RHINO versus THING

One Man's Prison (Marvel)
Where: The Thing #24 When: June 1985
Why: Michael Carlin How: Ron Wilson & Joe Sinnott

The Story So Far...
The Thing has returned home from his adventures on Battleworld, but his arrival proves less than triumphant when he learns of a budding relationship between Johnny Storm and his ex-girlfriend Alicia Masters!

The last place Thing wants to be is with the Fantastic Four, so he books himself a bus ticket to Ticonderoga and sets out to visit old pal Quasar, who not too long ago offered him work at Project Pegasus.

Thing isn't the only noteworthy passenger boarding the motorcoach for North Country. Fate would have it that old FF foe, The Miracle Man, is on the same busline and their journey is about to take them on the same course as a heavily armored prison truck carrying the perfect muscle for the magician -- The Rhino!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Draw 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Thing 3 (Straight A)
Speed: Rhino 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Thing 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Thing 2 (Average)
Fighting: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)
Total: The Thing 22 (Champion)

Step right up! It's a super heavyweight showdown in the classic Marvel style!

In one corner we have The Rampaging Rhino! Aleksei Sytsevich - a brutish thug who subjected himself to dangerous experimental procedures that greatly enhanced his strength & durability, but also left him trapped within a full body rhinoceros-like hide grafted directly to his skin.

The suit traditionally boasts powerful Rhino horns that add further threat to his charging assault, but over the years he's occasionally been modified with various armored enhancements and offensive additions. These impermanent alterations speak to fleeting attempts to update a bona fide classic!

In the other corner we have Aunt Petunia's favorite nephew! The world-savin', ever lovin' Benjamin J Grimm - otherwise known as the blue-eyed Thing!

The Thing is a man who can relate to Rhino's experience. Due to insufficient shielding on a certain fated space mission -- Grimm was subjected to dangerous levels of cosmic radiation that greatly enhanced his strength & durability, but also trapped him within a monstrous rocky exterior.

In addition to their broadly similar lot in life -- Rhino and Thing have found themselves tough enough to go up against some common enemies. Most notably, they're both recurring sparring partners for the incredible Hulk!

So far, our record can only speak for The Thing, who had a little help from an underground saboteur while grappling with Hulk in Fantastic Four #12, and fell short of a conclusion when a blow knocked him through the floor during a showdown between the Secret Defenders and FF in Fantastic Four #374!

For Rhino, the price of nigh invulnerability is his inescapable imprisonment within his ultra-durable hide, but there have been rare instances when he was briefly liberated. Frequent arch-nemesis Spider-Man used a chemical compound to dissolve the suit in Amazing Spider-Man #43, as retold in Spider-Man: Blue #2.

Thing has access to one of the greatest minds in the Marvel Universe, but in this battle they aren't on speaking terms, so we won't rely on scientific smarts winning this encounter.

The Punisher used one of Arnim Zola's dreaded Satan Claws to enhance his strength enough to knock Rhino on his ass in Punisher War Journal #3, but Thing won't need any gimmicks to deliver that calibre of punch!

We've seen him trade blows with the likes of Gladiator, Captain Marvel, Super-Skrull, Paibok The Power Skrull, Doctor Doom, The Super Adaptoid, Gomdulla, and even The Sentry, so we've gotta think he could handle the Rhino. Let's find out!

The Tape: Thing Ranking: Thing (#13)

What Went Down...

Reluctantly liberated from the prison transport taking him to Project Pegasus -- Rhino quickly falls under the spell of The Miracle Man!

His dim-witted rage is easily exploited by the carnival magician, who redirects the Rhino's frustrated rampage towards the passenger bus that ferried both Miracle Man and The Thing to the Rhino's path. An effort to eliminate any witnesses.

The passengers flee for their lives, but engrossed in his newspaper, and unwittingly under the hypnotic suggestion of The Miracle Man -- The Thing doesn't exit the bus - or see the peril coming!

Rhino collides with the side of the vehicle -- sending it grinding from the roadside towards the mountainside edge! It teeters for an extended moment and then begins the tumbling plunge down a sheer cliff!

As the bus is torn to shreds in the tumbling descent -- The Thing emerges from the twisted metal and stops his fall with a firm grip on the cliffside!

He makes the climb back to the top, where horrified onlookers are relieved to find their fellow passenger has survived his fall.

He's red hot mad about his quiet ride being interrupted and intent on collecting his $13.50 paid from the bus service -- or the one responsible for ruining his day.

Thing finally recognizes The Miracle Man at the front of the crowd, but the mentalist calls upon the Rhino to prevent a reprisal!

Thing's surprised to find the notorious villain's as big as he is. He braces for impact, but is still sent hurtling by the collision with Rhino's horn!

Buoyed by the support of the crowd, and an awareness of Rhino's reputation from Spider-Man and the Avengers, Thing picks himself up from the rocks that broke his fall, and prepares to return fire.

"I'm gettin' up, Rhino -- now's yer chance ta beg fer mercy! No response, eh? Yer just gonna stand there like a mope, eh? Okay, big boy --"

The hypnotized Rhino is unresponsive to Thing's warning -- taking the full brunt of an overhanded right punch that sends him flying through the air!

The Rhino crashes into more nearby mountain rock, but the blow shakes him out of his hypnotized stupor.

He's back on his feet and of his own sound mind, but before Rhino can get to grips with what's going on -- he's instinctively charging to meet an oncoming Thing!

The two super-heavyweights lock up and Rhino tries to tell The Thing he's been acting under somebody else's spell. That the blows have shaken him out of it.

Already feeling the weight of the world, and caught in the heat of battle, Thing ignores the grappling Rhino's plea for reason, and hurls him violently across the makeshift battlefield!

