THE CONTEST: KILLER FROST versus CAPTAIN AMERICA

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Captain America 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Killer Frost 5 (Professor)
Speed: Captain America 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Captain America 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Captain America 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Captain America 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Killer Frost 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Captain America 28 (Metahuman)

We've reached the final three and things are heating up! The last round tipped the balance in my favour, but The Grandmaster has been conserving points to deliver some of his biggest hitters at this late stage of The Contest!

Captain America is a Top 10 combatant who'll cost a whopping 938pts, but for that premium price The Grandmaster gets an A-list Avenger famous for his never-say-die fighting spirit!

Cap came into being when he received Dr. Erskine's experimental super-soldier serum to fight the Axis powers of World War II. He's defeated Red Skull's deadliest weapons of death and even punched Hitler in the face, but once thawed into the modern age of Marvels, he became as well known for standing his ground against unwinnable odds, as he did winning wars.

The net result of this is a 45.2% win rate recorded on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths. His total victories are higher than most, but for every ideological triumph against Master Man, MODOK & AIM, Neo-Nazis, or SHIELD -- he's been deadlocked against the likes of Black Panther, Nebula, Batman, -- or outright beaten, as against Thanos, The Destroyer, Mister Hyde, Iron Man, and Hulk!

What does this all mean? Cap's unwillingness to back down can be both a strength and a weakness. Its what allowed him to reacclimatize to the modern world after being frozen in ice for decades. You might be seeing where I'm going with this...

Killer Frost is another cheap recruit for the home team at only 31pts. Just like her nemesis Firestorm in the last round: Dr. Louise Lincoln has the potential to create a unique chemical reaction with her opponent. After all, who better to stop Captain America than someone who can freeze him in ice?

An irony if Killer Frost is that she actually consumes heat, as we saw in Green Lantern #127. That means she won't be easily melted, but also won't have a font to draw from against the otherwise powerless Captain America.

To beat Cap at his own game I think I'd have to spend up big, so this is a purely tactical choice. Just like the last round I genuinely think there's potential for my bargain pick to claim a win, but I'm also content just to conserve points for the final two battles that lie ahead!

The Verdict...
This is where you come in! The fate of The Contest must be decided by an impartial third party and that means you have to choose who wins each battle! Vote for the winner on Twitter or Patreon, and share your thoughts about how the fight goes and who wins in the comments below, or in a reply to any of those services.

Polls will last for one week. Once they've finished: results will be tallied and I'll include the best comments right here as the battle is decided. Did I manage to beat The Grandmaster's champion? Get voting right now!

THE CONTEST: FIRESTORM versus SHE-HULK

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: She-Hulk 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: She-Hulk 3 (Straight A)
Speed: She-Hulk 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: She-Hulk 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Firestorm 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: She-Hulk 4 (Trained)
Energy: Firestorm 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Firestorm 24 (Champion)

The scores are tied as we head into the final four and The Grandmaster is making his move!  He has a 949pt spending advantage after relying on unranked characters in many of the earlier rounds, including the last. Now he's dropping a whopping 808pts on a powerhouse player with plenty of topical appeal!

She-Hulk brings considerable raw power to the fight: possessing similarly gamma irradiated muscle to her famous cousin The Hulk!

For a long time she was distinguished by her ability to transform at will, while also retaining the intellect of her law practicing alter-ego, Jennifer Walters. That helped her outwit and outfight Champion of the Universe in the now-classic boxing rematch seen in She-Hulk #8!

"Shulkie" was always double-tough, but these days she's looking even more like her brawny cousin -- with a bigger punch to boot! Of course, with great gamma power comes a volatile mental state, which has forced the likes of Iron Man to stop her savage rampages in battles like Avengers #501.

In today's battle I'm going to propose it doesn't matter which version of She-Hulk shows up!

I'm planning to turn her gamma strength into a weakness by calling upon a criminally under-valued hero who's only going to cost me 29pts: Firestorm!

The Nuclear Man in question is Ronnie Raymond, whose exploits on the site have been limited to battles with Brimstone in Legends #1 and #2. In those cases he shared the Firestorm Matrix with Professor Martin Stein, whose mentoring made Ronnie Raymond a formidable hero able to exploit his abilities to fire energy blasts, and transmute matter on a molecular level!

Traditionally Firestorm cannot use his transmutation powers on organic life, but he certainly can safely siphon off radiation -- which I'm proposing is the perfect skill to sap She-Hulk of her super-strength. He might weaken her enough to deliver a finishing blast, or even trigger her transformation back to an easily detained Jennifer Walters!

The Verdict...
It was another battle of two very different opponents who create an ambitious and complex chemical equation. I thought I'd found a clever way to solve it with the nuclear powers of Firestorm, but my argument didn't really come into play as opinions developed over the course of a wildly swinging vote.

