WOLVERINE versus ELEKTRA

Top of The World, Ma! (Marvel)
Where: Wolverine #103 When: July 1996
Why: Larry Hama How: Val Semeiks

The Story So Far...
The trauma of being forcibly stripped of the metal that once coated his entire skeleton has thrown Wolverine into an increasing series of unforeseen challenges.

Although he regained the full use of his mutant ability to rapidly repair once trivial wounds -- his mind & body have reverted to a feral state in the wake of a vicious showdown with his arch-nemesis Sabretooth.

A failed attempt by Genesis to re-bond his skeleton with adamantium has revealed the metal was responsible for retarding an animal mutation. A feral state that is not befitting a righteous warrior. If his path is to be restored, then intervention must be staged. The Chaste master Stick has taken an interest in Wolverine's fate and directed skilled assassin, Elektra, to find and redeem his lost soul. It is a path she herself once walked. Now it is Wolverine's turn.

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Wolverine 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Draw 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Elektra 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Wolverine 6 (Generator)
Agility: Elektra 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Wolverine 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Elektra 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Wolverine 26 (Metahuman)

Our stats say Wolverine has the edge against super-assassin Elektra, but just how far will advantages like a mutant healing factor and berserker fighting impulse take him? Today's fight will give us a partial answer - but first let's explore beyond that.

Elektra Natchios began her martial training in childhood. Showing natural acumen for the fighting arts; her discipline continued through adulthood, but not before she was rejected by The Chaste, and tempted by their evil rivals The Hand.

Tragedy tainted Elektra's life - beginning with the murder of her mother, and much later her father. A wild & reckless temperament grew within her, earning skeptical scorn from the master known as Stick. His rejection helped place her on a path close to the edge -- the life of a bounty hunter and mercenary.

You probably know Elektra by reputation, and although her most famous battle ended in mortal defeat at the hands of Bullseye -- she was resurrected to continue as one of the deadliest fighters in the world. You could even say multiverse: one of our earliest entries showed Elektra dominating DC anti-heroine - Catwoman!

Our file is shamefully shallow, but the inter-company crossover is a fine example of how respected the skilled technique of Elektra is. As for that loss to Bullseye -- we recorded a much later team-up with Daredevil that scored payback for that.

Wolverine has had comparable struggles with his own inner nature, not to mention encounters with The Hand, but the mutant gift that allows him to survive strikes from Elektra's trademark sai weapons - and fight with a ferocity we deem beyond martial skill - has also been known to make him a little sloppy.

Your mileage for how quickly and effectively Wolverine can heal will probably influence your expectations here, but we must remember that history is littered with examples of bladed weapons, and skilled fighters, getting the better of him.

Razorfist slashed an exhausted Wolverine to breaking point, Deadpool skewered his lungs with twin swords, the Winter Soldier kept him at bay with a dagger, and The Gorgon found a killing strike with a katana that allowed The Hand to render him their personal killer. Black Panther didn't even need claws to match him in hand-to-hand combat, and Daredevil scored a controversial win with a harsh enough blunt force bonk on the head! Just because a fella can heal any wound -- doesn't mean he isn't first going to suffer the effects of sustaining them!

Of course, there are those who haven't fared quite so well: Lady Deathstrike's cybernetic claws couldn't stop Wolverine cutting her down, Silver Samurai's katana missed vital organs - costing him dearly, and Blade wasn't even able to slow Wolverine down with his skillful sword.

So which side will Elektra fall on? It's about time we got into this thing to find out, but one more important note: This is a strange time for Wolverine. It's a few years since the adamantium was ripped from his skeleton by Magneto, and he's succumbed to his feral side -- physically devolving in the process. It's what's brought Elektra to him, but what effect did it have? Let's see!

The Tape: Wolverine Ranking: Wolverine (#5)

What Went Down...

High atop the second tower of the World Trade Center awaits Elektra. The wind blows in her flowing hair as a hairy, squat figure grunts his way onto the rooftop to join her. She asks "its" name. "It" responds with the name of a lowly beast.

She challenges him: "A wolverine is a beast. Was it the man or the beast who climbed the "mountain"?" She strikes -- proving her point.

The backhanded strike with the butt of Elektra's sai handle provokes feral fury in Wolverine and he bears his bone claws. She walks away, toward a doorway into the building, unimpressed by his unrefined response.

The upper level of the Trade Tower once fed tourists, but now will feed the mind and soul of a student. It is the dojo in which Wolverine's body & spirit will be tested as Elektra returns him to the path of a righteous warrior. A path of "obligation, duty and honor" that "puts him above the beasts and the savages."

She pins a scroll to the wall and its symbols stir old memories to the front of the man-beast's mind. He can sense something is missing, but that is a test for another time. First he must answer the challenge of tempering.

