LIZARD versus SPIDER-MAN

Face-to-Face With... The Lizard! (Marvel)
Where: Amazing Spider-Man #6 When: August 1963
Why: Stan Lee How: Steve Ditko

The Story So Far...
When a walking, talking lizardman emerges from the Florida everglades to threaten the local citizenry -- news quickly spreads to New York City and the pages of the Daily Bugle, which run with a headline challenging none other than Spider-Man to bring an end to the creature's terror!

Even Editor-in-Chief J Jonah Jameson doesn't really believe there's a seven foot half-man, half-lizard stalking the swamp, but when Spider-Man swings into his office to personally accept the challenge, he finally agrees to send ace photographer Peter Parker on the paper's dime -- setting up a showdown between arachnid and reptile!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Lizard 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Spider-Man 5 (Professor)
Speed: Draw 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Lizard 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Spider-Man 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Lizard 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Spider-Man 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Spider-Man 29 (Metahuman)

Dr. Curt Connors is a brilliant geneticist and biologist, but the price of the formula that regenerates his missing arm using lizard DNA is his genius -- gone when he's transformed into a stalking human-reptile hybrid!

The Lizard is known to occasionally access the remnants of Connors' scientific knowledge and acumen, but he's typically a wild and volatile creature, utilizing animalistic agility, strength, jaws, and tail to pursue base desires and instincts.

Through the fog of his lizard-brain is often a desire for companionship, leading him to value the lives of his wife Martha and son Billy, and occasionally seek out means to transform other humans into similar lizard-people.

The Lizard has even been known to collaborate with others, participating in a gathering of the Sinister Twelve until he was dispatched by Iron Man!

Spider-Man is obviously the hero who shares the most history with Connors, earning the ire of the cold-blooded alter-ego for thwarting his many grand schemes.

We saw the rivalry adapted to animation for the third episode of the MTV Spider-Man series, but our most noteworthy comics example is a retroactive tale pitting The Lizard against the X-Men in one of their early adventures.

The Lizard effortlessly man-handled Beast and Angel in the Florida everglades, but was pacified by intense cold introduced by Ice Man. Spider-Man is similarly out-muscled, but also has the intelligence to find a tactical solution -- even if he might find it difficult to find anything cold enough to pull the same stunt!

Today we're looking back at Spider-Man's first encounter with The Lizard, and as we've seen in early battles against The Vulture and Mysterio -- that often means tasting defeat before devising a better strategy. How will it go? Let's find out!

History: Spider-Man (1-0-0)

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

What Went Down...

A police blockade bars the public from entering the suspected "Lizard Area", but Spider-Man effortlessly descends upon the everglades, avoiding the attentions of local law enforcement by swinging overhead -- where he's spotted by The Lizard!

Stalking through long grass - Spider-Man begins to sense a lurking danger, but he fails to see the ripples in the nearby water -- until a scaly hand grabs his ankle!

The Lizard drags his challenger into the murky waters of the swamp.

It becomes a desperate struggle as Spider-Man is suddenly submerged, but he can clearly see his opponent through the water. Something that can't be said for The Lizard when a fistful of mud and silt is slung straight into his face!

The web-spinner turned mud-slinger crawls out of the pool to take a desperate gasp for breath -- but The Lizard emerges on the bank in equal time!

Lizard stakes a claim to his territory, marking Spider-Man doomed for entering his domain in the swampland. The reptile strikes!

Spidey narrowly avoids The Lizard's whipping tail -- surprised by his speed, and apparently authentic scales, as he jumps clear of the swinging appendage.

Looking to "knock some of the fight out of him", Spider-Man grabs hold of the end of the tail, but he has dramatically under estimated The Lizard's strength!

A mighty swing of The Lizard's tail turns the tables on Spider-Man -- launching him over a tree and across the everglades!

The branches break his fall, leaving Spider-Man to regroup after a dead rubber.

The Hammer...

I thought we might be in for the customary first-round setback for Spider-Man's inaugural battle with The Lizard, but it turns out he gets off a little lighter than that, merely thrown from the battlefield while Lizard disappears into the growth.

Fight fans might argue that Lizard initiated the separation, but it's still ultimately a moot result. The combatants go their separate ways with no real conclusions or advantage.

The stalemate will continue with a couple more run-ins throughout the issue, until a more substantial issue-ending face-off at The Lizard's lair.

We might take a look at more of their conflict another time -- but for now, let's just take a moment to appreciate the classics. I know I am!

Opinions on the definitive Lizard may vary, but I think this is very close to it. I'm partial to a less round head, more in keeping with common lizard varieties and a hint of crocodile jaw, but most of the iconic trademarks are here from the outset.

The influence of Universal Monsters, particularly The Creature from the Black Lagoon, and other science fiction of the era, is very evident, but it's always wonderful the way classic Marvel Comics artists and Stan Lee create something self-sustaining and original, either in conception of the character, the details of their life, or through the mere relationship to the hero Spider-Man.

Steve Ditko's best panels efficiently tell the action-packed story, showing the Lizard's menace as he lurks in the periphery, the shadows, or the unassuming waters. I particularly enjoy the first panel featured in today's article, with the Lizard merely observing intruders in his environment, and the underwater sequence -- the crocodilian Lizard in his element, ala; the "Gill-Man".

If you can't get on board with a seven foot half-man/half-lizard wearing a lab coat -- I really don't know how to help you. I worry for your soul, your heart, your mind -- the very core of your being. What's not to like? It's a freaking lizardman in pants and pristine white lab coat! That you don't see that every day is its glory!

I write this knowing Spider-Man 2 has just hit PlayStation 5, bringing The Lizard into the world of the rather tedious video game series, with a variation inspired by the even larger, more exaggerated mutation of 2010's Shed storyline.

Drawn by Chris Bachalo and written by Zeb Wells, it was actually a story I rather enjoyed at the time. Part of a back-to-basics run of Amazing Spider-Man that put a fresh twist on classic villains returning to the series as part of The Gauntlet.

In the case of The Lizard, Curt Connors is devoured by his alter-ego, who takes on a more spiny, animal quality as his humanity drifts into the background behind something else. I struggle to consider it a good introduction to the character, as the video game may ultimately be for some, but it's another story I'd like to revisit sometime on the site. The Gauntlet is really a very good time!

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Winner: Inconclusive (Draw)
#2 (--) Spider-Man
#1072 (+3) Lizard

HULK versus FANTASTIC FOUR

Part 4: The Hulk At Last! (Marvel)
Where: Fantastic Four #12 When: March 1963
Why: Stan Lee How: Jack Kirby

The Story So Far...
Project 34 is the latest invention by Dr. Bruce Banner: a state-of-the-art device able to blanket cities in protective electro-magnetic rays that repel any modern attack! It's the ultimate defensive technology, but its drawn the destructive interest of the mysterious Wrecker!

General Thaddeus "Thunderbolt" Ross suspects Banner's secret alter-ego of the monstrous Hulk is responsible, and recruits the Fantastic Four to deal with the menace!

The heroes accept their mission, with the powerful Thing particularly eager to prove his superiority against the rampaging powerhouse. Little do they realize the Hulk is innocent, and on his own desperate mission to rescue teenage friend Rick Jones from the clutches of the true Wrecker!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Hulk 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Mr. Fantastic 6 (Genius)
Speed: Invisible Woman 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Hulk 6 (Generator)
Agility: Mr. Fantastic 6 (Rubber)
Fighting: Hulk 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Human Torch 7 (Cosmic Power)
Total: Hulk 26 (Metahuman)

The year is 1963. The Marvel Universe is now in full swing, and for roughly ten months there have co-existed two monstrous powerhouses: The incredible Hulk and the ever lovin' blue-eyed Thing! They are unstoppable force and immovable object - destined to meet in the middle to determine who is strongest one of all!