Michael Wagner was one of the initial swell of voters who went with She-Hulk, citing recent developments in comics to speak succinctly to the unshakeable endurance of gamma-irradiated heroes: "Hulks are Immortal".

Nazar Talk Comics saw a complicated match-up, but ultimately came down in favour of She-Hulk as well: "Ahh this is really complicated. I don't think Firestorm has any chance if we take into account the Bryne feats/powers. She-Hulk would one shot." He added "Ronnie definitely has the speed thing covered, he does however lack the right power to defeat her. Although he could incapacitate her in something where she won't be able to fight back. That is quite possible too."

The Man in the Tan Jacket was an early supporter for Firestorm, going further with his speed, aerial agility, and transmutational powers: "Firestorm would win this with relative ease. While She-Hulk is stronger and tougher, Firestorm is way faster and can fly; Shulkie would never lay a finger on him. One transmutation turning the air around She-Hulk into either mercury or iron oxide, and she's K.O.'ed."

Firestorm Fan didn't need convincing, seeing a similar conclusion with range playing a major factor: "She-Hulk is a great character, but Firestorm can attack from a distance with Molecule Man like powers. Firestorm’s got this."

Lester Medina Lopez looked to the recent Doomsday Clock series to put Firestorm's potential power into perspective: "Even Dr. Manhattan said he was one of the most powerful characters in DC."

A late influx of Firestorm votes flipped the Twitter result mid-way, buoying Firestorm to a strong 62.5% win. Technical problems continue to prevent the creation of Facebook polls.

That means Round 9 goes to Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

We'll be back for Round 10 sometime soon! Keep your eyes on The Contest for the latest fantasy fights and previous results. Be sure to visit Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon for even more updates & polling options. You can also weigh-in on this result, or share your thoughts right here in the comments.

Winner: Firestorm
The Grandmaster: - 4 (2051pts)
Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: - 5 (1888pts)

[Home]    Contest: Killer Croc vs Talisman >>

THE CONTEST: KILLER CROC versus TALISMAN

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Killer Croc 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Talisman 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Killer Croc 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Killer Croc 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Talisman 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Killer Croc 20 (Champion)

The Grandmaster spent big on the last battle and he pretty much schooled me in the process. Now he's back conserving points with a debut that'll cost him zero. I can't afford to waste my allowance at this stage of the game, but I don't want another loss. I've looked to the bottom of the ranks and I think I may've come up with an interesting challenger that will only cost me 6pts!

Talisman is Grandmaster's champion I need to beat. He's a mysterious Australian mystic who can convene with The Dreaming (or Dreamtime): an ethereal plane that allows him to perceive the world as an astral presence privy to the knowledge of creation and his aboriginal ancestors.

Like other characters who debuted in the original Contest of Champions: Talisman has rarely been seen since. His best known offensive capability is inflicting the disorienting effects of Dreamtime upon his opponents. He does this by channeling its energies through his sacred tjurunga - which happens to be a sound-making bullroarer compromised of two short sticks swung by a string tether.

The reference to tjurunga means Talisman is probably of the Central Australian people of the Arrernte. Their traditional land don't extend north enough for a lot of crocodile activity, but I'm willing to wager Killer Croc will fit in with the Australian outback just fine!

Waylon Jones was born with a skin condition that caused him to develop natural reptilian features. He was a carnival strongman before turning his natural physical might to a life of crime. We saw this basically human Killer Croc come off second-best against Bane in Batman #489, and the Dark Knight himself in Batman #621.

Over time Croc has been mutated further into a literal crocodile-man, as seen in Batman #608, enhancing his strength and durability considerably. His physical dominance should offer a significant advantage over Talisman, but it's also his animalistic mind that might defend him from Talisman's best attack. Killer Croc can sometimes be reduced to a savage beast and I think that will allow him to resist disorientation -- rampaging through to victory!

The Verdict...
Obscurity seemed to get the better of this one as voters struggled to make heads or tails out of The Grandmaster's little known champion.

There was some confusion with the better known Alpha Flight character, but all the information you could ever need was available right here, so it didn't matter in the end.

Drawing from that information; Nazar Talk Comics felt the case for Talisman and his mind altering powers was a little more convincing: "... I might go Talisman. From your explanation he seems to take the upper hand."

In the intervening week we examined Talisman's only notable battle to expand further upon his abilities. The esoteric nature of projecting Dreamtime showed clear potential to disorientate, but to what extent that could actually harm an opponent remained unclear.

Talisman appears to leave his body during Dreamtime projections, which seemingly limits their consequence to the mind. Further doubts about his offensive capabilities grow when noting he never actually rendered any definitive offensive attacks against Invisible Woman. She even managed to come to grips with his sense-altering plane, leaving questions about Talisman's fighting potential

Killer Croc ultimately presented a much less complicated option. His famous strength and animalistic mindset offered a direct course for 75% of a small Twitter turnout to declare him victor.

