Another batch of new comic books means we're treated to yet another week of stellar battles between the characters we know and love. After all, what good would all of those powers and abilities be if they never had the opportunity to use them? Every week I'll narrow down the options to my 3 favorite fights. This week we witnessed one of DC's most fearsome fighters make her return, Daredevil showcase his agility and Darth Vader display why he's a man you should fear.
There may be some minor spoilers, so proceed with caution!
Lady Shiva vs Batman & Robin (NIGHTWING #0)
After much anticipation, the legendary Lady Shiva makes her appearance in the New 52. Infamous for being ranked among the deadliest individuals in the DC universe, Lady Shiva is a character you'd never want to take lightly. Odd costume update aside (I swear she looks like a dinosaur ninja), her reputation has carried over into the New 52 and she makes short work of Batman and Robin.
Despite his best efforts, Shiva has Robin completely outclassed and a poisoned Batman can only sit back and watch his young apprentice get smacked around. That said, the notorious assassin does compliment Robin's graceful movements, claiming he's full of potential.
While it's transparent young Grayson stood no chance against Shiva, an older and more experienced Nightwing will soon face off with the killer once again. He's still not as good as her and earning a victory will take some major plot, but his own competent level of skill, agility and gadgets should make the rematch far more balanced than this display. It's just too bad Cassandra Cain wasn't around to save the day. What? Too soon?
Daredevil vs goons (DAREDEVIL #18)
It's always a joy watching Daredevil do what he does best. The agility, the precision, the technique -- he's simply superb. While he's only technically a master of a handful of styles, his radar allows him to react with superhuman reflexes (the dude casually blocks bullets) and stunning agility. He's only human, but this allows him to compete with some of the best the Marvel universe has to offer. Unfortunately, there wasn't a worthy opponent in DAREDEVIL #18, but seeing him dance around and embarrass generic goons will more than suffice.
Darth Vader & company vs Gentis's Imperial forces (STAR WARS: DARTH VADER AND THE GHOST PRISON #5)
Spoiler alert: Darth Vader is a powerhouse. As seen here, numbers don't matter when you defeat dozens with a simple arm movement. Darth Vader is a iconic character that demanded your respect right from his first appearance, and it's quite reassuring to see that decades later he's still a complete boss in the expanded universe.
Vader's allies also brought an amusing display of abilities to the battle. From soaking damage to brutal strength, the army of cadets in their way were utterly outmatched. Lord Vader wasn't the only Sith Lord to unleash destruction, though. The Emperor makes a shocking appearance and the artwork by Agustin Alessio makes the display of raw force eerily beautiful.
Honorable Mention: Wonder Woman vs the Minotaur (WONDER WOMAN #0)
Gregg Katzman is a freelance writer for Comic Vine and IGN Entertainment. Follow him on Twitter if you also have an odd obsession with comic book battles.
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