AVENGERS versus INFINITY WATCH

Warlock Must Die! (Marvel)
Where: Warlock and The Infinity Watch #27 When: April 1994 Why: Jim Starlin How: Tom Grindberg

The Story So Far...
While Adam Warlock attempts to use the combined Infinity Gems of Soul, Mind, and Power to unlock the lost memories of teammate Maxam -- he has no idea forces are conspiring to destroy he and The Infinity Watch!

US Senator Kyle Munson has used his mind-altering powers of hate to turn The Avengers into a bloodthirsty hit squad headed to Monster Island with a mission to kill Warlock!

The hate-mongering Senator is in truth the malicious Man-Beast who is out for revenge against Adam and The Infinity Watch for thwarting his attempts to conquer Counter-Earth and wield the powers of The Infinity Gauntlet!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Drax 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Giant-Man 6 (Genius)
Speed: Captain America 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Drax 6 (Generator)
Agility: Black Widow 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Drax 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Adam Warlock 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Adam Warlock 30 (Super)

The Avengers are: Captain America, Giant-Man, Thunderstrike, Black Widow, Hercules, and Vision.

Operating under brainwashing from the former Hate-Monger; The Avengers have already taken out Gamora in the previous issue, but apparently suffered the temporary loss of Vision as a consequence of the beach-side melee.

The Infinity Watch are: Adam Warlock, Moondragon, Drax The Destroyer, Maxam, and Pip The Troll.

The Watch are missing one of their best fighters, but they've still got a whole lot of cosmic might on their side! By nature of their assembly, they wield four of the Infinity Stones: Gems possessed of primordial energies of fundamental cosmic elements that once combined to make the Infinity Gauntlet.

Drax The Destroyer wields the Power Gem, adding it to his already impressive physical strength. In this incarnation we saw him team with Hulk to temporarily topple Thanos during The Infinity Gauntlet, and go toe-to-toe with Thor in the Infinity Crusade! He's a natural to neutralize Thunderstrike or Hercules.

Maxam lacks the boost of a gem, but his ability to increase his size & strength compliments Drax, taking care of either of the loose Avengers powerhouses, or maybe directly countering the super-sized might of Giant-Man!

With the Mind Gem enhancing her mental powers: Moondragon has the potential to neutralize any of their opponents, and maybe even finish the whole fight by breaking the brainwashing that's turned them against The Watch. Failing that, her hand-to-hand skills are good enough to test Black Widow or Captain America!

Warlock could similarly use his natural super-human gifts to fight The Avengers, or wield the Soul Gem to pull everyone into its pocket reality for a dose of soul-searching. if that fails and an exit strategy's needed: Pip the Troll might just be able to help the team escape with the Space Gem's teleporting potential.

We've seen The Avengers take on all kinds of challenges, but we've never seen them take this one. Let's find out what happened!

The Tape: Avengers Ranking: Captain America (#7)

What Went Down...

Through gritted teeth Captain America makes his mad declaration: "WARLOCK MUST DIE!"

The sentiment is echoed by Giant-Man as The Avengers square-up against The Infinity Watch. Adam Warlock asks for reason, while Drax mistakes Thunderstrike for Thor, and Pip The Troll leeringly confronts the Black Widow.

Pip disappears as quickly as The Widow's temper flares, while Warlock gives up on diplomacy and knocks Giant-Man to the ground with a flying right hook!

Moondragon takes the opportunity to launch a jumping martial arts kick, deflected by Captain America's shield. She takes on the hand-to-hand challenge, matching his bitter madness with her own critique of the "pompous" Avenger.

Maxam struggles to land a hit on Hercules, who remains bitter over their meeting during the Infinity Crusade. Herc aims to pay him back, using his own surprise attack to grab Drax by the cape and toss him into the ocean many miles away!

While Drax tries to figure out where he is -- Maxam finds himself caught between a rock lifted by Hercules, and the hard place of Thunderstrike's hammer!

Knowing when he's outmatched: Maxam calls for help, receiving a polite acknowledgment from Warlock, who evades a giant fist swung by Hank Pym -- and unleashes a direct karmic blast from the Soul Gem!

Warlock hops away from the kayoed Giant-Man, but before he can come to his teammate's aid is struck by the massive boulder hurled by Hercules!

A dark shadow watches from nearby island flora, and Pip The Troll materializes at Warlock's unconscious side, tossing his spiked mace "skull-cracker" in favour of brewing a "neat trick" he's been wanting to try out.

Meanwhile Maxam finds a forearm block wanting as Hercules follows it up immediately with a second, more devastating left that catches him across the chin!

Maxam's tired of being a punching bag for two demi-gods, and manages to narrowly avoid the raging descent of Thunderstrike's uru mace!

It crashes into the ground behind him, but Hercules continues his verbal and close-quarters assault, moving in to grab the "varlet" by the collar and punch him straight in the face!

Elsewhere Captain America blocks a kick with his shield, transitioning seamlessly into a shield swipe that Moondragon nimbly leaps over.