That means Round 8 mercifully goes to Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

We'll be back for Round 9 sometime soon! Keep your mind open to The Contest for the latest fantasy fights and all previous results. Be sure to visit Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon for even more updates & polling options. Let me know what you thought of this result there, or in the comments section.

Winner: Killer Croc
The Grandmaster: - 4 (2859pts)
Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: - 4 (1917pts)

<< Contest: Firestorm vs She-Hulk    [Home]    Contest: Cheetah vs Wolverine >>

THE CONTEST: CHEETAH versus WOLVERINE

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Cheetah 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Wolverine 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Cheetah 5 (Super-Human)
Stamina: Wolverine 6 (Generator)
Agility: Cheetah 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Wolverine 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)
Total: Wolverine 26 (Metahuman)

The Grandmaster has come out guns blazing after suffering the biggest defeat of The Contest in the last battle! He's conserved points thus far, but this time he's spending up big to unleash one of the toughest competitors we've seen -- #4 ranked Wolverine!

I want to keep the pressure on, but I have to be realistic: I've already spent 2538pts -- just over half my budget in half the contest. In contrast, The Grandmaster only spent 1200pts before this match, and I know he's still got major players to come. I can't afford to blow all my points against a foe I'll struggle to beat, but I think I've found a mid-range selection who could score an upset!

Cheetah is poised for big things as a major villain in the delayed Wonder Woman movie sequel, and has all the necessary attributes to match and defeat Wolverine!

Her keen feline senses and cat-like claws draw parallels to the X-Man, but it's her incredible super-human speed and agility that could really give Wolverine trouble.

Speed was the difference when The Gorgon claimed victory in Wolverine #20. We also saw Winter Soldier rely on evasion and cutthroat tactics with a blade to earn a win in Wolverine #39. Cheetah may've been beaten in Wonder Woman #29, but she ran rings around Wonder Woman -- and Wolverine will never see or smell her coming at that kind of speed!

Wolverine's famous healing factor obviously gives him the ability to endure considerable punishment, but it can also make him over confident and sloppy. A rogue Archangel took advantage of that, eviscerating him in X-Force #5. He risked similar defeat taking a sword in Blade #5.

Fantastic Four #374 showed us what happens when Wolverine loses control with his razor-sharp adamantium claws, but it's an increasingly rare occurrence. He sliced through Donald Pierce and Lady Deathstrike in X-Men #133 and Uncanny #205, but they show the exception of non-lethal strikes against cyborgs. The former also demonstrates how he might walk into a super-powered loss.

So far we've recorded a 1-1 record for Wolverine against DC crossovers. He got a controversial win over Lobo in Marvel versus DC #3, and only shared a loss to Deathstroke in Uncanny X-Men and New Teen Titans after being overrun by Parademons. We also can't ignore his strong record against a comparable arch-nemesis - Sabretooth. He's a clear favourite against the #423 ranked Cheetah, but I think there's a pretty good case to be made that in practice Cheetah could score the upset!

The Verdict (Updated August 21st)...

As much as there was a legitimate argument to be made -- there was really no denying the favourite in this match-up. Wolverine has long been known as "the best there is at what he does", and that may've led some would-be voters to see a foregone conclusion from the outset.

Response was disappointing, but those that offered their views saw some reason in picking the underdog (or undercat, as it were). Nazar Talk Comics submitted a balanced view with an eye for the difference makers: "... I give it to [Cheetah]. She is stronger and faster. Although Wolverine can react to her and tank her hits and even damage her a little, but at the end, I don't expect him to win..."

Talking Wonder Woman also saw an evenly matched bout, but felt that famous mutant healing factor would be the more likely ticket to surviving: "I think this would be a knock-down, drag-out fight that would go on for a long, long time. If Cheetah can keep her strength up she could win, but with Wolverine's healing if he can outlast her I think he's got it in the end."

I was seduced by the topical dark horse, but Twitter voters could not be convinced. With Facebook polls still out of commission, it was a devastating and overwhelming 72.7% majority in favour of the famous Marvel mutant!

That means Round 7 belongs to The Grandmaster!

We'll be back for Round 8 real soon! Keep your eyes trained to The Contest for the latest battles and past results. Be sure to visit Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon for regular updates and new polls. You can also let me know what you think about the result in the comments or social media!

Winner: Wolverine

The Grandmaster: - 4 (2859pts)

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: - 3 (1923pts)

<< Contest: Killer Croc vs Talisman    [Home]    Contest: Hawkman vs Peregrine >>

THE CONTEST: HAWKMAN versus PEREGRINE

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...

