HULK versus FANTASTIC FOUR

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

COVER TO COVER: REMEMBERING STAN LEE...

With heavy heart the comics world has bid farewell to one of its tallest titans! Stan "The Man" Lee has passed at the ripe age of 95, leaving a legacy of co-creations that defined Marvel Comics, and helped establish the modern mode for comic book heroes with headaches - and great responsibilities!

Moviegoers will recognize Stan Lee as the loveable icon who transcended licensing to appear in the majority of Marvel movies. It started with 2000's X-Men and quickly became a tradition as Hollywood brought more of his creations to life - and even a few that weren't his!

In Fantastic Four, Lee played one of his own characters for the first time - classic mailman Willie Lumpkin. Later, Marvel Studios would acknowledge him as another classic FF creation: the all-seeing Watcher! It was fitting that Stan would tie the disparate movie studios together, given the points of difference his work as a writer and editor featured.

The "Marvel Age" of the 1960s brought a modern outlook to superhero characters and characterization, while also embellishing the concept of the shared universe. Lee paid homage to Timely's Golden Age heroes like the Sub-Mariner and Captain America by incorporating them into new stories. Thus, the expansive Marvel Universe was born!

Stan Lee endured a time when comics were dismissed as disposable entertainment for kids, but he never talked down to readers. He had words and he used 'em! He's famous for his roles as Art Director, Editor, and Self-Promoter -- but I consider one of his greatest gifts to be a verbosity that instilled an understanding of language in any young reader who read his writing. It was a wonderful way to learn weird and wonderful words! I'm sure anyone who reads Secret Wars on Infinite Earths will immediately recognize the influence of Stan Lee's legendary linguistic verve!

My favourite Stan Lee stories have always came from two of his most celebrated series and collaborations: Fantastic Four with Jack Kirby, and Spider-man with Steve Ditko. I hope you'll enjoy celebrating Stan Lee's life & work the only way we know how - with a selection of featured fights, starring the FF, Spidey, and even more of his classic co-creations, such as: X-Men, Hulk, Iron Man, Black Panther, Doctor Strange, Vulture, Mysterio & Electro! Excelsior!

Behind The Covers
1. IRON MAN vs WONG-CHU: Tales of Suspense #39
2. BARON MORDO vs DOCTOR STRANGE: Strange Tales #111
3. BARON MORDO vs DOCTOR STRANGE: Strange Tales #114
4. SPIDER-MAN vs VULTURE: Amazing Spider-man #7
5. X-MEN vs BROTHERHOOD OF EVIL MUTANTS: X-Men #6
6. HERCULES vs HULK: Tales to Astonish #79
7. BLACK PANTHER vs THING: Fantastic Four #52
8. BLACK PANTHER vs ULYSSES KLAW: Fantastic Four #53
9. SPIDER-MAN & HUMAN TORCH vs WIZARD & MYSTERIO: Amazing Spider-man Annual #4
10. BLACK PANTHER vs CAPTAIN AMERICA: Tales of Suspense #98
11. SPIDER-MAN vs ELECTRO: 1992 Marvel Holiday Special
12. X-MEN vs EXECUTIONER: Marvel: Heroes & Legends #1

HERO OF THE WEEK: THE CHAMPION (Marvel)
Real Name: Tryco Slatterus
First Appearance: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 (October, 1982)
Fight Club Ranking: #320

Featured Fights:
- vs THOR: Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7 (1982)
- vs SHE-HULK: She-Hulk #8 (Dec 2004)
- vs SHE-HULK: She-Hulk #8 (Dec 2004)

Well, it must be November, because combat's in the air, and Champion of the Universe is back in the spotlight! It still seems like yesterday, but it was this time two years ago we were celebrating the return of Tryco Slatterus in comics! Now it seems he's making a run to rule mobile video games!

Newsarama highlighted the exciting new addition, which takes Champion into the arena of Marvel: Contest of Champions - an aptly titled, free-to-play card collecting fighter for iOS and Android. Its been around since the end of [2014], so it's taken a while for the true champ to enter the fight, but now that he's arriving he's bringing the power primordial to deliver some big time power-ups.