The toss leaves the already bruised Rhino rattled -- and gives Thing time to think about his opponent's claim.

The seasoned hero knows he was influenced by Miracle Man's power on the bus, and it stands to reason that Rhino could be too -- even if he is one of the bad guys. So he gives the villain a chance to explain and it all makes sense.

The Hammer...

The battle leaves Rhino stopped in his tracks, but more torturous than the beating is the thought that he may have lost his ticket to Project Pegasus for the apparent breakout attempt.

His prison sentence was to be shortened in exchange for submitting to an experimental Pegasus program designed to further understanding for dealing with super-human criminals. If all went well, it could also potentially end in freeing Rhino from the hide he was surgically grafted within.

Sytsevich has had enough of being trapped inside his in-human grey coating and taken advantage of for his power. A sob story that hits close to home for the ever lovin' Thing, who fully intends to vouch for the super-criminal, and give him a shot at returning to a normal life. The kind of chance Thing wishes he could have, if his cosmic ray-induced mutation could be so easily reversed.

Unfortunately for both of them -- Miracle Man has other ideas and isn't about to let everyone just walk away!

I've always thought of Miracle Man as one of the rare misses from the legendary original Stan Lee & Jack Kirby run of Fantastic Four. He's just a bit too cliche and ill fitted for the FF, who found a more interesting mystic nemesis in Diablo.

Yet, in classic comics style, he became a bit more appealing as he lingered, better matched against Son of Satan and The Defenders, and ultimately an interesting throwback to return in The Thing solo series, which was a bit hit & miss over its three year run. Pairing him up with a bigger name villain for a dream match really helps sweeten the issue, series, and Miracle Man's return in general.

There's more action to be had, with an unexpected fourth player, but that's a fight for another day. For now, we're enjoying the simple pleasures of a marquee match-up between two of Marvel Comics' classic super-heavyweight bruisers!

The jaded grump in me thinks this kind of issue is a thing of the past in American comic books, for better or worse, but I was excited to see the recent announcement of a new five-issue mini-series that will take The Thing on a clobberin' tour of the Marvel Universe.

It might not be a pleasing, carefully considered, character-driven dream bout, but I'm never the less interested to see what comes of a brawling gauntlet through some of Marvel's classic and obscure villains. Assuming all is as it seems, that brand of uncomplicated fun with favourite foes could really hit the spot!

The Rhino match doesn't quite live up to the hype, but sometimes it's nice when these punch-ups give way to a sympathetic sub-plot. I know we're on The Comic Book Fight Club, but hey. Sometimes there's more to life than violence!

That Rhino starts the issue just as nervous as the Pegasus sentries guarding him is a nice touch, setting up his anxiety about seeing his stay through without any incidents. Rhino might be a bit of a dummy, but he's been around long enough to know trouble has a way of finding him. He doesn't want any of it. Not this time!

Ron Wilson is established as one of the great Thing artists, but I also really enjoy his classic rendering of Rhino here. He's got the Romita dimensions and broad face that gives the design a lot of character despite its relative simplicity.

This is the Rhino I like to see. I sure as heck don't want any mech-suit nonsense, and I could really do without the decorative jewelry and padding as well. There are plenty of characters who are better suited to all that jazz. Rhino might not be fancy, but he's one of a kind. A classic model you don't need to mess around with.

As for the verdict for today's featured fight... It teeters on the brink of the inconclusive, with Thing sympathetically helping Rhino to his feet, but I think the brawl is decisive enough to call this one a win for The Thing, even if we consider it an asterisk for Miracle Man's influence dulling Rhino's awareness. The blows stopped him in his tracks and he is as good as tapped out.

Should we take a look at what happens when Rhino faces his would-be master? If you'd like to help make that happen sooner than later, you might like to consider becoming a supporter on Patreon this holiday season.

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured well over 700 fights and ranked more than 1,000 of your favourite characters! You can find 'em all by diving in to the Secret Archive for a complete index in order of publisher, series, and issue number -- or by following links throughout each post to discover more from your favourite characters, creators, series, and categories!

Get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day by subscribing to X (aka; Twitter)! Don't forget to smash that like, fave, and share -- and keep your eyes peeled for the week's top trending battles every Sunday on X & Discord! The lively Discord chat is one of the bonuses of becoming a Patreon subscriber!

Winner: Thing
#11 (+2) The Thing
#1087 (-11) Rhino
#668 (new) Miracle Man [+1 assist]

STORM versus CALLISTO

Dancin' in the Dark (Marvel)
Where: Uncanny X-Men #170 When: June 1983
Why: Chris Claremont How: Paul Smith

The Story So Far...
The leader of the mutant Morlocks desires a husband and she's taken the high-flying Angel by force!

With his wings clipped: Warren Worthington III is helpless to resist the woman who covets what she believes is the most beautiful man in the world. Even his teammates in the X-Men are unable to stage a rescue -- falling prey to the subterranean hordes who take them prisoner!

The team are stricken with plague that threatens the life of young Kitty Pryde but Callisto refuses to allow Nightcrawler to take her to medical aid. Only trial by combat to remove Callisto as leader will allow them safe passage, and despite suffering the disease, Storm refuses to allow Nightcrawler to take that burden.

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Callisto 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Storm 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Callisto 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 3 (Strong Willed)
Agility: Storm 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Storm 4 (Trained)
Energy: Storm 5 (Lasers)
Total: Storm 23 (Champion)

Storm leads the X-Men with "Omega Level" mutant powers that allow her to manipulate the climate patterns of her immediate environment. Abilities so vast in scope they led her to be worshipped as a goddess in her home village!