Hulk was mild-mannered scientist Dr. Bruce Banner until bathed in gamma radiation from an experimental bomb! This accident of science unleashed the monster within - first triggered by nightfall, but eventually sparked by Banner's own inner turmoil! The greater his rage - the more powerful the Hulk!

Here on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths we subscribe to an understanding that Hulk may become more powerful with the intensity of his rage -- but he's still an organic being with limits. Not that those limits make him any less impressive!

At this early stage of his career, Hulk was best known for tearing through the military might of the United States Army - as was still the case many decades later in World War Hulk #3! He would go on to overwhelm super-powered heavyweights like: Thor [Avengers #5], Silver Surfer [Incredible Hulk #95], Juggernaut [Marvel Adventure #12], Hercules [Tales to Astonish #79], The Sentry [World War Hulk #5], and Red Hulk [Hulk #6]!

Thing is no slouch himself! Our above stats controversially advantage the Hulk, particularly in the realms of stamina and fighting ability. Strength is numerically equal in the "Invincible" bracket, but Thing's renowned brawling couldn't transcend skill-based finesse to match Hulk's "Warrior" Fighting stat.

An even greater question mark may lie with Stamina, given Thing is famed for rising to the occasion with heart & determination! It was best encapsulated when he went the distance with Champion of the Universe in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7! The reason for the low stat lies in a record of running out of gas against: Thundra & Sandman [Fantastic Four #129], Gladiator [Fantastic Four #249], Captain Marvel [Captain Marvel #26], The Sentry [Mighty Avengers #10], Wolverine [Wolverine #22], and Black Panther [Fantastic Four #52].

These defeats have weighted Thing's ranking, but he is famous for gutting it out against overwhelming odds! He's done it against Doctor Doom [Fantastic Four #350], The Adaptoid [Fantastic Four: Unplugged #1], his evil Doppelganger [Fantastic Four #367], and in the Ultimate Universe - a Zombie Hulk!

Thing also has something Hulk almost never does - powerful friends to help him in a pinch! The Fantastic Four are: Mister Fantastic, Invisible Girl, Human Torch and Thing.

Over the years they've combined to defeat powerful adversaries, such as: Ego The Living Planet [Fantastic Four #235], Super-Skrull [Fantastic Four #6], Paibok the Power Skrull [Fantastic Four #358], Gomdulla [Spider-Man Family #3], and The Sinister Twelve [Marvel Knights: Spider-man #11]! With Mister Fantastic's stretching, Invisible Woman's force-fields, and Human Torch's flame - coordinated tactics could prove to be the difference!

Of course, Hulk has taken down the Thunderbolts [Incredible Hulk #449] and Avengers [Avengers (Vol.2) #4], so all we can really do is get on with the fight!

History: Thing (1-0-0)
The Tape: Fantastic Four Ranking: Hulk (#6)

What Went Down...
Lurking within catacombs beneath a secret New Mexico military test-site: The Hulk hears voices echo through the subterranean chambers as he searches for his prey! The Fantastic Four now stalk the tunnels, led by the Thing, who's itching for a showdown with their "overrated" target. His wish is soon granted!

The incredible Hulk steps into view right as the Human Torch glides by and Thing's path meets his own! The notorious monster threatens to crush the surprised hero like a flea and launches a devastating left!

Despite its devastating power - the awesome blow serves only to temporarily knock Thing off balance! Hulk remarks that it's like hitting rock, realizing the Thing is far tougher than he expected.

Human Torch doubles back to attack, but the Hulk moves swiftly to launch a counter-attack of dirt and sand. His massive hands scoop untold rubble, blanketing the airborne Torch in a smothering layer of Earth!

In the chaos, the green behemoth apparently lost sight of the remaining half of the quartet. Believing they may've headed for the surface, he rips a tunnel towards the light and fills it tightly to keep Thing and Human Torch down below!

The deviation almost keeps the entire Fantastic Four buried, but Mister Fantastic is able to stretch his arms through tiny crevices in the dirt. Hearing Hulk's heavy feet thundering through the earth - he successfully ensnares the beast!

Though his rubbery arm easily loops around Hulk's waist, Mister Fantastic cannot endure his beastly rage! Like a furious bucking bronco, Hulk breaks the lasso hold and charges through a nearby abandoned desert town!

As Thing digs the remaining members of the Fantastic Four out of the ground -- Hulk hoists a wooden frame building above his head and dumps it on his rocky opponent. Remarkably - the emerging Thing effortlessly swats it aside!

Desperate to defeat the foursome, Hulk plots to mitigate their impressive powers by separating them. He leaps into the air, first planning to power-dive the Thing -- but Mister Fantastic stretches skyward to cut his trajectory off!

This time the brilliant hero wraps his entire elastic body around the Hulk, entombing him in a jacket of constricting rubber! It waylays the behemoth for a moment, but he soon spins his powerful body like a top -- flinging Mister Fantastic uncontrollably from his body!

The Human Torch flies in for another shot at the powerhouse, but the open-air strike won't do him any good. This time Hulk is ready to level him with a clap so powerful it unleashes a sonic boom shockwave!

The impossible blast grounds the Human Torch, and keeps the Invisible Girl and Mister Fantastic out of the fight, as well! Yet still one remains!

Unaffected by the sound or force of the sonic assault -- Thing wastes no time answering Hulk's queries, delivering a right hook that knocks Hulk off his feet and through a nearby brick wall!

Hulk retaliates by launching a massive cart, but the toss is easily avoided by the mocking Thing! His jibes only provoke Hulk's further rage. At last - they collide!

Like two raging bulls the powerhouses collide! The ground trembles beneath their massive feet as each jockeys for position in a grapple tie! Thing relishes his chance to finally go one-on-one with the famed super-heavyweight, while Hulk simply insists he's finally got him!

The flexing of mighty muscle is slow and grueling, but eventually Hulk is able to leverage his height to begin lifting the Thing! It seems the advantage may be going Hulk's way, but Thing maneuvers to prepare a devastating pile-driver punch when suddenly -- an unseen attacker strikes from beneath the ground!

The mysterious atom-powered beam brings Hulk to a complete standstill - knocking him out cold! Thing can only be dazed and confused, uncertain of how his powerful foe was suddenly vanquished. When the Invisible Girl alerts him to the stolen victory -- an enraged Thing sets his sights on the unseen assailant!

The Hammer...
One of the biggest super-heavyweight showdowns of the early Marvel Universe -- and it ends in interference!

Hulk was clearly defeated, but it wasn't by the powerful pounding fists of the rocky Thing! No! That dubious distinction went to the dastardly Wrecker, whose victory comes from a dirty sneak attack!

In professional wrestling terms this was a result that kept both powerhouses strong. They each got their licks in, but Hulk had the visual advantage at the end - before suffering underhanded defeat! Who would win a fight between Thing and the Hulk? Fans could still find valid arguments in favor of both!

Don't confuse ol' Karl Kort [pictured] with the enchanted crowbar-wielding Wrecker. This guy was a one-and-done villain in the classic mold of other communist spies and saboteurs. He was similar to several early Hulk villains, dubbed "The Wrecker" for destroying prototype weaponry and devices.