Strength: Hawkman 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Hawkman 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Hawkman 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Peregrine 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Hawkman 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Hawkman 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Hawkman 25 (Champion)

Conservative choices over the last couple of battles have cost me the lead. Now The Grandmaster is a win clear with only half The Contest to go! We've both been conserving points, but after the last round I've decided to throw caution to the wind to try to secure a much-needed victory.

Le Peregrine is the character to beat: Alain Racine is a freelancing hero who's worked with Silver Sable and The Avengers while defending France from peril. He wears a winged suit that allows him to fly at incredible speeds, and is also highly proficient in the art of savate. He combines this French style of kickboxing with aerial derring-do for a unique brand of offense.

Le Peregrine is another international hero who was introduced through the original Contest of Champions. He's presently unranked, which means he'll be the fourth fighter on The Grandmaster's team that costs 0pts! His unusual fighting style gave Angel a lot of trouble in the original Contest, but I'm spending big to buy a true master of the airways!

Currently ranked #34: Hawkman is a winged warrior whose brutal fighting style and use of weapons has seen him get the best of Superman in Superman/Batman #4, fight Doctor Fate to a draw in All-Star Squadron #4, clobber Solomon Grundy (with friends) in Hawkman #33, and literally disarm the Matter Master in Hawkman #23!

Hawkman lacks the finesse of Peregrine's martial arts, but his raw warrior spirit transcends a more precise approach. His Nth metal harness also greatly enhances his strength, durability, and ability to recover from punishment. His use of weapons such as heavy medieval nets and a fixed mace also equip him with plenty of methods for pinning Peregrine down.

Hawkman isn't invincible and has been beaten by a canny strategist & fighter like Deathstroke, but with a far more storied career, which includes memberships with both the Justice Society and Justice League, I think Hawkman's a shoo-in to beat the Frenchman.

The Verdict (Updated July 9th)...

I came into this one looking for a decisive win to keep the scores even heading into the second half of competition. Boy did I get one! Hawkman utterly annihilated Le Peregrine in one of the most one-sided results we've seen so far!

Chris A Field cut right to the heart of the matter: "I've actually heard of Hawkman, so he wins it easy." There's no denying the starpower of Hawkman drove voting up after a dismal turnout for the previous round and gave him a significant recognition advantage.

Jason Meunier agreed with the same outcome, but found a more nuanced comparison between the two characters. For him, it was a matter of experience with their respective arsenals: "Hawkman’s gear tends toward [medieval] weapons (mace, spear), while Peregrine goes more modern (darts, gas grenades. I say Hawkman’s experience and broader combat skills give him the edge."

It was difficult to find advocates for Le Peregrine, but Joseph Day came through to wave the flag for the French longshot: "We all know who's gonna win, so I'm voting for the underdog."

He also went on to make a compelling case on the basis of Le Peregrine's first appearance and mastery of unarmed martial arts: "Peregrine is a master of savate, the French version of kickboxing. He surprised the Angel using this skill, so I figure that Hawkman could be equally bested if they don't practice a similar sport on Thanagar." We looked at Peregrine vs Angel during the week!

Facebook polls continue to be non-functional, so it was up to Twitter to deliver a crushing 91.4% majority! Special thanks to longtime friend of the site Hawkworld for getting the word out, and everyone who took time to vote, comment, or share!

This means Round 6 goes to Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

We'll be back for Round 7 later this month! Keep your eyes on The Contest for the latest battles and past results. Hit up Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon for regular updates and new voting polls. You can also let me know what you think about the result in the comments or on social media!

Winner: Hawkman

The Grandmaster: - 3

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: - 3

<< Contest: Cheetah vs Wolverine    [Home]    Contest: Guardian vs Defensor >>

THE CONTEST: GUARDIAN versus DEFENSOR

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Draw 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Guardian 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Guardian 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Draw 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Guardian 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Guardian 4 (Trained)
Energy: Guardian 2 (Projectile)
Total: Guardian 25 (Champion)

Defensor is another one of The Grandmaster's unranked international recruits who debuted in the original Contest of Champions. Gabriel Sepulveda was a construction worker in Argentina who came upon an underground cavern containing a suit of armor & shield - each made of vibranium.

He was facing a paramilitary group when he was transported to the original Contest. He then went toe-to-toe with the more advanced armor of Iron Man, deflecting his repulsor rays. The rare metal of his suit can absorb incredible impacts, while internal mechanics also greatly increase his strength.

The last battle backfired when I tried playing a similarly powered opposite against The Grandmaster's champion. Now the scores are tied -- and he's still got a significant spending advantage for the fights ahead. I'm going to hold my nerve by matching another of his 0pt selections, but this time I'm going to try to grind it out with a challenger who is much closer in equivalence!