Ororo can ride the winds to rescue Cyclops from a towering terror of Sentinels, blow Blitzkrieg clean out of the sky with a howling gale, conjure lightning to shock Doctor Doom in his armored suit, and as we saw in the animated series - wield the wintery frost of the frozen tundra to encase Omega Red in a block of ice!

The X-Men cartoon enjoyed a revival earlier this year, and in a particular episode of X-Men '97, Storm lost her mutant powers as she has in comics. So, what does life without her natural talents mean for the mutant Mistress of the Elements?

Long before she was a high-flying X-Man: Ororo Munroe was an orphaned thief on the streets of Cairo. It was there she learned to survive with nothing but her wits and hands, which is a round-about way of saying -- Storm can handle herself just fine when push comes to shove.

We saw a powerless Storm lead the X-Men against the Hellfire Club with considerable confidence and a little help from the likes of Wolverine, Rogue, and another mutant who once found out just how well Storm can fight without powers...

Callisto was once a beautiful young woman, but when her mutation left her scarred and blinded in her right eye -- she turned her back on humanity and went underground to become a gathering leader of the hideous Morlocks.

She made a home in abandoned underground military tunnels that connect to the New York sewer network, leading The Morlocks as a tribe of outsider mutants united in disfigurement and resentment of the so-called surface world.

With her fellow X-Men taken hostage during a rescue of Angel, Storm took it upon herself to step up and challenge Callisto in one of the X-Man's most famous fights -- even though she was afflicted by Plague! It was the subject of a classic cartoon episode, but let's take a closer look at the legendary original showdown!

The Tape: Storm Ranking: Storm (#36)

What Went Down...

Taking Nightcrawler's place in a challenge of the Morlock leader -- Storm is freed from the post she has been tied to, and allowed to step into the impromptu arena formed by the mutants gathering around to observe the coming duel.

Callisto tosses her opponent a knife similar to her own, and warns that if the wind rider summons so much as the slightest gust of wind -- the plague-infested Kitty Pryde will immediately have her throat cut.

Storm keeps her eyes trained on her opponent and agrees -- catching the knife at the last possible moment with a rapid unfurling of her arm and an intensity that catches everyone by surprise.

Callisto and Storm circle each other, gauging each others' abilities. Callisto is arguably the more naturally gifted of the combatants, benefitting from years of fighting and mutant resilience, but the X-Man's glamorous facade belies her past.

Callisto makes the first move -- a feinting thrust of her dagger that draws the parry from Storm, and allows Callisto to slash at her face and knock the goddess' tiara from her head!

The X-Man responds with a wild swing of her blade that Callisto easily ducks.

The Morlock leader laughs and slices her knife through Storm's exposed bicep.

She expresses something approaching pity, but more readily regrets how easily she expects to defeat her 'silver-topped' opponent.

It's a sentiment that quickly fades as Storm whips her cape to wrap it around Callisto's knife wielding arm!

Storm grips her cape tight, taking firm control of the threatening appendage, and directing it out of harm's way with an upward thrust above their heads.

With an equally firm grip on the dagger in her left hand, Storm plunges the blade into Callisto's mid-section!

Callisto looks stunned at the rapid turn of events!

She wobbles and drops her knife as Storm releases the cape-hold and stands firm.

Callisto staggers backward as Storm confidently and coldly marches her way past the defeated Morlock, toward the platform where Angel remains bound.

She claims her teammate, orders Colossus to gather the plague-afflicted Kitty Pryde, and invites any Morlock who objects to challenge her to trial by combat - and risk the same fate as Callisto: A knife through the heart.

The Hammer...

In terms of combat technique, it was actually a bit of a shabby showing for Storm, but despite some street fighting rust, she showed she still has the nous and street smarts to outwit an arrogant opponent -- and execute a killing blow!

Nightcrawler takes this tactic the hardest - shocked by Storm's cold efficiency and willingness to deliver a lethal strike.

He expresses this with the knowledge that Callisto's life has already been saved by a Morlock healer, but knowing she'll still be recovering from her injuries for quite some time to come. His faith in Storm is dramatically shaken.

It's a big moment that shows another side to the sometimes aloof and put-together leader of the X-Men, who was unable to bring herself to execute a Brood-infected Professor X just a couple of issues prior, even though the Professor and the team all believed there was no other way out. (There was!)

It's worth noting that the Morlock healer, and their ability to 'knit wounds and broken bones' (but not treat disease), was established by a concerned Caliban in the setup of the fight, which was over the life of a plague-stricken Kitty Pryde, whose condition was rapidly worsening.

So Storm may appear to be a cutthroat cold-blooded killer, but really she knew all along the stakes were only with defending Kitty's life. Callisto would live - and she wouldn't anticipate such a vicious attack from the X-Men's leader. Path to victory at a time when Storm herself was compromised by the Morlock-inflicted sickness.

The episode ultimately serves to reinforce Storm's leadership of the X-Men through willingness to take responsibility and necessary action, but in private moments in subsequent issues, she will consider the way it challenges everything she felt she knew about herself. Healthy introspection.

The methods of superheroes, and question of lethal force, are examined through several of the X-Men around this time. I think also of Colossus during the Mutant Massacre, and the always grey morality of Wolverine, who was willing to execute Professor X when afflicted by the Brood, and had already taken extreme measures to stop Jean Grey while taken by the Dark Phoenix.

It's an interesting What If? to consider what would've happened had Nightcrawler followed through on his challenge.

He was the first to confront Callisto's leadership when she callously refused to protect Kitty's life -- threatening the rest of the X-Men if he attempted to teleport her to medical safety. A stalemate scenario that could only be resolved by fighting through Callisto herself to remove her from the equation.