She resists Maxam's desperate plea to use a mind-blast: "Don't rush me! I'll be with you as soon as I attend to the good Captain in my own manner!"

A precision chop to the shoulder finds its mark, allowing Moondragon to kick Captain America's famous shield out of his hands! She follows with a stiff right palm strike to his jaw, dodging his right-hand counter punch with a twirl, to strike back with her own uppercut knock out!

Satisfied with her victory over Captain America -- Moondragon is happy to use the Mind Gem's powers to mind-blast Thunderstrike into submission!

The knock-out beam evens the odds for Maxam, but he fails to notice the massive ocean rock suddenly teleported overhead by Pip The Troll, which sends Hercules running clear of the impact zone!

The long thin rock crushes Maxam & Thunderstrike and kicks up a cloud of sand!

Moondragon doesn't even see Hercules coming as he runs right through her like a raging bull with a charging shoulder!

Pip tries to make the save, snapping the wooden handle of his spiked mace as he clobbers Hercules over the back of the head. The demigod shrugs it off, tossing Pip aside as he makes a path toward a recovered Adam Warlock!

Warlock ducks beneath a wild haymaker and returns fire with a jumping kick!

Hercules is unfazed, launching Warlock across the beach with an overhand punch!

He charges after Warlock, who unleashes the awesome mystic power of his Karmic staff, but the demigod "Prince of Power" resists its awesome energy, snatching it by the neck to push it away.

Warlock takes flight, unleashing a blast from the Soul Gem -- but it misses the target, allowing Hercules to grab him by the ankle and smash his face into the sand!

Warlock throws his free foot at Hercules' face, but the Prince of Power absorbs the kick and slams his left fist to the ground -- narrowly missing Warlock, who jumps clear and delivers another kick directly to the face.

Still Hercules shakes the physical assault off, rallying to deliver a devastatingly explosive backfist strike that knocks Warlock off his feet!

Warlock's body stays limp as Hercules walks the distance to pick him up by the collar, but the Avenger doesn't deliver his intended finishing blow.

Instead it's Hercules who is knocked unconscious when the eerie Vision emerges from the beach sand to deliver a surprise attack to his teammate's back!

The synthezoid's artificial brain appears unaffected by the telepathic brainwashing that enthralled his teammates. He reveals the plot to The Infinity Watch, recruiting Moondragon to use the Mind Gem to free them from their hypnosis.

The Hammer...

The last minute save from Vision helps The Infinity Watch secure their victory over The Avengers!

His timing might seem overly dramatic, but his actions are justified with cold synthezoid logic.

Knowing he couldn't possibly curb the hypnotized Avengers alone -- Vision used a skirmish with Gamora in the previous issue to feign damage, waiting for an opportunity to render assistance once The Infinity Watch had the upper hand! Or something along those lines... Something that conveniently gives us a "surprise" twist. Why not?

Vision shares the victory with Moondragon and Adam Warlock, who secured noteworthy individual triumphs over multiple members of the Avengers, including Captain America, Thunderstrike, and Giant-Man.

You already know who scored the double kayo because you just read the scintillating recap above, but it feels especially noteworthy that Moondragon managed to best Captain America in hand-to-hand martial combat!

Cap actually has one of the worst defeat tallies recorded on the site, [second only to Superman at the time of writing], but he balances significant losses with a high number of wins.

Both stats are attributable to Cap's never-say-die attitude and warrior-like vigor for combat. He boldly risks taking the L by standing ground against obvious mismatches, like Thanos, but to other heroes he remains a mythic benchmark for fighting prowess. He holds top fighters like Black Panther and Wolverine to account, while occasionally becoming the scalp himself to prove another hero's worth, like his epic crossover showdown with Batman.

Moondragon's script notes the interest of comparing their fighting skills, but this one lacks the weight of importance other big time showdowns might aspire to, especially in more recent times where that kind of thing is given a lot of pages.

I'm not sure if Moondragon had the cachet for a bigger marquee spotlight against Cap, and the entire battle comes pregnant with modifiers, noting a compromised Avengers in a guest role.

It's all a little rough in composition, reflected somewhat in art that shows plenty of intent, but is a little sketchy compared to Tom Grindberg's usual work, which I have become a growing fan of in recent years.

Bob Almond is no stranger to inking Grindberg with a more characteristic finish, which leads me to wonder if there were deadline pressures, or late editorial interference that impacted the issue. Perhaps negotiations with the Avengers office?..

As much as The Avengers are here to be beaten by the title heroes in their fleeting guest role, it surprises me how impressive a showing Hercules has!

I like the callback to Herc's brief face-off with Maxam in the still-recent Infinity Crusade, but I'm not sure that justifies such a strong outing. He isn't just the last man standing, but also handily intimidates Maxam, and beats the heck out of Warlock! He's practically served a visual win, if not for the interference of Vision!

Perhaps this all speaks to Hercules' mythic inclination towards violent madness, or perhaps there was a particular vested interest in presenting the Avenger as a legitimate, uncompromised threat.