Elektra isn't concerned with titles. She responds to defiance of the process with swift action -- another smack to the head with the base grip of her sai weapon.

The feral Wolverine attempts to strike back -- lunging with his left hand claws extended. Easily avoided by the agile teacher, who vaults over his squat form to land behind him -- weapons at the ready.

She quotes another who once tempered the feral mutant - Lord Shingen Harada. A reference that stokes the flame of fury within Wolverine. The fight is on!

Again the beast leads with his claws - swinging savagely with his right hand!

Elektra's left is knee is raised as she easily dances beyond the bone tips and returns fire with a launching kick to the face!

Wolverine is momentarily staggered by the blow that sent him falling backwards, but he isn't stayed for long.

Animal aggression compels Wolverine to charge at his opponent with a staff weapon, but the primitive lunge simply leaves him open to a low attack from the expert wielding of Elektra.

Has it been hours? Days? Months? Or Wolverine's entire life? The fight is for more than one simple victory. The combat is an existential crisis of the soul. If the animal fury within him is not hammered out, he will never be the man he once was. All that he could be.

The Wolverine leaps through the air behind Elektra, with staff weapon raised above his head in both hands.

Again it is child's play for Elektra to simply raise her sai weapons and block the staff with the defensive catch holds innate to the weapon's design.

His claws are equally meaningless. She simply leaps over his squat frame as he brutally and feebly lunges with the boney protrusions extending from his hands. The lessons of his time in Japan and fighting Shingen must be re-learned.

The Hammer...

It could be presumed that this was a continuous conflict in the makeshift dojo Elektra created on a floor of the Twin Towers, but the single page we've broken into thirds [above] also might suggest a montage of multiple sparring sessions.

How quickly do you undo a literal and metaphorical de-evolution of a man? Usually it wouldn't matter, but for our purposes we'll assume this was all one session. Either way - the work isn't done. Wolverine #103 plays out as a series of philosophical and physical challenges to Wolverine, with one final fight awaiting.

As usual, I fully intend to return to the issue eventually to see what happened in their second encounter. These might not be bitter showdowns for all the marbles, but these characters also aren't pulling all their punches. This is valid data.

This wasn't a period of Wolverine I've ever regarded very highly. For the most part I managed to avoid the short-lived 'noseless runt' stretch, which felt like a bridge too far during the bone claws years -- but I wasn't especially thrilled about the character and his solo series in the short run just before that, either.

I was buying off the newsstand back then, and I know I dipped in to Wolverine somewhere around this time, give or take eight issues. I mostly encountered the strangely deformed version of the character in the main X-books, where the details eluded me. He still had the bandana-mask and excess hair when Onslaught kicked off, but there were plenty of other things to wonder about there!

I remember [Wolverine #103] coming out, and probably even considering buying it, but the combination of Wolverine and Elektra -- while eye catching -- seemed a little cheesy and haphazard. They weren't characters that had anything to do with each other at that point, and it seemed like an egregious, inorganic aside at a time when nothing about the character seemed sufficiently iconic, or coherent.

Coming back to it now - I really enjoyed it. This issue in particular stands alone as a very satisfying, classic martial arts night of the soul. An existential crisis dressed up with fist fighting, flowery metaphor, and examination of the nature of man.

Back in '96 I was resistant to the 'Marvel Comics' of the meeting, but I see now that the DNA of Larry Hama's work on GI Joe is also present. It's a presumption of Elektra as a figure in this world, and a thematically convenient excuse to bring two cool characters together. Elektra's redemption arc was a bit weightier than a furball growing back his nose, but hey. Whatever gets it done, man.

This is still pretty early in Marvel's attempts to reincorporate Elektra as a regular figure in the Marvel Universe. Frank Miller had kept her spiritually alive in series positioned away from the regular grind [eg; Daredevil: Man Without Fear], and for almost a decade Marvel had remained hands-off, with some uncertainty of whether or not the character was truly living. They were all-in after a 1993 return.

Elektra isn't the only thing layering this issue with Miller grandiosity. Invoking Lord Shingen and the lessons of the sword from the first Wolverine mini-series is a more direct and appropriate bit of depth, but that comes through in the rematch.

If you'd like to see the follow-up sooner than later, or help prioritize some other future featured fight, it would be wonderful if you considered becoming a supporter of the site on Patreon. I'm managing to crank out a few more updates than usual, but am also dealing with some uniquely challenging circumstances, so your patronage will go even further than usual to help making things possible.

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured well over 700 fights and ranked more than 1,000 characters! You can find them all for free by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of battles in order of publisher, series, and issue -- or by hitting links to your favourite topics found throughout each entry.

