# Outrageous Fights or Feats in Comics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 10, 2015, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479 "2015-08-10T20:34:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/41 "2015-08-12T17:13:43Z")
> [@Cartoonacy](#): > > A lot of very young readers feel sorry for the characters, and say that they want to see them solve all their problems and be happy. The problem is, removing all the conflict leads to non-stories. I think this particular story was an attempt to briefly give the younger fans what they wanted, and also a lighthearted counterpoint to the grim “Death of Superman” imaginary story they had published a year earlier. It may be apocryphal, but I read somewhere that one of the editors would occasionally meet with kids and ask them what sort of stories they’d like to see, leading to such stories as Jimmy Olsen becoming a robot, or Lois Lane getting superpowers. It _would_ explain some of the more outlandish tales. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2015, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/42 "2015-08-12T17:16:13Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > It may be apocryphal, but I read somewhere that one of the editors would occasionally meet with kids and ask them what sort of stories they’d like to see, leading to such stories as Jimmy Olsen becoming a robot, or Lois Lane getting superpowers. It _would_ explain some of the more outlandish tales. And then there’s the case of [Jim Shooter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Shooter), where DC just up and hired a fourteen year old to write comics for them. ---
**Author:** ![bmoak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/9dc877/32.png) [@bmoak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bmoak)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2015, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/43 "2015-08-14T02:38:05Z")
I remember Spider-Man knocking around the entire X-Men roster in the first Secret Wars. (Written by a grown-up Jim Shooter). ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/44 "2023-11-24T06:04:11Z")
[Well, it took 8 years, but I found it. 😆](https://viewcomiconline.com/superboy-1949-annual-1/) ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 6:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/45 "2023-11-24T06:59:16Z")
Superheroes of old liked to narrate their actions out loud to themselves when nobody else was around to hear it. [![](https://i.postimg.cc/y6Q8VcSy/RCO073-w-1571704203.jpg) ](https://i.postimg.cc/y6Q8VcSy/RCO073-w-1571704203.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/son_of_a_rich/32/5439_2.png) [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Son_of_a_Rich)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/46 "2023-11-24T12:40:35Z")
He’s talking to himself in the cold hard vacuum of space. The story would be almost plausible if they had just changed those word balloons into thought balloons. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/47 "2023-11-24T13:26:10Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > Any fight where the Thing goes up against the Hulk. > > Bonus X 50 if Jack Kirby drew it. As far as I can recall, Kirby only matched the two up twice – in FF #12 (where I think they interact for one panel) and FF 25-26, which features LONG fight scenes between the two, complete with priceless dialog (“Hey! Leggo! That’s the hand I eat pizza with!”) FF #25 also has the best cover, illustrating the pronounced size difference between the two. > **[Fantastic Four (1961) #25 | Comic Issues | Marvel](https://www.marvel.com/comics/issue/13061/fantastic_four_1961_25)** > > Browse the Marvel Comics issue Fantastic Four (1961) #25. Learn where to read it, and check out the comic's cover art, variants, writers, & more! Other artists depicted the two squaring off (I think John Buscema did so, more than once), but Kirby really was the King. ---
**Author:** ![P-man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/p-man/32/3606_2.png) [@P-man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/P-man)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/48 "2023-11-24T15:28:09Z")
Who drew the one where Leader and Kurgo set up a fight between the two? The outrageous part was Kurgo believing his robot could take on both Hulk and Thing after Thing caught on to what was happening. That fight lasted about a second. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/49 "2023-11-24T15:37:18Z")
puny robot. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2023, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/50 "2023-11-24T19:23:07Z")
