Clash of the Comics #33 War Machine vs. Tigra
By SC 16 Comments
James Rhodes has generally been portrayed as a close friend of Tony Stark's and military liaison between Stark industries and the military. It was only a matter of time before he got a suit of armour.
Greer Grant Nelson originally started off as the Cat, not Tigra. Volunteering for experimental procedures she came out of that with super powered physical and mental abilities. That wasn't enough though for a motivated women like Greer though and soon after in a ceremony performed by the Cat People (no affiliations with either Cat Steven's or Catpanexe), Greer was turned into the Tigra, a legendary human, cat hybrid warrior. Now with striped fur, razor claws, super senses, and uh.. a black bikini, Tigra was ready to take her place as one of Marvel's most popular and appreciated Heroes!
Tammy: Mixing science with mystical power is interesting, though I like the evolution of rhodes from friend to hero (just like with Pepper) I got with a tie here.
SC: I give props to Tigra for being one of Marvel's first big characters. Not as iconic as maybe Jean or Sue, but still. Plus I really like Rhodey but I still feel like he is tied to Iron Man, which is okay, but yeah. Whole shadows thing. Tigra up one.
Powers:
Pretty much the same as Iron Man (super armour) but with a bit more fire power.
Mystical and scientific in nature, Tigra is super strong, super fast, super durable, super agile, super catty, super stamina etc... her senses are very enhanced allowing for especially acute sight, smell, hearing. Her claws allow her to puncture steel. She is also a part time cop, which is badass and means she can fight and is pretty smart. Her tail can also trip up people, causing them to fall on their ears, eyes, noses etc, which is so painful... so you know... be careful.
Tammy: I think War Machine would likely win, but it is hard to say as they have completly different powers.
SC: I think Tigra can pull an upset win... I mean I have seen cats dodge.. machine... guns before and like... jump.. high.. and then.. uhm.. rip into... armored flying tanks... like.. okay War Machine wins.
Personality:
One of the few that acts as a conscious to Tony, though this has at times put them at odds with one another.
Tigra has all the common personality traits of a hero, self sacrifice, discipline, strength, a sense of justice, and a willingness to apply it, due to her unique physiology, she can have an animalistic side that can assert itself over her more rationed human side, and that itself brings out a few more feral personality traits, such as aggressiveness, as well as amplify other traits such as fear, desire and affection. She is generally warm and friendly, smart stubborn and responsible as well.
Tammy: I think Rhodes gets this one for acting as the straight man to all of tony's wild antics (well he is one of the straight men).
SC: Gah gur, hmmn, blah. Tie... my reasoning is... the color green... okay well James is a good friend to Tony, I'll base it on that.
Costume:
Not so much of a costume, but just the armour. Usually grey to the red/gold scheme of Iron Man.
A black bikini! It has these little ornamental tooth decorations... least I hope they are ornamental... she is of course also covered in distinctive and stunning light orange fur, striped, similarly to that of a Tiger (Bengal?) her hair is a bit darker and a bit more fiery.
Tammy: I like the costume as skin concept more than the armour as costume concept, so I will go with tigra here as well.
SC: Tough. Both sort of defy traditional concepts of clothes. I am a big fan of technological armor suits though, slightly more than Tigers... so if only Greer had a robotic Tigra themed power suit. War machine.
Aesthetics:
Usually regarded as more level headed and more restircted by military protocol. He is nonetheless one of the powerhouse characters in the Marvel Universe when he has the armour on.
Tigra is a furry. I mean uhm, oh pretty typical staple of comic books, anthropomorphic animal inspired characters, and Greer is definitely one of the best and more famous. These characters tend to struggle with balancing their human ideals with their animal instincts. You wouldn't want to put all of them in a room together though... because you know... they'll transform into VOLTRON!
Tammy: I have to go with neither here, both of their names completely lack in originality but other than that they are pretty siolid B list characters.
SC: This is tough too. Both actually are similar in that they both follow a certain tradition and character type, neither are huge characters, both both have a lot of fans and some nice moments... I'll go with Tigra. I feel she earns it more.
Best Story:
My superior intellect yet laid back charm (and grace) has allowed me to discern that issues 169 - 170 of the original Iron Man comic, are among the War Machines best stories, issues 280 - 291 are highlights naturally and contender for his best story, and War Machine's Dark Reign stories also do well to capture the nature and appeal of Rhodes, even as far as to pit War Machine versus War God. O' Canada, our home and native land! Something else Canadian and something smart and wise and enlightening (possibly about fashion)
Oh... hmm, tough, there have been a few. I am very fond of one Avengers story arc, where Tigra, alone, is responsible for saving the world, after several powerful heroes fail, from Molecule Man when his powers were near his most powerful. Her strategy? She tripped him with her tail... (I kid) She actually just used her brain and reasoned with him. Brilliant. Her 2002 mini which is about love lost, the empty black hole that lingers after, and righting wrongs and fighting corruption, challenges not just Tigra but Greer's human side as well when she goes undercover is a pretty interesting tale that has its moments. Recent stories in Avengers: The Initiative and Avengers Academy have also been highlights, and especially touching for Tigra fans, itching for revenge and resolution after a certain writer wrote a jarring scene in which Tigra was beat viciously. Tigra got her justice in aforementioned story arcs.
Tammy: The Tigra story (stories) sounds better
SC: Tigra! Both have great stories though. (you sounded a bit odd there for a moment Razzatazz, accurate as far as the truth, but odd... ;)
Fun Fact:
During Time Wars he traveled back in time to stop Nazis from getting stolen future technology
Erm, one time Greer went so feral, that she was shrunk down to a more conventional pet size, kept in a cage and eventually escaped and lived... as a wild animal around the suburbs... Comics Kids! Or Cat People.
Tammy: Neither of those are really fun, but Rhodes pulling a Jesse Owens I guess deserves the win here.
SC: Stopping Nazi's I like a lot more than the idea of Hank Pym keeping Tigra as a pet. *concerned look* So Rhody.
Media Appearances:
In most animated Iron Man series. The character was in the original Iron Man film and the second film gave an alternate explanation of how he got the armour.
I like to think, that whenever you look at a tiger, you sort of experience seeing Tigra in a different medium ... well... not really but I would rather say that, than mention Avengers United They Stand. *cough* since they foolishly shied away from using Olivia Wilde for Catwoman, I'd be some game for her to be Tigra in an Avengers movie or sequel make it happen Marvel!!
Tammy: Olivia Wilde would be good, but you suggest her for every role ... I will go with Rhodes for being more visible (even though they switched actors for no real reason)
SC: War Machine. I liked him in both movies! I hope he is in the third as well!!!! (oh hey... no I don't cast Olivia as... oh... yeah I guess I sort of do...)
Present Whereabouts:
He is acting as Iron Man and is also a member of the Secret Avengers.
A prominent teacher/tutor at the Avengers Academy institute, Greer is ready to help, prepare and usher in a new generation of heroes. She also has her own little one (William, after Greer's late husband) to care for.
Tammy: Tigra, I like the mentor role she is playing in Avengers Academy.
SC: Rhodes! His current solo is really fun! He is also appearing in Secret Avengers, and Iron Man, he is quite a few places, its a great time to be a War Machine fan.
Tammy: 4 - 3 SC: 5 - 3 = War Machine wins 9 - 6
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