THE CONTEST: KILLER CROC versus TALISMAN

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BANE versus KILLER CROC

Killer's Bane (DC)
Where: Batman #489 When: February 1993
Why: Doug Moench How: Jim Aparo

The Story So Far...
Once upon a time, Killer Croc was the new King of Gotham City's criminal underworld! Alas, much time has passed since the day he took out top boss: The Squid! Now the labyrinthine bowels of the city's literal underground devour him -- just another freak flushed away by The Dark Knight who protects this city.

Dazed and confused, Killer Croc is deposited on the banks of the vast urban sprawl. He escapes the torturous flood of his nightmares into a vacant stupor, feasting on rats as the autumn rain turns to winter snow.

When wayward humanity inevitably intrudes upon his solitude - the Killer awakens with a terrible vengeance! A nearby shopping mall is the recipient of his madness, spreading panic through the city's shoppers!

The public display summons Batman & Robin, but they aren't the only ones to witness Croc's strength through the eyes of live broadcast news. Bane has come to Gotham City, and in the former crime boss he sees opportunity to announce his arrival with a brutal test of strength!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Killer Croc 5 (Super-Human)
Intelligence: Bane 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Bane 5 (Marathon)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting: Bane 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy: Draw 1 (None)


Bane's true name is unknown, but his history as an inmate of notorious Peña Duro is well documented. He was imprisoned as an infant with his rebel mother, to satisfy the criminal life sentence incurred by a mercenary father: King Snake.

At age six, Bane's mother died, leaving him to endure the unforgiving trials of prison life alone. The threat of other inmates honed his survival instinct and ruthlessness, while a kindly Jesuit priest nurtured his inquisitive mind.

By maturity, Bane had accomplished a classical education through extensive reading, while also developing his fighting ability by theory and intense physical training. This attracted the attention of prison officials, who subjected him to experiments with the chemical drug Venom, which only served to enhance his already impressive strength!

Venom featured prominently in Bane's early attacks on Gotham City, regulated by a wrist-worn device that controlled the feed directly into his brain. Chemical enhancement gave him the physical edge when he broke Batman's back [Batman #497], but he would eventually purge himself of the drug, relying on his already impressive, natural physical strength.

Killer Croc could probably relate to Bane's harsh upbringing. Waylon Jones was born with a rare condition of atavism that rendered his skin tough and scaly. His mother died in childhood, and his father disowned him. As he matured, his condition made him increasingly reptilian in appearance, further ostracizing him.

A byproduct of his grotesque condition was also phenomenal natural strength! Jones honed his power wrestling alligators as a carnival attraction of his native Florida. Adopting the Killer Croc moniker earned in sideshows, he soon turned his skills to a more profit potential career in crime. This led him to Gotham City.

Croc made an impact early in his attempts to overthrow the criminal establishment, but Gotham would be as unkind as any other home. Even after he was mutated to more closely represent his namesake, Croc continued to suffer defeats against the likes of Batman [Batman #608] and Solomon Grundy [Faces of Evil: Solomon Grundy #1]!

Our Tale of the Tape reflects later incarnations of both characters, when the Venom-less Bane could plausibly accept defeat at the hands of Judomaster's son [Checkmate #12], for example. In 1993, Bane was at the height of his juicing - which should make him more than equal to Killer Croc!

Will enhanced strength be enough to defeat Killer Croc? Let's find out!...

The Math: Bane Ranking: Bane (#343)

What Went Down...
Like the crocodile's natural predator, Bane stalks through the emptied shopping mall with the purpose of a jungle panther. When he reaches his prey, Killer Croc is already on the floor -- upended in a skirmish with The Batman and Robin!

Bane introduces himself to his target, hitting the button that sends the drug Venom flowing through his body! Killer Croc isn't impressed with the sudden bulge of muscle. He throws a scaly fist at the bulging predator -- a mistake!

Bane snatches Croc's wrist and looms. He sees similarity in the fearless eyes of his powerful opponent, and the bat-demon that haunts his nightmares. He violently twists Killer Croc's arm backwards -- snapping it! He howls in agony!

The pair tumble to the ground, allowing battered rookie Batman and The Boy Wonder to escape unnoticed. Killer Croc's focus narrows on the man who broke his arm. He lunges at him in a rage with one good arm!

Had the punch hit its mark it would've been devastating, but Bane sidesteps the wild blow -- leaving Croc to shatter an indoor tree! He's momentarily stunned.

Bane sizes his foe up: "You're too ugly to hit."

The hulking convict thrusts his boot into Killer Croc's stomach! He follows the staggering blow with a second kick -- this time sending Croc uncontrollably tumbling into the display window of a nearby toy store!

Bloodied and broken, Killer Croc slumps amongst stuffed toys. Defeated.

The Hammer...
Just like that: Bane announces his emphatic entry into Gotham City nightlife!

He leaves the battlefield the same way he came: walking with silent purpose. In five months, this path will take him from emptied shopping mall to Wayne Manor, where in Batman #497 he succeeds in breaking Batman's back!

Even the most oblivious fan will tell you Bane "broke the bat", but not everyone remembers he broke Killer Croc first! It's an interesting side detail that gives a little texture to both villains.

Their dramatic showdown would lead to a bitter rematch some months later. It provided a rare distraction for Bane, who was otherwise pre-occupied with  preparations for Knightfall's dramatic conclusion. The rivalry was notable enough to inspire a memorably succinct retelling in Batman: The Animated Series. With any luck, we'll get a chance to look at the rematch in the near future!

Bane could've taken a shot at Batman right after he'd beaten Croc as early as Batman #489, but the studied villain knows a fake when he sees one! Indeed, this issue is noteworthy for also being the first time Jean-Paul Valley assumed The Dark Knight's mantle.