Karl Kort would be all but forgotten after Fantastic Four #12, but the potential for a rematch showdown between Thing and Hulk continued to have all the orchestrated drama of a Madison Square Garden main event!

There was more than a touch of the New York promoter about Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Many of their finest early stories built the emerging threat of a new villain, before putting the hero over in the end. Each victory: another notch in the belt of would-be challengers to the unspoken title of Marvel's toughest!

These kinds of staple fantasy fights in Marvel's early years were vital to building the inter-connected reality of the modern shared Marvel Universe.

The Hulk solo series ended after Incredible Hulk #6 (published the same month as FF #12), but Editor-in-Chief Stan Lee would send his star on a tour of other series, growing his legend as he mixed it up with The Avengers, Iron Man, Spider-man, and a circulating attraction from the Golden Age: Sub-Mariner!

It comes as no surprise that I would have a strong affection for this approach. I enjoy a good superhero fight, and love the way these stories helped build the legend of each character, and their inter-personal relationships.

Thing & Hulk are still two of Marvel's toughest, and still have a pretty healthy rivalry! In fact, the fight from Fantastic Four #12 was specifically revisited in 2005's Hulk and Thing: Hard Knocks, where Bruce Jones wrote a new brawl between them as they argued over who won that fateful first encounter!

Marvel Comics were really given a strong start, and Stan Lee deserves a lot of credit for cultivating that.

There were a lot of classic confrontations we could've revisited, but when I think Stan Lee, I think Fantastic Four, so this seemed like a fitting way to pay tribute to "The Man", who sadly left us earlier this week, aged 95.

Many people around the world have said wonderful words about the writer, editor, publisher, and personality, who had such a huge impact on us all. I'm not sure I can add much more of value. With so many famous faces leaving us in recent years, that's one of the nice aspects of the Stan Lee story. He had the chance to know how much he meant to us all. More should be so lucky.

If you'd like to check out more famous fights from Stan Lee, be sure to browse the Cover to Cover: Remembering Stan Lee selection. You'll also be able to find more from "The Man" by following links, and browsing the Secret Archive.

You can read today's featured story and more for yourself by checking out collected editions from Amazon! Purchasing via the links provided helps support the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths at no extra cost to you! Excelsior!

Get daily links to featured fights inspired by the topics of the day by liking, sharing, and following on Twitter and Facebook. You can also connect with more fans celebrating the life of Stan Lee with tributes and stories by following the #StanLeeForever hashtag.

Winner: "Wrecker" Karl Kort (w/ Fantastic Four)
#317 (new) Karl Kort (Wrecker)
#11 (--) Thing [+1 assist]
#10 (--) Mister Fantastic [+1 assist]
#14 (--) Human Torch [+1 assist]
#12 (--) Invisible Woman [+1 assist]
#6 (--) Hulk

SPIDER-MAN versus VULTURE

The Return of The Vulture (Marvel)
Where: Amazing Spider-man #7 When: December 1963 Why: Stan Lee How: Steve Ditko

The Story So Far...
The Vulture has built a new flight harness and flown the coop from prison to again spread terror from above!

His new and improved magnetic mechanism flies rings around police helicopters, and effortlessly takes Vulture anywhere in the concrete jungle! An open window is all that's needed to pick a jewelry showroom clean of its extravagant riches!

Fortunately for the citizens of New York City, Spider-man knows the way to beat the Vulture at his own game! He still has the anti-magnetic inverter he built to clip the Vulture's wings. He's ready to do it all again -- or so he thinks!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Spider-man 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Draw 5 (Professor)
Speed: Spider-man 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Spider-man 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Spider-man 5 (Cat-Like)
Fighting: Spider-man 3 (Street Wise)
Energy: Spider-man 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Spider-man 29 (Meta-human)

The stat sheet paints a pretty one-sided picture, but you can never completely count out the lethal foes of Spider-man! His opponent makes the sky his home and when the bird comes a-swoopin' that spider's gonna hope he has cover!

Vulture is Adrian Toomes: a genius inventor and electrical engineer who discovered a method for personal flight through the use of an electronic harness. The device allows for levitation and propulsion which he steers using a winged suit. The harness is also said to increase his strength and vitality.

Toomes was initially inspired to a life of crime when his business partner absconded with embezzled funds. He quickly became one of Spider-man's earliest arch-villains, defeated in Amazing Spider-man #2 by an invention designed to incapacitate his flight harness.

A wingless Vulture was able to escape Spider-man while he fought Electro in Marvel Knights: Spider-man #3. A later gathering of the Sinister Twelve saw Vulture targeting Spider-man and Black Cat, before the Avengers intervened to bring about the team's defeat, in Marvel Knights: Spider-man #11.

Spidey's swinging solo in today's fight, and although Toomes is essentially just an old man in a fancy flying suit -- his aerial acrobatics negate one of Spider-man's most unique advantages: his maneuverability!

Human Torch almost used his aerial advantage to panfry Spider-man in Fantastic Four #543! The web-head only got the better of a gliding Green Goblin after grounding him in Marvel Knights: Spider-man #1! If it wasn't for the cosmic powers of Captain Universe giving him flight of his own: Spidey might've met his match fighting Magneto way back in Amazing Spider-man #327!

Versatility is the key difference between our two foes. Spider-man's spider-sense, web-slinging, strength, speed, agility, and wall-crawling give him a gamut of skills to call upon, not to mention his smarts. Vulture exclusively controls the air.

Like the bird that snatches the spider from its web - Vulture's dangerous - but if Parker can capitalize on the city environment, and any of his other skills, he can ground the Vulture. Something he's done many times later in his career! Will he do it in this - their second major encounter? Let's find out!

History: Spider-man (1-0-0)
The Tape: Spider-man Ranking: Spider-man (#2)

What Went Down...
A web-swinging search of the New York City skyline uncovers the Vulture fresh from a jewelry showroom heist! Spider-man's danger senses alert him to the aerial villain's proximity, but he has no way of knowing Vulture has taken counter-measures for the "anti-magnetic inverter" that defeated him last time!

Spidey sticks to a nearby building, waiting for Vulture's swooping attack to bring him close enough for the hi-tech gizmo's deactivation range.

The overconfident wall-crawler also draws his camera, aiming to get Daily Bugle photographer Peter Parker the perfect snapshot of Vulture's moment of defeat! Everything appears to be going to plan as Vulture plays along -- perfectly timing his sudden downward spiral towards the pavement!

As he makes chase, Spidey isn't sure if he noticed a smile creep across the face of Adrian Toomes. The speed of Vulture's descent sends the leaping hero on a course of ledges -- obscuring his vision to his winged foe's convenience!

Vulture pushes his wings down, hugging the side of a building as he turns his trajectory upwards! Even the pang of spider-sense fails to warn Spider-man of the oncoming threat just below his feet! The Vulture strikes!

The winged warrior knocks Spider-man from the building ledge and follows his aerial assault with a flying kick! The blows throw Spidey tumbling into open space! He desperately shoots a web towards the nearby buildings -- but misses!

Fast reflexes and a powerful core give Spider-man his only back-up plan -- an attempt to ease the impact of his fall by twisting in mid-air!

The web-slinger still hits hard when he crash lands onto a nearby roof space!

The Vulture proclaims victory as he soars the New York skies above a horrified crowd. Perched upon a flag pole he contemplates his newfound notoriety, while a prone Spider-man lies motionless -- surviving only by the grace of a radioactive spider that imbued him with its proportionate strength!

The Hammer...
That means Vulture registers a victory as we finally expand upon his profile with a meaningful spotlight! I only wish it were under more joyous circumstances...