Champion of the Universe is never far from mind on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths. Though famous for fighting Thing on debut in Marvel Two-In-One Annual #7, The Champ has fought many powerful figures from the Marvel Universe! We've scratched the surface with Thor, who was actually the first Earth hero to battle Champion in his first appearance [see; Thor vs Champion of the Universe].

One of the things that makes a Champion fight interesting are the rules of conduct. As Thor learned, one does not simply swing wildly when challenging the champ! Ring rules played a major role when She-Hulk scored an upset victory in her now-classic rematch bout, as well. The Champion traditionally favours the art of boxing, but it looks like Contest is going more of a pro-wrestling route, with Newsarama reporting special moves like a dropkick, and press backbreaker.

Be sure to check out the featured fight links at the top of the page to get more familiar with the Champion of the Universe! Then stay ttuned to the main page, Twitter, Facebook, and the Secret Archive for future updates. We're overdue for another main event title contest!

<< Hero of the Week 11/19: Rag Doll      [Home]      Hero of the Week 10/22: The Flash >>

COVER TO COVER: HAWKMAN DAY 2018!

There's no point beating around the bush: Hawkman is a bona fide badass! It was only natural he'd play a significant role on Secret Wars on Infinite Earths: he isn't just one of DC Comics' longest running icons -- he's one of their toughest! We couldn't let the first annual Hawkman Day go uncelebrated, so it's an all-Hawkman edition of famous fights in today's Cover to Cover!

Having been Chairman of the JSA and a charter member of the Justice League; Hawkman has been a part of every major era, facing down deadly threats with unique grit and determination! He doesn't win every fight, but you can always count on Hawkman to go down swinging! He's tested the mettle (and metal) of his trademark mace against some of the biggest threats the DCU has to over -- and even some of his toughest friends!

Hit the covers below to fly into featured fights with: Superman, Batman, Sinestro, Deathstroke, Doctor Fate, Solomon Grundy, Matter Master, Black Lanterns, and more! Be sure to visit our pal at Hawkworld to make every day Hawkman Day and learn more about the new Hawkman series discussed earlier in the year in Hero of the Week!

Behind The Covers:
1. HAWKMAN & CAPTAIN COMET vs SINESTRO: Secret Society of Super-Villains #5
2. DOCTOR FATE vs HAWKMAN: All-Star Squadron #4
3. HAWKMAN vs SUPERMAN: Justice League of America #200
4. CAPTAIN MARVEL & HAWKMAN vs SUPERMAN & BATMAN: Superman/Batman #4
5. HAWKMAN vs MATTER MASTER: Hawkman #23
6. HAWKMAN vs ST ROCH MONSTER: Hawkman #31
7. JUSTICE LEAGUE vs DEATHSTROKE: Identity Crisis #3
8. JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA vs MORGAUTH: JSA Strange Adventures #1
9. HAWKMAN, HAWKGIRL & MONOLITH vs SOLOMON GRUNDY: Hawkman #33
10. GREEN LANTERN CORPS & JUSTICE LEAGUE vs SINESTRO CORPS: Green Lantern #25
11. ELONGATED MAN & SUE DIBNY vs HAWKMAN & HAWKGIRL: Blackest Night #1

DEATHSTROKE versus ROBIN

Apokolips... Now (DC/Marvel)
Where: Uncanny X-Men and The New Teen Titans #1 When: 1982 Why: Chris Claremont How: Walt Simonson

The Story So Far...
Nightmares plague the young heroes of the X-Men and Teen Titans. The memory of fallen comrade Phoenix haunts the mind and heart of those who loved her, while a universe away, her flaming visage inspires terror.

Across the gulf of space: Darkseid contemplates the means to penetrate and harness the supreme power of The Source Wall. His plan: to send his agents to collect the residual psychic energies left on Earth by the cosmic Phoenix entity.