Here on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths we know a thing or two about superhero fighting ability -- and although any hero can triumph over great evil in the right story -- our record isn't flattering to the fuzzy elf. He currently sits ranked #1072 without a single victory recorded from his seven featured outings.

Despite his incredible agility and teleportation power -- Nightcrawler sometimes had a propensity for playing the bystander, 'mansel' in distress, or basic support player. A loveable vulnerable spot in the X-Men lineup that the reader could fear for, occasionally needing to be rescued or protected while injured.

I think we're to assume Nightcrawler's gentler nature would've been a detriment in a knife fight with Callisto - who quickly showed she was deft with a blade.

His natural agility, and fondness for swashbuckling, might make a case otherwise, but we'll have to explore more of his solo outings to get a better gauge of what Nightcrawler is really capable of. I think I'd enjoy that.

There's also plenty more opportunity to expand the Storm file. I'm interested in comparing and contrasting the X-Men animated series adaptation.

As an avid watcher of the cartoon back in the early nineties, I actually saw the animated version before reading this comic, and might argue it's a superior take on the entire story. There are several fundamental differences, not the least of which being Storm's attitude towards killing. Spoiler: It's 'not the X-Men's way!'

If you think that's something that might be interesting for Season 2025, and you'd like to help make it happen sooner than later, perhaps you'd like to consider becoming a supporter on Patreon this holiday season. As a thank you for helping make life and regular updates more achievable - I would be thrilled to get nudged towards discussing recommended battles via the unlocked Discord!

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured well over 700 fights and ranked more than 1,000 of your favourite characters! You can find 'em all by diving in to the Secret Archive for a complete index in order of publisher, series, and issue number -- or by following links throughout each post to discover more from your favourite characters, creators, series, and categories!

Get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day by subscribing to X (aka; Twitter)! Don't forget to smash that like, fave, and share -- and keep your eyes peeled for the week's top trending battles every Sunday on X & Discord! The lively Discord chat is one of the bonuses of becoming a Patreon subscriber!

Super-human supporters at the Top 10 Warbonds tier can also choose a future topic for the Top 10 Rank & File. Don't miss the latest Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection Top 10 featuring Storm!

Winner: Storm
#25 (+11) Storm
#1045 (-66) Callisto

RANK & FILE: TOP 10 MARVEL VS CAPCOM FIGHTING COLLECTION

We're living in a nostalgic age and after a decade or more of eighties throwbacks it seems the 1990s are having a resurgence. Between comic books and multimedia you can't keep the flashy era down, and the hottest thing in gaming right now is the Marvel versus Capcom Fighting Collection -- the flashiest of all video game adaptations!

Superhero fighting games are right up our alley and it only makes sense that we take a look at the top ranking heroes & villains who appeared in those arcade classics -- now available on physical media for PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch starting November 22nd!

In case you missed it: Every entry on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths contributes to the cumulative win/loss rankings. You can find updates at the bottom of every new featured fight for characters involved -- but Rank & File is our chance to compare 1,000+ characters by highlighting the ten best of specific categories! Become a Top 10 supporter on Patreon and you could pick the next Top 10 topic! Remember: This is based on data. Share your Top 10 in the comments!

#1 Spider-Man (Marvel)
Real Name: [Peter Parker]
First Appearance: [Amazing Fantasty #15 (August, 1962)]
Fighting Collection First: [Marvel Super Heroes (October, 1995)]
Recent Opponents: [Blackheart, Kraven The Hunter, Lizard, The Spot]
Featured Fight: [Spider-Man versus Juggernaut]

The Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection starts with a long-overlooked belt scrolling beat 'em up based on The Punisher. It was made before Capcom's crossover fighting game phenomenon really took off, but when it comes to ranking Marvel Comics icons in any arena -- you know the list will almost always begin with The Amazing Spider-Man!

Decades before Disney bought the company; Stan Lee compared Spidey to Marvel's answer to Mickey Mouse. The instant these games opened up to the larger Marvel Universe - the iconic web-slinger had to be there! His frenetic fighting style made the perfect transition to the hyper-kinetic approach of Capcom's superhero fighting games, sending him darting across the screen with all the proportionate speed & agility of a spider! It would be a while before any of his lethal foes found their way into the games [keep reading], but comics-inspired battles with Juggernaut and Hulk were a whole lot of fun!

#2 Iron Man (Marvel)
Real Name: [Tony Stark]
First Appearance: [Tales of Suspense #39 (December, 1962)]
Fighting Collection First: [Marvel Super Heroes (October, 1995)]
Recent Opponents: [Magneto, MODOK & AIM, Defensor, Ghost, Terraxia]
Fight Spotlight: [Iron Man versus War Machine]

When I think of Marvel versus Capcom I can't help but think of the "Golden Avenger". People like to presume the Robert Downey Jr film put the character on the map, but the fact of the matter is Iron Man was already an icon of Marvel Comics multimedia long before that!

Capcom did a brilliant job bringing the mid-nineties Iron Man armor to life at a time when it was appearing in comic books, an animated series, and action figure line. If you remember this period, you remember this version of Iron Man, and his arsenal was a bombastic addition to any MvC team-up, with shoulder-mounted upgrades that filled the screen with repulsor raying destruction. A simple palette swap gave us a rough approximation of the War Machine armor, but it's the red & gold that headlined the most.

#3 Wolverine (Marvel)
Real Name: [James "Logan" Howlett]
First Appearance: [Incredible Hulk #181 (November, 1974)]
Fighting Collection First: [X-Men: Children of the Atom (December, 1994)]
Recent Opponents: [Elektra, Wendigo, Deadpool, Sabretooth]
Featured Fight: [X-Men versus Magneto]

The X-Men might not have had the cache to make it a big hit in Japan, but seeing the mind-melting action of a Capcom arcade fighter based on one of my favourite comics was a life-affirming moment. X-Men: Children of the Atom had a fantastic line-up of characters, and if you're sending Marvel's Merry Mutants into battle against the likes of Silver Samurai and Omega Red -- you can bet your bottom dollar that the "best there is at what he does" will be fightin' on the front lines!