Guardian is another shield-wielding hero cut from the cloth of the finest creators of this kind: Joe Simon and Jack Kirby! His history has grown complicated over the years, but essentially Jim Harper has remained a powerful force for good, fighting out of Suicide Slum in Metropolis.

He was a natural athlete, honing his body to perfection to become the shield-wielding Guardian until retirement. His "perfect" genetics gained the notice of Project Cadmus, who successfully cloned him and launched the golden Guardian into a new modern era of heroics! A man of peak strength, speed, and agility keeping an eye on the dangerous and shadowy streets of Metropolis!

Both of these heroes have toiled in relative obscurity, but Guardian did recently make a comeback in the pages of Action Comics. That should bode well. His body armor isn't as impressive as Defensor's, but he has far greater experience and natural ability. I think that could be enough to get the win.

The Verdict (Updated June 11th)...

Voter turnout for the battle of shields was at an all-time low -- but I can't say I blame anyone. In case you didn't notice: there were some more important things going on in the world during the week of polling! I hope these fantasy fights can provide a fleeting moment of enjoyment and escapism, but the issues at the forefront of people's minds right now deserve our full attention.

I was also aware that obscurity might pose a problem. Guardian has a fairly limited cult following at the best of times, and Defensor only ever made a couple of appearances before disappearing from comics. We looked at one of those fights, from Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #2, and also managed to sneak in a Guardian appearance from Superman #695, but it was all very last minute.

With Facebook polls still non-functioning, there were only three votes to count from Twitter: a split result that determined Defensor the winner by a rounded majority of 66.7%.

In my estimation, Guardian is the more storied and skillful of the two combatants, but it may've been Defensor's superior hardware that got him over the line.

Vibranium's special properties have become quite famous thanks to the exploits of Black Panther. Its ability to withstand Iron Man's hi-tech assault, even in the form of Defensor's ancient armor, was likely a deciding factor for those voters who felt Defensor would win. Guardian is also essentially a super-cop, and I can see how that might not have been a popular choice at this moment in time.

That means Round 5, and the overall lead, goes to The Grandmaster!

We'll be back for Round 6 later this month! Keep your eyes on The Contest for the latest battles and past results. Hit up Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon for regular updates and new voting polls. You can also let me know what you think about the result in the comments or on social media!

Winner: Defensor

The Grandmaster: - 3

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: - 2

<< Contest: Hawkman vs Peregrine    [Home]     Contest: Green Lantern vs Darkstar >>

THE CONTEST: GREEN LANTERN versus DARKSTAR

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Draw 2 (Average)
Intelligence: Draw 2 (Average)
Speed: Darkstar 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 3 (Strong Willed)
Agility: Darkstar 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Draw 4 (Trained)
Energy: Green Lantern 7 (Cosmic Power)
Total: Draw 22 (Champion)

The last battle flipped the lead in my favour, but The Grandmaster still has a lot more spending power for the battles ahead. Today he's got another strong 0pt selection on his team, but unlike the battle with Blitzkrieg, this time I'm conserving points with an equal challenger I think is a perfect match!

The Grandmaster didn't go for one of Russia's well known physical power-houses when he recruited for the original Contest of Champions. Instead, he chose the complex personal ethos and versatile super-powers of Laynia Petrovna: better known to the world as Darkstar!

She was raised from childhood to harness her mutant ability to wield the other-dimensional energies of the Darkforce for the Soviet Union. This is the same power connected to Cloak, but her expertise allows her to fly, teleport, and project large solid objects. We haven't yet documented these powers in action, but she's used them to go toe-to-toe with Magneto, Doctor Doom, Hulk, and Sentinels!

Darkstar and energy constructs? That sounds like something right up the Green Lantern's alley!

In the DC Universe the Darkstars are a rival organization of intergalactic lawmen. We caught a brief glimpse of Hal Jordan butting heads with one in Green Lantern #40, but to match The Grandmaster's unranked bargain recruit, I'm looking to a Green Lantern we haven't yet featured on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: Jessica Cruz!

Before she became a charter member of the Green Lantern Corps, Cruz had the unusual distinction of wearing the Ring of Volthoom: an interdimensional ring possessed with an entity that fed on the wearer's internalized anxiety and fears. Fear was something Jessica had plenty of, having escaped killers who murdered he friends when they stumbled upon them disposing of bodies.

Darkstar's darkforce energy can absorb light into its dimensional void -- which could be a problem even for a Green Lantern. Encounters with the New Gods and Darkseid have only increased Jessica's powers, which is why I think she could be perfectly suited to match and destroy the shadowy constructs of Darkstar. They've both faced the other side of death. I think Jessica Cruz is the one who came back stronger!

The Verdict (Updated May 11th)...

It boiled down to a battle of light against darkness. I put my chips on the light, hoping Green Lantern's willpower could outshine the abysmal constructs of Darkstar's dark force power.