Sadly, the world has lost legendary co-creator of Spider-man (and Vulture): Steve Ditko. News of his passing on June 29th only reached the wider world late last week. He was ninety.

As the originator: Ditko was both lauded for the inventive quirks he instilled in Spider-man, but also all too easily overlooked. Followed by generations of subsequent iconic artists, Ditko provided the foundation upon which many built.

I've been guilty of taking Ditko for granted at times, and even glossing over the charms that made him a great comic book artist. There's a simplicity in some of his work that doesn't always jive with me, but that's not the whole story.

Truth be told, I've been enjoying Steve Ditko's work for nearly the entirety of my life! It's been working its way further into my mind in recent months, with Amazing Spider-man #7 on the docket for quite some time. I was eyeing a Ditko Marvel Masterworks the night before the unfortunate news.

I think back fondly to the Ditko t-shirt I prized as a youngster: White, soft, with the cover of Amazing Spider-man #14 on the front. The blacks were raised with smooth stitching that gave the art an interesting tactile element. It was pretty great. Which was probably why I'd occasionally stuff it in my backpack in the 2nd and 3rd grades, switching shirts once I was safely embedded in school. That was probably the dual 'bad influence' of Ditko and Degrassi, but I digress...

Readers of a certain age defined their Spider-fandom by the Ditko or John Romita years. I'm grateful to have been exposed to both. Romita's vivid pop sensibilities age better, but there's simply no denying the fantastic canon of characters established during the Stan Lee/Steve Ditko run.

Vulture is just one of many classic villains defined by Ditko's rendering, but he's a fine example! Hovering with arched-eyebrows, and a wicked grin that curls beneath prominent nose and cheekbones, he's a fully realized character. I buy wholeheartedly into the cranky old man in fur-lined green bodysuit. Which is probably a big reason the character endured in the face of modern disbelief.

Ditko's Spidey is stiff and awkward, still new to his powers. At times it seems a trait of the artwork, but there are immediately available exceptions throughout this very issue. The graceful, leaping contortionist would evolve out of these early, gawky examples of wall-crawling.

Page 5 of Amazing #7 is a personal favourite. It shows Vulture gliding over the city, rooftops, street, and gracefully into a vulnerable jewelry showroom. The six panel array is masterfully economic in creating its sense of motion and storytelling. Vulture's character is on display throughout. A pleasure to behold!

Ditko was responsible for creating and co-creating some great characters. My favourites might be the Spidey rogues gallery, but there are many contenders!

While not perfect, I'd say the atmosphere and world of Doctor Strange also ranks among his best [see; Strange Tales #114]. The great Mike Mignola shared a fun story about Al Milgrom pulling him aside to see Ditko flashing Strange's hand gestures during an animated conversation with Bill Mantlo [about ROM].

By all accounts, Ditko himself was a pretty interesting guy. A man of firm held beliefs and philosophies that weren't necessary congruent with the praise he's now to be heaped with. John Siuntres (of Word Balloon) made note of his vocal disdain for the cult of personality, while various fans shared special memories of the meaningful, hand written correspondence he was known to send.

I came across a letter shared by one Scott Mills, with particular resonances for the present day. It struck me as a fine read, and reflection of the man I've largely known only through second-hand descriptions.

I hope Mr. Ditko wouldn't mind, too much, an appreciative fan reflecting on some of his much enjoyed work.

Naturally, Spidey is down but not out at the end of Amazing #7! No doubt we'll be back some time in the future to follow up on the rematch!

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You can also follow on Twitter and Facebook to share daily links to fights inspired by the topics of the day! Go deeper by diving into the Secret Archive for all featured fights indexed by publisher, series, and issue number. You can also find more by following tags linked throughout this post. Be sure to share finds with friends!

Winner: Vulture
#319 (+222) Vulture (Adrian Toomes)
#2 (--) Spider-man

BARON MORDO versus DOCTOR STRANGE

The Return of The Omnipotent Baron Mordo! (Marvel)
Where: Strange Tales #114 When: November 1963
Why: Stan Lee How: Steve Ditko

The Story So Far...
Dr. Stephen Strange is a master of black magic, wielded in the service of protecting the realm of Earth! His skills were learned from the great Tibetan master of magic known to the mortal world as: The Ancient One!

Though Strange is the most favoured of The Ancient One's students, he is far from the only man to have learned to wield his arcane techniques. Among his most powerful students is another, more senior sorcerer known as Baron Mordo!

In Mordo's blackened heart is a desire to be the greatest sorcerer in all the world. In this fool's quest, he once attempted to destroy his master and claim the final secrets unknown to him. He was thwarted by Dr. Strange and thus the two become sworn enemies! A hatred that motives an unexpected call to Strange's Greenwich Village sanctum from Sir Clive Bentley - an old English acquaintance with a desperate request for help! A siren's call issued in truth by Karl Mordo with the intent of staging a horrible plot for revenge!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Draw 2 (Average)
Intelligence: Draw 5 (Professor)
Speed: Draw 2 (Average)
Stamina: Draw 5 (Marathon)
Agility: Dr. Strange 3 (Acrobat)
Fighting: Draw 2 (Average)
Energy: Draw 6 (Mass Destruction)


It's not often that we have an as-published sequential rematch on our cards, but that's exactly what we're looking at today! The villainous Baron Mordo debuted in Strange Tales #111, where he used his mastery of the mystic arts to vex his former master, The Ancient One, and Earth's Sorcerer Supreme: Dr. Strange!

In that original contest, Mordo used astral projection and powers of suggestion to see The Ancient One poisoned by a trusted aid. When Dr. Strange intervened, he relied on cunning to outwit Mordo, making him believe his material body was in mortal danger, thus leading Strange to it! The Master was healed while Strange entrapped the Baron in the body he raced to save.

Three issues later: Baron Mordo makes his second appearance to come for revenge against Doctor Strange - the man who replaced and defeated him!

We've seen Dr. Strange combat many magical opponents in the decades that followed. He and The Avengers prevented Dormammu entering our dimension through mystic charge The Hood [New Avengers #54]. In a lesser skirmish, he used to spells to reduce Hand ninja to sleeping, crying children while ferrying the group into and out of the battle [New Avengers #27]. He's a confident mystic, but not infallible or all powerful.

In New Avengers #2, we saw a Strange who was no longer Earth's Sorcerer Supreme, and became a possessed puppet for the awesome Agamotto! The wholly non-magical intervention of Wolverine snapped him out of it, but he was still unable to prevent the entity abducting Iron Fist!

Baron Mordo studied extensively with The Ancient One before Strange's arrival and ascension. His mastery of the black arts is extensive - possibly even greater than Dr. Strange's at this early stage of his career! Indeed, had Mordo not led Strange to his body in that original battle, the Sorcerer would not have been able to locate or effect it!

All of this adds up to a serious threat to Strange, who can at best intuit the presence of danger -- but not predict its source! He knows this, just as he knows he cannot rely on The Master to fight this battle for him. This awareness and determination to hone and improve his mastery is a good sign!

In all respects they are the classic yin and yang of the mystic id! Good and evil, evenly matched and equal in profession!

Can the Doctor triumph over his sinister other - or will Mordo have his revenge?

Let us cease the fruitless supposing of these hypothetical incantations and gaze upon a realm of reality where the confrontation has already become history!

