What WAS the Comic Battle of the 20th Century? Part 6 - Superman vs. Spider-Man!

Continuing my 12-part series reviewing comic books that claim The Battle/Fight/Bout/Showdown of the Century on their covers. Today's battle---

Superman vs. Spider-Man! First presented in Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man, 1976. Written by Gerry Conway. Art by Ross Andru and Dick Giordano.

WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING?

First of all, let’s talk about how they even coexist! Superman is published by DC Comics, while Spider-Man is published by Marvel. They come from two different universes! However, in this joint-published book, it appears they’ve always existed together and merely have never met. Smart move. No story time is wasted with explaining "crossing dimensions" or such.

New York City is holding a “World News Conference." Anyone who’s anybody in the news business is attending, including Clark Kent - reporter, Lois Lane - reporter, Peter Parker - photographer, and Mary Jane Watson - um, trophy girlfriend?

Lois later bumps into Peter and they start talking about how much they admire each other’s work. Mary Jane shows up sporting a ‘tude.

Yep. Superman shows up too! The gang’s all here. I wonder what wonderful…  WHHAAAAA?!

Did… did Superman just disintegrate Lois and Peter’s trophy girlfriend?!?

Peter decides to investigate as Spider-Man, which treats us to this hi-larious panel.

Clark Kent has been here the whole time? Something’s not right, now is it? Both our heroes decide to investigate outside the building.

HOW EPIC IS THE BATTLE?

I’m not sure why Spider-Man is so giddy to see Superman. He considers him either a murderer or a kidnapper!  Superman considers Spider-Man a criminal and possibly behind the women’s disappearance. There’s going to be a fight! Superman against Spider-Man. This should last about two seconds.

Hold on, there’s a couple of guys lurking in the shadows. And by “shadows” I mean a brightly lit rooftop. It’s Lex Luther and Doctor Octopus! Luthor was masquerading as Superman!

Our villains are pleased that Spider-Man is unexpectedly involved, and decide to give him a little boost to his power level.

Looks like the power boost worked! There’s a rumor that Neal Adams re-penciled some of the Superman art. This page makes me believe it.

Spider-Man knocks Superman around for a few pages. Superman never hits back. He’s trying to start a conversation. Such a gentleman.

Finally, Superman loses his patience and throws a punch! However, being a very quick thinker, he realizes, “Great Krypton—What am I DOING? If this blow connects—it’ll KILL HIM!” He stops it at the last moment.

Well, blow me down! It still knocks the living bejeebers out of Spider-Man! (I took the liberty of rotating this page from its original vertical orientation.)

Spider-Man flies through the air and through some windows, in one side of a building and out the other. I suppose if he had hit a wall, it would have been a shorter comic. Spider-Man comes back and attacks Supes with an angry two feet to the chest! But…

No more Red Sun Radiation performance-enhancement for Spidey! But, he still continues to attack.

It's sad, really.

When I got to the above page, I knew I had to make a gif!

It's like me trying to convince my phone company they over-charged me. Am I right?

WHO WINS?

In a surprising turn of events, Supes and Spidey soon decide they should work together!

(But  I’m secretly calling Superman the winner.)

Okay, the Superman vs. Spider-Man battle is over, but there’s still thirty-some pages left in the book! Let’s see… Nasa has launched a “Comlab One” satellite and Luthor has taken control of it. He can now manipulate the weather! I'm not sure why he teamed up with Doc Ock. Even mad scientists get lonely I suppose.  He has kidnapped Lois (and Mary Jane who maybe was invading Lois’ personal space when the ray hit?) to lure Superman to his lair. Luthor wants to gloat as he DESTROYS THE ENTIRE EARTH! Doc Ock realizes that Luthor puts the “mad” in “mad scientist” and wrecks Luthor’s equipment. Earth saved!

Superman and Spider-Man then wrap up the story by talking about how great they are.

IS IT THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY?

In 1976, Superman and Spider-Man were arguably the two biggest names in superheroes. Also, two different companies had to work together to make this book happen, so it was a harder match to manage. The fight itself was fairly impressive. (And BIG! This happened in a “tabloid” sized comic.) The real question is-- Does it beat the Hulk/Thing battle of 1964?