Flanked by an army of Para-Demon soldiers, Deathstroke accepts Darkseid's mission to lead a quest to accrue cosmic energy. First he must acquire a specific scientific device from STAR Labs in Gotham City. A burglary that inevitably brings him into conflict with his nemesis - the Teen Titan: Robin!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Deathstroke 3 (Athlete)
Intelligence: Deathstroke 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Draw 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Draw 4 (Athlete)
Agility: Nightwing 4 (Gymnast)
Fighting: Deathstroke 7 (Living Weapon)
Energy: Draw 2 (Projectiles)
Total: Deathstroke 26 (Metahuman)

The Deathstroke file doesn't run as deep as it should, but it already paints a picture of a highly skilled hand-to-hand combatant! They don't call him "The Terminator" for nothing, and past battles have shown his 90% brain function gives him the speed, reflexes, and cognition to take down entire teams!

We've seen Deathstroke get the drop on Wolverine while single-handedly taking down the X-Men in Uncanny X-Men and The Teen Titans #1! He also famously fought the Justice League to a near standstill in Identity Crisis #3, tactically outmaneuvering and neutralizing threats from: Flash, Zatanna, Hawkman, Black Canary, Green Lantern, and Atom!

He may actually be more dangerous working alone, rather than in a team, but that's up for debate: He left the Injustice League to fend for themselves when an all-star JLA showed up in Justice League of America #15. Working as part of The Society, Deathstroke stuck around for the win, skewering Phantom Lady during a successful takedown of the Freedom Fighters [in Infinite Crisis #1].

There's no doubting the team-up credentials of his opponent! Robin cut his teeth as the original boy wonder, fighting by Batman's side in his formative years, before founding the sidekick alliance of the first Teen Titans!

In the later guise of Nightwing he helped Batman stop Two-Face in Batman #442, overcame a rampaging Amazo in Batman #637, and thwarted The Penguin, Girder & Double Down in a team-up with former Titan, The Flash, in Flash #210! He also flew solo to defeat Firefly [Nightwing #98] and outfought would-be Bat-impostor Jason Todd in Batman: Battle for the Cowl #3!

It's obvious Dick Grayson has a bright future ahead, but today's battle is looking back to his days as Robin! He may not be a rookie in his debuting year, but he's still a young hero taking on a seasoned veteran!

Deathstroke's training, experience, and biological enhancements mean he's every bit the match for Robin's mentor! The Boy Wonder will need to call upon his origins as a circus acrobat to take advantage of his superior agility, but even then he's going to have a very tough task taking on The Terminator!

The Tape: Deathstroke Ranking: Robin (#19)

What Went Down...
The sound of shattering glass interrupts the Gotham City night as Robin thwarts a break-in at STAR Labs! Moving beyond the broken pane, he investigates his toppled opponent -- but doesn't find the usual breed of Intergang agent!

For all the twisted sights he's seen - even The Boy Wonder is shocked by the grotesque visage of the unconscious robber! A stern voice from the shadows educates him on its proper name and purpose: a para-demon in the service of Deathstroke The Terminator!

The mercenary fires his high-powered weapon at the crouching boy wonder, but Robin effortlessly leaps clear of its deadly blast!

Deathstroke may've failed to get the drop on his target with his initial unannounced attack, but he's already planning one-step ahead, catching Robin upon landing with a devastating thrust kick to the face!

The precious blow ends the fight as quickly as it started, knocking Robin out cold! Lucky for him, Deathstroke is there to complete an objective, acquiring the equipment he needs before leaving unhindered with his parademon associates.

The Hammer...
Cold, clean, and efficient. This is peak Deathstroke, taking down the leader of the Teen Titans just a year or so into their arch-rivalry. A harsh lesson for Robin, who otherwise did quite well taking down a squad of parademons!

Unless I'm very much mistaken: this is the first time we've looked at characters from the same company going head-to-head during a DC/Marvel crossover! It isn't something that happens all that often. Usually the focus is on the novelty of unfamiliar combinations, even if it's as innocuous a battle as Scorpion vs Batman, or Terrax vs Green Lantern. Kind of novel for not being novel!

This is also the first blemish on Dick Grayson's record, ending his reign as the highest ranking character without a loss! That rare accolade will now pass to another member of the Titans: #27 Wally West! Given the turmoil the third Flash has been through in recent years - I wonder how long it will last!

It's fun to finally go back to an example of Dick Grayson as the Boy Wonder! It's really become second nature to think of the character as Nightwing, but it'll still be another ten years before he even equals his tenure as the original Robin!

