually, Flash gives into his anger and lets the symbiote take the wheel. But even then, it's a futile effort. There's some vicious material I've left out (because buy the comic, that's why) yet not even severing one of Toxin's limbs is nearly enough to stop him in his tracks. Instead, Brock remains steadfast and goes in for the killing blow.
If you want to know what happens next, I hugely recommend buying the issue. Yeah, I'm a tease, but this book is totally worth it, so you're welcome.
Daredevil vs. Ikari
Mark Waid has introduced Daredevil's latest villain in an issue that's basically one big ol' brawl -- so as you can imagine, I kind of loved it. Intended to be his equal and even sporting a radar sense of his own, the two come face-to-face in an empty warehouse. Upon realizing his foe had the location in mind to benefit his own radar, Daredevil took the fight to the streets -- hoping he'd fare better with more distractions hitting their radars. The agile duo end up on a wire, a moment which took me back to Daredevil's bout with Bullseye way back in DAREDEVIL #181.
Their conflict then crashes into various parts of the city, harshly colliding with anything and everything in the area. It becomes clear this is not a fight Murdock will take in a direct and fair encounter. The brawl, which captions claim have consisted of at least a hundred strikes, has taken too big of a toll on his body. It's then that Daredevil spots a tactical advantage: a sporting goods store.
Under the impression his enemy is relatively new to his radar and the overwhelmingness that comes with it, the Man Without Fear sets off the fire sprinklers, hoping it would give him the advantage he needs to conclude this slugfest. The water hinders his radar, so Murdock hopes this renders him virtually invisible to Ikari. Waid then hits us with a real shocker: Ikari's not blind. How one can see and have radar is beyond me, but I suppose we'll see how that makes sense in the coming issue. From there, Murdock receives a humiliating beatdown and he's down for the count.
Luckily for Hornhead, Ikari suffers from something many villains do -- an inflated ego. He won't kill Matt when he's down and out. No, that's too easy. Alternatively, he uses this moment to strike fear into the supposedly fearless man -- saying that he won't kill him this second, but that moment will come soon enough.
Wolverine vs. Tribesmen and the Great Apes of the Temple
This book is called SAVAGE WOLVERINE for a reason, folks. The short X-Man has been put through the meat grinder in this series, but now he has a moment to be the one dishing out all of the pain. These poor dudes never stood a chance and seeing the wounds his claws inflict is harsh stuff. Seriously, look at that one guy's side essentially explode.
The tribal people were easy pickings and Wolverine quikcly moves onto the boss level: absolutely massive gorillas. Logan has no real trouble dancing around a strike or two and laying his claws into his target, but the issue is there's a few of 'em and eventually, those huge arms and fists crash against Wolverine's adamantium-laced body. He's a durable little fellow, but he's by no means invincible.
We're talking about an X-Man that has gone toe-to-toe with the Hulk, though. A character who has made the Thing fall to his knees and scream in pain. These gorillas? They're certainly tough looking and have a size advantage, but the outcome of this fight was obvious right when it started. After some ample slicing, dicing and stabbing, Wolverine dispatches the beasts in a painfully violent manner.
I can't be the only one who wants this book to put him at odds with Kraven, right? Come on, now that he's got a healing factor and Logan's in the Savage Land it seems like an opportunity that shouldn't be missed.
Honorable Mentions
- Roy vs. Essence
- Bloodshot / Harbingers vs. Gunmen
- X-O Manowar vs. The Vine
- Superman vs. Two-Face
- Spider-Man vs. Avengers
Gregg Katzman is a freelance writer for Comic Vine and IGN Entertainment. This is the part where he shamelessly plugs his Google+ and Twitter page in hopes of getting a new follower or two.