Valley would later adopt his own infamously nineties armored cape and cowl, becoming a replacement Batman while Bruce Wayne's broken back healed. He would later become better known under the persona of Azrael. We haven't featured him on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths yet! We will have to at least return to this issue in the future to take a closer look!

We have featured Killer Croc several times in the past, in appearances subsequent to this one. If there's one drawback to the otherwise thrilling detail of Bane & Croc's villain-on-villain vendetta, it's that it may have popularized Killer Croc as a fall guy. After today he'll be the fifth lowest ranked character on The Comic Book Fight Club! A hard fall for a villain who once took top spot amongst Gotham City's criminal underworld!

Browsing the letters page from this issue, I noticed readers feeling Jim Aparo had fallen from grace, as well. I didn't like some of the published vitriol, but I have to admit, his Bane and Croc weren't always dynamic. It definitely wasn't quite the same artist that thrilled me just a few years earlier. I've described his Batman of the late eighties as projecting an intimidating, stern fatherly quality. That sharpness is definitely missing from some of these panels.

Of course, the legendary artist was entering his early sixties by 1993. Which kind of flips the script on criticism he would've faced amidst the Image hype of the day. I hope I can do anything as well as Aparo did by the time I'm that age! I'm reminded that Jim Aparo passed away in 2005. A sad loss.

Killer Croc is our current Hero of the Week - inspired by recent appearances in the Suicide Squad film and comics. The ensemble cast featured in Friday Night Fights throughout August, and with five weeks in September, this is an extra bonus before we move on to a solo spotlight!

Winner: Bane
#112 (+231) Bane
#837 (-8) Killer Croc

HERO OF THE WEEK: KILLER CROC (DC)
Real Name: Waylon Jones
First Appearance: Batman #357 (March, 1983)
Fight Club Ranking: #829

Featured Fights:
- vs WOLVERINE: Marvel versus DC #2 (Mar 1996)
- vs BATMAN: Batman #608 (Dec 2002)
- vs BATMAN: Batman #621 (Jan 2004)
- vs SOLOMON GRUNDY: Faces of Evil: Solomon Grundy #1 (Mar 2009)

The Suicide Squad is officially out now in theatres and by virtue of live-action media generally providing the most interesting superhero stories of the moment: we've dedicated the entirety of this month's Heroes of the Week to characters in the movie!

There are still a lot of left over characters that could've pulled focus now that we've crossed off the big three, but could we really pass up the opportunity to follow an Aussie cliché like Captain Boomerang with an implied croc-wrestling cliché? Crikey, no!

Truth be told, Killer Croc was always on the cards for Hero of the Week. He was one of the early confirmed characters that really made me take notice of the film during production. As with many C-grade bruisers, I've got a real soft spot for the Killer Croc of the comics (and cartoons). He isn't a traditional member of the Suicide Squad, and he deviates from the general type of 'pretend-reality' comic movies usually shy away from. So his inclusion raised a lot of questions and presented a potential litmus test for what the finished movie might be like. At least in theory.

Adewale Akkinuoye-Agbaje was a nice enough, physical casting choice that didn't really say a lot about the movie's take on the character. Genre fans who still think of him exclusively as TV's Mr. Eko (Lost), or The Bourne Identity's ill fated Wombosi may've suspected an exotic accent, even if Agbaje is actually from London. When the make-up was finally revealed, things got a little clearer.

All things considered, I think the movie does Killer Croc pretty well.

They're still showing their inclination to shy away from the colourful extremes of comic books -- all of the characters are heavily remixed with a grungy urban aesthetic. Yet, Croc looks definitively reptilian without devolving into a CG mess. That's probably enough to warrant praise!

When you consider the characters origins often refer to 'skin condition' and birth defect - the opportunity was certainly there to go much smaller. I would've accepted it, ala; Eduardo Risso's take in 2004 that always made me think of the taped fists of Mickey Rourke [see; Batman #621], but the more Reptilian extreme is a fun visual.

I have a tough time imagining Ben Affleck's Batman running up against this version of Killer Croc any time soon, but the rules are different and being rewritten every say, so you just never know!

Leaning into over-the-top characters like Killer Croc certainly sounds like a good idea on paper. A way to exploit the extremes of the character in opposition to the stoic, pseudo-reality maintained by Christopher Nolan for at least two movies. Man-Bat holds similar appeal, in that respect. I always liked Kevin Bacon as Dr. Kirk Langstrom, but I digress...

Killer Croc's also a part of the DC Comics Rebirth line-up of the Suicide Squad, which very closely reflects the line-up seen in the movie. I think he's a natural inclusion, and I'll at least be interested to follow where he winds up next.

On Secret Wars on Infinite Earths, his next stop is a special fifth week of Suicide Squad inspired comic book fun! In this final Friday Night Fight spotlight on the ensemble cast, Killer Croc faces off against a new player in Gotham City. It's a classic battle - one you won't want to miss!

<< Hero of the Week 09/05: Deathstroke  [Home]  Hero of the Week 08/22: Capt. Boomerang >>

KILLER CROC versus SOLOMON GRUNDY
The Curse! (DC)
Where: Faces of Evil: Solomon Grundy #1
When: March 2009 Why: Geoff Johns & Scott Kolins
How: Scott Kolins

The Story So Far...
Solomon Grundy... Born on a Monday...

The chalk-skinned behemoth that rose from Slaughter Swamp is a creature of many lives. His existence, as if a curse, sees him rise forevermore, no matter how often he might be slain by the well meaning, or evil, of this world. Stories say he was once Cyrus Gold - a wealthy man of few scruples who lived in Gotham in the eighteen hundreds.