Although most of the presented group could be found in contemporary issues of Avengers, Hercules is the character I would most closely associate with this era of monthly issues, sharing a spotlight with the likes of Black Knight, Sersi, and Crystal -- all conspicuous by absence.

Thunderstrike won't even be back in the fold until next month's issue, May cover-dated Avengers #374, which means he technically showed up two months early as an active Avenger in Warlock and The Infinity Watch #26!

They were crazy times, and how ever this issue managed to come together, it's a nice artifact from both catalogues. A nice chance for us to dip into Adam Warlock and The Infinity Watch, as well!

If you'd like to find more from the characters and topics covered, make sure you hit up links throughout this post, or dive into the Secret Archive for a complete index of featured fights in order of publisher, series, and issue number!

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Winners: Vision, Moondragon & Warlock (w/ Infinity Watch)
#86 (+5) Vision
#200 (+402) Adam Warlock
#382 (+285) Moondragon
#645 (new) Maxam [+1 assist]
#646 (new) Pip The Troll [+1 assist]
#140 (-1) Drax The Destroyer [+1 assist]
#7 (--) Captain America
#48 (-3) Black Widow
#87 (-6) Giant-Man (Hank Pym)
#161 (-4) Hercules
#1040 (-39) Thunderstrike

AVENGERS versus MANDARIN

Thieves Honor (Marvel)
Where: Avengers #313 When: January 1990
Why: John Byrne How: Paul Ryan & Tom Palmer

The Story So Far...
A series of sudden super-villain attacks have stretched the ranks of The Avengers across the country as they respond to the decimation of their coastal island Hydrobase, and underground Manhattan headquarters!

Only Edwin Jarvis is on hand to raise the alarm when The Mandarin begins a frontal assault on an already damaged & unguarded Avengers Park. All thanks to Loki and his Acts of Vengeance designed to organize and consolidate the resources of some of the world's most powerful super-criminals!

Not content to leave their butler to face another siege: Captain America leads the call to assemble on Central Park -- but with The Wizard circling the skies over New York City, the star-spangled super-soldier will have to rely on the few local heroes able to answer the call!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Captain America 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Mandarin 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Captain America 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Captain America 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Black Widow 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Captain America 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Mandarin 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Captain America 28 (Metahuman)

The Avengers are: Captain America, Black Widow, and Hellcat.

Wonder Man and Vision accompanied Captain America on the trip from the West Coast, but had to peel away to take on The Wizard. That means Cap is relying on unpowered first responders Black Widow and Hellcat -- less than ideal against the ten rings of power wielded by The Mandarin!

Although appearing mystical in nature, each of Mandarin's rings is originally part of an alien technology that grants him specific skills. The names and breadth of their power has changed over the years, but the basics remain true:

The Ice Blast, or "Zero" Ring, is worn on the left little finger, and does exactly what it sounds like, generating sufficient cold to freeze anything in ice. That might give Cap some unfortunate flashbacks to his post-war suspended animation, but as we saw when he battled Cold War, he can keep a handle on it.

The Mento-Intensifier, or "Liar" Ring, is worn on the left ring finger, and can be used to bring a person under Mandarin's thrall, or generate a world of inescapable illusion penetrating the victim's very mind.

The Electro-Blast, or "Lightning" Ring, is on the left middle finger, and can deliver powerful bolts of electricity through the air! A power not unlike its namesake, but Cap's shield was able to absorb Loki's electric attacks in Avengers (Vol.2) #1.

The Flame Blast, or "Incandescence" Ring, worn on the left index finger, can super-heat the air by emitting radiation to fire potent jets of flame of varying intensities. Another one handily blocked by Cap's shield, as seen when he met Ghost Rider in Avengers #214!

The White Light, or "Daimonic" Ring, is worn on the left thumb, and traditionally emits various electro-magnetic spectrums, which has also been known to effect a susceptible target's mood, or mental state.

The Black Light, or "Nightbringer" Ring, sits on the right little finger, and projects an area of total darkness. Its energies are associated with the inter-dimensional Darkforce used by Darkstar for a variety of offensive & defensive projections, and contained within Cloak, who can trap opponents within its endless darkness.

The Disintegration Beam, or "Spectral" Ring, worn on the right ring finger, is traditionally used to destroy anything it strikes, unmaking it on a molecular level with an estimated 20-minute charge time. Cap's no stranger to avoiding those kinds of attacks, dodging Red Skull's blast cannons since the Second World War!

The Vortex Beam, or "Spin" Ring, is wielded on the right middle finger, and can allow The Mandarin to fly, levitate targets, or generate massive swirling winds as offensive weapons. It has also been associated with moving at super-speeds.

The Impact Beam, or "Influence" Ring, is a standard favourite for The Mandarin, using his right index finger to direct powerful blasts and waves of energy. It's an equivalent to a lot of energy blasters, such as Titanium Man's, which Black Widow was agile and canny enough to avoid, with added shielding from Iron Man!

The Matter Re-Arranger, or "Remaker" Ring, is worn on the right thumb and allows for limited molecular and atomic manipulation of matter. It's commonly used for generating poisonous gases from thin-air, and altering Mandarin's appearance.