History: Dr. Strange (1-0-0)
The Tape: Dr. Strange Ranking: Dr. Strange (#67)

What Went Down...
Lured to the darkened castle of one Sir Clive Bentley -- Dr. Strange pierces the English gloom with a sense of danger. Though he can detect the lingering menace of a powerful evil, he notices the vapor of occult candles too late!

The gloating figure of Baron Mordo emerges from the shadows to survey his wicked work! Just as Dr. Strange had held the villain prisoner in his own body during their last encounter -- now Mordo's sinister candles paralyze the sorcerer as the flickering flame burns toward his ultimate doom!

At that moment, The Ancient One reaches out from far off Tibet to convene with his favored student through the realm of the mind! In telepathic conference, Dr. Strange rejects The Master's offer for help - vowing to prove himself against Baron Mordo's dark magicks!

Though he rejected The Master, Strange is no fool and not above accepting help! As his limbs fail him, Strange summons fading energy to wield his mystic amulet -- using its magic to call to a nearby home. There, a young woman receives the sorcerer's command -- Sir Clive's daughter: Victoria Bentley!

Succumbing to his beckoning order, the young lady enters a trance-like state -- racing to her father's castle! There, she dutifully snuffs the flames that hold Strange prisoner and threaten his very life!

As power returns to the sorcerer's limbs, the woman snaps to her senses -- unaware of how she came to be in his ominous presence. Strange detects an untapped talent for sorcery within the woman, who feels a great sense of trust, and reveals the shocking truth - that Lord Bentley died ten years ago!

Baron Mordo returns to discover Strange freed from his death trap. He attempts to take advantage of his sudden arrival, using magic to sap The Doctor's will, but soon discovers the undetected ruse that lured Strange to the castle has also been turned against him!

Mordo's threats have been leveled at a mere mental projection! Having arrived by jet, the true Dr. Strange enters to merge with his other self and assume full power in the struggle against his nemesis!

The sinister sorcerer Baron Mordo slings insults as he dives into an epic ethereal battle with his eternal nemesis! He is stronger, older, greater - but Strange will not accept defeat! While they stare intently in the mortal world, they project on the arena of the mystic plane astral warriors of immense power!

The unwitnessed war is waged with the fury of a storm! Like the raging tempest - it ends as suddenly as it began! One "nerve-shattering impact" sufficient to defeat Baron Mordo. In a burst of smoke - he disappears from Bentley Castle!

Once again, incredible strategy has given Dr. Strange the advantage. Baron Mordo lives to fight another day, more desperate than ever to wield his superior power in the ultimate defeat of The Ancient One's future successor!

The Hammer...
What more is there left to say? Once again good has triumphed over evil thanks to the wit and determination of Dr. Strange!

If I were to take a critical eye to this story, I might look twice at the method of Strange's third act switcheroo. Maybe candle vapors can have a paralyzing effect on a mentally projected doppelganger, but it reads a little like "yeah, but" in its sudden execution.

I wouldn't hold it against the story as an unearned twist. Much more could've been made of it being a deliberate redirection of Mordo's page one deception. That's a conceit I would certainly expect of a modern script, dwelling on the irony and hubris of the villain's own method turned against him.

The lack of form is actually one of the real charms of these early Dr. Strange stories, which read like a Stan Lee scramble to give constant meaning to sometimes ambiguous Steve Ditko panels. The legend of the "Marvel Method" precedes the comics of the sixties, but the two-prong storytelling production may be more exposed here than when Jack Kirby is drawing. Gentlemanly posturing doesn't always lend itself to visual intuition.

Ambiguity is rife in the magic of these early issues, as well. Most of the go-to affectations fans associate with Dr. Strange aren't here yet. He isn't cursing hoary hosts, nor exclaiming the Vishanti in vain. The finger bends and classic spells have a while to come, but it isn't unrecognizable. The iconography of ghostly white astral projections is a fast favourite. I quite like it when we start seeing steel traps manifest in subsequent stories.

Perhaps the most interesting element to remember is that The Ancient One is still alive and kicking as a mentor, and ally in these original stories.

Modern retellings may have a tendency to skip The Ancient One's presence, relegating "The Master" (as he's known in the first issue) to the role of doomed teacher, whose mysterious teachings are cut short just as the hero gains enough power to avenge him.

I don't necessarily have an issue with a condensed, conventional origin story, but I think it's fantastic that Dr. Strange was created imperfect. It becomes so easy to think of him as an almost omnipotent loner, kept away from the Marvel Universe to avoid difficult questions. In 1963, he's still trying to prove himself in a world where he isn't even guaranteed second banana!

The decision to switch to the iconic red cape was a good visual call that came later. The explanation that his blue cape was a less powerful version of the cloak of levitation - a nice in-fiction explanation. When changes like these are given logic they become useful pieces of mythology. I particularly liked it when Strange gifted the blue cape to a new apprentice in the eighties: Rintrah.

I've written before about not having a lot of affection for Baron Mordo. As a pure evil counterpart of Dr. Strange, it's been easy to sometimes view him as a meat headed stock villain. A thinly characterized stooge weighed down by the many decades of his defeats. Some may see that interpretation in the revenge quest featured today, but I've gained a real appreciation for these early stories.

As a character, Karl Mordo may never be more interesting than in these early issues, when he's a plausible rival to an incomplete Strange. At this point, the depth of Strange and Mordo's association as short-lived contemporaries under the teachings of The Ancient One isn't known. That comes next issue, and when it does, we also get to see what we've been told: Mordo is a stronger mystic.

It's a perfect recipe for a great, natural, early nemesis. A seemingly genuine threat, especially as long as The Ancient One lives to represent the next level of mystic authority. The level each student waits to claim when the time demands.

These are some of the themes that will no doubt play in theatres with the now global release of Doctor Strange. We're celebrating the release of the film by dedicating November to venturing into the comic books of Dr. Strange!

Want to take a journey of your own? Use the Amazon links provided [right] to venture into a dimension of infinite possibility by purchasing this story in collected edition! By doing so, you help charge future entries into the Secret Wars on Infinite Earths!

If your occult curiosity persists, you can find many more adventures starring Dr. Strange and the mystics of the multiverse by following links throughout this post (and below). You can also the horizontal and vertical of reality by scouring the Issue Index for all previous feature fights!

Stay tuned for more Strange tales next!

Winner: Doctor Strange
#42 (+25) Dr. Strange
#503 (new) Victoria Bentley [+1 assist]
#820 (-206) Baron Mordo

MONTHLY PUNCH-UP #30 (June 2008)
IRON MAN versus WONG-CHU
Iron Man is Born! (Marvel)
Where: Tales of Suspense #39 When: March 1963
Why: Stan Lee & Larry Lieber How: Don Heck

Quick Fix...
Iron Man: The Movie is now officially a part of history.
Having grossed more than five hundred million dollars worldwide, the picture has been a considerable triumph for Marvel Studios' first outing as a production company, garnering both financial and critical acclaim for this politically charged adult adventure!

The film details the still-relevant origins of a character born from the decadence of a weapons manufacturer who finds himself held captive by the enemies of the United States. While the film updates the concept's 1960s origins, turning the Vietcong into something more topical, the details remain much the same: Tony Stark builds a suit of armor to save his life (in more ways than one).

Last month we took a look at the comic book reference for the film [Iron Man #5] which was part of Warren Ellis' redefining storyarc, Extremis. The arc had the responsibility of not only redefining Iron Man for the modern age as a techno-organic hybrid being, but also flashed back to modernize the origin beyond even previous revisions.