One fateful night, Cyrus Gold's sins came back to bite him, leaving him sinking in the bog of Slaughter Swamp with a knife buried in his heart. There he was said to have sunk, becoming one with the marsh, only to rise again decades later as Solomon Grundy -- the lumbering beast who battled Green Lantern!

Something changed, however. Something brought Cyrus back.
Though he tries desperately to cling to life, Gold's first breath in a hundred years is cut short. Once again he rises as Solmon Grundy, confused and trapped by the lights of Gotham. For a week, Grundy wreaks havoc across the city, only to seek refuge in the sewers on a Saturday night, where he faces the wrath of a Killer!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Solomon Grundy 6 (Invincible)
Intelligence: Killer Croc 2 (Average)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Solomon Grundy 6 (Generator)
Agility: Draw 2 (Average)
Fighting Ability: Draw 3 (Street Wise)
Energy Power: Draw 1 (None)


- Waylon Jones was a two-bit crook born with a bad attitude and a skin condition to match. As a tough guy on the streets of Gotham City, Jones involved himself in petty crime, earning the street name Killer Croc due to his increasingly scaley appearance. The moniker proved a self-fullfiling prophecy as Croc began to undergo a series of transformations that further enhanced his reptilian qualities, mutating him into something very much resembling a crocodile.

Due to his unique capabilities, and penchant for cannibalism, Croc is typically incarcerated in Arkham Asylum upon capture. His criminal activities have brought him into regular conflict with the Batman, leading to repeat capture. Killer has also developed personal rivalries with Bane, who physically dominated him during his early entry into the Gotham underworld. The Riddler and Mad Hatter have also earned his ire in recent times as a result of their repeated manipulations.

Killer Croc's skin is highly durable and not at all sensitive.
Already a powerful man, Croc's strength levels have reached superhuman levels during various periods of mutation. Often these transformations are seen to be accompanied by a decreased, animalistic mental state. He is also known to develop talons, a snout-like mouth full of jagged teeth, and even a tail.

- The true origins of Solomon Grundy are unclear, but it is widely believed he is the spirit of wealthy merchant, Cyrus Gold, who is said to have been murdered in the late 1800's and dumped in Slaughter Swamp. Rising from the marsh, Grundy becomes an undead force that would come to menace Batman, Green Lantern, and both the Justice Society and Justice League.

Grundy possesses superhuman strength and endurance, and a penchant for returning from even the most fatal of scenarios. His personality is seen to shift after many of these lethal experiences, usually with minimal higher brain functions, reducing him to a lumbering and disgruntled monster.

Due to his marshy origins at Slaughter Swamp, Solomon Grundy has been seen to possess the ability to negate the Green Lantern's ring by way of it's weakness for things made of wood. This is presumably due to the bark and debris from the bog that saw his formation.

Math: Solomon Grundy Ranking: Killer Croc (#658)

What Went Down...
Disturbed from his place of rest by a voice emerging from the gloom, the sewer dwelling Solomon Grundy is faced with a challenger. Intent on defending his territory, a sufficiently mutated Killer Croc launches an attack on his intruder!

Killer Croc's jaws clamp around Grundy's throat, powerful enough to flip the undying behemoth over head with a violent snap of his powerful neck. Blood flows into the Croc's mouth, "Tastes like slime." His advantage is short lived.
Grundy sends the reptilian villain smashing into the sewer wall with sufficient force to breach the structure. Killer Croc issues a defiant challenge, "Bring it on."

Croc drags Solomon Grundy into a scrappy exchange in the sewer waters.
Haunted by the memory of his alter ego, Cyrus Gold; Grundy finds a violent inspiration. Towering, he pounds his fists against the sewer tunnel ceiling.

Fighting through the sewer, the pair of creature-feature rejects burst into a cemetary above, Grundy launching his foe with a thunderous uppercut!

In a simplistic rage, Solomon Grundy targets the Croc's deadly maw. Snatching his mouth like a bear trap, Grundy uses his phenomenal strength to break Croc's jaw, tearing the connective tissue at the corners of his mouth with gorey results!

As the clock strikes midnight, the presence of Monday has mystic significance, calming Grundy as his heaving body begins to shrink again into the form of Cyrus Gold. With a stranger watching from the graveyard, Grundy becomes vulnerable again, leaving Killer Croc to writhe and choke on his own blood...

The Hammer...
Born on a Monday, victorious on Friday: Solomon Grundy!

In his increasingly mutated form, I can only imagine Killer Croc will manage to survive having his face ripped open, even if he was left on his back and almost certainly should've drowned in a baptism of his own gore. Should the future reveal something else, we will of course ammend our "kill" statistics, and begin to speculate a possible return in Blackest Night. I really find that rather unlikely, but we weren't exactly confident when we forecast the first deadite to return in the event [spoiler!].

Faces of Evil proved to be a very curious event.
At this point, I'm still not entirely sure what it achieved, aside from giving various titles a graphic overhaul on shelves, using cover space to highlight individual characters on a stark black background. Visually striking, even if the artwork wasn't always spectacular.

The "FoE" specials all provide fairly clear lead-in to upcoming storyarcs.
In the case of Solomon Grundy, we have an action packed seven issue mini-series to look forward. With an issue for each day of his epic week, the series so far promises to delve more into the mysterious origins of the character, while pitting the character against villains, such as; Bizarro and Poison Ivy. Intriguing!

