The Martian Manhunter is a green alien with red suspenders, the last of his species. He has a bevy of random superpowers, including super strength flight, shapeshifting, telepathy, invisibility, and the ability to turn his body ghost-like intangible. He gets points for being mysterious and having a cool back story, but loses points for his goofy name, goofy costume and inexplicable mishmash of powers. The Vision is a green android with a red face, the only one of his kind. He has super strength and the ability to turn his body diamond-hard or ghost-like intangible. He gets points for having a more reasonable mix of powers, but loses points for being a blatant rip-off of Martian Manhunter. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: tie. Most firepower: Martian Manhunter. Most heart: Martian Manhunter. Most compelling character: Vision. Overall winner: Martian Manhunter.
Contest #52: Robot Man (DC) vs. Machine Man (Marvel)
Robot Man started as a normal human but had his body replaced by a machine: normal shape, but metallic and super strong. Machine Man is a robot raised as a human. His body looks human, but has telescopic arms and other gizmos. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: Robot Man. Most firepower: Machine Man. Most heart: Robot Man. Most compelling character: tie. Overall winner: Robot Man.
Contest #53: Metamorpho (DC) vs. Iceman (Marvel)
Two mutants: one who can turn his body into any non-organic substance – metal, stone, etc. – and one who can turn his body into ice and create / control ice. Metamorpho may be the most ridiculous-looking hero ever. Classically coolest: Iceman. Most badass: Iceman. Most firepower: Metamorpho. Most heart: Iceman. Most compelling character: Iceman. Overall winner: Iceman.
Contest #54: The Metal Men (DC) vs. Colossus (Marvel)
The Metal Men are six robots, each built of a different kind of metal – Gold, Iron, Lead, Tin, Mercury and Platinum. All of them can morph into whatever shape they desire, and all have additional powers based on their individual metal types (for example, Iron has super strength). Colossus is a mutant who can change his skin to a nearly invulnerable metal, a process which also gives him super-strength. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: Colossus. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: The Metal Men. Overall winner: The Metal Men. Yes, they’re utterly ridiculous, but I like them. Plus, six metal dudes are better than one.
Contest #55: Ambush Bug (DC) vs. Nightcrawler (Marvel)
Ambush Bug wears a green suit that looks like a bug and allows him to teleport anywhere in the world. He’s also insane. Nightcrawler is a blue mutant who looks like a demon and can teleport anywhere he can see or anywhere he’s been before. He’s also charming. Classically coolest: Nightcrawler. Most badass: Nightcrawler. Most firepower: Ambush Bug. Most heart: nightcrawler. Most compelling character: tie. Overall winner: Nightcrawler.
Contest #56: Beast Boy (DC) vs. Beast (Marvel)
Beast Boy is a green-skinned superhero who can shapeshift into any animal he desires. Beast is a superhero who has mutated into a blue-furred animal-like form and has heightened strength and agility as a result. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: Beast. Most firepower: Beast Boy. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: Beast. Overall winner: Beast.
Contest #57: Deadman (DC) vs. Brother Voodoo (Marvel)
The ghost of a murdered circus performer, Deadman can possess the bodies of the living to fight injustice. Meanwhile, Brother Voodoo has magical abilities similar to Doctor Strange and can use his dead brother’s ghost to possess others. Classically coolest: Deadman. Most badass: tie. Most firepower: Brother Voodoo. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: Deadman. Overall winner: Deadman.
Contest #58: Red Tornado (DC) vs. The Human Torch (Marvel)
Red Tornado was originally an alien known as the Tornado Champion. His powers and life force were transferred to a robot, but not his memories. Red Tornado has the power to create and control tornado-like winds. The Human Torch was originally a robot. Later, human Johnny Storm was exposed to space radiation that gave him similar powers, and he adopted the name of his predecessor. The Human Torch can create and control flames. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: tie. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: The Human Torch. Most compelling character: The Human Torch. Overall winner: The Human Torch.
Contest #59: Cyborg (DC) vs. The Thing (Marvel)
Cyborg is one of DC’s best Bronze Age heroes: a half-man, half-machine reluctant hero who feels uncomfortable with his new, not-quite-human-anymore super body. The Thing is one of Marvel’s best Silver Age heroes: a man transformed into a walking rock pile, and who feels like an outcast because of his new, not-quite-human-anymore super body. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: tie. Most firepower: The Thing. Most heart: tie. Most compelling character: tie. Overall winner: The Thing.
Contest #60: Swamp Thing (DC) vs. Man-Thing (Marvel)
Two half-man, half-plant swamp creatures with magical powers. The difference? Swamp Thing is capable of conscious thought, while Man-Thing is essentially mindless. Also, Swamp Thing had a wickedly campy B-movie in the 1980s. Classically coolest: tie. Most badass: tie. Most firepower: tie. Most heart: Swamp Thing. Most compelling character: Swamp Thing. Overall winner: Swamp Thing.
Round six score: All tied up again this round – DC 5, Marvel 5. Cumulative score: DC 29, Marvel 31.
The only Marvel Guy who should have one is Brother Voodoo
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