In the original tale; Stark visits the Asian battlefields out of necessity.
With the communist guerrilla soldiers far outnumbering their freedom-loving counterparts, it's the introduction of Stark's patented "midget transistors" that enable the Americans to maximize the bang for their buck, converting artillery into easily transported handheld devices.

When Stark accidentally activates a trip wire in the Vietnam jungles, he seals his fate, suffering a near fatal wound that famously lodges shrapnel dangerously close to his heart. Differing is the much less motivated capture of the industrialist, who is taken by an opportunistic soldier seeking reward from the guerilla tyrant, Wong-Chu! Wong-Chu proves better informed than his lackey, forcing Stark to spend his final hours designing weapons for the tyrant.

Being imprisoned with the famous physicist, Professor Yinsen; Stark has the opportunity to use the scrap provided to fashion a suit of armor that both hold the life-threatening shrapnel away from his heart, and also grants him the fantastic powers of a one-man arsenal!

In the moment of truth, Professor Yinsen sacrifices himself to provide sufficient enough distraction to allow Tony Stark to disappear into the night. This allows the armored warrior to formulate his return to the guerilla's camp, where, upon his return, he finds Wong-Chu indulged in a little hand-to-hand dominance of his lackeys.

The eerie trenchcoated figure emerges from the gloom to boldly accuse the war monger as a coward, before revealing himself to be much more than the easily dominated underlings that fearfully obey him!

Wong-Chu reveals his true colours, terrified by the lumbering menace of this weird Iron Man, to whom he proves no match. Using the enhancements of his suit, Stark easily hoists the tyrant over his head, sending him into a spin before launching the villain into a humiliating landing amongst the scrub.

Wong-Chu orders the distruction of the Iron Man, but as with modern versions of the origin, the armored hero shrugs aside attack from his quaint captors, turning his advanced arsenal against them.

Wong-Chu attempts to flee deeper into the compound, but soon realises he has done little more than isolate himself, as the Iron Man commandeers announcement systems to send the guerilla army into the jungle in panic. Unwilling to let the enemy escape, Iron Man uses the armor's lubricant oil as an excelerant to put an end to Wong-Chu, who is caught in the blast of an ammunitions bunker.

The Fix: 4 The Story: 4
Winner: Iron Man

Looking to brush up a little on your Iron Man history? Why not check out the Iron Man Omnibus? By using purchase links provided on the Infinite Wars, you not only benefit from the convenience and pricing of Amazon's extensive range, but also help sponsor future entries in the site! Take that, communists!

---

POINTS
[118/197]
[072/140]
[030/069]
[-02/164]
[-03/215]
[-06/104]
[-12/071]
[-13/067]
[-15/066]
[-16/058]
[-16/123]
[-17/174]
[-22/018]TEAMS
#1 (+8) Divine Judgment
#2 (+9) The Black Death
#3 (+10) The Revolution
#4 (-1) The Legends
#5 (-4) The People's Team
#6 (-1) The Knights of Right
#7 (-1) Makin' it w/Cap'n
#8 (-) X-Party
#9 (-2) The X League
#10 (-) The Ghost Walkers
#11 (-7) The DC Illuminati
#12 (-10) The Corps
#13 (-1) The Elite Fleet

Join the list! Draft a team today!2008 Fantasy League...
Ladies and gentlemen, brace yourself as we prepare to crown the second Infinite Wars Fantasy League monthly winner! Give Blade the team MVP, because it was on the back of his Super Stock jump that Divine Judgment smoked the opposition in a dramatic shift of fortunes!

Working against the majority of teams was a disappointing economy for the Infinite Wars Super Stock in May. Limited reviews mean limited points, and while that pushed losses to minimal double digit scores, it did very little for the victors of the month.

Iron Man's movie-month did favours for a lagging Revolution team who, despite making the top three for the month, continue to bottom-out below the 100pt ceiling. They'll be cursing the successes of franchise inductees from Mortal Kombat, who currently propose some of the most promising free agents. The Legends will be watching keenly through June to see if Hulk-sponsored fortunes can secure an overall rankings boost over the still leading People's Team.

follow SuperStock at http://twitter.com

Speaking of Fantasy League trading tips:
It's come to my attention that someone has been posing as Machine Man on Twitter to offer insider-trading tips.
This artificial lifeform is a malicious cheat claiming to have gained access to the SuperStock. While his point values are eerily accurate, he is not to be trusted! He is a drunk and wishes only to pervert the course of the Fantasy League through insightful recommendations!

Meanwhile; those of you reading wo haven't drafted a team should do so right now! Head over to the debrief where you'll find the information needed to begin drafting your team. Unfortunately a sliding schedule meant we haven't been able to recruit as actively as the previous month, but there's still plenty to be gained from consigning a team! Niche franchises like Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter remain completely available, along with a variety of heroes and villains of different statures.

The Fantasy League isn't an exact science. Points are derived from the daily goings on in the Infinite Wars, and refined through the Super Stock [found further into this post]. While we try to represent key events in the community, weekly comics aren't the focus of our reviews, meaning our superhero fight club resembles something like a stock market, more than a precise sports league.

There are no prizes and no real losers here. The Fantasy League is designed to build a greater sense of community around the combative corners of the Infinite Wars. You should, of course, follow team sponsor links to familiarize yourself with some of the sites in this corner of the blogosphere, because as illustrated by the league -- we're all here for pretty similar reasons.

The Fantasy League can be as involving or stagnant as you like it to be, and every month you get the chance to spend your points on perfecting your team. The sign-up post will keep you informed when it comes to the availability of characters (those already drafted are struck out).

The category restrictions of the draft are now replaced by point values for those already playing. Everyone must have five characters on a team, but you can now sell a character (at half value) to use your points to draft new characters.
This is where it gets a little complicated, because it's just too time consuming to post full lists for the values of characters each month. You can request a character value in the comments section of this post, before trading through e-mail in the same fashion as your original drafting.

Values are based upon the total number of characters in the Super Stock rankings, with character dropping a point in price from top to bottom. Currently we have 539 characters ranked, making that the value of top-ranked character; Spider-man. If Daredevil is ranked #10 that values him at 530, Wonder Woman (#40) is 500, Darkseid (#176) is 364, She-Hulk (#231) is 309, and so on.
Unranked characters are a flat 100 points, making them mixed investments, given no movement return on their first month of entry.

To keep proceedings fluid; all trades should be completed within three days of the Punch-Up. If you're happy with your team, or not keen on over complicating things, just sit on your stocks and let them mature! I think the Fantasy League has been a very fun addition to the site, and hope to see more teams emerging in the coming months. If you're already reading/playing, suggest it to a friend!

---

Spider-Boycott 2008: Week 23
Bitten by a radioactive spider; Peter Parker gains the proportionate strength, speed, and agility of a spider. After the death of his Uncle Ben, Peter learns that with great power must come great repsonsibility. Thus, this tortured hero launches himself into a selfless career as Spider-man!

The Amazing Spider-man earns the attentions of many enemies, but when the Kingpin launched an attack on his foe, Peter's Aunt May was caught in the crossfire! With the elderly May in critical condition, Peter proves unable to find sufficient aid from his superpowered fellows, leading him to accept an unlikely deal from devil, Mephisto: Erase the romance and marriage to Mary-Jane Watson, and save the elderly woman's life.

It was the premise for a story that had been brewing off-the-page since the promotion of of Joe Quesada to Editor-In-Chief. Ultimately the task befell J. Michael Straczynski in a story that will go down in Spider-man infamy.
Five decades into the history of this character, a poor excuse for a story saw this deeply responsible man make a deal with a devil to save a frail old woman. In reality, the move was little more than a nostalgia driven cop-out for the development of a character that had matured and grown with earlier audiences.

