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 brianc@cbr.com or bcronin@comicbookresources.com. Don't suggest a fight in the comments!
Today, based on a suggestion from a number of different readers (I believe Tom A. was the first one to suggest it - I think the issue was barely out before he wrote to me about it), we take a look at Miles Morales' recent victory over the demon Blackheart.
As always, the first page spotlights their power levels and the second page examines the fight itself.
And as always, the first question we need to ask is...
How did these people do when they fought Spider-Man?
Miles Morales first fought Peter Parker in Spider-Men #2 (by Brian Micheel Bendis and Sara Pichelli), and he actually won, meaning that Miles could take out the entire X-Men if needed...
This story shows how valuable Miles' "Venom Blast" is, as it can incapacitate someone even as powerful as Spider-Man. But notice that it only briefly knocks him for a loop.
Spider-Man fought Blackheart in his very first appearance in Daredevil #270 (by Ann Nocenti, John Romita Jr. and Al Williamson), but this fight is tricky to judge, considering Blackheart was weak from JUST becoming corporeal, and the idea here was FOR him to corrupt Daredevil and Spider-Man by having them kill him. That was why Mephisto created him in the issue...
So for a better gauge of how powerful Blackheart can be, let's look no further than the first issue of Spider-Man (by Brian Michael Bendis and Sara Pichelli)...
As you can see, Blackheart just took out Iron Man, She-Hulk, Vision, Scarlet Witch and THOR...
Later in the issue, we get a quick flashback to see how Miles got there and how Captain America was taken out, as well (how Cap managed to last longer than Iron Man, She-Hulk, Vision, Scarlet Witch and Thor is a good question in and of itself)...
Okay, so go to the next page to see how Miles managed to succeed where the rest of the Avengers failed (I didn't see Wasp there, though, so maybe that would have changed things)...
It really comes down to this - Miles' Venom Blasts have a unique effect on Blackheart. That's pretty much it right there.
It sends Blackheart into retreat in #1...
And then, in #2, it helps him win (even after Blackheart then took down Peter Parker, as well)...
Honestly, that reminds me of the Avengers Annual where Hawkeye shoots a sonic arrow at the Hulk and it shockingly triggers the Hulk into transforming back into Banner. It doesn't necessarily make SENSE, but Bendis totally cops to the fact that it is a fluke win IN the comic. It is just good luck that the Venom Blast has such an effect on Blackheart (and it HAD been previously established in Miles' comic that his Venom Blast has a harder effect on mutated people).
Does it really make all that much sense that it would have this effect? Not particularly, and that's why I was willing to feature it here (at the behest of a bunch of people), but I am also more than willing to chalk it up there with Hawkeye's sonic arrow improbably turning the Hulk back into Bruce Banner - improbable victories that just happened due to a fluky thing.
This fight got Miles an invite into the Avengers, and he's been a lot of fun there, so it also worked out well in that regard.
Okay, folks, if you want to see a particular fight spotlighted, drop me a line at brianc@cbr.com or bcronin@comicbookresources.com!
Don't suggest fights in the comments section!