Best Battles is back, Viners, and we've returned with some glorious action scenes! This week, we're diving into DC's Beyond Universe, watching the chaos unfolding in Bloodshot's world, and seeing how the Rogues react when their fellow villains attempt to destroy Central City. They all have their own special qualities which make them rock and please the eyes, but keep in mind we're only showing you bits and pieces of each battle! If you want all the details, buy the comic, silly.
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 Thread from now on. We review that before writing this weekly feature and do our best to get our hands on the issues suggested!
Kal-El vs. Jax-Ur / Justice League Beyond vs. Superman robots (Justice League Beyond 2.0 #5)
Okay, JUSTICE LEAGUE BEYOND 2.0 technically came out last week (Saturday), but seeing as Best Battles runs on Fridays and it couldn't apply to last week's feature (if we had one, that is), we simply couldn't pass on highlighting it this week. Why, you ask? Because it was very, very excellent. In fact, the following three images you'll see are just barely scratching the surface of all the action crammed into the digital issue.
So, here's what's going on: Kal-El is powerless and in the Phantom Zone. There, he encounters Jax-Ur and his son. His son has the ability to turn the Superman robots in the Fortress of Solitude against Kal's teammates. As Kal has his hands full with Jax, the Justice League members are having all kinds of trouble as well. Jax puts a serious hurting on Kal, but it's not too long before he shows he doesn't need his powers to hold his own.
Back on Earth, the team struggles against the numerous Superman robots. Outnumbered against powerful forces, eventually it's Shazam who realizes this isn't a match they can win with just their fists -- they have to use their minds, too! Time to eat magic lightning, Superman robot!
As the future Justice League continues to struggle (there's a great image of Big Barda knocking a Superbot on the head), Jax and Kal carry on with their vicious punchfest. It's a brutal back and forth and even after the image below, Jax is by no means down for the count. He still has plenty of fight left in him and he may still have a trick or two up his armored wrist gauntlet.
Is Superman able to save the day with just his skill and wit? Does the Justice League successfully hold off the swarm of super-strong robots? Well, you'll just have to read to find out, won't you?
H.A.R.D. Corps vs. Harada's Base / Bloodshot vs. Gunslinger (BLOODSHOT AND H.A.R.D. CORPS #15)
Toyo Harada is experimenting on Bloodshot's (for his nanites) and Project Rising Spirit won't stand for any of that jibber jabber. So, they've created an all-new H.A.R.D. Corps (led by veterans Gunslinger and Maniac) and they're going in with one simple objective: retrieve Bloodhsot. They've made it to their target, but the group is hit with some bad news: the seemingly unstoppable soldier is in a severely weakened state. Instead of going out guns blazing with Bloodshot by their side, they're now forced to carry him out. Luckily for them, they're doing just fine.
The team's luck doesn't last long, though, because it's not long before the insanely power Harada hears of this intrusion and goes to address it himself. The H.A.R.D. Corps members have an impressive amount of powers at their disposal, but Harada's simply on a whole different level. They won't be able to elude him for too long, so Maniac makes the selfless and brave decision to hold him off while his team flees.
Is it a boss battle of epic proportions? What happens to Maniac? We won't tell you, but it's totally worth experiencing for yourself. Maniac's actions allow the team to escape with Bloodshot, but ultimately, Harada isn't even bothered by it. You see, he already extracted nanites from Bloodshot and that was his goal all along. He has no further purpose for the weakened man they were once stored in.
Upon returning to the PRS base, the first thing Bloodshot wants to do is get the hell out of there. He's been manipulated for far too long and thinks anything new they'll tell him is a lie. However, Gunslinger needs him because they're going to go back to Harada's and the enhanced soldier has what it takes to hinder the powerful character. Tensions are running high, so instead of a civilized debate, they come to blows and, believe it or not, smashing Bloodshot's face into the ground -- so hard it lifts cars, mind you -- isn't even the end of it.
The Rogues vs. Secret Society (FOREVER EVIL: ROGUES REBELLION #1)
After attending the lovely meeting in Rhode Island with all of the other popular villains, the Rogues return to Central City... except they didn't expect it to look like a total war zone. After a little investigating, they found out Gorilla Grodd let loose against the city. The place has endured massive destruction and Captain Cold realizes he needs to make sure his sister, Lisa Snart, is still safe in the hospital.
They do finally locate her, but unfortunately for them, the Secret Society shows up and it's not to bring her a "get well soon" card. It turns out the Crime Syndicate wants to make an example out of Central City and these villains are here to finish the job Gorilla Grodd started. Their first target: the hospital. And so begins the villains fight! Naturally, they all pair off and Captain Cold takes the first shot, stunning Black Bison. Plastique then tries to take on Heat Wave, but it's an epic fail for her because all she does is make him even more powerful. Amid the chaos, Typhoon talks a whole lot of trash against Weather Wizard, but it's not long before he eats those words.
The Secret Society talks a big game, but so far the Rogues are holding their own and with a fair amount of ease, too. As characters continue to pair off, Hyena chases after Trickster. The hairy villain calls Trickster a clown, and as expected, Axel throws some banter right back at the foe. However, insults aren't the only thing he tosses in this skirmish.
Hyena manages to return the favor and bite Trickster's arm, but fret not, he's flying around just fine a few pages later and still tossing terribly annoying explosives right at Hyena. As each Rogue holds their own, the book chimes back in on Cold's battle and yes, he's still dominating against Black Bison.
All seems to be looking great for Flash's villains, but then Multiplex jumps Leonard Snart. Completely outnumbered, Cold gets knocked to the ground and the crowd of clones begins to stomp and pummel him. How does he get out of this painful situation and who shows up next? You'll just have to buy and read the book if you really want to know.
Honorable Mentions
- X-Men craziness (UNCANNY X-MEN #13)
- Dacia vs. Armed Forces (X-O MANOWAR #18)
- Batman vs. Batman & Superman vs. Superman (BATMAN/SUPERMAN #4)
- Captain America vs. Cyclops (A + X #13)
- Batman vs. Batwoman (BATWOMAN #24)
- League of Assassins vs. The Untitled (RED HOOD AND THE OUTLAWS #24)
- Shazam's Macho Man Randy Savage impression vs. Martian Manhunter's face (JLA #8)
- Invincible's Over the Top impression vs. Omni-Man's Over the Top impression (INVINCIBLE #106)
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.
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