In this feature, I examine comic book fights that were particularly notable in the wrong side winning (or at least that the fight wasn't won the "right" way). This really isn't a big deal, of course, as it doesn't really matter if the "wrong" person won a fight. But it's fun to talk about!

If you want to suggest a fight for future inclusion in this feature, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com. Don't suggest a fight in the comments!

For the latest fight, as suggested by reader Adam W., we take a look at the time Batman took down the Hulk.

As always, the first page is spent setting up the power levels for the characters.

Batman, as you all well know, is pretty freakin' badass.

From Detective Comics #30 (by Bob Kane and Bill Finger), Batman's all, "La la la, snap your neck with one kick, la la la"...



He's also pretty darn strong, as seen in Batman #681 (by Grant Morrison, Tony Daniel and Sandu Florea)...





So Batman is pretty awesome.

The Hulk, though, is, well, the Hulk.

Look at this bit from Amazing Spider-Man #14 (by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko)...



Did the Hulk just take a punch dead on from Spider-Man and not even flinch?!!? That was SPIDER-MAN there! The most powerful being in the universe!!

Spidey then pretty much just ran from the Hulk in that story. Spider-Man DID manage to knock the Hulk down by catching the Hulk off-balance in Amazing Spider-Man #119 (by Gerry Conway and John Romita)...





But then he defaulted to his general strategy in fighting the Hulk, which is to keep away from the jade giant and try to direct the Hulk away from populous areas (gee, someone should have told Superman that strategy in Man of Steel).

So if the incredibly powerful Spider-Man knows to stay away from the Hulk in hand-to-hand combat, surely Batman would do so, as well, right?

Well, let's find out...

In 1981, the most important #27 in DC history was released, as Batman faced off against the Incredible Hulk in the third Marvel/DC crossover in DC Special Series #27. Len Wein wrote the story and Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez drew it (with inks by Dick Giordano). The art in the story is gorgeous. Absolutely GORGEOUS. The fight between Batman and Hulk is a master class in kinetic storytelling by Garcia-Lopez. That said, it is also a bit of a surprising result...











First off, let me say again, WOW, what amazing artwork. Such style, such movement, such grace. Garcia-Lopez is a true master artist.

But yeah, if someone like Spider-Man can punch Hulk dead in the face and not even get him to flinch, it seems highly unlikely that Batman boxing his ears would have any effect. Similarly, Batman's kick shouldn't have such an effect. The general idea of using gas to stop the Hulk was smart, though! I can buy that in the abstract.

But wow, what great art.

That's it for this installment!

If YOU have a suggestion for a future edition of The Wrong Side, just drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com.