Green Lantern started strong, no doubt benefitting from strong brand recognition -- but the battle soon heated up, to become one of the closest match-ups The Contest has seen so far!

Nazar Talk Comics jumped in early to advocate for Green Lantern. Jessica Cruz is still a relatively new ringslinger, but the anxious temperament that defined her early appearances has been offset by newer adventures. A temporarily fatal encounter with Darkseid left her able to project Omega Beams from her hands -- a unique ability that may've be on the minds of people voting for her!

Writer David Gallaher knows a bit about both characters, having written Convergence: Green Lantern Corps and Darkstar and The Winter Guard. It was exciting to hear his perspective, which came down to one simple deciding factor "by a hair": Darkstar absorbs light!

During the week we saw Darkstar's light absorption give Sunfire trouble in a spotlight on Marvel Super Hero Contest of Champions #2. Sunfire was able to burn his way out of the black void with his atomic flame, but there's no guarantee a Green Lantern would do  the same.

With Facebook polls still not functioning,, it was looking like it might end in a split draw -- until the Twitter vote was broken at the eleventh hour! In blackest night Darkstar took victory with 54.2%!

That means Round 4 goes to The Grandmaster in another nail biter!

We'll be back for Round 5 later this month! Keep your eyes on The Contest for the latest battles and past results. Hit up Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon for regular updates and new voting polls. You can also let me know what you think about the result in the comments or on social media!

Winner: Darkstar

The Grandmaster: - 2

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: - 2

<< Contest: Guardian vs Defensor    [Home]    Contest: Swamp Thing vs Sasquatch >>

THE CONTEST: SWAMP THING versus SASQUATCH

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Draw 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Sasquatch 6 (Genius)
Speed: Sasquatch 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Swamp Thing 6 (Generator)
Agility: Swamp Thing 7 (Unlimited)
Fighting: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Swamp Thing 4 (Arsenal)
Total: Swamp Thing 33 (Super)

With the last fight the score with The Grandmaster was evened, but I've already spent over a fifth of my allowance just for that! I've got to start looking for some bargain recruits to conserve points for the big fights still ahead. Today's Contest is a challenge, but I think I've got a good contender!

The Grandmaster looked globally when he recruited for the original Contest of Champions, and he found a powerhouse with brains to match his brawn in the cold of Canada. Dr. Walter Langkowski is a brilliant biophysicist whose experiments with gamma radiation turned him into the Sasquatch!

Sasquatch very literally answered the question of what it would be like if the Hulk could retain the brilliant mind of Bruce Banner. He can transform at will, retaining his intellect when he becomes a super-strong, super-durable, shaggy beast. He's even fought toe-to-toe with the Hulk, and we saw him make a commendable stand against all four members of The Wrecking Crew in Omega Flight #1!

Sasquatch is clearly a brawler to be reckoned with, but I think Swamp Thing transcends brawling!

As an avatar for "The Green"; Swamp Thing is in touch with all things in nature. His body is literally comprised of vegetation, giving him the strength of the mightiest oak - and the regenerative powers of the most stubborn weeds. He can also call upon local flora to attack and ensnare his opponents, and that's what I'm counting on making life very difficult for Sasquatch.

Swamp Thing's been greatly under represented here on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths, which means he's a steal at just 52pts. His current low ranking of #902 is due to a single recorded battle ending in unlikely defeat to Scarecrow in Swamp Thing #19. There, Scarecrow managed to trigger the fear-inducing formula that could chemically effect Swamp Thing. An unlikely risk against Sasquatch!

I think Swamp Thing can go pound-for-pound with Sasquatch, but if he happened to come out second best in a trading of blows, I think he'll regrow any damaged parts, and call unleash surrounding plant-life to tangle Sasquatch up!

The Verdict...

I knew Swamp Thing had the potential to be a powerful favourite in this match-up, but would his vast mastery of "The Green" come into play in a brawl against the mythic man-beast Sasquatch?

@DCWorldSwampy didn't need convincing, seeing it fairly one-sided: "Swampy, hands down." The Sentry & The Void - Nazar echoed those sentiments: "Swamp Thing. Easily too." Their certainty about Swamp Thing's powers reflected an early lead, but there were still questions.

Talking Alpha Flight offered a different perspective, focusing on the otherworldly aspect of Sasquatch's transformation as a potential equalizer: "People are giving it to Swampy bc they think of Sasquatch as a Hulk knock off, only a strong man. Sasquatch is actually one of the Great Beasts! Langkowski controls the body but Sasquatch is as supernatural as Swamp Thing".

