gasarch@harvard.ARPA (W* I* Gasarch) (08/02/85)
>3. I would have to disagree with your choice of Doctor Doom for the > matchup with the FF. I think Galactus is a much better choice. > Doc Doom also doesn't fit your definition because he appears in > many of the other comics as well. My criteria were a guideline, not a strict rule. Even so, lets take it one my one >> 1) Appears in alot of issues Both Doom and Galactus appear in alot of FF issues. To actually count them would be nit-picking. >> 2) Appears in anniversary issue Doom appeared in #200, I don't know who appeared in #100. >> 3) Well Matched in terms of abilities Galactus isn't even a villian, he's a force of nature, or some such. The abilities he has are to weird to really compare. Doc Doom is only a bit less intelligent then Reed, and the FF vs. Doom battles seem pretty even. >> 4) Has been involved in at at least one rather interesting plotline This is of course a matter of opinion, but Because Galactus is so unusual, they seam to win against him by some (unintereting) trick. Dooms plots are more reasonable. I will grant that the `Reed on Trial by the universe' plot was nice, and that Galactus as a Character is interesting, but not as a villian >> 5) Really deeply despises the hero No comparison here, Doom's hatred for Reed goes back to when they were in college, when Galactus is above such things. >> 6) Has not appeared in other comics, or at least not often Here you are correct, as Doom has appeared in X-men, Spiderman, and others. But I believe Galactus has appeared in others as well. (I think he told his origin to Thor) But these criteria are only guidelines. Transcending all these criteria are a general feeling of naturalness, of `Yes, it makes sense that so-and-so would fight this-and-that. Whenever Galactus appears I wonder why every super hero isn't out there fighting him. The choice of the FF seams arbitrary. On the other hand, Doom's hatred of Reed makes the FF an obvious opponent. Along similar lines, who is the Teen Titans natural match- The Terminator or Trigon. I would say the Terminator.
gasarch@harvard.ARPA (W* I* Gasarch) (08/08/85)
matchups I haven't gotten to much mail on this, so I'll throw it open to the net (I'm not sure what the proper etiquette is on mailing to net vs. mailing to person who posted) For the record, the mail that I did receive matches Spiderman- Green Goblin/Hobgoblin If we think of one as the extension of the other, then I'd agree. The stories involving both were interesting, and the Green Goblin really HATED Spiderman. Batman- Catwomen If instead of demanding that the villian hate the hero, we demand that there be a strange (interesing) relationship, then this is a good matchup. I know they got married on one of the earths, and both died, but on the earth that she is alive, does she know his identity.? Batman-Joker > The definitive foe for the Batman is the > Joker; after all, the Earth-2 Batman was killed by the Joker, and > Miller is going to do a story with the Earth-1 Batman coming out > of retirement to fight the Joker, which might end in *his* death > as well. Avengers-Kang I haven't seen enough of there matchups to judge. Avengers-Ultron (by default) I agree that the avengers change too much to really give them one solid villian who hates them. Hence Ultron may be the best they got, though he really isn't that interesting. Alpha flight-Omega flight Perhaps.a Iron Man Although Stane was interesting and ruthless, and appeared in anniversary issue, he really wasn't around long enough, nor did he himself really battle Iron Man. The Mandarin has fought others, and isn't that interesting. The Titanium man was a good match, and is usaully reused when ever (in the real world) Us-USSR realations aren't going so well. He may have been the best match of Iron Man about 5 years ago. Captain America-Red Skull One person reminded me that the Red Skull is dead. Oh, C'mon, do you really believe that he won't live on in some form (I don't claim to know what form). gasarch@harvard
ciaraldi@rochester.UUCP (Mike Ciaraldi) (08/13/85)
> Batman-Joker > > The definitive foe for the Batman is the > > Joker; after all, the Earth-2 Batman was killed by the Joker, and > > Miller is going to do a story with the Earth-1 Batman coming out > > of retirement to fight the Joker, which might end in *his* death > > as well. I agree that The Joker is the ultimate Batman foe, but the writer is incorrect in saying that the Earth-2 Batman was killed by The Joker. He was actually killed by some minor villain who (I think) had never appeared before and has not appeared since (he died in the same issue). I spoke with Joe Staton several years ago (he drew the issue where Batman died) and he said he had felt at the time that killing Batman this way was a mistake. He said that if anyone killed The Batman, it should have been The Joker. Anyway, why do I think Batman / joker is a good match? Because of the similarities between the cvharacters and their one important difference. Both are very intelligent and very shrewd, especially in the area of tactics. Both are experts in human psychology, often accomplisihng their goals by figuring out how people will react, preying on their fears or greed, etc. The big difference is that the Batman is a being of intense logic. He is "the world's greatest detective" because of the deductive powers of his mind. In contrast, The Joker is a being of non-logic. He is certifiably insane, and makes the most of it. Thus he fits his opponent's weakness very well. His insanity makes him hard to predict, robbing Batman of his greatest weapon. On the other hand, The Joker has his own weird type of logic which Batman can sometimes figure out. He often falls into some pattern which at first glance had seemed random, but which Batman is finally able to perceive. This is how he manages to win, of course. In summary, the Batman/Joker matchup comes from their similarities and differences, which complement each other. Mike Ciaraldi seismo!rochester!ciaraldi