Agility and avoidance are the greatest tools Captain America, Black Widow, and Hellcat have at their disposal. The Mandarin's rings are incredibly powerful, but also limited in their scope. His defense is shored with a modern suit of armor, but a coordinated strike could potentially still defeat him!

The Tape: Avengers Ranking: Captain America (#7)

What Went Down...

Black Widow and Hellcat leap across the rooftops as Captain America's modified quinjet soars down beside them on a course towards Avengers Park.

He hails the assembling heroes over the jet's exterior speaker and advises them to hang back while he takes a recon flight over the attack sight. It's a good plan to protect his unpowered teammates, but the Captain never gets to make the flight -- blasted out of the sky by The Mandarin!

The Quinjet makes a dramatic, skidding crash landing into the rubble of Avengers Park as The Mandarin gloats over his successful strike!

Mandarin stalks toward his prey with Cap slumped in the exposed driver's seat -- rattled by the violent impact that tore the jet open like a tin can! 

The villain clutches the barely conscious Captain in the pilot's seat and raises his hand to prepare a killing blow -- but it's suddenly snared by the Black Widow's high tensile line!

Black Widow yanks The Mandarin away from the jet and introduces herself to the stunned villain.

Enraged at her interference he pivots to draw his free hand and blast a stream of fire from the ring of Incandescence. Widow narrowly avoids it, delighting at the unseen arrival of her comrade in arms -- Hellcat!

Hellcat leaps onto The Mandarin's armored shoulders and rakes her steel alloy claws across his frustrated façade!

The villain struggles beneath the grip of Hellcat's entangled arms and legs while Black Widow takes the opportunity to rush in an deliver a flying kick!

The two-on-one advantage doesn't last long. The Mandarin catches Black Widow by the ankle and tosses her across the park -- while also flipping Hellcat off his back and over his shoulder!

They spill across the rocky terrain -- vulnerable to another of his ring attacks!

The Influencer ring sprays concussive energy blasts across the battlefield that shatter the very ground beneath Black Widow & Hellcat's feet!

The heroic pair look severely outgunned when The Mandarin is once again caught by surprise from another attack at the rear!

This time it's Captain America who's able to return the favour to his allies, tossing his mighty shield directly into The Mandarin's armored helmet!

The chauvinistic villain is frustrated by Cap's recovery, but accepts that the battle can now be between men "as it should be". His Ice Blast "Zero" ring makes for an unfortunate irony as he encases Captain America's feet in ice -- a chilly fate all too familiar to the super-soldier once suspended in a frozen tundra.

At that same time -- Mandarin's partner in the Acts of Vengeance, The Wingless Wizard, glides overhead, bringing his battle with Wonder Man & Vision into convergence with the other Avenger's struggle.

Spotting the immobilized Captain America from the sky above -- The Wizard attempts to finish him off with a blast from his gauntlet, but Cap lurches forward into an evasive diving roll!

Wonder Man regains The Wizard's attentions, while The Mandarin plots a strategic retreat, blaming his ally for fouling his attack. He's so distracted by the failure he doesn't notice yet another Avenger arriving until his struck by his hammer!

Mjolnir collides with Mandarin's armored body and knocks him off his feet before flying back to the waiting hand of Thor!

The God of Thunder doesn't take kindly to The Mandarin's abuse of his powers!

He charges the rising villain, striking mightily with with a hammer-held uppercut!

Meanwhile, Vision comes to Captain America's aid, melting the ice from his feet with carefully applied eye beams. The liberation allows all Avengers present to assemble against the tyrannical twosome!

The Mandarin summons the dark forces of the Black Light Nightbringer ring to shroud his enemies -- and The Wizard -- in inescapable darkness!

He condemns his ally to suffer the consequences of their defeat, while the veil of darkness allows The Mandarin a clean getaway. He flies into the air -- gone before the heroes regain their sight.

The Hammer...

The arrival of Thor tips the scales in favour of The Avengers and drives The Mandarin into a hasty retreat. Bad news for The Wizard, who's left to face the music when his co-conspirator in the Acts of Vengeance betrays him upon exit!

Wizard was otherwise engaged in a completely separate aerial skirmish with Wonder Man and Vision, but chose to converge with the fighting in Avengers Park, taking potshots at Captain America. Not his only tactical error it would seem, but we'll take a closer look at his fight another time.

As it happens: the in-fighting is rife amongst the bad guys, who're duking it out while observing from their private meeting chambers, as well.

It seems Doctor Doom has nothing but contempt for The Mandarin and the inefficiencies of his frivolous, showy fighting style, while Red Skull is losing patience with Doom's arrogance. An inevitably violent clash of egos ensues -- another battle for us to return to some time in the future.

As a matter of housekeeping: Aficionados may also be interested to note I've chosen to predominantly refer to The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe #15 when breaking down The Mandarin's rings in The Tape section.

That particular 1984 issue is the wonderfully informative "Book of Weapons, Hardware, and Paraphernalia" -- a reference tome that answered a lot of common fan questions about the basic practicality of various devices, and locations.

