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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2022 12:48:15 GMT -5
I have always enjoyed seeing superheroes face supervillains who are not their regular adversaries. It’s the novelty factor, really. Much like, as a wrestling fan, I want to see new encounters (and rehashes of old encounters if done well). Even if it’s a mismatch, I find it fun.
When John Byrne did the Superman VS Joker issue, I was intrigued. I know Supes and Joker had had pre-CRISIS encounters, but I think that’s a good match-up. Sure, Joker is no physical match for Superman. But it’s fun to see how they interact. For me, interactions don’t have to be 22+ pages of entities duking it out above the rooftops. I’d find it just as fun to see, say, the Hulk smash Green Goblin’s glider, leaving Goblin scurrying away. That’d last all of 3 panels, I’m sure, but I’d like to see it.
So, as for my poll. Which of those Batman villains would you like to see the Man of Steel battle? Vote “Other” if you wish, and please explain your choices.
I do think a Superman/Riddler encounter would be fun. Sure, once Superman catches up with the Riddler, it’s game over and off to jail. But I think it’d be good to see Superman forced to put on a “riddle solving head” in a race against time to save a life - and then grabbing the Riddler by his collar and taking him straight to jail.
Out of the choices I’ve included, which one would intrigue you? As stated, none of them are a physical match for Superman, but encounters can be brief and don’t have to be about fighting.
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Post by Hoosier X on Mar 18, 2022 13:49:06 GMT -5
I want to see Superman fight Double X.
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Post by badwolf on Mar 18, 2022 13:51:17 GMT -5
Since few are a match for his strength, I would like to see Riddler match wits with him. (He no doubt would have figured out the lead thing better than Joker did.).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2022 13:51:39 GMT -5
I want to see Superman fight Double X. Don’t forget to vote! What a great idea. Visually, that’d be cool, too. |
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Post by foxley on Mar 18, 2022 20:25:58 GMT -5
Ra's al Ghul. He would never have to face Supes directly, and has millennia of cunning and prep time at his disposal. He probably has some kryptonite stashed away just in case Superman ever interferes in one of his schemes.
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Post by tarkintino on Mar 18, 2022 20:49:46 GMT -5
Interesting thread. Ra's al Ghul. He would never have to face Supes directly, and has millennia of cunning and prep time at his disposal. He probably has some kryptonite stashed away just in case Superman ever interferes in one of his schemes. Great choice. Since Ra's al Ghul is the parallel of Batman--and we know how Batman would face Superman, this would be a fascinating conflict. However, I selected Mister Freeze. I'm sure someone will say "Superman will not be too bothered by Freeze's tech," who can say Freeze won't advance his tech to the point where he effectively nullified any of Superman's attacks? |
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Post by Duragizer on Mar 18, 2022 22:47:56 GMT -5
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Post by chadwilliam on Mar 19, 2022 12:11:23 GMT -5
Superman did square off against a Riddler of sorts by way of The Puzzler who, interestingly enough, preceded the Bat-foe. Only made two appearances but both were memorable.
I would have liked to have seen how The Getaway Genius would have handled a crime on Superman's territory. His gimmick was that if you tried to match wits with Batman you were guaranteed to fail which is why all of his crimes were designed so that, if carried out correctly, he and his men would never have to worry about encountering the Caped Crusader. Perhaps the only villain who understood that the good guy never loses. Would have been interesting to see what extra measures he would have taken to avoid being detected by Superman should he have planned a heist in Metropolis.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2022 12:33:49 GMT -5
I’m pleased with people’s replies - and that you got the point of the topic. Of course, some match-ups are uneven, but there can be a place for those in comics, while obviously understanding they can’t fill 22+ pages.
I was reading an Essential Iron Man volume where Iron Man made short work of Kraven. That was fun. Wouldn’t mind seeing the Hulk subdue someone like the Vulture or Electro quickly.
For others, it’s about brain vs brawn. Superman isn’t stupid at all, but he hardly has a proven track record in solving riddles. If Bats was out of town, how would Superman get through the Riddler’s clues in order to save the day? And would the Riddler try some Superman-specific clues?
Cynic alert: feels like we don’t get much villain swapping nowadays as everything is about the latest crossover/event, with characters tied up. What chance of seeing Riddler show up in a Superman comic when he’s tied up for 6 months in the latest Bat-Arc?
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Post by chadwilliam on Mar 19, 2022 16:31:44 GMT -5
I was reading an Essential Iron Man volume where Iron Man made short work of Kraven. That was fun. Wouldn’t mind seeing the Hulk subdue someone like the Vulture or Electro quickly. As far as Bat-villains who would last more than a nano-second against Superman, I'm thinking Dr. Double X as Dr. Double Hoosier X mentioned, Clayface II who was so ridiculously overpowered that World's Finest 140 established that simply by taking his form, he could duplicate Superman's powers (and even his susceptibility to Kryptonite), and The Elemental Man from Detective 294. I wouldn't have minded a Hugo Strange showdown simply for the eerie setting that 'Superman vs The Man-Monsters!' would demand. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2022 6:55:16 GMT -5
Great choices, everyone!
I can imagine all kinds of scenarios now. Definitely agree that Mister Freeze might advance his tech (perhaps Luthor could invest in some “Kryptonite ice” or something).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2022 8:31:17 GMT -5
Superman has technically faced Bat-Mite in the past like some old World's Finest tales, but I think a one-on-one fight could be a big problem in terms of power mismatch going the other way. Yes, Bat-Mite is very similar to Mxyzptlk overall, but there's no "trick him to say his name backwards" bit of deus ex machina to fall back on.
You could also argue Bat-Mite was never quite an arch-villain in the traditional sense but more of a nuisance for Bats, but if Bat-Mite finally melted down and decided Superman needed to go, Superman would really have to be very resourceful to prevail.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2022 8:34:44 GMT -5
And one other just total random thought...Poison Ivy somehow acquires some Kryptonite to put in her lipstick. I don't know how she gets close enough to pull this off, but one kiss and Superman is both weakened and entranced.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2022 8:36:54 GMT -5
And one other just total random thought...Poison Ivy somehow acquires some Kryptonite to put in her lipstick. I don't know how she gets close enough to pull this off, but one kiss and Superman is both weakened and entranced. Someone write that story. Please! |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 21, 2022 8:43:48 GMT -5
And one other just total random thought...Poison Ivy somehow acquires some Kryptonite to put in her lipstick. I don't know how she gets close enough to pull this off, but one kiss and Superman is both weakened and entranced. Someone write that story. Please! Wait, it did!! Arggh, I'm totally ripping off the story from "Hush". And I thought I was being so clever... |
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