Sam King felt location would be the deciding factor, noting: "Home field advantage is everything in this one!" @DaveWGeary took that thought even further, 'Are they on Earth? We know Swamp Thing suffers when distant from the Green.' He also had concerns about incarnations of each character, "Is it Walter's mind or has he lost to the [beast] again? Otherwise question can't be answered."

For the sake of debate, The Contest isn't rooted in any particular location. Exact incarnations are up for debate too, although Secret Wars on Infinite Earths always favours a loose, iconic impression.

In the end, it was probably the iconic regenerative and environmental powers of Swamp Thing that saw him through to a comfortable 65.8% majority via Twitter. Technical issues on Facebook meant there was no alternative to challenge that figure.

That means the monster mash of Round 3 goes to Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

We'll be back for Round 4 later this month! Keep your eyes on The Contest for the latest battles, and on Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon for regular updates. You can also tell me how you think today's fight should've gone by posting in the comments, or on social media. I'd love to hear from you!

Winner: Swamp Thing
The Grandmaster: - 1
Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: - 2

<< Contest: Green Lantern vs Darkstar    [Home]    Contest: Plastic Man vs Blitzkrieg >>

THE CONTEST: PLASTIC MAN versus BLITZKRIEG

It had to happen! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now he comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on fixed Fight Club Rankings. Each battle will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls held on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Plastic Man 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Blitzkrieg 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Plastic Man 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Plastic Man 6 (Generator)
Agility: Plastic Man 7 (Unlimited)
Fighting: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Blitzkrieg 5 (Lasers)
Total: Plastic Man 27 (Metahuman)

First win went to The Grandmaster, but it was a close result, and there's still plenty of fightin' to be done! Things are gettin' a little weird in today's Contest. I think this is where I can even the score!

When he was recruiting his team for The Contest of Champions, The Grandmaster scoured the globe, plucking brand new heroes from total obscurity. German lightning warrior Blitzkrieg might not have the reputation of other well known Marvel heroes, but he's an economy pick as an unranked fighter that will cost The Grandmaster zero points from his remaining 4067pts!

Blitzkrieg is Franz Mittelstaedt: an electrical technician who was struck by lightning while inspecting a faulty generator. He awoke with the ability to manipulate and direct a static charge, allowing him to wield powerful lightning bolts! He can zap enemies into submission and literally ride lightning!

It didn't work for me last time, but I'm sticking with strategic thinking, and selecting a DC hero who can perfectly counter the electrical threat he's up against!

So far on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths we've only seen Plastic Man helping defend New York City when the Sinestro Corps attacked in Green Lantern #25. There, his super-elastic abilities were merely alluded to while he rescued citizens with an army of other heroes. That limited exposure means we don't have a lot of in-house fight references to call upon, but he's also priced mid-range at a fixed 667pts. A little pricey, but

Patrick "Eel" O'Brien was safe cracker for a burglary ring when he was shot by a night watchmen and exposed to strange chemicals during a late night heist on Crawford Chemical Works. Left for dead by his gang, Eel chose to devote himself to a more virtuous existence when he discovered his body could twist and contort into any shape imaginable -- as if made of rubber!

That rubbery quality is what I'm counting on to defeat Blitzkrieg! Although susceptible to the effects of sudden intense heat, Plastic Man has been known to be completely immune to the effects of lightning! Rubber is a poor conduction and I think Plas' can absorb the German's best attacks, and use his limitless shape-shifting to deliver a knock-out blow in record time!

The Verdict (Updated March 10th)...

It was to be another test of chemistry as I put my chips on the rubbery composition of Plastic Man absorbing the lightning strikes controlled by Blitzkrieg.

It seemed like a sound strategy, particularly late in the voting period, when a bonus battle demonstrated solid evidence that Plas' could take a lightning strike unscathed, in Plastic Man #7!

Unsurprisingly, Let's Talk Plastic Man was certain of the outcome from the very outset! They didn't mince words, cutting straight to the point: "Plastic Man definitely wins".

Their confidence may have spoken to the popular presumption that a Plastic Man win was an open and shut case, but it wasn't nearly so simple! 57.1% of the Twitter vote went in favour of Plastic Man, but a reduced number in votes meant Blitzkrieg was right in it!

Although Plastic Man #7 provided surprisingly rare evidence of Plastic Man's non-conductive properties -- it also showed how a lightning wielding villain could get the drop on him. Indirect methods of attack may've been on the minds of those voting for Blitzkrieg, but there were probably some who felt enough electricity could wear Plastic Man down.

Facebook was a wash, generating a disappointing turnout for 100% in favour of Plastic Man. It seems the relative obscurity of the players involved just didn't capture the imagination of the voting public like the previous all-star battle. The aggregate result finished 62.5% for a Plastic Man win.

A win's a win, which means Round 2 goes to Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

We'll be back for Round 3 later this month! Keep your eyes on The Contest for the next battle via the link provided, Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon. You can also tell me how you think today's fight should've gone by posting in the comments, or on social media. I'd love to hear from you!