With regards to The Mandarin's rings; The Handbook is obviously a little outdated, but the basics remain true. You'll note that I've also included, and alluded to, the more recent names & abilities outlined in 2010's Invincible Iron Man Annual #1.

If you didn't pay close attention to the information, you might like to scroll back and take a second look. It will allow you to appreciate the exquisite attention to detail of artist Paul Ryan's pencils, which assign each blast from The Mandarin's rings to the exact finger. Scripted or not -- it's the mark of a great comics artist!

Ryan was also saddled with the slightly less intricate design Mandarin was wearing around this time. I've never been all that crazy about this armor. It's serviceable, but never seemed to ring true. I suppose I would've preferred something more ornate, reminiscent of the colourfully stylized Chinese armor popular in wuxia.

A colour scheme of green, gold, and a little red or purple would've recalled other eras of Mandarin's design, but I suspect distancing the character from earlier incarnations was a deliberate conceit. When he wasn't in this blue & silver shell, he could typically be found wearing a tasteful suit consistent with his corporate machinations of the time. A welcome evolution for the modern era.

Modernizing the character has been an on-going concern, with greater emphasis on science-based explanations for his rings redefining them as Makluan machine parts accessing other dimensions. Personally, I think this flirts with a loss of imagination, and prefer a Mandarin whose mysticism clashes with Iron Man's technology -- not that the two ideas necessarily have to be mutually exclusive.

I do enjoy the more pulpy depictions of Mandarin, though. At the risk of being regressive: I think my favourite Mandarin design is the green & gold robes he returned to throughout much of the nineties. Its a style that very vaguely alludes to over-the-top villainy of Fu Manchu, albeit with a slightly more convincing approximation of Chinese imperial robes than Christopher Lee's qipao.

These allusions made the character a bit of a tricky subject when Marvel Studios attempted to adapt the character in Iron Man 3, and again, as a Fu Manchu stand-in in Shang-Chi and The Legend of the Ten Rings.

The substitution was as much a product of Shang-Chi's fictional father not being a Marvel owned property, but so fraught was their efforts to navigate the minefield of cultural sensitivities for the Chinese theatrical market, it seems the studio took a blank cheque approach. They retained so little from the source that the titular ten rings aren't even worn on the fingers! Not that Marvel Studios have ever been overly concerned with their comic book counterparts...

Here in comic book land Avengers #313 is a serviceable chapter in the Acts of Vengeance storyline, delivering one of the heavy hitters from the inner-circle of the villainous alliance. It's a little weird that so many heroes were dispersed after the action of the last issue, but anti-Avengers public protests explains that.

It's a fun time in Marvel Comics and Avengers history, and I particularly get a kick out of the unlikely team-up between Black Widow and Hellcat! They're out of their league taking on Mandarin, but turn out to be a terrifically fun tag team!

If you'd like to see the entirety of the team-up and today's featured fight you can find it all collected in Avengers: Acts of Vengeance and Avengers by John Byrne. Use the Amazon purchase links provided and you'll not only assemble a great deal delivered to your door -- you'll also help support the site at no extra cost!

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Secret Wars on Infinite Earths has featured well over 600 battles and ranked more than 1000 characters! You can discover them all by following links throughout this post, or by diving into the Secret Archive for a complete index of featured fights in order of publisher, series, and issue number!

Get free daily links to battles inspired by the hot topics of the day by subscribing on Twitter and Facebook. Don't forget to like, fave, and share posts, and keep your eyes peeled for the week's top trending battles every Sunday!

Winner: Thor (w/ Captain America, Black Widow & Hellcat)
#20 (+1) Thor
#7 (--) Captain America [+1 assist]
#41 (+1) Black Widow [+1 assist]
#101 (+6) Hellcat [+1 assist]
#144 (--) Vision [+1 assist]
#418 (+3) The Wizard [+1 assist]
#972 (-257) The Mandarin

BLACK WIDOW & DIAMONDBACK versus CAPTAIN AMERICA

Cross Purposes (Marvel)
Where: Captain America #376 When: Early September 1990 Why: Mark Gruenwald How: Ron Lim

The Story So Far...
When the designer-drug ICE starts flooding the streets of New York City it ignites a wave of violence and addiction. No one is safe from the insidious product -- just ask Boomslang!

The Serpent Society villain was gunned down by a drug-fuelled gang while on the run from Captain America. Even the Avengers' trusted aide Fabian Stankiewicz is hooked -- sending the Sentinel of Liberty on a new mission to bust the drug-runners responsible!

Little does Captain America realise its all the latest criminal enterprise of his arch-nemesis, The Red Skull, and when one of the manufacturing plants he was investigating was blown up by its own user -- HE was exposed to the drug!

Now Cap is on the high from Hell and that spells trouble for anybody who gets in his way. Even his closest friends may not be able to bring him back down before he goes too far!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Captain America 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Black Widow 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Captain America 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Captain America 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Diamondback 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Captain America 6 (Warrior)
Energy: Black Widow 2 (Projectile)
Total: Captain America 28 (Metahuman)

Black Widow and Diamondback may appear to be statistically outmatched by Captain America in head-to-head comparisons, but to really break this fight down we need to look more closely at our measure of fighting ability.

