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Best Battles in New Comics: 7/18/14

Check out awesome action scenes from the latest issues of ROBIN RISES: OMEGA, MAGNETO, and SAVAGE HULK!

Hey there, thanks for checking out the latest edition of Best Battles in New Comics! This is where we reflect on memorable and exciting action scenes that the latest round of new issues had to offer! We've reviewed most of the new comics and we're highlighting three battles that are especially awesome. So, let's not waste any more time and jump right into these brawls!

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ROBIN RISES: OMEGA #1

Batman and Ra's al Ghul's conflict over Damian Wayne and Talia al Ghul's bodies has been rudely interrupted by a gang from Apokolips. We won't spoil why they've come to Earth, but they have their sights set on obtaining Damian's sarcophagus. Obviously, this gives Bruce and Ra's a common foe, so they agree on a temporary alliance and prepare to do anything and everything possible to protect Damian's corpse from the alien forces. Prepare for Batman, Frankenstein, the mighty Titus, Ra's al Ghul, assassins, and Man-Bats vs. forces from Apokolips!

FOR DAMIAN!
FOR DAMIAN!

The battlefield quickly turns into a savage and bloody scene as both sides try to snag the sarcophagus. Man-bats have their wings ripped off, arrows pelt into bodies, faces are slashed, and Batman pulls out all of the stops as he tries to protect his son. Bruce and Ra's are outnumbered and struggling, but the Dark Knight refuses to let his son's body be taken from him once again.

If this were a '90s movie, Bruce would have totally yelled something like
If this were a '90s movie, Bruce would have totally yelled something like "hands off my son!"

It isn't long before the fight becomes an uphill struggle. Earth's forces are dwindling and there's just too many Parademons for them to handle. Things aren't looking good for the Caped Crusader, but if you were paying attention to every panel along the way (and you should be!), you likely recall Bruce pressed a button on his belt. What did that button do? It called for some major back-up: the new Justice League. Suddenly the fight isn't looking so unfair.

Will Smith would like a word with you, Lex.
Will Smith would like a word with you, Lex.

With the likes of Wonder Woman, Shazam, and others now on his side, the battle has tilted heavily in Batman's favor. But before they take the clear victory, there's plenty of cool moments to witness -- especially if you're an Aquaman fan. Batman may have survived the encounter, but what happens with Damian's body? Batman fans, you need to read this issue. We've shown you just a small fraction of the battle and there's so much more terrific Andy Kubert artwork for your eyes to enjoy.

MAGNETO #7

Magneto continues to do his best impression of the Punisher as he hunts down anyone and everyone who has tormented, harmed, and killed mutants. In Cullen Bunn's latest issue, Magneto travels to Hong Kong because a disturbing amount of mutants have gone missing in the region. It turns out they're being locked up and then tossed into a gladiator pit to fight to the death and entertain a crowd of onlookers. Magneto eventually winds up in the pit and sees what the unfortunate mutants before him have been forced to fight: Predator X.

"Klang" isn't what you want to hear when you strike something with your foot.

If Magneto had complete control over his abilities, he could effortlessly rip the creature apart. Sadly, he doesn't, so he needs to rely on his wit to survive. He does a commendable job dodging attacks which would surely end his life, but eventually his luck runs out and the savage beast draws blood and, tragically, ruins Magneto's lovely shirt.

Predator X, the destroyer of flannel!
Predator X, the destroyer of flannel!

Seeing as this is a fight to the death, we all know ol' Magneto will make it out alive, right? If he's put in a kill or be killed scenario, he's going to be the one doing the killing -- and he's been doing quite a bit of it in this series. So, you obviously know he'll find a way to defeat the formidable enemy, but we won't spoil how he accomplishes it. From there, his captors attempt to take him down, but Magneto isn't known for being an easy person to overcome. He doesn't need his powers to put these goons in a world of hurt.

The Raid 3, starring Magneto.
The Raid 3, starring Magneto.

As you can blatantly see, there's a whole lot of ferocity in this issue. Magneto's on a dark path as he aims to destroy those who wish to harm mutants and Bunn's doing a great job bringing us along on the character's violent journey. Now, go buy the issue if you want to see how he defeats Predator X and how the narrative in Hong Kong concludes! Spoiler alert: it's bloody.

SAVAGE HULK #2

Alan Davis' second chapter of SAVAGE HULK has presented the past X-Men with two big problems: Abomination and a wave of missiles that are targeting him! So, not only do the X-Men need to find a way to bring the beast down for the count, but they also have to worry about a wave of explosives that are heading right in their direction. Cyclops and Havok begin to target the deadly projectiles as Angel, Jean Grey and Iceman attempt to restrain the villain. Iceman's able to incapacitate the foe in some ice, but upon hearing that Angel has a device that will allow them to locate the Hulk, the strong opponent breaks free from the ice and grabs the winged mutant by the neck. The trio is powerless against the titan, but Scott takes a second from shooting missiles down to save his teammate. Because, you know, he's awesome like that.

Scott Summers, the master of multitasking.
Scott Summers, the master of multitasking.

Between the barrage of explosives constantly soaring at them and the brute who loves to punch really, really hard, these young X-Men are in one heck of a tough spot. Luckily for them, they're about to get some much-needed assistance: the Hulk! The Green Goliath leaps into the scene, grabs the baddie by the brow and slams him into the ground. Yes, there have been some fights where Hulk has walked all over Abomination, but it's often a vicious back and forth and this is yet another fight where knocking the creature's lights out won't be an easy task. The villain swiftly recovers and sends some brutality right back at Banner.

Do you think Hulk has grown accustomed to the taste of rock?
Do you think Hulk has grown accustomed to the taste of rock?

Okay, that looked pretty harsh and Hulk's face has got to be feeling those two hits. Still, we know the popular character isn't easy to put down because he has some hugely impressive durability and pain tolerance. This means the big guy's able to get back up and continue this powerful slugfest right away. Since there's so many giant, green fists flying around, the X-Men realize it would be wise to keep their distance as these two trade blows.

Abomination's special move: smelly foot to the face.
Abomination's special move: smelly foot to the face.

The battle goes on for about five more pages (one is a double-page spread), and while it doesn't really bring anything new to the dynamic between these two, it's always entertaining watching this pair of ridiculously strong characters duke it out. If you just want to enjoy a straightforward fight between these two, this is worth checking out.

Honorable Mentions

  • UNITY #9
  • THUNDERBOLTS #28
  • ELEKTRA #4
  • THE LAST FALL #1
  • THE SQUIDDER #1
  • HARBINGER #25
  • TEEN TITANS #1
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What are your top three fights from this latest round of new comics? Also, don't forget to make nominations every week in the official thread or tell us via Twitter. See you next Friday and have a good weekend!