Wolverine's "Berzerker Barrage" brought the unhinged dream of his adamantium claws to life, slashing across the screen with a battlecry bellowed by definitive voice actor Cal Dodds (of the X-Men animated series fame). The hugely popular character inevitably became a mainstay of the series, and you can only imagine my excitement when the X-Men versus Street Fighter arcade machine showed up in town, becoming a fixture of the back corner of one of the comic book stores I frequented. Inspiration from Fatal Attractions saw the controversial bone claws find their way into MvC2, but we won't hold that against them. Wolverine truly is one of the best there is in the Fighting Collection!

#4 Hulk (Marvel)
Real Name: [Robert Bruce Banner]
First Appearance: [Incredible Hulk #1 (May, 1962)]
Fighting Collection First: [Marvel Super Heroes (October, 1995)]
Recent Opponents: [Wendigo, Man-Thing, The Werewolf, Fantastic Four]
Featured Fight: [Hulk & Drax versus Thanos]

When Hulk stepped up to take on the challenge of The Infinity Gauntlet in comics - the powerhouse hero was reduced to a mere nuisance, but when Marvel Super Heroes loosely adapted the 1991 story to the side-to-side fighting arena -- the green goliath was given the chance to settle the score! The result was another unfathomably large character sprite in the vein of Juggernaut, and like pretty much all of Capcom's adaptations -- it did Marvel Comics proud!

Hulk theoretically posed a challenge of bridging the mechanical necessities of a well-balanced fighting game with the conceptual representation of a character possessing incredible strength, but absolutely nobody was sweating that small stuff when there was such a good time to be had! Capcom came up with the interesting mechanic of collecting the Infinity Stones for powered-up attack options, but hey. Hulk has thrown down with most of the characters in these games before and they're just fine. This is the nineties, man. It's a video game. Get with the program and go with the flow! Hulk smash!!

#5 Captain America (Marvel)
Real Name: [Steve Rogers]
First Appearance: [Captain America Comics #1 (December 20, 1940)]
Fighting Collection First: [Marvel Super Heroes (October, 1995)]
Recent Opponents: [Infinity Watch, Kang The Conqueror, MODOK & AIM]
Featured Fight: [Iron Man versus Captain America]

There are so many fond memories from these games, but I always had a particular soft spot for Captain America and his "Final Justice". Capcom brought the requisite comics-inspired cool to each of these characters, and in no way shied away from the peculiarities of Captain America's attire. He was there in glorious red, white, & blue -- complete with those little wings on his mask. Perfection!

Like Iron Man; Cap eventually had a fun palette swap option with the darker tones of USAgent (or The Captain, if you prefer). Economy of resources was kinda important in those days, and even if they didn't quite go the extra mile to make the costume exactly as it appeared in comics - the flourish was still appreciated. Of course, Capcom had already done themselves proud just by delivering the fundamental joys of charging into battle and throwing Cap's mighty shield -- which he had to pick-up if he wasn't able to catch it after a block or double projectile. Tremendous!

#6 Thanos (Marvel)
Real Name: [Thanos]
First Appearance: [Iron Man #55 (February, 1973)]
Fighting Collection First: [Marvel Super Heroes (October, 1995)]
Recent Opponents: [Thor, Ultimates, A-Force & Inhumans, Captain America]
Featured Fight: [Iron Man, Thor, Firelord & Sub-Mariner versus Thanos]

These days the world regards Thanos as inevitably one of the premier Marvel villains thanks to his role in the live-action cinematic universe, but when Capcom expanded their line-up from X-Men to a broader stable of icons with Marvel Super Heroes -- they immediately announced comic book credentials with a loose adaptation of The Infinity Gauntlet that cast Thanos as final boss!

It was the first major mainstream exposure for the cosmic villain, who had been accumulating a comic book reputation throughout the eighties and nineties under Jim Starlin's curation. Capcom naturally opted to tone down the omnipotence of The Gauntlet, instead placing control of the various Infinity Stones in the hands of players for a range of game-altering power-ups. It was a tremendously cool use of the concept, and despite some slightly oversized elements of Thanos' mask, they kept it close to the source with a win pose cameo by Thanos' self-made girlfriend Terraxia! Very cool, very weird!

#7 Ryu (Capcom)
Real Name: [Ryu]
First Appearance: [Street Fighter (August, 1987)]
Fighting Collection First: [X-Men versus Street Fighter (September, 1996)]
Recent Opponents: [Dhalsim, Rose, Sadler's Cyborg, Vega, Ken Masters]
Featured Fight: [Ken Masters versus Ryu]

We're "The Comic Book Fight Club", so you've got to expect a certain amount of bias in the rankings towards the Marvel Comics heroes, but if one Capcom character was going to break through the ranks -- it was bound to be Ryu! Although the Marvel vs Capcom series expanded well beyond Street Fighter, the legendary fighting game franchise was integral to the entire exercise, and remained one of the key components right through the final installment of Marvel vs Capcom 3.

The eternal hero of the Street Fighter franchise was there as always to test himself against Marvel's best, just as he has been in every iteration of the Street Fighter series and its adaptations into other mediums. We've covered comics, movies, and animation here on the site, and Ryu has emerged through it all as the icon we know him to be. Don't worry, though. You can check out the honorable mentions "Bringing Up the Rear" at the bottom of this list to find more Street Fighters who've made an impression.