We rate Captain America at a high level of 6: "Warrior" status, reflecting not just his hand-to-hand combat training, but the intangible quality with which he's able to stare down entire armies and barrel through them by sheer force of will.

We saw a glimpse of that famous fighting spirit when Cap single-handedly bested SHIELD agents in Civil War #1, and Nazi soldiers in Captain America (Vol.5) #5.

Cap has also made a career out of going toe-to-toe with vastly more powerful opponents, such as: Nebula [Avengers #315], John Walker [Captain America #350], Master Man [Reborn #2], Iron Man [Captain America Annual #9], Hulk [Avengers #4], The Destroyer [Thor #1], and Thanos [Infinity Gauntlet #4].

We rate Black Widow at 5 in fighting, but it could be argued she's actually a far more skilled and nuanced fighter than Captain America. She doesn't have his enhanced strength or endurance to rely on, utilizing a more precise style of martial arts. Discipline that could kayo Jigsaw with a single kick [Daredevil #62].

Black Widow is obviously also a cunning tactician, who executes her plans with the speed and agility of a well trained gymnast. Combine that with her wrist-worn gauntlets -- capable of discharging high-powered electrical blasts -- and she can fight beside Iron Man against an adversary as powerful as Titanium Man!

Black Widow's penchant for collaboration is itself another valuable skill, and although she and Diamondback fought in a previous issue, they're on the same page as they chase down a drug-fuelled Captain America. For DB it's personal!

Diamondback, aka; Rachel Leighton, is a former member of the Serpent Society who turned tail when Viper staged a hostile takeover. She teamed with Cap and became a short-lived romantic interest after reapplying her arsenal of trick throwing diamonds and gymnastics as a hero.

Will the addition of Diamondback's emotional connection help Black Widow bring a drug-hazed Captain America in? Let's find out!

The Tape: Black Widow & Diamondback Ranking: Captain America (#7)

What Went Down...

Cap slams a couple of kids up against a wall on West 113th Street with a mind to getting tough on drugs. They were out looking for kicks and he's all too happy to oblige. The only problem is -- Captain America's coming down from a high himself!

Diamondback and Black Widow show up to bring him in for treatment, but the Captain isn't buying it. He's gone a week without sleep and still doesn't even realise he inhaled the designer drug ICE during a warehouse explosion.

The concerned costumed heroines rush their cornered comrade. He informs Black Widow that her Avengers membership will be revoked, but she keeps her mind on the job -- launching into a flying kick while Diamondback tosses knock-out gas!

Even in his addled state Captain America remains the consummate super-soldier and dodges Black Widow's kick at the last possible moment!

Sensing the struggle ahead The Widow brandishes her wrist gauntlets and lets off a full frontal widow's sting!

Cap manages to get his shield up to absorb the brunt of the point blank blast!

He arrogantly counters with a hard right hand that knocks Black Widow off balance!

It's all too clear the knock-out gas isn't having any effect, but Diamondback seizes an opportunity to dive on Cap's back for a standing rear naked choke that chicken wings his shield arm behind his back. She calls for Widow to take the shot!

It's a good plan, but the drugs in Captain America's system haven't sapped any of his strength. He yanks his shield arm free -- knocking Diamondback to the ground -- and once again dodges Black Widow's sting!

He charges toward the threat -- grabbing Black Widow's firing arm to control the weapon and direct it away from him. It allows him to deliver a hard standing sidekick that launches her off her feet!

Cap's kick rebuffs Black Widow's attacks and her claim he's consumed drugs. The chemical effect and lack of sleep combine to keep him from thinking clearly. He doesn't even consider the possibility he's fighting under the influence!

Diamondback again attempts to get the jump on Cap -- reluctantly firing a couple of her diamonds into the wall over his shoulder.

She knows in her heart she's missed on purpose. A grace a slightly paranoid Captain America doesn't intend to extend when he whips his shield right at her!

Diamondback ducks to narrowly dodge the incoming shield, but can't avoid Cap's crazed tirade.

He perceives his enemy-turned-ally's new uniform as a failed deception, and her presence as an inevitable betrayal. He regrets letting her get emotionally close to him -- not even noticing Black Widow's proximity until she taps his shoulder.

He swings around with a violent left hook that cracks the nearby wall, but Black Widow manages to perch above it and launch herself from the wall's face!

She unleashes a direct blast inches from Captain America's head!

The vicious blow brings an instant end to the conflict! Cap drops unconscious like a bad habit. Hard and heavy -- straight onto his back!

Diamondback worries the sting could've caused permanent brain damage, but The Widow is cool and confident: "I know my opponent. I know my weapon." A successful takedown.

The Hammer...

Lately I've really been enjoying digging back into Mark Gruenwald's run on Captain America. I experienced it around the time mostly as infrequent, disparate issues picked up here and there. A fun, but not always flattering way to read.