The Nightwing costume and identity is closely linked with the Titans, debuting in Tales of the Teen Titans #44, as part of 1984's revered Judas Contract story. Not exactly recent history, but still fairly late in the grand scheme of comics, and the history of what is ultimately a Golden Age character from 1940.

A combination of back issues, cartoons, reruns of the 60s Batman TV show, and general zeitgeist meant Grayson's Robin was still a big part of my early experience. There's a slight pang of nostalgia that goes with that, but for the most part, it was very easy to accept Robin maturing into his own hero.

It's easy to dismiss that kind of acceptance as a symptom of reader's age, but I think there's more to consider. Robin's exact age as Batman's sidekick is usually hazy, but I prefer to think of it as being in the double-digits, at the very least. A teenage Dick Grayson lent the concept of "Robin" to an ideal balance of Grayson being the Robin who grew up, Jason Todd being the Robin who failed (or died), and Tim Drake being the Robin who was young in the moment.

The trio of Robins, though created somewhat in happenstance, facilitated three intriguing facets of the same basic concept, able to be explored in a coexistence that wouldn't age Bruce Wayne beyond reason. Important reference if we accept that there's little to be gained from DC Comics ever killing off their senior icons.

In such a scenario, Nightwing as a young adult hero is a permanent fixture, rather than a catalyst for a continuum of evolving characters. A perspective on the core concept of the kid sidekick, now served by a contemporary Tim Drake.

Of course, the great Grant Morrison made a dangerously convincing case for Dick Grayson in his ultimate role as Batman! It seems like it shouldn't work, given the obvious affection and iconic immortality that exists for Bruce Wayne, but in Batman and Robin, Morrison made the short-term novelty of the stand-in Batman seem wholly palatable! Grayson retained a sense of identity, putting a surprising fresh spin on Batman that could've continued beyond Bruce's return!

It should be said, in the nineties, it seemed as if the advancement of legacy identities would be a unique point of difference for DC Comics. I often wonder what the landscape would've been like had they committed to a contemporary line-up of Wally West as Flash, Kyle Rayner as Green Lantern, Roy Harper as Green Arrow, and eventually Dick Grayson as Batman, among others. They all had their controversies, but were also becoming entrenched as successors.

As strong as some of those characters were, I can't help but return to the wisdom of retaining original icons. It just doesn't make sense to burn the starpower of the icons everybody knows. The immortality of Bruce Wayne, Barry Allen, Hal Jordan, and so on is arguably one of the unique perks of the medium. Still, it would be very interesting to see a series explore the future DC once promised. An Earth-2 or Ultimates style book about a world where Superman died, Batman was crippled, Hal Jordan went nuts, Barry Allen saved the universe, and the new generation are the heroes of the day.

The inverse is true in live-action television and animation! Fans of the screen have been watching Dick Grayson's animated adventures as Robin since 2003's Teen Titans, which gave way to Teen Titans GO! and the unrelated Young Justice. Now the Teen Titans brand is venturing into live-action with Titans - now streaming on the new DC Universe service!

Be sure to explore links throughout this post, and find more by diving into the Secret Archive for battles from DC Comics and beyond! It's almost time for The Best Featured Fights of 2018! Make sure you hit up your favourites to get them into the Top 20 and check out Facebook and Twitter to like & share daily fights!

Winner: Deathstroke
#65 (+41) Deathstroke
#19 (--) Nightwing (Dick Grayson)

AQUAMAN, DOLPHIN & TULA versus MERA & TEMPEST

Blackest Night (DC)
Where: Blackest Night #2 When: October 2009
Why: Geoff Johns How: Ivan Reis

The Story So Far...
In the forbidden zone of Space Sector 666: the landing sight of the defeated Anti-Monitor has given rise to a mysterious black battery. This was the dawning of a War of Light prophesized by the Guardians of Oa!

The first sacrifice was William Hand: the death-obsessed villain known as Black Hand who willingly becomes the avatar of the coming Black Lantern Corps! Across the galaxy - the dead will join him as undead ranks consuming the living to charge their black battery!