#8 Storm (Marvel)
Real Name: [Ororo Munroe]
First Appearance: [Giant-Size X-Men #1 (May, 1975)]
Fighting Collection First: [X-Men: Children of the Atom (December, 1994)]
Recent Opponents: [Prime Sentinels, Omega Red, Sentinels, Blitzkrieg]
Featured Fight: [Storm versus Wonder Woman]

The X-Men's Mistress of the Elements brought tornado winds and crackling lightning to the battlefield, riding gusts & gale as a gliding goddess in the integral X-Men: Children of the Atom, and later MvC installments. Her iconic nineties design was fully realized by Capcom's brilliant animators, who brought every billow and fold of her unique cape to life in perfect synergy with the comic books of the time, and the beloved animated series.

The ability to shape the very weather around her may make Storm seem a little above all the side-to-side brawling, but we mustn't forget that this X-Woman is always ready for a rumble, drawing upon her youth as a street thief fighting for survival in the back alleys of Cairo, to mix it up as readily in the dirt as the sky. In fact, I might say Storm is a rare case where Capcom left some of her potential abilities untapped in the arcade classics.

#9 Rogue (Marvel)
Real Name: [Anna Marie]
First Appearance: [Avengers Annual #10 (1981)]
Fighting Collection First: [X-Men versus Street Fighter (September, 1996)]
Recent Opponents: [Omega Red, Ronan, Hellfire Club & Nimrod]
Featured Fight: [Nimrod versus Juggernaut & X-Men]

Potentially one of the trickier prospects for a balanced fighting game experience; Rogue had to wait for the crossover sequel, X-Men versus Street Fighter, before she could join her merry mutant teammates in the battle for homo-supremacy.

Super-strength, flight, and power absorption might be pretty nifty on the comics page, but in a mid-nineties fighting game Rogue is caught between needs for bold visualization, gameplay balance, and resource management. Capcom figured it out and a quick kiss from the southern belle was all that was needed to start hurling hadoukens and corkscrew piledrivers right back at the source! An application of powers that's completely intuitive to the source yet wholly unique to the game. Another example of Capcom's brilliant ability to adapt characters from comics to games!

#10 Venom (Marvel)
Real Name: [Eddie Brock]
First Appearance: [Amazing Spider-Man #298 (April, 1988)]
Fighting Collection First: [Marvel vs Capcom: Clash of Super Heroes (January, 1998)]
Recent Opponents: [Spider-Man, Carnage Family, Ghost Rider]
Featured Fight: [Venom versus Iron Man]

As a breakout new character from the late eighties -- Venom was perfectly positioned to become a staple of Spider-Man's burgeoning web of video games. With a strong visual hook and dangerous edge; Venom had fast mainstream appeal that hit nineties gamers right in their sweet spot -- propelling him out of villain roles in several Spidey games into playable headlining status in fan-favourite scrolling beat 'em ups Maximum Carnage and Separation Anxiety.

When it was time to expand the roster for an all-out inter-company collision between Marvel and Capcom -- Venom was a natural addition to the ultra nineties line-up! Whether tag teaming with Spider-Man, or joining a squad to take the web-slinger down, Venom was a drooling mass of highly animated symbiote muscle that continued to delight fans!

Bringing Up The Rear:

Juggernaut, Ken Masters, Chun-Li, Dhalsim, USAgent, Punisher, Magneto, Doctor Doom, Cyclops & Guile

Remember: The Rank & File Top 10 is determined by recorded win/loss rankings from official sources at the time of publication. There are many more world warriors from the Marvel and Capcom canons. Who would rank top of a different tier list? Share your Top 10 Marvel vs Capcom characters in the comments and become a Patreon subscriber to choose the next Rank & File Top 10 topic or fight spotlight!

[Home]      Rank & File: Top 10 Black History Month >>

BLACKHEART versus DAREDEVIL & SPIDER-MAN

Blackheart! (Marvel)
Where: Daredevil #270 When: September 1989
Why: Ann Nocenti How: John Romita Jr

The Story So Far...
It began in 1658, with the brutal murder of a woman named Abigail Housman.

Her body lay undiscovered on a gentle, but lonely hillside, soaking the land with blood for hours, as crows circled knowingly over the site. This was to be the first vile crime committed to the place known as Christ's Crown. 

The hill would host centuries of unspeakable horrors, growing unnatural tangles of thorny rose plants, and a mythic foreboding, as further acts of murder and carnage came to drench it in anguish and agony. Reputation that would arouse the irreverent interest of romantic thrillseekers such as amorous Peter and reluctant Sarah. A final betrayal that prepares the land for harvest and the birth of a son to the devil Mephisto -- a thorny demon called Blackheart!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Blackheart 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Spider-Man 5 (Professor)
Speed: Spider-Man 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Blackheart 6 (Generator)
Agility: Spider-Man 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Daredevil 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Blackheart 5 (Lasers)
Total: Spider-Man 29 (Metahuman)

Blackheart is the spiny hellspawn of notorious devil Mephisto, born to a crown of thorns atop a gentle hillside. A desolate place, soaked in centuries of blood and tragedy, first growing a wild thicket of roses and grim foreboding, before bearing the newborn demon from deep within its grassy heart.

A final act of evil - of unromantic violence - brought forth the Blackheart, whose immense power appeared to twist and torment him from the moment of his birth.

This is evil as only 1989 could envision it: A gothic horror, blindingly dark in its poetic beauty and sadness, stinking of burnt ink and the sweetest of roses, with weeping eyes like burning red flowers. Blackheart craves sacrifice and recognition, gratefully receiving the death of the good and wicked in equal measure, before lashing out at the father who encourages and callously dominates his existence.

