Good news and bad news, Viners. The bad news: there won't be a new edition of "Best Battles in New Comics" next Friday. The good news: that means you're going to get an extra battle right here in this one. Plus, just because we won't have the segment up next Friday doesn't mean we're going to leave you empty-handed. Fear not, because there will be something else posted for the action junkies on that day. We don't want to spoil it, so that's all we're gonna say on that subject.
This week, there's four fights to feed your adrenaline. Firstly, Flash's villains are unfortunate enough to encounter one of Superman's enemies. Then, Samurai Jack is forced to fight lovable yet obnoxious twins. After that, we venture into AVENGERS A.I. for some epic craziness you won't want to miss. Last and most definitely not least, you'll get to gaze at a glorious action scene from Marvel's latest big event.
Did your favorite melee not get a mention? Well, it's possible we didn't read that issue, so be sure to make suggestions in the official Best Battles Discussion Threadfrom now on. We review that before writing this weekly feature and do our best to get our hands on the issues suggested!
The Rogues vs. Parasite (Forever Evil: Rogues Rebellion #2)
Flash's villains just can't catch a break, can they? First, they encounter the Crime Syndicate and Captain Cold is depowered before they all flee. Now, they bump into one of Superman's powerful villains: Parasite. After their less than stellar encounter with Deathstrom and Power Ring, the Syndicate has put a price on the group's head and Parasite definitely wants to collect it. Needless to say, things don't go too well for Barry's enemies.
The team was caught off-guard, but Mirror Master makes 'em realize they need to step up and work together if they want to avoid being drained by this -- as Trickster put it -- giant booger. Luckily for Heatwave, Weather Wizard is more than happy to be a team player and save him from the big bad.
When the fight started, Parasite had no problem babbling about who he is and what he does. A character who feeds on energy? Well, Weather Wizard thinks he can give the fiend more energy than he can handle and that'll hopefully bring the brawl to a close. With a raise of his weather-wand, Mark hits the beast with an epic volley of lightning.
Did the attack work or did it totally backfire and make Kal's enemy more powerful? And, if it didn't end the fight, how can the team hope to survive this one? Go ahead and purchase the issue if you want to find out and witness what else went down in the issue.
Samurai Jack vs. Dis and Dat (SAMURAI JACK #2)
Samurai Jack's search for another thread of time leads him to a village that's "protected" by two skilled twins. Going by the name Dis and Dat, the martial arts duo doesn't take kindly to "intruders" entering the village. Do they talk it out and let him pass? Heck no, they challenge Jack to a fight and he has no choice but to accept.
Jack's a formidable dude and took on a group of totally different threats in the last issue, but nothing could have prepared him for this. He's not just fighting two skilled characters -- he's fighting a team who are completely synchronized. As you can see, it's a wee bit of a pain for Jack to handle and we imagine isn't very fun for him... at all.
Alright, this is getting pretty embarrassing for Jack. That hit to his noggin was tough, but surely he can recover from that, right? He has to find a way to win this, right?! Sorry, Jack fans, but nope and nope. Things only get worse for the warrior from there.
So, how does Jack come back and beat them? Can he even beat them or do they reach a mutual understanding? You know the drill by now, people: buy the book to find out.
Vision vs. Dimitrois (AVENGERS A.I. #6)
Sam Humphries, it looks like you just won the "Most Creative Battle of the Year" award. Viners, prepare yourselves for a real treat.
Dimitrois wants to steal Vision life (Superior Vision?) and previously installed malware in the hero. However, Vision was aware of this and when the villainous A.I. strikes, it puts the two into a digital arena for a battle unlike any other. Vision agrees to the fight and presents Dimitrios with one simple objective: destroy the kitten Vision is holding. What happens next is the two constantly trying to outsmart one another by constantly upgrading.
First, let's take a moment to praise Valerio Schiti's art. Humphries throws all kinds of craziness into the script and Schiti is able to bring all of these hilarious and abstract moments to life. The illustrator successfully makes each part of the fight feel unique and every bit is a real blast to read through. Anyhow, let's get back to the hectic action.
As Dimitrois turns into a giant, Vision hides the beyond adorable kitten in a castle. Naturally, the villain begins to break the building apart, but this is all part of the good guy's plan. As the formidable being is distracted, Vision grows in size and goes all Street Fighter on the enemy, delivering a fast volley of hits. But, it's not enough to earn the victory.
Was the smash enough to take Vision out of the fight? Is the book twisted enough to destroy the kitten? WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?! Trust us, you'll want to read the whole issue to find out how it concludes and see all of the other bits of action which aren't on display here.
Gladiator, Super-Skrull, Annihilus, Ronan vs. Black Dwarf (AVENGES #23)
Are you ready for the Avengers versus the Black Order? Well, the Avengers apparently weren't. Shang Chi and Black Widow tried their best, but Black Dwarf just won't fall. It's an admirable effort as they still stand after so much damage, but it's clear the big guy has quite an edge over them. Luckily for the heroes of Earth, their alien allies won't just sit back and watch them die in this slugfest. Enter Gladiator, Super-Skrull, Annihilus, and Ronan. Take all the time you need to admire the glorious panel below.
Gladiator shattering the general's weapon with one punch is downright awesome, but the man's by no means defeated after that. They call Thanos' warrior a "villain" and it completely sets him off. After beginning his verbal assault, Kl'rt is the first to feel the force of his physical assault with a vicious strike.
A fight between powerhouses is good fun and all, but wow, have you been seeing how absurdly good Leinil Francis Yu's art is in this issue? This fight was going to be highlight-worthy regardless of who was handling the visuals, but he turned it into something truly special with exceptional detail and such momentum behind all of the attacks. Great stuff. Here, enjoy another fantastic panel of the frenetic scene.
The Black Dwarf is obviously a dude few should mess with, but in this situation, he's up against a team of some amazingly powerful characters. We all know it's just a matter of time before he loses, but believe us when we say this fight has a conclusion you really don't want to miss.
Honorable Mentions
- Bloodshot vs. Harada (BLOODSHOT AND HARD CORPS #16)
- Erin McKillen, "Matches Malone" vs. Prisoners (BATMAN & TWO-FACE #25)
- Aric vs. Volo (X-O MANOWAR #16)
- The Archer vs. Metal Fist (ROGUES REBELLION #2)
- Harley Quinn vs. Jimmy Palmiotti, Amanda Conner (HARLEY QUINN #0)
What are your top 3 fights from this week? Share them with us below! Also, don't forget to make nominations every week in the official thread or tell Gregg via Twitter.