I missed this when it was first started. Glad this thread was resurrected ! What immediately comes to mind is this one “King Size Master of Kung Fu”. Shang-chi was supposed to be the greatest martial artist, but was still “human” - no super powers (this was back with “original” Shang-chi). In this one King Size (I don’t even recall the plot as the issue seemed to be one big fight scene), he is attacked by a bunch of “bad guys”. And then more, and more, and more. Until it seems he is taking on the entire male population of Hong Kong ! There are scenes of huge ComicCon-like lines of bad guys filling the streets in the queue to take on this lone fighter. Many with weapons, even. And, of course, Shang-chi defeats them ALL. Barely panting, maybe some torn uniform, but standing and walking away triumphantly. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 3:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/51 "2023-11-25T03:29:02Z")
Superman vs. Doomsday from 1993. Doomsday had already defeated most of the Justice League when Superman caught up with him 60 miles from Metropolis. From there the two battled so hard they caused earthquakes, punches so strong that the shockwaves shattered windows, There was fighting in mid-air, fighting underground. Superman flew into Doomsday’s midsection at full speed, Doomsday piledrived Superman right through a paved street. Superman finally killed Doomsday, but he died, bloodied and broken (and with an incredibly torn costume that Captain Kirk would envy) in Lois Lane’s arms. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 3:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/52 "2023-11-25T03:36:40Z")
In _Secret Wars_ #4, Molecule Man drops an entire mountain on the heroes, but the Hulk saves them. As depicted on the cover… [![](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MnsAAOSwGKJkhMft/s-l1200.jpg) ](https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/MnsAAOSwGKJkhMft/s-l1200.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/53 "2023-11-25T04:28:29Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Superheroes of old liked to narrate their actions out loud to themselves when nobody else was around to hear it. When I was a little comic book nerd, I got hooked on old radio detective shows, and realized "Hey, this is where the comic book writers get their “Narrate your every move” needless explanations. But it only made sense _on the radio_ to say things you’re doing out loud, like: “I’ll just _[nnghh]_ boost myself through this open window… annnd, I’m inside the judge’s study. And there it is, the safe with the the counterfeit contract…” ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/54 "2023-11-25T05:08:23Z")
I’m usually bored by fight scenes, but not if they’re clever, with some creativity to them. My favorite is the time John Constantine tricked the devil. Constantine had coughed up some blood in a previous episode, and had figured out he was dying of cancer. So he was visiting old friends to say goodbye… You can read the whole storyline, or just [Issue #42, starting with page 10](https://comiconlinefree.org/hellblazer/issue-42/10) ( **where he’s introduced to a pool of holy water that’s been changed into Guiness** )… but the clever part is [page 20-22,](https://comiconlinefree.org/hellblazer/issue-42/20) where the devil shows up and John convinces him to tip a pint of the “Magic Stout”. The devil asks why it’s so good, and Constantine explains that the candles in the pentagram keep the spell going, and stop it from turning back into holy water. Old Scratch realizes what he’s drinking as Constantine kicks out, knocking over the candles. And the devil proceeds to be ripped apart from within, getting dropkicked into the pool for added badassery. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/55 "2023-11-25T05:14:57Z")
One of my pet peeves is when a character says a paragraph of exposition during an action that takes about a half second. Like a long quip delivered during a jump or punch. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2023, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/56 "2023-11-25T18:18:56Z")
> [@digs](#): > > The devil asks why it’s so good, and Constantine explains that the candles in the pentagram keep the spell going, and stop it from turning back into holy water. It’s magically delicious! ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/57 "2023-11-26T03:30:05Z")
[Irish golf clap] Maybe that’s why I bought a box of Lucky Charms as part of stocking up for Thanksgiving guests… By the way, the Devil was well-portrayed: [![](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/sYvfBKBCOmW_UlWjHaeSVUNYa-0V-QxUZ0F7cTwlNiiwlLjJEjMCyblQfz_qoF4jjzifDlMkHorW=s1600) ](https://2.bp.blogspot.com/sYvfBKBCOmW_UlWjHaeSVUNYa-0V-QxUZ0F7cTwlNiiwlLjJEjMCyblQfz_qoF4jjzifDlMkHorW=s1600) ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2023, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479/58 "2023-11-26T03:33:45Z")
Science educator/YouTuber Kyle Hill recently did a video of One-Punch Man bench pressing two black holes and note the many ways it is ridiculous. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aTpdDYeSHB0/maxresdefault.jpg "ONE-PUNCH MAN BLACK HOLE BENCH PRESS") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aTpdDYeSHB0) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/outrageous-fights-or-feats-in-comics/727479.md?page=2)