The Hulk/Thing fight was a great brawl, but eventually, their tussles became fairly commonplace. The Superman/Spider-Man battle remained very unique!

So, I’m going to say, “Yes." In 1976, the Battle of the Century is the Superman/Spider-Man Showdown!

Come back Monday for Part 7! Machine Man vs. Ten-For! If you dare!

What WAS the Comic Battle of the 20th Century? Part 5 - The Thing vs. Thundra!

Continuing my 12-part series reviewing comic books that claim The Battle/Fight/Bout/Showdown of the Century on their covers. Today's battle---

The Thing vs. Thundra! First presented in Fantastic Four #133, 1973. Written by Gerry Conway (a man). Drawn by Ramona Fradon (a woman). Inks by Joe Sinnott.

Note that the cover claims not only is it “The Battle of the Century”, it’s of “Any Century!”  Basically, this is the greatest battle of all-time! This is going to be insane!!!

WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING?

They are fighting because Thundra wants to fight. She’s incredibly straight-forward about it.

But before we get to that, I have a quick detour I'd like to make. In the Fantastic Four #25 (which we looked at two days ago), Ben refused to take an antidote to change him back to human because he was afraid his girlfriend, Alica, would no longer love him. Of course everyone thought that was ridiculous! However, in this issue of the FF, we get this panel with Alica--

Well, well.

This all takes place on New Year’s Eve at Times Square. Thundra stops the clock to challenge the Thing to a duel in Shea Stadium, in three days. She’s up high, so the Human Torch goes after her. Thundra breaks off a clock hand, uses it as a giant fan blade and blows out the Torch’s flame. Then she gets all sexist, and throws snow on him as an added bonus.

Oh! Medusa is in this comic too. The Invisible Girl’s away. (Just a little tidbit. Totally irrelevant to the story.)

Thundra grabs Alica to insure the Thing will show up for battle.

Reed is anxious to get back to FF headquarters, so this happens--

I’m hoping this is how they get around in the upcoming movie.

Note: Important Factoid: This story takes place in early 1973, during a high social awareness of the lack of sexual equality. Feminism was in the news quite often. Later in ’73 is the famous “Battle of the Sexes,” with Billie Jean King facing Bobby Riggs on the tennis court. (Look it up, if you must.) So, of course, in the Marvel universe, this battle has caught the attention of the entire nation!

It turns out that Thundra is a part of the Frightful Four! Their hideout is an old water tower, which I think is cool. It’s kinda like a tree house.

HOW EPIC IS THE BATTLE?

The day has arrived!

I'm not sure why everyone looks angry. Soon, Thundra shows up and throws the referee aside. Referee? I'm not sure what he was going to do anyway.

Thundra immediately grabs Ben and throws him out of the stadium. Home run!

No worries. He lands on a buffalo.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Frightful Four are upset because their plan was to blow up the stadium and get rid of both the Thing and Thundra! It turns out she's not much of a "team player."

The battle continues on top of a giant globe. It's not much of a fight. 

Thundra basically beats on Ben for a couple of pages. He did better in his other Battle of the Century against the Hulk.

WHO WINS?
Suddenly (and this comes out of NOWHERE!), Reed has a gun that changes the Thing back into regular ol’ Ben Grimm!

Thundra says, "...You've won this round, Ben Grimm." What?! He didn't win! He was losing, and on top of that, the Fantastic Four cheated!

Thundra flies away on that very convenient flying disc of hers. It was never really explained why she wanted to fight in the first place. For women's rights in the 70's, I guess. Later, she attacks the Frightful Four and returns Alica to Ben, all off-panel.

IS IT THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY?

Perhaps... metaphorically. If you consider the Thundra and Thing skirmish to be the comic book “battle of the sexes”, then maybe it IS the Battle of the Century. It pits one half of the population against the other!

But... I’m not going to do that. The fight was too lame.

The Battle of the Century title remains with the Hulk/Thing fight of ’64. At least as of 1973.

