STORM versus CALLISTO

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The Tape: Storm Ranking: Storm (#36)

What Went Down...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Callisto looks stunned at the rapid turn of events!

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

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

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

The Hammer...

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

IRON MAN versus DIABLO
"When strikes Diablo"
Where: Iron Man #159 When: June 1982
Writer: Roger McKenzie Artist: Paul Smith

The story so far...
Once upon a time, the Fantastic Four battled and captured the diabolical alchemist called, Diablo.

Fearing the Fantastic Four under estimated the foe, Dr. Strange went about casting a spell that thwarted Diablo's escape efforts. For Diablo, it felt as though he were in an endless freefall, until his memory was no longer his, and in his stead stood only Al Bido, Stark International janitor.

With his supressed memories reemerging, Diablo uses his vantage point to take full advantage of the fantastic chemical facilities granted to him at Stark International. Thus, the invincible Iron Man is forced into action anew, to protect his own company.

Tale of the tape...
Iron Man's one of those characters that has such a sliding scale of abilities, it can be pretty tough to really nail down what his capabilities are. I tend to think there's a generally accepted standard for a good [Tony Stark] Iron Man, so hopefully you all tend to agree.

Strength: 5 (Super strength)
Intelligence: 5 (Professor)
Stamina: 6 (Generator)
Energy Powers: 5 (Lasers)

Generally the Iron Man armor grants Tony Stark some pretty standard strengths.
By means well disguised, the armor greatly increases his strength both defensively, and offensively, enabling him to lock up with some of the toughest of bruisers in the Marvel universe.
The armor also provides a fairly comprehensive arsenal of attack weapons, the best known of which are his trademark "repulsor rays". There are also variations on this weapon ranging from retractable shoulder mounts, and chest beams.

As time has gone by, the lifespan of the armor's power has increased exponentially, ranging from various fuelling methods, including solar power. This in turn has greatly increased the stamina of an armored Stark not suffering from physical ailments.

Of course, Stark isn't without his own strengths, as both experienced in the suit, and also the brilliant mind who created it. Engineering tasks are often easily dealt with, even by shortcut methods, and most variables are accounted for.
Strengths not seen in others to don the armor, like Happy Hogan and Jim Rhodes.

Intelligence: 5 (Professor)
Energy Powers: 4 (Arsenal)

Of course, Diablo is not without his own strengths, largely stemming from his own intellect. As a brilliant alchemist, Diablo is capable of utilizing the most base of elements with twisted, and demented results.

To reflect his potential for chemically enduced carnage, he has an arsenal rating for energy powers. Though potentially capable of a higher rating, generally Diablo's choices seem to be less of an explosive persuasion, and more inclined to the animation of creatures like the Dragon Man.

Of course, the nature of Diablo's creatures, as powerful as they are, lend themselves to termination. Heroes like Iron Man, generally unwilling to kill, are far less concerned where the magically animated are concerned. Although, I'm sure that raises many ethical questions, of which Iron Man should probably consider.

Ultimately, against a character like Diablo there are a lot of potential variables, and the most unlikely of elements could play a crucial part. Traditionally iron is one of the most powerful minerals of the occult, so against Diablo's alchemist powers, he may just be safe.

Regardless, given his track record, Diablo is a one-time A-lister who didn't have the stuff to do more than play a regular annoyance to the Fantastic Four.
Iron Man's a safe bet.

What went down...
Doing away with the psychiatrist that unlocked his supressed memories; Diablo uses his alechemist's bag of tricks to disguise himself as Tony Stark to send all laboratory scientists home, opening to him a veritable funhouse of possibilities.

When the call comes out, Stark leaps from his armor workshop to do battle with the mysterious threat posed by previously mild-mannered, Al Bido.
When Iron Man arrives to rip the sealed doors of the chemical reasearch lab open, he finds himself confronted with a two headed monster - literally - unlike the hangover of those drunken one night stands.

