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!
Today we looked at the time that Venom pretty much kicked Superman's ass...
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?
Superman faced off against Spider-Man in 1976's appropriately named Superman vs. Amazing Spider-Man (by Gerry Conway, Ross Andru and Dick Giordano). In it, Lex Luthor and Doctor Octopus infuse Spider-Man with "Red Sun" radiation to make him more of a match for Superman...
But even there, he's not really a match for Superman...
And when the effects of the radiation wear off, well, then they're not even in the same ballpark...
Now, this was PRE-Crisis Superman, but POST-Crisis Superman defeated the Hulk in DC vs. Marvel #3 (by Ron Marz, Claudio Castellini and Paul Neary), so I don't know how much different Superman is from Spider-Man now, especially since by 1976, Superman's powers had already been reduced significantly.
When Venom first showed up in Amazing Spider-Man #300 (by David Michelinie and Todd McFarlane), we established that Spider-Man really needs weapons (Venom is susceptible to sonic weapons and fire) to stop him or cleverness (at the end of the issue, he forces Venom to use up so much webbing that the suit can't make anymore and Venom crashes to the ground from the roof, knocking him out cold)...
In the rematch in Amazing Spider-Man #316 (by Michelinie and McFarlane), things are still more in Venom's favor...
This continues the next issue...
(Spidey ultimately wins by offering himself to the symbiote, causing a psychic backlash between the suit and Eddie Brock).
Finally, in Amazing Spider-Man #375 (by David Michelinie, Mark Bagley and Randy Emberlin), Venom again fares very well against Spider-Man (in a story designed to spin Venom off into is own series)...
So Superman is a lot stronger than Spider-Man, and Venom is stronger than Spider-Man. So how should Superman fare against Venom?
Let's find out!
In DC/Marvel: All Access #1 by Ron Marz, Jackson Guice and Joe Rubinstein, the barriers between the DC and Marvel Universes were not holding together particularly well. So Venom pop up in the DC Universe. The sensational character find of 1996, Access, tries to get involved. Venom first runs afoul of Superman and, well, beats the heck out of Superman...
Access gets the hostage to safety and then the fight picks up again and again, Venom is handling Superman really well...
In fact, things don't look good for Superman when Access returns with Spider-Man to help out!
But NOW the fight is at least over, right? NOPE! Venom just kicks BOTH their asses...
until Access shows up to save the day...
That makes sense, since everyone knows what fans appreciate the most is when new characters are established by saving more famous and experienced heroes.
Anyhow, suffice it to say that I don't think Venom should have been nearly as successful as he was against the Man of Steel. Simply put, I think Superman should be out of Venom's weight class.
Do you think otherwise? Let me know!
And if you have a suggestion for anothr comic book fight that you'd like to see featured in this column, drop me a line at bcronin@comicbookresources.com