Get daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day by subscribing to 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 Twitter & Discord! The lively Discord chat is one of the bonuses of becoming a Patreon subscriber.

Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#95 (+2) Elektra
#5 (--) Wolverine

WOLVERINE & HULK versus WENDIGO

And Now... The Wolverine! (Marvel)
Where: Incredible Hulk #181 When: November 1974
Why: Len Wein How: Herb Trimpe

The Story So Far...
The rampaging Hulk has been lured from his usual stomping grounds in the United States to the frigid wilds of northeast Quebec. The purpose: to use him to subdue and cure the supernatural beast known as the Wendigo!

The Canadian government officially considers Wendigo a matter of myth & local superstition, but the Hulk is something they take very seriously. To deal with the border-crossing behemoth they've sent their very best agent: a feral force at home in the forest, ready to track & terminate any threat -- The Wolverine!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hulk 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Wolverine 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Wendigo 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Draw 6 (Generator)
Agility: Wendigo 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Wolverine 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)
Total: Hulk 26 (Metahuman)

Everyone knows Incredible Hulk #181 is the first full appearance of Wolverine, but not as well-known is the fact that it doesn't start with a full-fledged fight against Hulk. It's actually an impromptu team-up - so that's where we're starting.

There is stated hostility between the headlining pair, but Wolverine & Hulk find themselves positioned against a mutual threat: Paul Cartier, who has succumbed to the curse of the dreaded Wendigo.

Cartier was trapped in a cave during a hunting trip in the Canadian wilderness, and resorted to an act of cannibalism to preserve his own life. This act of consuming human flesh was said to have cursed him in the eyes of elder gods, unleashing a supernatural transformation into the bestial Wendigo.

Covered in white fur and baring sharp fangs & claws, the Wendigo possesses greatly enhanced size, strength, speed, stamina, and healing ability. It is even said the Wendigo is immortal, damned to wander the Earth until the curse is lifted.

When it comes to warring with animalistic Canadian enemies, Sabretooth might draw some broad comparisons, but the Wendigo is a supernatural threat, and that's something Wolverine has faced many times as well.

When the X-Men went up against Dracula, Wolverine was ready to do what was necessary. Even though things didn't quite go to plan, he made light work of the Lord of Vampires in the alternate reality of What If...? #24. His adamantium claws also did damage to a Dormammu-enhanced Hood years later, but the most direct comparison we have is Captain America's time as a werewolf -- which actually saw Wolverine come up second best.

Hulk had a memorable run-in with Jack Russell, aka; The Werewolf (By Night), when his own Fixit transformations were tied to the rise & setting of the sun. Their first encounter ended with a time limit draw brought about the coming of the day.

Wendigo's ferocity no doubt matches The Werewolf's, but his fighting skills are unlikely to match Captain America's. Hulk is in a dopier, classic phase himself, but that also means he probably has the muscle to overpower The Wendigo given time. They fought briefly in the previous issue -- time to find out what adding the wildcard of the Wolverine does to change this situation!

The Tape: Wolverine & Hulk Ranking: Wolverine (#5)

What Went Down...

The sight of a stocky man in yellow - launching himself towards them - causes Hulk and Wendigo to pause their fighting. Neither beast is quite sure what to make of the small challenger, staring slack-jawed as he races in to attack.

The leap takes Wolverine sailing onto the Hulk's mighty shoulders and the green goliath is still slightly confused: "Huh? Little man attacks Hulk!"

Wolverine introduces himself as an agent of the Canadian government charged with taking care of Hulk. The behemoth tries to face his back-mounted opponent, insisting he'll smash if he doesn't stand still. Wolverine isn't about to comply!

The clawed fighter vaults over Hulk's head to keep the advantage of moving quickly around the battlefield.

Having already found his claws failed to easily pierce Hulk's tough hide -- he maintains his momentum and dives across the face of The Wendigo with a slash of his claws. This time the blades cut through their hairy target!

The stinging blow stuns Wendigo and Wolverine presses his advantage -- vaulting into a dropkick to send the backstepping creature off the edge of a cliff!

Hulk is irritated that the Wolverine isn't staying to fight, but the 5'5" fighter has his savage sights set on the more manageable of his two prospective opponents.

He's unfazed by the revelation that he's fighting a Wendigo -- a creature he was told was mere myth. Its towering 8' dimensions don't bother him, either. All the better to duck the Wendigo's wild swinging claws -- and strike back with a stab of his own!

As the Wendigo begins to weaken from his wounds, Hulk grapples with the confusion of his supposed attacker now fighting his enemy. In his own addled mind, he perceives Wolverine's actions as confirmation of a friend. A friend in need!