With security firing on the dragon beast, Iron Man draws it's attentions away, taking a superheated blast of fire breath. The protective properties of the armor ensure his safety, allowing him to strike back with disintegrating results.

Entering the darkened laboratory, Iron Man falls victim to an attack at the hands of the lurking Diablo, encased in a block of solid ice!
While Diablo gloats and lines up his next target, the Fantastic Four, the ever crafty Tony Stark uses the armor's thermal units to weaken the ice and blast free.

Diablo hurls tornado "devil dust" in Iron Man's general direction, forcing the battle outside as Iron Man tries to escape, only to find a sentient elemental fire chasing him down and clinging to his armor.
He turns the two weapons to his advantage, using the whirling winds of the devil dust to douse the flames, and then his repulsor rays blow the dust out of orbit.

Diablo continues his bizarre assault, giving life to the very sidewalk below, raising a monolith of concrete. The creatures smacks Iron Man around, battering him like a ragdoll, before moving in for the killing stroke.

The creature slams down at the floored Iron Man, but the creature's weight drives the invincible Iron Man through the ground into the levels below. The two plummet down, down, down, through each level, as Diablo explores what is unearthed.
There, he makes a discovery most terrible - Tony Stark's Iron Man workshop!

Using his evil science, Diablo animates previous incarnations of the Iron Man armor ranging from the original bulky suits, to the previous incarnations of his current, streamlined outfit.

Beneath a hail of armored punches, Stark finds himself mobbed by his own creations - doomed!
Or is he? Without the heart Tony Stark brings to the suit, the armor proves ineffective, falling before their master one by one, leaving only Diablo and a very angry Iron Man.

Diablo proves more resourceful than one might think, using Iron Man's untamed aggression to toss one of his potions that turns the air around his opponent into a binding, dense gas.

Believing him restrained, Diablo reaches in to unmask the golden avenger, unaware of Stark's security measures. When he hand meets contact with the visor, he finds only unforgiving, untamed electricity.

With Diablo defeated the gas wears off, leaving only a call to the Fantastic Four to take the villain away.

"Aw, them playboy types're all the same, Susie. Not a care in the world. Right, Iron-Pants?"

If only you knew, Thing!

The hammer...
Undoubtedly the win goes to Iron Man, despite having a pretty rough time of it. Perhaps I under estimated Diablo, in the same way the Fantastic Four did, the first time they had him in custody.

It will be interesting to see how the upcoming Marvel Civil War affects the relationship between these a-list heroes.

Details of the event are as yet sketchy, but a lot of theories point toward a rift between the heroes on policy regarding the registration of superhero secret identities. A theme seen in various ways in superhero stories past, including Powers storylines by the ever-involved, Brian Michael Bendis.

One tends to imagine that won't be the case, particularly with characters like the publicly known Fantastic Four appearing alongside Iron Man, who appears to be the head of the faction opposing Captain America.
Having gone public with his identity as Iron man, Tony Stark served as American secretary of defense, before reconvincing the populous he was no longer Iron Man, resigning in the aftermath of the events of Avengers: Disassembled.

Regardless, Iron Man remains a long standing favourite character, who really seems to still have wells of untapped potential. Warren Ellis' recent (oft delayed) run with hotshot artist, Adi Granov (see Iron Man profile pic), seemed to elaborate on some of the greater potential of the technologies involved in Iron Man, but the title does seem to remain forever stooped in the superhero culture that cultivated the character.

Although understanding the desire for identity away from the mecha themed Japanese manga characters, one does tend to wonder if Iron Man could benefit from an injection of that techno-pop, cyberpunk culture.

Perhaps Iron Man remains at his core a reflection of American mechanical, and technological manufacturing. Not necesarily renowned for it's longevity, or it's total effectiveness, much like Iron Man's ever changing armor styles.

Love him or hate him, it's great to have Iron Man officially on the board at Secret Earths!

The Fight: 3 The Issue: 3

NEXT: A battle for the human race! Flash versus Quicksilver!