This issue quite obviously promotes the mini-series, possibly at the cost of any substantial material of it's own. I almost wonder if these specials might not have been better served by the popular 99c promotional price, but that might be too harsh an assessment of the content, and the good fortune of a $2.99 tag.
The Killer Croc fight is definitely the stand-out scene of the issue, overshadowing brief glimpses of Cyrus Gold's past, present, and ominous future, by virtue of it's action-packed specifics. The "future" is represented by the issue-end arrival of Phantom Stranger, and Grundy's original arch-nemesis, Green Lantern.

I have an inexplicable fondness for Solomon Grundy, particularly Jeph Loeb's sewer-dwelling gentle giant of The Long Halloween and Dark Victory fame.
That said, even I have to wonder exactly what the point of the mini-series is!

Demystifying the secret origins of the character seems to provide a throughline for the series, Cyrus Gold attempts, presumably, to resolve his death in life, as a way of ending the endless resurrections that have made him a prevelant fixture of DC comics. I'm not sure I'm terribly fond of either prospect, having enjoyed the sense of mystery about the character, and the assurance that he'll come back from any fate, no matter how grim. The chance of failure in his attempts to end his curse is probably reasonably good, but you have to wonder.

More intriguing are the ominous words spoken by Phantom Stranger at the end of the special; "There is an unholy night approaching. As black as the undead's blood. And it's best if Solomon Grundy was not around for it."
It doesn't take the world's greatest detective to speculate that Grundy might have some greater significance in the Blackest Night series. It stands to reason, after all, that a character so intrinsically connected to the power of death would be a potential factor in a story dedicated to the dead rising. Given the grim reticence of Phantom Stranger, one can only assume Grundy's mastery over the resurrection could have dire consequences for all who opposed the Black Lanterns. That is, assuming Grundy even lasts that long!

Scott Kolins continues to redeem himself for some of his work earlier in the decade. I'd still like to see a different inker finish his work, but his recent DC projects have been a substantial improvement on the likes of Marvel Team-Up and the cover I would call one of the worst I've ever seen (New Invaders #3).
His Grundy has a good weight to him, approaching the Hulk-esque proportions of my much loved Tim Sale version.
The introduction of Cyrus Gold as an intrusive personality continues comparisons to the Hulk, less comfortable than a burly frame. While I undoubtedly prefer a monosyllabic Grundy preoccupied with his D.O.B, I wouldn't want the lines to be blurred to a point where the 1940's precursor loses his identity.

Geoff Johns notches up another violent and bloody story to his name, albeit, splitting writing credits with Kolins. I can't say I have any problem with liberal uses of blood in superhero violence, particularly when it adds to a suitably macabre setting, but this was the issue that I really noticed it. Kolins' art style isn't nearly realistic enough to make witnessing Cyrus Gold's bifurcation under a truck as horrific as it might otherwise be, but this probably isn't the comic you'll give small children.

Not that they wouldn't enjoy it, if you did!

The Fight: 5 The Issue: 4.5

The first issue of the Solomon Grundy mini-series is currently scheduled for March 4. A collected edition probably won't emerge until the end of the year, which gives you plenty of time to familiarize yourself with the character's previous exploits! You'll find plenty of collected editions in the Infinite Wars Amazonian Gift Shoppe, including plenty of trades featuring Solomon Grundy, and the stories featured in previous reviews! Using purchase links on the site sponsors future entries in the Infinite Wars, so when it comes time to buy, give Amazon a try!

BATMAN versus KILLER CROC
Hush Chapter One: The Ransom (DC comics)
Where: Batman #608 When: December 2002
Why: Jeph Loeb How: Jim Lee

The story so far...
Someone has gone to a lot of trouble in Gotham City to assemble a motley crew of mercenaries and muscle in order to kidnap Edward Lamont IV, boy billionaire in waiting for the Lamont chemical fortune.

The Batman is swift in retrieving the boy who was snatched two weeks prior from his school, by a man wearing a trenchcoat. Unfortunately for him, the large man was a newly mutated Killer Croc.

With a paid ransom of ten million dollars, Killer Croc challenges the Batman's interference with the conviction of a motivated man. Killer Croc claims he needs the money, but in this city of stone and steel, it's greatest champion is unsympathetic to the wants of a career criminal. Thus, they come to blows, but little does the Batman know, each is but a pawn in a game much larger...

Previous Form:
Batman (#2): Has toppled foes such as; Hyena, Two-Face, Amazo, The Joker & Superman.
Killer Croc (#172): Suffered a harsh defeat to Batman.

Tale of the tape...
Strength: Killer Croc 5 (Super Strength)
Intelligence: Batman 5 (Professor)
Speed: Batman 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Batman 5 (Marathon Man)
Agility: Batman 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Batman 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy Powers: Batman 4 (Arsenal)


This one's a rematch [Batman #621], so there really isn't a great deal to run down as far as predicting who should/shouldn't, will/won't win based on the standardized measurements provided by the tape. Plugging them into the patented Haseloff Tape Measure will only garner the same scientific results.

However, in the interest of streamlining, the statistics entered do not take into account the variables presented by time and space. A very different Killer Croc faces the Batman this time around, more monster than man, as opposed to the thuggish misfit that was featured in Broken City.

This hulking, over developed Killer Croc represents a far more formiddable physical obstacle for the Batman. Sitting somewhere in the upper echelon of his burly foes, Batman likely has some portable methods of contingency for dealing with him. If nothing else, less specific devices comparable to that used by Jason Todd against Danny Brickwell [Green Arrow #70], or those employed by Batman himself in encounters with Amazo [Batman #637] and Captain Nazi [Batman #647], are likely on hand.

As mentioned in the intro, Killer Croc is fighting for something. His motivations are much more personal than a lot of his usual work, which gives him an added spark in combat, but ultimately, his record suggests Batman is ready and willing to put him down as hard as necessary. Unlike many of Batman's other foes, particularly in this state, Croc can take it.