Hulk tenses his powerful leg muscles and launches himself into a horizontal jumping dash that carries right into the staggering Wendigo!

The Hulk makes a bigger target. Wendigo instinctively throws his arms up to block the airborne beast and strikes him across the jaw with a stiff forearm!

It's Wolverine's turn to be confused by Hulk's shift in allegiance, but he doesn't question it. Instead, he seizes the opportunity to launch himself onto Wendigo's furry shoulders and cause a distraction for his unlikely tag team partner!

The Wendigo tries to get the tiny man off his back, but Hulk is quick to intuit what his impromptu ally is thinking. He charges in to hoist Wendigo off the ground, shaking Wolverine off to protect him from the beast's impending fate!

With a mighty heave the Hulk sends Wendigo hurtling through the air and smashing through mighty trees dotting the Canadian glade!

The devastating impact snaps the trees like toothpicks and impress Wolverine, but still the Wendigo stirs! Wolverine knows it's up to him to finish the job!

Without any hesitation Wolverine leaps onto the giant woodbeast -- brandishing his razor-sharp metal claws with an animalistic ferocity equal or greater to the creature itself! With a sickening "thwuck" the deed is done!

The Hammer...

How about that? It's another famous first, but just like the inaugural battles with Sabretooth and Deadpool that we recently covered -- Wolverine's first encounter with the Hulk might not have gone exactly how you thought it would. In this case: it isn't even as straight-forward as open conflict!

Yes! Our main event competitors actually team-up at the beginning of the issue to vanquish a different foe! Sometimes Wendigo is the forgotten third-wheel in this first full appearance of Wolverine, but don't worry. The action doesn't stop here!

Hulk takes a moment to admire Wolverine's handiwork, and the Canadian agent observes that his supposed killing blow has actually only rendered the Wendigo unconscious. It's an impermanent state, but one that will serve them well as other conspiring forces converge to deal with Paul Cartier, and the Wendigo curse.

This development allows Wolverine to resume his original mission, and Incredible Hulk #181 to pursue what has grown into one of the most popular Marvel Comics hero-on-hero rivalries: Wolverine versus Hulk!

Like a lot of the big fights in comics history, I've always kinda taken for granted that we'd get to it eventually. I like to keep things interesting for myself and not necessarily always go down those obvious roads. In this case, I thought it would be nice to deal with the first conflict of the issue, before the fight on the marquee.

We get a lot of great action in this portion of the issue. Herb Trimpe's layouts tell a clear story and really go a long way to establishing Wolverine's fighting style from Day 1. I particularly love the classic image of Wolvie perched on larger opponent's back & shoulders -- in this case, Hulk's -- with one hand's claws raised in the air. How many times have we seen that over the decades? It's right here on Page 2!

Of course, there are refinements. Len Wein's narration notes that Wolverine is 5'5", which will generally be accepted to officially scale down to 5'3", even if artists get a little loose with those proportions by the time Hugh Jackman is playing the role.

There's also the original "whisker" version of the mask, which is drawn with the unusual detail of a very square piece over the nose. It connects with a pronounced brow and the shorter, more discreet version of the mask's fanning eye pieces. In close up, it reads more like a rigid helmet with a nose guard. A conceit the live-action films have finally gone with after avoiding it for a quarter of century.

The theatrical release of Deadpool and Wolverine, which includes a nod to the long-running Hulk rivalry and Todd McFarlane's later cover art from Incredible Hulk #340, is inspiring a lot of prospective choices right now, so I can't necessarily promise I'll get to it immediately. If you'd like to elevate the Hulk/Wolverine match-up in priority, or just generally support the trove of reference material we're accumulating here, you might consider becoming a member on Patreon.

I'm currently experiencing particularly challenging circumstances in my personal life, and regular entries are proving especially difficult to produce right now. Your support will go a long way to helping keep me in the fight and get back to working on more superhero smackdown for our special corner of comics culture!

I have to admit, even though we literally have dozens of entries involving the Hulk, it's been feeling like he's a little neglected, so it's nice that we're getting to more milestone match-ups. Those who enjoy watching the updating ranks at the bottom of every entry will note that he's ranked #6, right behind Wolverine, with a small gap in wins now separating them. There's a small gap separating them now, but with more data we can continue to test who is truly the best!

Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured well over 700 fights and ranked more than 1,000 characters! You can find them all by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of battles in order of publisher, series, and issue -- or by hitting links to your favourite characters and topics found throughout each entry.

Get free daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day by subscribing to 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 Twitter & Discord! The lively Discord chat is one of the bonuses of becoming a Patreon subscriber.

Winners: Wolverine & Hulk
#5 (--) Wolverine
#6 (--) Hulk
#1029 (new) Wendigo (Paul Cartier)