The result was Brand New Day, the follow-up that relaunched Spider-man with a revised history more garbled than the revisionist standard of Crisis on Infinite Earths. The erasure of Spidey's big screen romance was allegedly to refresh and simplify the character, but instead resulted in a vague deconstructed history, and the return of standards and motiffs thirty-years old.

The site has been without Spider-man for five months, and at this point the Boycott is more incidental than ever. I have very little interest to discuss or read what has been an uninspiring relaunch of the Spider-man title(s). This running section of the Punch-Up is now mostly academic, an exercise in tracking the monetary response measured by camps of fans each with strong opinions.

This modern gestation of a post-internet industry seems to be in the second stages of it's development. Vocal minorities now represent the basless claims of the blindly positive, as much as unmotivated shit-stirrers and provacateurs.
While the sales figures are not indicative of quality or relevance, they provide some assemblance of a mean average of opinion. I'm not terribly interested in Amazing, but I am interested in the reactions to this continued fiasco.

ESTIMATED SALES FIG.
(Sep 07) Amazing Spider-man #544 OMD [146,215]
(Oct 07) Friendly N'hood Spider-man #22 OMD [110,405] -24.49%
(Nov 07) Sensational Spider-man #41 OMD [100,300] -9.15%
(Dec 07) Amazing Spider-man #545 OMD [124,481] +24.11%
(Jan 08) Amazing Spider-man #546 BND [136,109] +9.34%
(Jan 08) Amazing Spider-man #547 BND [108,485] -20.29%
(Jan 08) Amazing Spider-man #548 BND [105,122] -3.1%
(Feb 08) Amazing Spider-man #549 BND [101,112] -3.81%
(Feb 08) Amazing Spider-man #550 BND [90,874] -10.12%
(Feb 08) Amazing Spider-man #551 BND [88,084] -3.07%
(Mar 08) Amazing Spider-man #552 BND [89,835] +1.99%
(Mar 08) Amazing Spider-man #553 BND [82,648] -8.00%
(Mar 08) Amazing Spider-man #554 BND [81,072] -1.91%
(Apr 08) Amazing Spider-man #555 BND [86,902] +7.19%
(Apr 08) Amazing Spider-man #556 BND [78,458] -9.72%
(Apr 08) Amazing Spider-man #557 BND [77,057] -1.79%

As easy as it would be to claim validation through the continued decline in sales on the title, this is generally accepted as an industry standard. The fickle nature of the medium now portends inevitable numerical slips to be made up in cyclical revamps of major titles. Brand New Day represents exactly this phenomena.

A fifty-seven percent drop from launch figures isn't terribly attractive to see on paper, but it's worth remembering Marvel priorities are currently shifted toward the mainstream cash cow Iron Man has presented, and the upcoming movie-sponsored feature of the Hulk. Comic-driven priorities are also similarly directed away from the web-slinger, despite his Avengers connection to the Invasion.

A shameful bump in sales comes from the guest-appearance of Wolverine and the increasing popularity of fan-turned-writer, Zeb Wells, and artist, Chris Bachalo. Not bad, considering these details have contributed very little to Amazing's continued status as a trio of top twenty entrants. Industry-wide dips in monthly sales have contributed to that ranking, but the real acid test will probably come from the fully fledged release of both Secret Invasion and Final Crisis -- the summer events from the major two companies.

It continues to be an interesting subject to follow, but I'm not sure we're really seeing any conclusive result, either way. My relative disinterest has kept me mostly removed from opinion, but if you'd like to scroll down to drop a comment, I'd love to hear any opinions now that BND is into it's second quarter!

---

The 2008 Top Five...
The comics fanbase may border on utter bemusement, but it's safe to say Mortal Kombat versus DC Universe has well and truly arrived on the Infinite Wars! Responsible for a substantial amount of traffic this month, I've thoroughly enjoyed inducting the American response to the previously featured Street Fighter franchise, but never during our one-way discussions did I anticipate an arrival to the Season 2008 top five!

External influences continue to be a major effect on the Infinite Wars, but the critical acclaim of the Iron Man feature film was not as accurately reflected as I had hoped. Interrupted scheduling meant only two of the intended four Iron Man features made it to the site, and with this month seeing the release of Incredible Hulk, one now wonders if the balance can be restored.

Summer blockbusters at the boxoffice are accompanied by world-spanning events in the comics. Secret Invasion and Final Crisis have now officially launched, and will be a major component entering the June drift.

#1 Batman (-) (27) (DC)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Hush]
Win Percentage: [66.67%] Features: [30]
2006: [#1] 2007: [#2] Cumulative: [#2]

Old faithful weighs in as expected, despite feeling the pressures of a month off! The heat of his World's Finest chum may be daunting, but the Dark Knight proves staying power with looming influences like July's Batman Begins sequel, a major comics event in "RIP," and small screen projects including the movie tie-in anime, Gotham Knight, and a new adventure series for the kids, Brave and the Bold!

The hot rumor is that Batman narrowly avoided the fate of one of our other top five contenders, but it's difficult to know for sure whether or not rebel Scot, Grant Morrison, ever actually intended to follow through on the title of his current Batman arc. Popular belief suggests Warner Brothers intervened on the behalf of the international golden goose, but one finds it hard to imagine even Morrison daring to off one of comics' most enduring and creatively blessed icons.

It's the status of the character that no doubt leaves few comic fans surprised by Oscar-buzz surrounding the post humous performance of Heath Ledger as the Joker. An honor rarely bestowed upon superhero adaptations, the award would not be out of place, at home with critical response for some of the greatest Batman works, including those that have influenced the film(s).

#2 Superman (+2) (5) (DC)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Massacre]
Win Percentage: [56.52%] Features: [23]
2006: [#7] 2007: [#13] Cumulative: [#4]

Superman rides a wave of DC dominance in Season 2008, to join Batman at the top of MK versus DCU sponsored stakes! The two account for the the only DC characters confirmed, thus far.

On the comics front, Superman's enjoying the revisionist touch of Geoff Johns, whose simplicity of context has recently touched upon strong outings for Zod, Bizarro, and now Toyman! DC's third year-long weekly series, Trinity, also promises to pair Superman together with his JLA colleagues, Batman and Wonder Woman, for a spotlight series that may or may not connect to Final Crisis.

Superman's role in the universe-spanning crossover seems uncertain to me, but perhaps that's more due to ignorance than irrelevance. FC: Superman Beyond promises to put a personal spin on the event for DC's iconic first hero, but early impressions suggest the trinity may be the first heroes to be pacified in Libra and the New Gods' march on the superhero community. Fortunately with James Robinson waiting in the wings, the character's future seems secured!

#3 Goro (new) (Midway)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [Raiden]
Win Percentage: [60%] Features: [5]
2006: [NR] 2007: [NR] Cumulative: [#27]

Capitalizing on the open field of Season 2008; a Mortal Kombatant achieves what the Street Fighters couldn't in the latter parts of Season 2007, when they were sponsored for a top five ranking!

Hype surrounding the November release of the unlikely crossover video game has been a real boost to proceedings on the Infinite Wars. Amidst the crop of multi-coloured ninjas and Shaolin warriors, it can almost be easy to forget the iconic vision of the four-armed silhouette of original sub-boss, Goro!