The Math: Batman (Meta Class)
The Pick: Batman (Kicker of Ass)

What went down...
So, having taken out the mob of mercenaries, Batman drags the boy into the light of the city. He think about the superior reassurance Superman could offer, but the kid is probably less afraid of the man in the batsuit, and more concerned about the big green crocodile-man charging at them!

Croc makes good with a briefcase uppercut that knocks the Batman straight to backfoot city. The bulky Croc continues to press the assault, charging forward with a following shot with his free hand.

With Batman dazed and against a wall, Croc declares his intentions to eat his longtime foe, but instead gets a face full of pipe thanks to Batman's superior speed. Taking the path of least resistance, Batman rises from his crouch, striking Croc under the chin with a stiff headbutt, before following it with a devestating boot to the face!

Croc's concerns devolve into a feral bloodlust, letting the briefcase containing the ransom slip from his grasp, he instead seeks the innards of one Batman!

Croc slashes wildly at Batman, knocking him back once more.
Batman is again able to return through superior agility, leaping over his opponent while slappinga tiny device onto the base of Croc's skull.

Taking full advantage of a vulnerability to hypersonics, Batman sets off his device, disorientating his stronger more feral foe to the point where he runs headlong into industrial piping.

Using a nearby chain, Batman wraps Killer up and leaves him hanging from the pipe as the FBI descend on the scene. With the Beureau taking the boy into custody, Batman takes off in pursuit of a heat signature carrying a briefcase.

The hammer...
Rrrring the bell! Round two goes to Batman once more!

For those of you salivating curiously over who stole the money, it was of course none other than Catwoman! Like you didn't guess it already. While in pursuit of Catwoman, Batman's batline is sabotaged and he plummets to certain doom, so begins the storyline that is Hush.

After talking at length about the scenario that was presented during the release of Azarrello and Risso's Broken City, it seemed fitting to take a look back at the story that effectively sealed it's fate. Not that I'm going to fault Hush for being a successful, top ten performer on the sales charts. Suffice to say, I think it's a shame that Broken City struggled under the weight of it's predecessor, but have been pleased to see a lot of people go back and give Broken City a go.

Hush, despite it's success, was ultimately met with a pretty surly critical response. What had begun as an exciting year-long mystery through the Batman mythos, ended as a sudden conclusion that delivered little surprise to most reading it. It served up the excessively obvious culprit, in cahoots with the obscurely unlikely, and eventually through the addition of others, the downright absurd.

Having reinvigorated Jim Lee as a regular comics penciller, it seemed Hush was only going to lead to bigger and better things. Early-on Loeb and others recounted in interviews the intent to follow the story up with a six parter at a later date, but what eventually unfolded may have only served to further garble what was, for many, an disatisfying end to the year's biggest mystery.

Hush soon resurfaced in the pages of Gotham Knights, weaving his way through a much less intentful story, coming to further blows with Batman, and new enemies too, like Poison Ivy and Green Arrow. Hush would ultimately overstay his welcome, slipping into relative obscurity after a busy couple of years.

What would really shock was the pursuit of Jason Todd, one of the small handful of deceased characters considered untouchable. What had originally been a psychological attack on Batman, because the means for resurrecting Jason Todd for a career as the Red Hood: vigilante with attitude. The answer for his timely resurrection? The apparent influence of an enraged Superboy from Earth-Prime, who had pounded so hard on the confines of his non-space home, he had shaken the very fabric of reality, thus undoing Todd's death while he lay buried.

We'll probably get a chance to talk more about the specifics of the Hush story and character as we featured more issues from the arc. For what it was, I enjoyed the overall presentation, and the excitement that really spurred me to return to Batman after years of ridiculously neglecting most DC properties.

Meanwhile, if I can break into a tangent, you may have noticed that to the right there's a new addition at the top of the menu. Yes, the first issue of a comic written by yours truly has finally hit the virtual shelf, and is available for purchase! I hope there are a lot of things to come for me in comics, and hope all you Secret Wars readers can come along for the ride.

If you haven't already, hit-up Nite Lite Theatre, and follow the links to find a brief teaser preview that gives very little away, and consider picking it up. It's ridiculously affordable for a small press book. Cheers!

The Fight: 4 The Issue: 5.5
[As a first issue, the action is thick, but the plot is well established. None of this neo-fascist three-issue meandering to build up the players!]

BATMAN versus KILLER CROC
Broken City: Part Two (DC comics)
Where: Batman #621 When: January 2004
Why: Brian Azzarello How: Eduardo Risso

The story so far...
A murder in Gotham City has left a child orphaned, something the Dark Knight Detective can relate to. As the Batman, Bruce Wayne, son of the murdered Wayne family, uses his inherited fortune to stalk the streets of his city preying on those that would prey on the innocent.

This murder has connected with him, and so the Batman lends his aid, albeit through the filter of Detective Crispus Allen, a GCPD detective whose opinion of the Dark Knight is at least high enough to prevent it interfering in their work.

With the only witness, the son, reduced to a catatonic mess, the Batman decides to abandon a night of grilling steaks, and seek out a more receptive meat.
Somewhere in the dark city sits a man with an appetite of a different kind, and he's about to get a visit from someone most unexpected.

Previous Form:
Batman (#2): Has toppled foes such as; Hyena, Two-Face, Amazo, The Joker & Superman.
Killer Croc (#126): Survived an inconclusive encounter with Wolverine.