In the years since I've had the pleasure of filling in a few more gaps, and coming to appreciate the overall sequential context of more of Gruenwald's work.

It breaks up into fairly easy-to-digest portions, but viewing the many years in totum makes it easier to recognize the ebbing flow of ideas and character-driven plotlines. There's a bigger picture informing everything, and that's good comics.

Captain America #376 functions reasonably well on its own as an action packed chapter in the Streets of Poison storyline. It's Part 5 of a story I was predisposed to enjoy as a raucous crossover between Captain America and Daredevil!

Ostensibly its Gruenwald's high concept take on drug crime on America's streets, but this is also the issue where it escalates into a turf war between The Kingpin, who already rules New York City's criminal underworld, and Red Skull, who is manufacturing and distributing the methamphetamines into his market.

The conflict invariably poises the crime barons' respective bankrolled killers, namely Bullseye and Crossbones, to go against one another in what coalesces into a thrilling pseudo-sequel to Acts of Vengeance.

Everyone will take turns switching partners for some interesting irregular match-ups, but there's even more fun than the opposing foursome. Who better to get in the middle of this collision of Captain America and DD's worlds than Black Widow?

She becomes involved once word of his increasingly uncharacteristic behaviour reaches Avengers HQ. She won't get a chance to link-up with her former flame, Daredevil, or throwdown with one-time adversary Bullseye, but the optics of her entanglement certainly tickle all of those associations.

Black Widow's status as a Soviet-era adversary turned hero also compliments the unfolding redemption of Diamondback, which has been a saga played out over three years of Captain America plotlines.

The heroines met three issues prior for an abrupt case of mistaken intentions -- each unaware of the others' apparent face turn as they battled their way out of the sky and into the Hudson River. Their subsequent team-up subtly infuses Diamondback with some of the same hope for heroics associated with The Widow.

Diamondback's new "undercover" design is a simple, but pleasing alternative to the eye-catching hot pink costume she usually wears. It's essentially an inversion of the costume worn by Nightshade in DC's contemporaneous Suicide Squad -- a series that shares a similarly pleasing episodic nature. I wonder if it was just the style of the time, or if the respective designers knew.

Truth be told, I think artist Ron Lim and inker Danny Bulanadi could've made just about anything work! I particularly love the heft Lim gives to Captain America and Crossbones. Contrasted brilliantly by the lithe acrobatics of Black Widow.

This is such a good looking comic! It's not quite as inky as others I've romanced about from 1990, but there was still clearly something magic in the presses that year, because it's got that look! I only wish my scans did the pages true justice!

This isn't a dark comic by any measure, but when the action goes to the street, there's a wonderful sense of gloom brought about by colorist Steve Buccellato. Lim does great facial expressions, and I love the inked detail of Cap's stubble. It's really a case of everyone doing incredible work!

If you'd like to experience it for yourself you can find this issue in Captain America Epic Collection: Streets of Poison or the now out-of-print Streets of Poison trade paperback. Use Amazon links provided to do any of your shopping and you'll not only get yourself a good deal delivered to you -- but also support the site!

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Winner: Black Widow (w/ Diamondback)
#42 (+15) Black Widow
#612 (new) Diamondback [+1 assist]
#7 (--) Captain America

JIGSAW versus DAREDEVIL & BLACK WIDOW

The Widow Part Two of Four (Marvel)
Where: Daredevil #62 When: September 2004
Why: Brian Michael Bendis How: Alex Maleev

The Story So Far...
It's been one year since Daredevil attempted to finish his endless war with Wilson Fisk by dumping the crime boss's defeated body in the street. He has declared himself the new Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen, but his reign has not gone smoothly.

Tabloid press have outed Matt Murdock as Daredevil, and despite his stringent denials, the blind lawyer is caught in a tangled web of public adoration, marital breakdown, and criminal liability. Enter: Black Widow.

Agent Natasha Romanova seeks refuge with her former lover when Nick Fury warns her of corrupt movements within SHIELD. The visit provides a welcome distraction for the man without fear, and the safety of public visibility for the Widow, but a night of playing superhero is about to compound their problems!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Daredevil 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Black Widow 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Daredevil 4 (Olympian)
Stamina: Daredevil 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Black Widow 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Daredevil 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Jigsaw 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Daredevil 26 (Metahuman)

The details of Jigsaw's origin have changed over the years, but the general premise remains simple: Billy "The Beaut" Russo was a hitman for the mob until he crossed The Punisher and got thrown face-first through a plate glass window.

Russo's face was shredded, but surgeons stitched it back together, leaving a hideous jigsaw pattern of scars. In his early appearances he wore a supportive exo-suit that covered all but his disfigured face. He wore it in early outings against Punisher, Spider-Man, and Nightcrawler, but predominantly relies on toughness, gunmanship, and connections in the underworld.

Daredevil knows the criminal underworld better than most, making his home in crime-ridden Hell's Kitchen. Local street toughs rarely get the drop on him thanks to his radar perspective and greatly enhanced senses. Jigsaw probably shouldn't be too much of a problem.