Every hero who discovers this cosmic conspiracy risks being claimed! On the beach of Amnesty Bay, the new King of Atlantis follows Mera to seek the remains of his former mentor and king. Garth aims to strengthen his rule by returning Aquaman's remains to the tombs of Atlantis, but will soon find the dweller of the deep now walks the earth as an undead Black Lantern!

Tale of the Tape...
Strength: Aquaman 4 (Enhanced)
Intelligence: Aquaman 4 (Tactician)
Speed: Tempest 3 (Athlete)
Stamina: Aquaman 5 (Marathoner)
Agility: Tula 2 (Average)
Fighting: Aquaman 4 (Trained)
Energy: Tempest 6 (Mass Destruction)
Total: Tempest 28 (Metahuman)

The dead are rising across the galaxy like a tidal wave of terror, but the Black Lantern Corps aren't your average zombies! They're an endlessly regenerating super-powered horde: cosmically charged by Black Lantern rings that're drawn to the emotional spectrum their shambling corpses inspire in the living!

Aquaman is recently deceased and perfectly poised to inspire intense emotions in his former wife Mera, and the new King of Atlantis: Tempest!

Emotional provocation adds an unexpected dimension to the battle, but Mera & Tempest are masters of hydrokinesis: techniques for manipulating water in a variety of states for offensive and defensive capabilities.

We saw Mera generate a hard water bubble to contain Ocean Master's explosive weaponry in Adventure Comics #444. The power of the pounding surf is one way they could keep their resurrected king at bay. Tempest also wields a vast array of magic powers. Things aren't necessarily as simple as that, though...

With every heart consumed, the Black Lantern Corps share an increased charge. Their rings allow them to regenerate from any injury, fly, and manifest solid structures similar to a Green Lantern. Aquaman arrives with the Black Lantern at a low charge, but can theoretically match any hydrokinetic creations with constructs of his own.

Aquaman can also still telepathically command marine life, albeit in the form of the ocean's dead! We saw him beat Sub-Mariner with the aid of a whale in the controversial crossover clash of Marvel versus DC #2. Imagine what he could do with an army of everything John West rejects! [They sell tinned fish, kids.]

Mera & Tempest will also have Dolphin and one-time Aquagirl Tula to contend with! Both had romantic ties to Tempest before they met their untimely demise, and both are making their Comic Book Fight Club debuts.

This early in the Blackest Night game nobody really knows what they're dealing with. Mera & Tempest are caught completely by surprise and their best bet may just be to use hard water to cut and run! Let's see how it went...

The Tape: Black Lantern Corps Ranking: Aquaman (#40)

What Went Down...
Arriving at the land grave of their former King: Atlantean soldiers are shocked to find his grave already disturbed! Through the thick fog emerges the greyed vision of Black Lantern Aquaman - his face twisted by decay and bitterness!

The former King drowns his subjects in vitriol and dark energy, claiming one of their fear-filled hearts to bring the Black Lantern charge to 2.63%!

Tempest reacts - sending the fresh bodies scattering as he rejects the former king as a fake. Molten red energy blasts Aquaman's body with accusation, magically igniting the air around him as his undead body refuses to burn!

The undead body's stubbornness is matched in voice as he questions Tempest's legitimacy as new King of Atlantis. Former Queen Mera intervenes - thrusting the points of her trident into her former lover's chest!

The unaffected corpse looms over his former wife and alludes to a romantic affair with the late heroine Dolphin. He stares blankly, offering mock apology for making Mera jealous as the Black Lantern Dolphin makes her presence known!

She reminds them all she found romance with Tempest after their fling, raking her fingers across his chest to draw blood! The young King finds himself caught between two former loves, as the Black Lantern Aquagirl claims him as well!

Tula clutches the shocked Tempest by the fabric of his uniform and hurls him towards the glass top of a nearby lighthouse! She chides him for her ill-fated career as Aquagirl and his promise of true love as he crashes uncontrollably!

On the rocky shores, Aquaman swats Mera away from her trident and demands she tell him if she misses their deceased son. She holds firm to the memory of the man he was, believing the real Arthur never demanded anything of her.