Tale of the tape...
Strength: Killer Croc 5 (Super Strength)
Intelligence: Batman 5 (Professor)
Speed: Batman 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Batman 5 (Marathon Man)
Agility: Batman 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting Ability: Batman 5 (Martial Artist)
Energy Powers: Batman 4 (Arsenal)


So, in preparing for this month's updates, I found myself collecting issues with the intentions of finding a particular sort of character; a character that somehow represented the pure fighting spirit that the Infinite Wars represent.
Two such characters seemed to present themselves for no reason in particular and they were Batroc the Leaper and -- Killer Croc!

Killer Croc has the distinction of being one of the most physical and far-out villains in Batman's core rogues gallery, as well as having one of the silliest sounding names. I'm rating him somewhere in the vicinity of Killer Moth and Ratcatcher, not quite in the leagues of the dread Crazy-Quilt.

Physically Killer Croc represents one of the strongest brute forces the Batman regularly comes into conflict with. His strength levels have ranged everywhere from competent bruiser, to hulking super-human, sometimes influenced by further mutation brought on by the intervention of others, such as Hush.

Ultimately Batman makes fairly light work of Killer Croc.
His martial arts expertise and superior speed and agility usually give him the necessary edge to out maneuver Killer Croc long enough to put him down with finesse and skill unfamiliar to the crocodilian brute.

The key to victory for Killer Croc is simple: Find someone more motivated to get to Batman, and occupy the strong-man part of a more complex and strategic plan than Croc could ever hope for. In the absence of a mastermind, it's down to surprise and trying to overwhelm the Dark Knight with pure strength.

The Math: Batman (Meta Class)
The Pick: Batman

What went down...
Taking in a pole show at the local club, Killer Croc catches the mutual eye of a perform that suggests they get a private room in the interests of her securing the guarantee of the wad of cash in his grubby mitts.

Agreeing, Croc doesn't resist being strapped to his chair with leather cuffs, taking it in as part of the show, oblivious to the two squinted eyes that gleam out of the darkness into the mirrored walls. "Beat it", the eyes order.

Batman steps into the dimly lit room and looms over the restrained Croc.
"Hmm. Not what I was expectin', but what the hell... Take it off."

The Batman pays Croc's hilarious quip tribute with an unrestrained slap to the chops that makes a mess of the impressive row of chompers the crook is sporting. He coughs up blood, and gets mad.

All Croc's jumping and snarling earns him is a pole-swinging kick to the gut. Still strapped to the chair, Croc falls back into the mirrored walls of the private room. He dares Batman to remove the restraints for a "fair" fight.

Batman turns down his request and moves to interrogation.
When Croc isn't receptive, he asks if he has a lawyer. Croc tells him he has one on retainer. Bats retorts with fist clenched - "Your dentist, too?"

Batman asks again and this time he gets the answers he seeks. Croc doesn't know where the man he's looking for, Angel Lupo, is, but he has enough info to point him in the right direction: Little Tokyo, as it were. As croc pulls a broken tooth from his bloodied mouth, the Batman leaves to follow the lead. It need not escelate this time.

The hammer...
The winner of this bout and still DC champ, Batman!

Some people like to say Batman cheats, but as he mentions during this fight where Killer Croc is restrained, he doesn't really. He plays by the rules, and it's that fact that really solidifies one of the most distinct and enjoyable things about the "grim and gritty" Batman.

Bruce Wayne's super "powers" are his cunning, guile, determination and wealth. By most of our standards those are pretty fantastic powers, but in the world of superheroes he remains but a man, and he elevates himself by bending his morals in ways the other heroes do not.

Villains hold an inherent advantage over the hero because they're willing to go to far more extreme lengths to achieve their goals. Batman draws the line at lethal force, maintaining his heroic core, but still willingly meets the villains on their own terms, and in terms of getting results that has almost made him one of the most admirable and maybe relatable heroes in comics.

For quite some time now I've been itching to talk about these comics on the site, because as peculiar a declaration as it may be, Broken City might just be one of my all-time favourite Batman stories ever! Ever, as opposed to all the other periods left out by "all-time"...

It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm feeling vaguely nostalgic, so let's take a timewarp for the unintiated: It's 2003, and it's a pretty good time for Batman!

In 2003 Detective Comics is at it's most recent best, and Jim Lee has been seduced back to comics for a year-long storyarc by the man behind similarly lengthed successes like The Long Halloween and Dark Victory. I, of course, refer to Jeph Loeb, and the Batman storyarc -- Hush.

Love or hate Hush, the star power involved in it's creation and the mystery faced by Batman ensured DC had a much-needed number one seller on their hands. About the only question bigger than "Who is Hush?" was regarding the next step in the Batman flagship title's future.

Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso are the creative team behind the Vertigo title, 100 Bullets, and suffice to say that while they may not be Lee & Loeb, they had their own unique buzz as the next named creative team on Batman.

Unfortunately for some, the shock to the system was harsh and unexpected.
I was among the number taken aback by the approach seen in the follow-up to Hush. This was far from the tights and capes that traditionally garner the pages of the Batman title. Almost ironically, as a reader enjoying the urban greys of Detective Comics, I was immediately a little put off by the bright, flashy colour palette of Broken City.

This is a story that actually probably would've felt much more at home in Detective. As a subtle, but heavy urban drama, it slid much better into the Detective model of Batman stories, than the larger-than-life superheroics typical of the title it featured in.

When you get past the pinks and oranges, and the fact that Batman often appears brighter than some backgrounds, you start to realise that this a far darker tale than it appears. When you read beyond the Batman's smile, you realise the undertones are much more adult and sinister than you'd expect.

I don't know if I could boil down the facets that makes this one of my favourite Batman stories. Visually it's powerful and distinct, and thematically it intelligentlly deals with the on-going working parts of Gotham's underbelly, while paying careful attention to the finely crafted storyarc of Angel Lupo.