We've seen DD go up against Jigsaw's arch-nemesis in Daredevil #257 and Daredevil (Vol.2) #65, deftly handling Punisher's blend of military hand-to-hand combat and gunmanship. He's also turned the tables on Turk in Marvel Comics Presents #19, and bested super-powered brawler Tombstone in Daredevil #91.

Throw in Black Widow and Jigsaw's chances are pretty much shot. Natasha Romanova is every bit the supreme martial artist and acrobat that Daredevil is, keeping company with the Avengers and their many super-powered adversaries.

The Widow is a long time partner for Daredevil, having bunked with the blind lawyer in the seventies. We saw her provide the assist in Daredevil #79, while her most compelling battle on record was another team-up, with Iron Man, against the powerful armored Titanium Man in Iron Man #316!

Black Widow's back in town to lie low with her former lover and it looks like her presence makes Jigsaw's defeat a foregone conclusion. Did it? Let's take a look.

The Tape: Daredevil & Black Widow Ranking: Daredevil (#11)

What Went Down...
Bullets spray across the North Shore Pier. A hideously disfigured man yells obscenities into the night. His name is Billy Russo, but ever since The Punisher introduced his face to a pane of glass he's answered to the name of Jigsaw.

Inspiring his gun violence are two figures moving in the shadows. Jigsaw pins them down with twin submachine . Their bullets spray with wanton regard for accuracy, held at head height in the general direction of the intended targets.

Taking shelter from the gunfire behind steel barrels: Daredevil and Black Widow exchange a flippant flirtation. They're biding their time. Daredevil's radar senses give him a clear lay of the land. Jigsaw's sloppy shooting affords time to spare.

Daredevil calls an one-two play from their past team-ups. Black Widow mocks his old moves, but agrees to play along. They strike!

The vigilante heroes launch into a beautifully acrobatic assault. They dance between Jigsaw's bullets, sending his guns flying through the air, still firing, as they collide with his throat and chest in synchronized kicks.

The Hammer...
We can only presume the double-kick is the finishing blow. The next page shows Daredevil and Black Widow retreating to a rooftop to cool down, and reminisce about past post-battle romances.

We can at least be relatively certain of their victory: Jigsaw returns later in the issue having posted $15,000 bail. A tidy sum for being picked up and held in custody after his defeat.

He believes it's the price to pay for stepping too close to Daredevil's turf when he shows up in the offices of Murdock & Nelson looking to get into the "Murdock business".

Daredevil successfully overthrew Wilson Fisk and declared himself Kingpin of Hell's Kitchen twelve issues ago. Jigsaw has mistaken the new order for another arrangement in organized crime. He thinks he just needs to pay a cut to respect the new boss of the town -- but he's sorely mistaken.

The press has also seemingly outed Matt Murdock as Daredevil at this time, but he maintains a façade of innocence by deflecting any acknowledgment that he's the red garbed vigilante - or new Kingpin - even to Jigsaw. The veil of plausible deniability will  be crucial to restoring the status quo, but also leads to a fun, unexpected trap when Jigsaw comes looking for a reprisal at Murdock's home in the final issue of the arc.

This is part two of a four issue story billed around Black Widow. At a glance it seems like a deviation, but it actually compliments the continuum of Daredevil's tumultuous existence, even as it affords some sense of relief from it.

The arc plays like a deliberate chance to revisit DD and Black Widow's iconic relationship for its own sake, while also pitting him against one of the great Marvel street criminals he hasn't dealt with all that much. It's definitely ticking those boxes for a storied run, but both external elements compliment the building pressure of Matt Murdock's failing marriage to Milla Donovan, and his rash decision to declare himself the very thing he hates.

Black Widow plays a quality guest role as a major protagonist in the arc. She's a character long associated with team-ups and memberships. She of course co-starred in Daredevil in the early seventies, making frequent return appearances in the years since. Remarkably, she didn't get her own titular series until 1999!

I'd presume gender bias in the market had a role to play, along with the decline of the Cold War, and perhaps less interest in spy stories after a boom in the 60s. It was probably a missed opportunity, but when I was growing up reading back issues it did give her a suitably mercurial quality. You never quite knew for sure where Black Widow might strike next!

Scarlet Johansson was originally scheduled to star in her first solo cinematic adventure last month, but the COVID-19 global pandemic pushed the release back to November while theatres remained shut.

I figured it was still a nice time to dig in to one of the Black Widow team-ups I've enjoyed over the years. Hopefully you've enjoyed it, too! You might also like to revisit Iron Man #316, and keep your eyes peeled to the Black Widow tag, or Secret Archive index for future updates.

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You can check out the entire issue and story from today's featured fight in Daredevil Vol. 4 or Daredevil by Bendis & Maleev Omnibus Vol. 2. Using the Amazon purchase links provided to do your shopped won't just get you a great deal -- it will also support the site at no extra cost!

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Winner: Daredevil & Black Widow
#9 (+2) Daredevil
#56 (+33) Black Widow
#918 (new) Jigsaw