Winner: Plastic Man

The Grandmaster: - 1

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: -1

<< The Contest: Swamp Thing vs Sasquatch [Home] The Contest: Black Canary vs Daredevil >>

THE CONTEST: BLACK CANARY versus DAREDEVIL

It was only a matter of time! The Grandmaster has watched the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths for many years and now comes with a challenge: I must select 12 heroes & villains from the DC Universe to do battle against his Champions of the Marvel Universe! Grandmaster's team competed in the first Contest of Champions and set an allowance of 5000pts based on Fight Club Ranking. Battles will be decided by you in fantasy fight polls on Twitter, Facebook and Patreon!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Daredevil 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Daredevil 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Daredevil 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Daredevil 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Daredevil 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Daredevil 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Black Canary 3 (Explosives)
Total: Daredevil 26 (Metahuman)

The Grandmaster is coming at me hard in this first battle, but I think I've got the perfect ace up my sleeve to take care of his high-ranking champion!

The fundamental threat of Daredevil is his mastery of martial arts. In Daredevil #87 we saw his skill perfectly demonstrated when he went blow for blow with Iron Fist during a case of mistaken identity. He's arguably a superior fighter to Black Canary, although her extensive training in hand-to-hand combat with experts like Richard Dragon, Wildcat, and Wonder Woman should keep her plenty competitive.

Daredevil is blind and relies on his keen senses to maintain awareness of his surroundings with enhanced accuracy thanks to a radar-like perception. In Daredevil #7 it helped him see through the fog of Mysterio's illusions, and in Daredevil #75 he could even detect demonic possession within The Jester! It's a factor in every one of his victories -- but my fight is gonna make it work against him!

Black Canary has a super-power of her own and it's her deafening sonic canary cry!

In Crisis on Infinite Earths #6 her scream was strong enough to rattle Captain Marvel Jr and Mary Marvel to the core. In Justice League of America #15 it literally blew Shadow Thief away -- causing his shadow form to completely dissipate. The canary cry also blasted Giganta and her giant-sized eardrums into submission after Canary showed some deft acrobatics and fighting against Cheshire.

I'm spending a lot of points on this first fight, but I wager the sonic assault of #38 Black Canary is going to be the perfect weapon for taking #12 Daredevil out!

The Verdict (Updated February 6th)...

In the first contest against The Grandmaster I put all my chips on Black Canary and her ability to sonically disrupt Daredevil's senses. It was a plan to disorient and disarm, and I was feeling pretty good about my chances. Indeed, the vocal majority seemed to agree it was a sound strategy!

Jason Pakota gave Daredevil props, but saw the canary cry as the game changer, "Guy with super sensitive hearing ability vs. woman with hyper sonic scream? Matt gets in a few solid combos, but then Canary levels him with the scream and leaves DD in a crumpled heap with blood pouring from his ears."

Xzenova looked closely at the martial arts prowess of the two characters, drawing the conclusion that Daredevil might be more skilled, but the canary cry clinched it: "Dinah isn't as skilled as Matt, but her scream will def. hinder his abilities and potentially even cripple him".

The Sentry & The Void - Nazar agreed the odds were in Black Canary's favour, "Probably BC because of her voice". Echoed by Wayward, who saw Daredevil uniquely vulnerable to the Black Canary's scream: "Most other fighting focused heroes DD has the advantage on otherwise."

So that's it, right? Chalk it up as a win? Not quite... A late rush in voting on Twitter kept the poll results close, but in the end Daredevil secured a narrow 52.2% win after snatching the lead from Black Canary early on. The story wasn't much better on Facebook, with low voting turning out a 60% majority for Daredevil in a closely contested poll.

Sadly, nobody made a case for exactly how Daredevil would pull it off. It could boil down to his renown as a hand-to-hand fighter, seen as slightly superior to Black Canary, who's certainly no slouch when it comes to busting a move learned from her extensive training with DC masters.

Another option is that some may've felt Black Canary's sonic cry would be more of a hindrance than a boon! It's clearly a call that invites debate, but when Daredevil clashed with sound-based villain Klaw, he was able to take advantage of his noisiness, using it to vividly keep track of him in the alleys of Hell's Kitchen. Perhaps the aggregate 53.6% thought that's how it would go!

It was a close call, but Round 1 goes to The Grandmaster! I'm not dejected yet, though.

We'll be back for Round 2 later this month! Keep your eyes on The Contest for the next battle via the link provided, Twitter, Facebook, and Patreon. You can also tell me how you think today's fight should've gone by posting in the comments, or on social media. I'd love to hear from you!

Winner: Daredevil

The Grandmaster - 1

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths - 0

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