There are definite cues from Frank Miller's work on the title, but as heavy handed as some of those are, they're well balanced by the fact that this story very much stands on it's own. It is tangentially respectful, as opposed to being derivative of Miller's work, unlike something along the lines of Bendis' Daredevil.

As I said, it's surprisingly adult. The violence is complimented with a volley of entendres and double-speak that would likely go over the heads of children who might have read Hush, but probably shouldn't be in their hands just to be safe.

It does suffer the almost obligatory inclusion of Batman's origin, but to it's credit it, the inclusion is interesting, and vaguely unique. It's also to be argued that as a creature of obssession and motivation, it's perfectly reasonable to see the origin as often as we do, but I'm starting to spin arguments above and beyond.

A great story that I hope to revist some time in the future!

The Fight: 3.5 The Issue: 7

DC versus MARVEL
(DC/Marvel)
Where: DC versus Marvel #1/#4, Marvel versus DC #2/#3 When: March/April 1996
Why: Ron Marz/Peter David How: Dan Jurgens/Claudio Castellini

The recap...
- Captain Marvel versus Thor
- Aquaman versus Sub-Mariner
- Flash versus Quicksilver
- Robin versus Jubilee
- Green Lantern versus Silver Surfer
- Catwoman versus Elektra
- Lobo versus Wolverine
- Wonder Woman versus Storm
- Superboy versus Spider-man
- Superman versus Hulk
- Batman versus Captain America

For the past three months Secret Earths has featured the events of the mini-series that broke all the boundaries, and brought DC and Marvel face to face, ten years ago.

Pitted against one another by two cosmic entities; champions from the Marvel and DC universes did battle to save their universe from extinction.
In the end Batman and Captain America would be catalysts for saving both universes, as the young new cosmic hero, Access, merged realities to create the 'Amalgam' universe.

Though this merged universe could not last, in the end, the triumphs and tribulations of the lives lived by Captain America and Batman were enough to save their worlds. In the last moments the two cosmic 'brothers' that waged war with their pawns were satisfied, and spoke for the first time to say, "You've done well!"

Despite officially winning it six-to-five, Marvel and DC, represented by these two cosmic entities, make a rare gesture of sincerity and congratulate each other on a job well done. Which is all good and well, but what about the 'unofficial' fights peppered and alluded to throughout the series?

Superman versus Juggernaut (DC versus Marvel #1)
What originally begins as yet another tussle between the X-Men and Juggernaut, takes a curious twist. As the mighty Juggernaut prepares to deliver a crushing blow to a floored Wolverine, he finds himself among the earliest targets of this cosmic crossover event.
The follow through of the previous punch collides with the side of a building - the Daily Planet - which doesn't make a great first impression.

A streaking blue collides with the helmet of the Juggernaut, and actually manages to floor the unstoppable force! Though this encounter was brief, this is deemed conclusive of a result.
Winner: Superman

Batman & Robin versus Bullseye (DC versus Marvel #1)
What a delicious turn of events. While the Joker was crazy enough not to engage a disaplaced Spider-man - Bullseye is unstable enough to snatch the nearest kid in a cave, and start demanding answers.
Unfortunately for him, one of those answers is "Batman."

With a knife to Robin's throat, Bullseye holds Batman in a stand-off, batarang drawn. The man who doesn't miss teases Batman, cutting at the mask of Robin and speculating his chances of a miss.

The boy wonder, hardly helpless, elbows the fiend in the neck, giving Batman an opening to toss his batarang. However, even stunned, Bullseye is able to snatch the weapon out of the air, and whip it right back at the target.

Much to Bullseye's dismay, however, Batman is able to duck and weave the return attack, and swiftly plant a stiff left on the chin of the Marvel villain.
"You hit... even harder than... than... Daredevil..."
Winner: Batman (w/ Robin)

Wolverine versus Killer Croc (Marvel versus DC #2)
Bursting from the sewers, Killer Croc and Wolverine go at it tooth and nail - literally!
With several on lookers (including Clark Kent and Ben Reilly), the two feral fighters do battle and exchange quips. The two battle their way into the streets, careering into a toy store, as Wolverine takes an apparent offensive.

While no definitive blow is struck on the page, Wolverine is free to accompany Gambit in stealing the Batmobile. Though apparent that Killer Croc is defeated, it is possible he escaped.
Winner: Inconclusive (draw)

Bane versus Captain America (Marvel versus DC #2)
The battle of the serum enhanced super soldiers!
As Cap's shield hurls out of reach, Bane mocks his opponent as he prepares to deliver a back breaking finishing move that will leave the Captain crippled and helpless.

As Bane mocks the Captain's strategy, his full frontal assault turns out to be an error of judgment. Cap's shield, ever a faithful weapon, comes boomerang around right into the back of Bane's skull. Ouch. Schooled by the master!
"Now... No more back talk from you."
Winner: Captain America

Peter Parker versus Scarecrow & Scarecrow (Marvel versus DC #2)
Walking the streets alone can be dangerous, but that goes double when you're Lois Lane - professional damsel in distress!
In a meeting of gimmicks, both the Marvel and DC Scarecrows come up with the genius plan of kidnapping Superman's gal for whatever genius reason that goes unsaid.

Luckily Planet photographer Peter Parker is nearby, and able to unload some mean martial arts skills on the two fear enducing putzes.
Winner: Peter "Ben Reilly" Parker

Hulk & Superman versus Metallo (Marvel versus DC #3)
Beamed to Metropolis, Hulk finds himself dealing with a metallic hulking maniac called Metallo. Using a nearby giant Superman statue, Hulk smashes the 'metal geek' around a bit, until Superman finally shows up.