If you only know Blackheart from his unlikely appearance in Capcom's Marvel Super Heroes video game, or its eventual sequel Marvel vs Capcom 2, then you've got as much to learn as the infant demon. Don't worry - it's not complicated.

Daredevil is the kind of tortured soul that a demon loves to play with.

Matt Murdock's heart is stained with tragedy as well, but his resilience makes him the perfect prize for demonic connoisseurs. He's a worthy adversary teetering close to the edge -- the perfect prey for Blackheart to learn a more sophisticated brand of evil than the lowly act of merely killing like man. DD must be corrupted!

We've seen him come close before, like when he tracked down Slade -- one of the men responsible for killing his father, Battlin' Jack Murdock. Or when Mysterio turned his life upside down, and when he decided to stop Bullseye and Kingpin to declare himself the Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen.

No matter how close he got, whether fighting a demonically possessed Jester or super-human foe like Tombstone, Daredevil always managed to stay on the side of angels. Of course, it doesn't hurt that he has friends to back him up in times of need too, like when he faced Klaw & Killmonger, tangled with Jigsaw, and fought the murderous Carnage during the breakout at The Raft.

Spider-Man knows what it's like to be tormented too. Like Daredevil, he's been the subject of Mephisto's infernal interest, sacrificing his marriage to Mary-Jane and enduring a twisted Christmas.

Spidey's demon days have pitted him against the self-righteous Demogoblin, a Dormammu enhanced Hood, and mystically compromised Luke Cage! So you can bet he'll swing to the aid of his buddy DD, just like Daredevil did when Spidey was up against the Sinister Twelve! Will friendship win in the end? Let's find out!

The Tape: Daredevil & Spider-Man Ranking: Spider-Man (#2)

What Went Down...

Reflecting on the turning of his fortunes and return to a lighter mood; Daredevil lands perched on a fairground rollercoaster track.

His senses have never been sharper, but as he detects the blend of foul burning and rose incense, he finds he cannot home in on the ghostly movement that triggers his radar sense. The more he tries to 'see', the more the figure becomes elusive, moving without a detectable heartbeat. Suddenly -- it strikes!

With the grace of a high jumper -- Daredevil leaps across the streaming darkness that blasts against the coaster bracing.

Daredevil asks what the being wants with him, but Blackheart stares in silence and responds with another wave of his shadowy black power. This time the interlaced wooden struts supporting the rollercoaster shatter as DD leaps clear!

He cannot discern what the creature is, whether its power is mutant or mystic, but he can tell that it means to kill him. So amidst the falling debris of splintered amusement park wood - he flings his billy club and 'plays the trickster'.

The rope wraps around Blackheart's spiny shins and calves, pulling away the sure footing of idle feet still new to walking the Earth. Blackheart falls -- sending his next blast of dark energy errant.

The mere presence of Blackheart's energy begins to make Daredevil sick.

He knows this feeling, though rare, to signal the presence of pure evil. He maintains his focus, finding the precarious wreckage of the rollercoaster vulnerable to tipping. With a toss of his billy club -- he brings it down!

For a moment Blackheart is buried in the wreckage, but an ominous "ka-thoom" is harbinger for an explosion that sprays the debris across the park!

Sensing that Blackheart is stunned and moving slower now -- Daredevil takes his shot and rushes his silent opponent!

A high kick to the face. A right hook. A straight left. The demon is unfazed.

Blackheart regards the agony with curious amusement, but the novelty of these sensations can only last so long.

The demon's left hand becomes jagged and thorny, surrounded by the dark anti-glow of his black energy. Daredevil senses it, but knows he cannot get clear. It's over. The one shot that could finish him off. He can't avoid it. He doesn't have to...

Suddenly, out of nowhere, the spectacular Spider-Man swings across the amusement park and delivers a kick to the side of Blackheart's head!

The web-slinger had witnessed the smoldering smoke of the battle from a passing bus, and excused himself to take a closer look. It's a good thing he did!

As the pair exchange pleasantries, Spider-Man keeps himself in the line of fire, distracting Blackheart to give Daredevil a clearer leap, as he uses his own proportionate agility of a spider to jump over the streaming dark energy.

While leaping, Spider-Man sprays webbing into the featureless face of Blackheart -- covering his dark eyes to the mortal world around him.

As the demon desperately pulls at the webbing -- Spider-Man grabs hold of a nearby ticket booth and lifts it overhead. He doesn't know that 'bringing down the house' over Blackheart will have no effect. He tries his luck. It comes up short.

Once again the demon blasts the wreckage from his body and Daredevil scoops up a sheet of corrugated iron to shield the heroes from the blast!

The feat saves Spider-Man from a point-blank deluge of splintered wood and nails, but the impact of the blast has taken its toll on Daredevil.

Concerned for the reckless abandon shown by his friend, he tells DD to rest, and summons his superior spider-strength to take the fight to Blackheart head-on with an all mighty uppercut!

Spider-Man's fist 'kraks' against Blackheart's jaw, but Daredevil can sense that its having no effect. The only thing keeping them alive is Blackheart's animalistic, child-like confusion.

Ancient knowledge fills Blackheart's infantile mind as he gazes repeatedly out to the crowd forming at the edge of the amusement park.

He sees visions of a holy savior, a son like himself, making a supreme sacrifice for crowds just like those. The creature is compelled to make mockery of the noble sacrifice, but to what end?

The crowd speculates whether Blackheart gazes upon them with hatred or fear. Daredevil and Spider-Man aren't any more certain, but the pause allows Daredevil time to sense the crackling of a downed powerline, and the thatched network of metal extending beneath Blackheart's feet.

