Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Super summer showdown, round nine: the schemers

This batch of villains may not possess the near-infinite power of the last batch, but they’re crafty and they just might take over the world anyway.

Contest #81: Lex Luthor (DC) vs. Doctor Doom (Marvel)

Lex Luthor is Superman’s biggest nemesis, a villain who is smart enough to stand toe-to-toe with the Man of Steel without having any super powers whatsoever. Despite being a major baddie, he became President of the United States of America. Dr. Doom is the Fantastic Four’s biggest nemesis, a super-smart, super-powerful villain and ruler of the fictional European nation of Latveria. Classically coolest: Doctor Doom. Most badass: tie. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: Lex Luthor. Most compelling character: tie. Overall winner: Lex Luthor. Did I mention he was the President? That trumps ruler of Latveria any day!

Contest #82: Ra’s al Ghul (DC) vs. Red Skull (Marvel)

Ra’s al Ghul is one of Batman’s most persistent enemies, the seemingly immortal head of the League of Assassins. The Red Skull is one of Captain America’s most persistent enemies, the seemingly immortal head of Hydra. Classically coolest: Red Skull. Most badass: Ra's al Ghul. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: Ra's al Ghul. Most compelling character: Ra's al Ghul. Overall winner: Ra’s al Ghul.


Contest #83: Sinestro (DC) vs. Magneto (Marvel)

Sinestro is a former Green Lantern whose differing moral views have led him down a different path. He can control the yellow energy of fear. Magneto is a mutant and sometime ally of the X-Men, whose differing moral views have led him down a different path. He can control any metal object. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: Magneto. Most firepower: Sinestro. Most heart: Magneto. Most compelling character: tie. Overall winner: Magneto.


Contest #84: Professor Hugo Strange (DC) vs. Kingpin (Marvel)

Hugo Strange is a creepy, bald crime lord who wears big-rimmed glasses. He was smart enough to figure out Batman’s secret identity and use it against him. The Kingpin is a beefy, bald crime lord who wears white suits. He was smart enough to figure out Daredevil’s secret identity and use it against him. Classically coolest: Kingpin. Most badass: Kingpin. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: Kingpin. Overall winner: Kingpin.


Contest #85: Mongul (DC) vs. The Mandarin (Marvel)

Mongul is an alien overlord with vast powers and a racially insensitive name. The Mandarin is an Iron Man archenemy with ten magic rings and a racially insensitive name. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: The Mandarin. Most firepower: Mongul. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: The Mandarin. Overall winner: The Mandarin.


Contest #86: Hector Hammond (DC) vs. The Leader (Marvel)

Hector Hammond is a villain with a giant head who uses his genius, telepathy and telekinesis to fight Green Lantern. The Leader is a villain with a giant green head who uses his genius, telepathy and telekinesis to fight the Hulk. Classically coolest: The Leader. Most badass: The Leader. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: The Leader. Most compelling character: The Leader. Overall winner: The Leader.


Contest #87: Penguin (DC) vs. Doctor Octopus (Marvel)

The Penguin is a brilliant (but out of shape) criminal mastermind who uses trick umbrellas to fight Batman. Doctor Octopus is a brilliant (but out of shape) scientist who uses telescopic robotic prostheses to fight Spiderman. Classically coolest: Doctor Octopus. Most badass: Doctor Octopus. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: Doctor Octopus. Overall winner: Doctor Octopus.


Contest #88: Scarecrow (DC) vs. Mysterio (Marvel)

The Scarecrow has a scary mask and uses fear gas to incapacitate his opponents. Mysterio is a special effects master who uses illusions to make his opponents lose their grip on reality. Classically coolest: Mysterio. Most badass: tie. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: tie. Overall winner: Mysterio.


Contest #89: Gorilla Grodd (DC) vs. Baron Zemo (Marvel)

Gorilla Grodd is a genius, telepathic gorilla with plans to conqueror the world. Baron Zemo is a genius neo-Nazi with a ski mask permanently attached to his face who plans to conqueror the world. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: tie. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: Gorilla Grodd. Overall winner: Gorilla Grodd.


Contest #90: Brainiac (DC) vs. MODOK (Marvel)

Brainiac is an evil alien robot with incredible intelligence who tussles with Superman on occasion. MODOK (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing) is an evil mutant with a giant head and incredible intelligence who wrecks a little havoc in the world on occasion. Classically coolest: Brainiac. Most badass: Brainiac. Most firepower: Brainiac. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: tie. Overall winner: Brainiac.


Round ten score: A small gain for Marvel – DC 4, Marvel 6. Cumulative score: DC 42, Marvel 48.

2 comments:

  1. dr doom enslaves lex luthor.
    ra's al ghul unleashes a 600 year old can of whoop-ass on red skull.
    magneto slams the golden gate bridge on sinestro.
    kingpin breaks hugo stranges neck.
    mandarin blasts mongul with all 10 rings.
    leader beats hector hammond in a crossword competition.
    dr. octopus rips penguins limbs off.
    mysterio is left to fight off his deepest fears thanks to scarecrow.
    baron zemo throws gorilla grodd in a gas chamber.
    braniac just mentally blows MODOK's head up.

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  2. Leader beats Hector Hammond at a crossword puzzle?!! That is soo sick!

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