It seems fitting that the former MK-champion lead the pack, even if I can't help but feel some ambivalence toward the achievement. From the video game world all the major franchises are looming, and recent updates to Street Fighter IV have balanced out issues to make the franchise once again a strong contender for the top spot. Whether or not MK can match that remains to be seen, but the comics connection of the DCU ensures there'll be plenty more MK to come!

Stay tuned: Goro will appear in the final round of MK/DC Fantasy Fights at the end of the month!

#4 Martian Manhunter (-2) (4) (DC)
Class: [Super] Last Opponent: [Ultramarine Corps]
Win Percentage: [50%] Features: [6]
2006: [NR] 2007: [#222] Cumulative: [#36]

Friends, I regret to inform you that the Martian Manhunter passed during the week. The much discussed death occurred at the hands of Libra, as per the solicitation of forgotten rival, the Human Flame.

The death seems likely to quash the sustained presence of the Martian Manhunter in the top ranks of Season 2008, but we might yet see more from the hero in the coming months. One tends to assume the death will be elaborated upon in the pages of a tie-in book, given how brief the one-page death sequence was in Final Crisis. As much as I dread the notion of a checkpoint mini-series, it seems fitting that the Manhunter's final tale be told, be that in the pages of Justice League of America, or even the upcoming tribute to the character, Final Crisis: Requiem.

The Manhunter from Mars has seemingly had his head on the chopping block for quite some time. Rumors of the Martian's death circulated heavily throughout the course of Identity Crisis and Infinite Crisis, much to the chagrin of longterm fans.
Despite being an unceremonious end to a much beloved character, I can't help but feel a sense of calm about the death. Maybe it's the lingering back door of New-New Gods or Black Lanterns that has me anticipating a return; or maybe I simply feel the character was given opportunity to prove his worth, but failed to do so under the [mis]direction of recent events like the ill fated solo-title.

I certainly feel there's a lot of missed opportunity, but at this point, don't feel terribly final about the limitations now put on that. If anything, the death of the character might finally free him up for something with a bit more effort and vision behind it. Maybe even something that isn't about fire...

#5 Iron Man (RE) (9) (Marvel)
Class: [Meta] Last Opponent: [War Machine]
Win Percentage: [60.87%] Features: [23]
2006: [#3] 2007: [#3] Cumulative: [#3]

If you could have only one character waving the flag for the Marvel Universe right now, I dare say Iron Man would have to be first call!

The success of last month's feature film has rocketted Iron Man into the mainstream stratosphere! Licensed toys and merchandise has helped Iron Man become a household name to degrees I'm not sure he ever has. Sure, there've been cartoons, and a member of the Avengers certainly has his place, but the quality of the movie is a license to be part of a cultural phenomenon!

I might have expected Iron Man to rank higher this month, but that's not to say the armored hero's year is over. For comics fans, the film is merely the culmination of events which have seen the character gain perpetual momentum as a leading figure in the Marvel Universe. Arguably beginning around Avengers Disassembled, the explosion of movie tie-ins are merely the canonizing point of Iron Man's ascension to perhaps the most senior role within the fiction. In a strange way, one might even say he's replaced Captain America, in that respect.

Still very much his own character, the Director of SHIELD is dead centre in the Secret Invasion, not only as a responsive unit, but as a catalyst for the event [New Avengers: Illuminati #1]. One wonders if the year might not end with the downfall of this monumentous figure whose many roles have gradually begun to accumulate dirty secrets, and sinister associations.

---

Cumulative Super Stock...


Darkseid may be
biding his time with the
machinations of the Dark
Side club, but he's made
his move in the rankings!
[Super Powers #5]1. Spider-man (-) (M)
2. Batman (-) (DC)
3. Iron Man (-) (M)
4. Superman (+1) (DC)
5. Wolverine (-1) (M)
6. Hulk (-) (M)
7. Mr. Fantastic (-) (M)
8. Captain America (M)
9. Invisible Woman (M)
10. Daredevil (M)
13. Black Adam (-) (DC)
16. Ryu (-) (C)
17. Catwoman (+4) (DC)
21. Green Lantern (-1) (DC)
27. Goro (new) (Mid)
28. Flash (-1) (DC)
29. Noob Saibot (+79) (Mid)
34. Dhalsim (-2) (C)
36. Ken Masters (-2) (C)
37. Martian Manhunter (-2) (DC)
38. Aquaman (-2) (DC)
40. Wonder Woman (-2) (DC)
48. Johnny Cage (new) (Mid)
50. Hawkgirl (-3) (DC)
65. Green Lantern (-3) (DC)
68. Blade (+104) (M)
78. War Machine (-8) (M)
83. Raiden (+10) (Mid)
88. Fei Long (-5) (C)
90. Sonya Blade (new) (Mid)

Hydro: Will there ever be
a rainbow? Probably not...
Sleeved flush cycle engage!
[Blood & Thunder #2]100. She-Thing (-5) (M)
118. Orion (new) (DC)
150. T. Hawk (-5) (C)
175. Chun-Li (-5) (C)
176. Darkseid (+55) (DC)
200. Bulldozer (-5) (M)
229. Cheetah (-24) (DC)
230. Kano (new) (Mid)
232. Scorpion (-14) (Mid)
237. Liu Kang (new) (Mid)
250. Flash (-5) (DC)
300. Dr. Mid-Nite (-5) (DC)
310. Ghost Rider (-74) (M)
350. Plasmus (-6) (DC)
400. Hammerhead (-6) (M)
450. Sodom (-5) (C)
500. Gorilla Grodd (-5) (DC)
509. Massacre (new) (DC)
510. Lt. Lance (new) (Mal)
511. Grum (new) (Mal)
512. Sing (new) (Mal)
513. Sang (new) (Mal)
516. Hydro (-123) (Mal)
535. Lizard (-11) (M)
536. Taskmaster (-11) (M)
537. Zangief (-11) (C)
538. Magneto (-11) (M)
539. Dan Hibiki (-11) (C)

---

The Hammer...
Well, I'm not going to lie to you, folks.
Scheduling conflicts have dramatically taken their toll on the uber-hobby that is Secret Wars on Infinite Earths, but with a little patience, you can still look forward to more of the same play-by-play reviews and fisticuffery (even if the insightful commentary is a little on the shabby side).

Incredible Hulk officially hits cinemas June 13, and like last month, we'll be bringing you weekly materials including all-new Hulk C2C and some great new reviews featuring the jolly green goliath!

All that plus more from the Fantasy Fights and Smash Hits, and we count down to more exciting themes coming to the site with The Dark Knight and the 2008 Summer Olympics looming in the coming months. The latter in particular should be the perfect excuse for feats of strength, speed, and skill, all interpreted in superhuman ways!

It's been another record breaking month in the hits, so I definitely have to thank you all for your patience and continued support. If you're just joining us, keep coming back, take a look around the Secret Archives, and tell a friend! The site not only offers a lot of pseudo-archival fun and discussion topics, but also provides a public service for those of you engaged in heated debate; like the guys who wondered if Blade could beat Ghost Rider!
As we head into the second-half of the year, I hope I can continue to enjoy your company, and maybe count on your support in other areas.
[*cough*Buy the damned comic!*cough*]

READ THE PREVIEW - VISIT THE SITE - BUY THE COMIC
Ciao for now!

- Mike Haseloff; Commanding Officer
Mike Haseloff is a little known writer who considers himself a student of the comics medium. Bombarded by comic books as a child, Mike now turns into a hulking powerhouse any time justice may be wronged, seqeuential events may fail to line-up, or television programs resort to stale and lazy writing.

May Hit Count: [11656/104803] (+11%)