Surviving soldiers emerge from the chopping sea with weapons drawn. They race to Mera's aid in the name of Atlantis, but their bravery is short-lived. Aquaman declares he is still King - summon undead sharks to the slaughter!

Aquaman reaches for his Queen's heart, but she rejects him with the fury of the sea! His body is washed from her presence with great crashing waves!

Tempest struggles to rally his own counter-strike, magically unleashing the cold of the arctic sea in a focused blast! It freezes the lurching Dolphin at the head and shoulders for Mera to shatter with her reclaimed trident!

Triumph is short-lived as Tempest contends with Tula smashing him through more lighthouse glass -- and Mera finds the headless Dolphin reconstituting as its headless body continues to grapple with her weapon!

King Tempest radiates with hope that Tula can fight the darkness gripping her, but hope is his undoing. The intense emotion allows Aquagirl to plunge her hand deep into his chest and remove his heart. Garth of Earth is welcomed to the darkness with the darting arrival of a Black Lantern power ring.

Black energy engulfs Tempest's body and sends a shockwave that throws Mera helplessly flying inland! She crashes into a car in a parking lot as the undead Aquaman Family calls to her! Masked by fog, Mera has no choice but to run.

The Hammer...
Wow! The significance of Blackest Night warranted frequent reference in the years that followed, but I don't think I've seriously looked at Blackest Night #2 since it was released in 2009! I forgot just how dramatic the early issues were!

The Black Lantern return of Aquaman occupies a majority of this issue, but was easily overlooked, given the massive scale and mystery surrounding the DC-wide event, and the bitter state of the Aquaman property in the late 2000s.

The original Aquaman was finally killed off in 2007's Aquaman: Sword of Atlantis #50, but not before he was mutated beyond recognition as the squid-faced "Orin, Dweller of the Depths". If you're picturing that guy from the Sega video game ComixZone - it wasn't anywhere near that fun.

It was some kind of misguided effort to clean the slate, and lean-in to a new era of sword & sorcery in the vein of Pirates of the Caribbean and World of Warcraft. Not a bad idea in and of itself, but riddled with unattractive propositions, not the least of which was a different almost identical Arthur Curry assuming the mantle of Aquaman. An utterly pointless and unnecessary move.

If this treatment of Aquaman all sounds pretty stupid in hindsight - it was. In fact, it was pretty stupid at the time! A handful of short-lived revamps, and hangover from the nineties hook-handed beardy era, had started to feed into a sense that there actually wasn't a place of relevance for Aquaman in the modern comics landscape. Which is ridiculous on a lot of levels.

Fortunately, Blackest Night #2 restores Aquaman to his classic self, with a lot of emphasis on calling him Arthur Curry. It was the first step in a restoration process begun by the great Geoff Johns, continued with a bona fide resurrection in Brightest Day. A needlessly circuitous route back to basics, but welcomed.

I don't have a lot of love for the New 52 or DCEU, but both efforts have kept the Aquaman ball in the air. The days of self-loathing jabs seem to be a thing of the past. We're going to get an Aquaman movie next month, and we're living in an age when even Mera is a starring character in her own right. Not bad! I'm still looking at mid-seventies Adventure Comics as the evergreen example of quality Aquaman comics, but it's all relative.

I don't have strong feelings about Dolphin and Tula, but I will be sure to make some time in the future to take a closer look at Tula's death. She was one of the less significant victims of Crisis on Infinite Earths, poisoned by Chemo in issue #9. One of many deepcuts found throughout Blackest Night, which managed to revive a lot of continuity, despite being all about death.

Next year will mark the 10th anniversary of Blackest Night. I'm sure we'll be talking more about that. If you can't wait until then, you can always pick yourself up a collected edition via the embedded Amazon link provided! Doing so will keep Secret Wars on Infinite Earths among the living at no extra cost to you!

You can also find plenty more Blackest Night, Aquaman, and Halloween horrors by diving into the Secret Archive! Resurrect your favourite battles of the past by referencing links indexed by publisher, series, and issue number.

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Winners: Aquaman, Tula & Dolphin
#32 (+8) Aquaman [+4 kills]
#194 (new) Tula [+1 kill]
#316 (new) Dolphin
#549 (-10) Mera
#861 (new) Tempest (Garth)