A new wave of comic book issues has come and gone, and now there's just one thing left to do: Enjoy some of the best action scenes all over again. Each and every Wednesday, creative teams behind the books we love produce great stories and dialogue, but we can always rely on them to dish out some pretty fantastic brawls, too. There were plenty of options to choose from this week, and we decided to highlight one from Marvel, one from Image, and one from DC. Once you're done reading the article (you do read it and not just look at the pictures, right? Right?!), be sure to give some love to your favorite battle in the comments section.
BATMAN ETERNAL #31
Thanks to some mystical madness, Arkham Asylum has collapsed. It plummeted below the surface and with it went all of its inhabitants. Sadly, Alfred Pennyworth is one of them. But fear not! Alfred and several others survived the destruction and now everyone is trying to find out how to deal with the aftermath. A select few villains have made their way to the surface and are giving local authorities and firemen all kinds of trouble. Luckily for them, Batman's there to save the day. With one gadget, he's able to effortlessly take down Clayface. Zsasz is equally easy to drop, requiring only an elbow to the head. Mr. Freeze, though? He gets something a little more epic and the art team captured it in an awesome splash page.
Even though the Dark Knight totally saved them, the authorities want the hero to surrender. Yes, it’s 31 against 1, but since when have the odds ever stopped Batman? Thanks to another nifty device, he’s able to elude their sight. Alfred, however, isn’t having as much luck. He’s trapped by some rubble, but Bane’s able to save Pennyworth from the dilemma. “Wait, why would Bane help him?” That’s a good question, random reader. You see, it’s a dangerous place down there, and Bane knows he can’t always have eyes behind his head. With Pennyworth behind him, he’ll be aware if anyone tries to flank him. Well, it looks like it was a wise decision on Bane’s part (he’s smarter than most people give him credit for, after all) and they’re jumped by some creatures. Prepare for Bane doing his best Hulk impression.
We all know Bane should have no problem defending himself. The guy’s a tank who can take plenty of punishment and dish out even more. These things may be pretty scary looking, but they're just ragdolls against Batman's enemy. Clearly, Aflred isn't in the most ideal scenario. He may look like just a frail old man, yet the dude has training and can certainly hold his own. Even when it seems like he's doomed, Alfred finds a way to emerge victorious.
They've overcome this immediate challenge, but what happens next? Do Bane and Alfred continue to stand side by side and face any opposition that heads their way? Do they develop a mutual respect for one another? Or maybe -- just maybe -- Alfred smacks Bane around and then breaks his back? Okay, the last one probably doesn't happen, but it's still a surprisingly enjoyable team-up and watching them both throw down was a good dose of entertainment.
CHEW #44
Our next highlight comes from John Layman (writer/letterer), Rob Guillory (pencils/colors), and Taylor Wells’ (color assists) latest and ridiculously violent chapter of CHEW. Thanks to Olive Chu, the FDA now knows where “The Vampire” lives and they’re bringing the fight to him. Unfortunately for them, they’re completely outclassed. The first several pages of the book are dedicated to showing just a sample of how much knowledge this foe has ingested and then Layman puts that knowledge to good use. It’s a brutal, brutal conflict. So brutal, in fact, that I had to emphasize it by using the word twice.
As if being humiliated by the Vampire’s melee attacks wasn’t enough, the villain reveals another weapon that he'll soon unleash. No, it’s not more blades. Instead, he displays a supply of chopsticks and then puts them to great use, bombarding his targets with the pointy projectiles. It’s a display that would impress even Daredevil’s accurate enemy, Bullseye. I mean, the Vampire Cibopath isn't particularly accurate with the throws, it's just astonishing he's embarrassing his enemies with something many wouldn't view as a weapon.
A majority of CHEW #44 is dedicated to Vampire’s savage fight with Applebee, Savoy, Colby, Caesar, and Vorhees. If you're wondering where Poyo is, all we can say is "read the issue." Seeing as things take such drastic turns, we’ll avoid potentially spoiling any of the more jaw-dropping moments. However, what we can say is that Guillory's artwork is phenomenal. The sheer amount of intensity and personality put into each of these panels is hugely impressive. The characters are swift, the actions are vicious, and each page is just loaded with energy. It's a mighty fine looking book.
CHEW #44 does an excellent job balancing completely over-the-top action with over-the-top comedy. The end result is a comic that's fast-paced, stunning, and will absolutely leave you anxious to read the next issue. It would be blasphemy not to include this issue in the latest edition of this segment.
SPIDER-VERSE TEAM-UP #1
This week's final highlight comes from Christos N. Gage (writer), Dave Williams (penciler),Dexter Vines (inker), and Chris Sotomayor (colorist). As Dan Slott unleashes Spider-Verse upon Peter Parker's world, SPIDER-VERSE TEAM-UP gives us the chance to chime on in just some of the, well, team-ups! In this story, we're taken to Earth 94 to witness something magnificent: Old Man Spider-Man, Ben Reilly, and Spider-Ham fighting a flock of Vultures!
This one is just fun, plain and simple. And how could it not be? Even though some alternate universe versions of Vulture are quite brutal and they want to eat the Spideys, it's still just a lighthearted serving of very enjoyable and slapstick-ish action. In another writer's hands, this could have been dark and horrifying as the villains try to take a bite out of their enemies and even one another. Instead, it's just smile-inducing. What happens next with Spider-Ham is a perfect example of this. Poor little dude...
Old Man Spidey and Spider-Ham may be a little harsher with their handling of each Adrian Toomes, and that's something Ben Reilly isn't exactly cool with. As they take a moment to explain to Ben what's going on (it is a pretty crazy situation, isn't it?), one of the Vultures takes advantage of the trio being distracted and hits each of them with a poison-tipped projectile. It's a totally cheap and dishonorable thing to do, but they are villains, after all. If all 3 can't move, how do they get out of the situation? Spoiler alert: We recommend buying the issue to find out, true believer.
This may not be a mandatory read, but it's a nice bit of levity and fun as we get to spend more time with alternate Spideys. If you're really loving Spider-Verse, this should be an obvious purchase for you. And, in case you're wondering, the second chapter in the issue focuses on Six-Arm Spider-Man and Spider-Man Noir.
What are your top three fights from this latest round of new comics? Support what you love and tell the world below. 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!
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