Come back Friday for Part 6! Superman vs. Spider-Man!!!

What WAS the Comic Battle of the 20th Century? Part 4 - The Thing vs. The Hulk!

Continuing my 12-part series reviewing comic books that claim The Battle/Fight/Bout/Showdown of the Century on their covers. Today's battle---

The Thing vs. The Hulk! First presented in Fantastic Four #25, 1964. By Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Inks by George Roussos

WHY ARE THEY FIGHTING?
Our story opens in the grand tradition of Stan Lee penned books where everyone in a panel is saying something. Mr. Fantastic is yelling, "Ben! Come back!" Ben's on the the wall. I can't help but feel there is a better way to leave.

Regardless, Mr. Fantastic has an antidote that will change Ben-Grimm-the-Thing back into Ben-Grimm-the-Human. But Ben ain't having it. He's afraid his girlfriend, Alicia, prefers him as the Thing. Gather from that what you will.

Suddenly the blind Alicia shows up with a newspaper. Looks like the Hulk’s on the loose!

We join the Hulk and he’s ranting about how much he hates his alter-ego, Bob Banner. (Yep. Bob Banner.) He also hates the Avengers. Hate hate hate.

It’s interesting that, besides the paper clipping, the only thing Bruce Bob had in his pockets was a pipe and matches. I’m not sure what he’s been smoking. Something to calm him down perhaps. Tossing it all aside, Hulk begins his jumping journey to New York City! Meanwhile in the Big Apple, Mr. Fantastic collapses!  As he attempts to find a cure for Ben’s Thing ailment, he’s gotten sick while messing with viruses. That’s some sloppy science, Dr. Richards.

Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, takes off in the Fantasticar intent on returning with a doctor. He however encounters the Hulk wrecking havoc, and attempts to put a stop to it. The Hulk makes quick work of him.

The Thing and the Invisible Girl soon arrive. Sue doesn't last long either. It’s now just the Thing and the Hulk. Time for the main event! (Btw, if the Thing fails, the army’s going to drop an ATOMIC BOMB on the Hulk.)

HOW EPIC IS THE BATTLE?
It’s on!

The Thing and Hulk break a lot of things; a warehouse, a bus, the pavement, a dock, a boat, the Washington Bridge. However, I think it’s most notable when Hulk gets his hands on the Thing and this happens—

It was this very moment, when I saw the building wagging to and fro, that I thought, “Hey! Maybe this IS the Battle of the Century!”

At one point, Mr. Fantastic decides to join the noble fight, but instead lapses into a coma.

Wow. That panel's just begging for new dialog.

Sorry. I sometimes distract myself. The battle continues and the Thing manages to wrap Hulk up in bridge cables! Has he won?

Nope. He tuckers out and takes a beating.

Wait! He’s up again!

Whaaaat?! Continued Next Issue? Welcome to the Marvel Age of Comics! Well, the next issue’s cover doesn’t say “The Battle of the Century”, so I’m not reading it.

…….

Okay, I read it. Spoilers. Rick Jones throws an “emergency gamma-ray treated capsule which Banner gave (him) months ago” into the Hulk's mouth. He turns back into Dr. Banner. Whether it’s Bob or Bruce, I’m not sure.

WHO WINS?
The Hulk. The Thing fights him more in issue #26, but it’s Gamma-Ray-Capsule Rick who ends the battle.

BONUS!
I love this panel from issue #26.

It’s a bit goofy, and it’s also one of the few times Stan kept his words off Jack Kirby’s art.

IS IT THE BATTLE OF THE CENTURY?
Until Fantastic Four #25, I’ve considered the Human Torch/Sub-Mariner fight to be the battle of the century. Both their fight and the Hulk/Thing battle took place partially on the Washington Bridge. I haven’t consulted it, but I’m pretty certain the bridge would say the Hulk/Thing fight was the bigger battle. I’m going with that.

The Battle of the Century - The Thing vs. The Hulk, Fantastic Four #25.

At least as of 1964.

Come back Wednesday for Part 5. The battle of the sexes! The Thing vs. Thundra!