Confronting each other for their official bout, the two do away with Metallo switfly with a double punch, before being teleported to clearer grounds.
Winners: Superman & Hulk

Dark Claw & Super-Soldier versus Hyena (DC versus Marvel #4)
Dark Claw lurks across the rooftops, pursuing his arch-nemesis the Hyena.
Dark Claw attempts to put an end to the pursuit, hurtling a bomb at his foe, but Hyena is able to rip a chimney from a roof and swat it away toward innocents below.

The intervention of Super-Soldier sees a happy ending for the folks below.
As Hyena thinks he's finally made his get-away, the two heroes loom on the rooftop waiting for him.

Hyena backflips away, and makes his way to the streets below where Access, a character with newly acquired powers, finds himself the target of a hostage situation.

Of course, as Hyena leaps at his potential ticket out, Access creates a portal to someplace unknown, and lets Hyena send himself away.
Access attends to more important business, like seperating the Amalgam universe into the Marvel and DC universe via bits hidden in Captain America and Batman.
Winner: Access (w/ Dark Claw & Super-Soldier)

Hulk & Superman versus Moleman & the Moloids (DC versus Marvel #4)
In the batcave, Hulk emerges to tackle the swarming Moloid masses led by the Moleman. Using a well shined giant penny, Hulk flattens an armada of Moloids, and then tussles it up with the little freaks himself.
The cavalry arrives in the form of Superman, who deflects a blast from the Moloids' "greatest weapon" - a very Kirby laser canon.

Moleman and his Moloids are forced into retreat.
Winners: Superman & Hulk

Superboy versus Kingpin (DC versus Marvel #4)
As Wilson Fisk abuses his powers as owner of the Daily Planet, Spider-man swings in to heckle his long-standing foe.
Having already laid Perry White on his ass, Kingpin doesn't even see the brazen attack from Superboy coming. Some tight pants, a bulky jacket and a little 'tactile telekenisis' later, and Kingpin's getting dumped through a table.
Winner: Superboy

Elektra & Catwoman versus Abomination (DC versus Marvel #4)
Though the battle is sufficiently depicted (and considerably one-sided), in the end the sky turning to blood proves too much of a distraction.
Winner: Inconclusive (draw)

Flash & Quicksilver versus Venom (DC versus Marvel #4)
As the Marvel villains continue to get a good run in the wrap up of this mini-series, Flash and Quicksilver, though much better matched, find themselves sufficiently distracted during their fight.
Winner: Inconclusive (draw)

JLA/Avengers versus Darkseid & Thanos (DC versus Marvel #4)
A collection of heroes from both universes charge in to do battle with the wagering titans, Darkseid and Thanos.
Darkseid takes delight in finding "fire" in the mighty Thor, who deflects deadly eye beams from the ruler of Apokolips. The Silver Surfer and Storm swoop in for attacks on Darkseid, but they prove ineffective, as Darkseid topples Thor with a second eyebeam attack.

Meanwhile Green Lantern, Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel fare better with Thanos, drawing first blood.

As the two fights converge, a thumped Wonder Woman hands Thor the mighty Mjolnir, much to his surprise.

As the sky turns to blood, these heroes too are distracted.
Winner: Draw

The hammer...
So, in the end, with these additional fights, who is the true winner?
Well, by Secret Earths standards it was a draw. While the official fights drew a 6-5 finish, additional fights ended in an 8-all draw, with a bunch o' ties and inconclusive results. Bravo to fair conclusions.

All in all this probably wasn't the greatest crossover event. As alluded to by some of these extra fights, there was a lot of fertile ground that went untouched.
That said, it's been a lot of fun taking a look at each battle the past few months, and filling the site with entries based on comics that were just made for a site like this.

Unfortunately, criticms of this mini-series come to mind far quicker than praise.
Perhaps some of the most bitter results are the chances missed. Some of the fights alluded to, but not given enough screen time to make this extras special included: Steel versus Absorbing man, Green Lantern versus Green Goblin, Daredevil versus the Riddler, Batman versus Venom, Captain Marvel versus Dr. Doom, Punisher versus Deathstroke, Etrigan versus Ghost Rider, Thing.Human Torch versus Firestorm/Martian Manhunter, Superman versus Annihilus, Spider-man versus Man-Bat and Nightwing versus Gambit.

If even a fraction of that list could have been given a look in, this series might have even scraped through with obscurity cred. Unfortunately, these just highlight a lot of missed chances, sitting next to a lot of half-done fights listed in this entry, and even in previous 'official' entries.
I would also particularly highlight the absence of big names like the Fantastic Four and the Martian Manhunter, lucky to get even a one-page mention.

Overall, I suppose a lot of this has to be put down to the era.
The writing is not at all intelligent, providing a fairly standard cosmic romp with a lot of quick, vingettes for each fight. The drama and the story of each conflict is completely absent here, and that's a shame.

Visually the book is also lacking. Castellini and Jurgens appear as somewhat unusual choices for a project so huge in the context of comics history.
For a one-time situation, it's disappointing that more range and variety couldn't have been offered up.

Personally I'd love to see another effort, with contemporary talents and characters spreading the event across several mini-series and one-shots. Guys like Brian Bendis and Ed Brubaker with Michael Lark on Daredevil/Batman.
Characters like the JSA, the JLA and the Avengers all interacting. There really are endless possibilities.

Never the less, it was a very fun series, and great to see what we did.

Next month, as voted by poll, Monday madness will feature fights starring the Hulk! Hope you enjoyed revisiting Marvel versus DC, I know I did (even if it is 2am!)!

NEXT: Another special event! Celebrating the release of X3, Wolverine takes on a bitter foe in a whole other medium! Stay tuned!