Daredevil calls the situation to his partner's attention, but Spider-Man is reluctant to resort to lethal force. His spider-senses warn him of danger and he wonders if Daredevil is acting like himself. Something seems off. Before DD can put electric wire to twisted steel -- Spidey dives on him!

Blackheart wants them to kill him. Wants them to choose the easy, wicked way out. To corrupt their spirit and souls. Just as his father suggested of the innocent woman he'd murdered upon his birth. Only - the heroes aren't falling for it!

They don't need to kill him. They just need to knock him out!

Daredevil and Spider-Man are united in seeing the sense of things and together they reel back and deliver and almighty double-team blow!

The punches rock Blackheart, but he doesn't fall. Instead, he reaches an epiphany.

Gazing back upon the amassed crowd, Blackheart remembers another thing told to him by his father: "Avoid the eyes of man".

He may have been right in believing Daredevil was a worthy foe to expose his true self too, but in bearing witness to his evil, the surrounding crowd may have taken his power. So instead of enduring further indignity, the demon chooses to leave -- an explosion taking him from the place of battle.

Daredevil grapples with the strange familiarity of the evil, and the lingering presence of one of the onlookers, as Spider-Man greets a grateful crowd, and DD finally realises the entity that must have been behind it all...

The Hammer...

Although not really defeated, Blackheart slinks back to the bristles of his cradle on the hillside of Christ's Crown, cursing his father's absence, and unwanted birth. He crawls and melts into the earth that first expelled him, wanting only to suffer and die, to wither from a dark and cruel world, hoping Mephisto will forget he even exists.

Break out the eyeliner and jangly guitars. I told you in The Tape that this was evil as only 1989 could envision it! The same year that unleashed Hot Topic and Jason Takes Manhattan upon an unsuspecting world.

Sure, How Soon Is Now? came out in 1984, and Blackheart literally 'goes home, cries, and wants to die', but I'd say the synthesis of flavours that make up his first appearance skews late eighties, if not '89 specifically. At the end of the day, this isn't about The Smiths. Maybe The Sisters of Mercy or Fields of the Nephilim...?

There's no punctured bicycle on this desolate New York hillside, but the pages of Daredevil #270 feel sticky with the lifeblood of music-infused counterculture of the time. The vitality of goth and post-punk is the real spillage that birthed Blackheart onto the page -- a walking shadow of rose thorns and loathing, rising in angst like a personification of every goth teen's poem-filled notebook.

There are other flavours in there, too. The violent lore behind Blackheart's origin has a vaguely literary quality, with its centuries of American gothic murder and injustice. While the setting of a New York hillside reminds me of urban legends about kids finding dead bodies in the grass or forests of New Jersey. It feels of a piece with the eighties slasher flicks that dominated the decade and had reached a point of being slick, colourful, sugary blockbuster versions of themselves.

Like a lot of those movies, there's a tremendous spirit of fun in this issue, despite its dark matter, as there is in all of Ann Nocenti and John Romita Jr's collaborative run. A favourite series we've touched upon in previous entries.

It's the kind of issue I would've delighted at picking up on a whim at the newsstand. It serves as a simple introduction of a new super-villain, while also furthering the on-going struggle between Mephisto & Daredevil, and giving us a good old fashioned team-up between DD and Spider-Man!

I wish comics were still reliably enjoyable like this. Nostalgically noting that spare change would've got me this satisfying chapter off the newsagent rack.

I think this still might be the definitive Blackheart comic, but I probably need to do a little more reading before I confidently make those kinds of proclamations. At the very least, DD #280 provides a convenient tonal key to understanding the core concept beyond its striking appearance -- providing you have some sense of the magical concoction of the times.

For reasons I'm still not clear on: Blackheart may be best remembered for his unlikely inclusion in the Capcom fighting game, Marvel Super Heroes, where he inexplicably replaced Mephisto in the loose adaptation of The Infinity Gauntlet, and subsequent series sequel, Marvel vs Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes.

The games do a good job of selling the visual, but the stylistic texture of the comic is missing, and gamers have almost certainly come away with a skewed perspective of the character. Not that comics of the time were much help, either.

If you left the arcade in 1995 in search of answers your only options were the original few appearances in Daredevil, a handful of uninspired cameos in '93 issues of Wonder Man, or a couple of splashy prestige specials starring the oh-so early nineties attention-seeking trio of Ghost Rider, Wolverine, and Punisher.

Those characters, especially in gratuitous appearances, always have a whiff of pubescence about them, but at least the stories followed up on some of the rich material left behind by Nocenti, leveraging the reference to cult activity at Christ's Crown for some devilish, nineties adventures.

Of course, if you ask me, I think Blackheart is better served by staying tethered to the angsty, soggy, rose-scented dark wave emocore of the late eighties. A slightly contemptible brand of darkness, as opposed to the samey edginess of 'bad boys' and hellspawn of the nineties.

Blackheart is more than just that beguiling visual. Beneath the design beats the heart of a mood, a vibe, a moment in time that was powerful and real. Every writer & artist tackling the character should be issued with a copy of DD #280 in its original pulpy printed format, and a playlist of period appropriate music, preferably curated by the great Ann Nocenti herself.

I think it would go a long way to making sure the character is more than just another bad guy covered in spikes and thorns and ordinary cliches.

I'm still looking forward to getting my disc copy of Marvel vs Capcom Fighting Collection: Arcade Classics on November 22nd, but it was nice to get ahead of the retro gaming fun by digging back into a favourite comic reference.

As ever, I enjoy coming back to 1989, and wonder what type of significance Marvel's output at that time had to Japan, and the Capcom game developers. A reference that made even less sense in Marvel Super Heroes than it did three years earlier for The Punisher.

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Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#514 (new) Blackheart
#2 (--) Spider-Man
#8 (--) Daredevil