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Ali-Fraiser, Starling-Lecter... hell, Bart-Homer. These are some of the great confrontations of our time. Some are physical brawls which amaze us, some are mind-games that still scare the begeebes out of us. Ultimately, these aren't just two people simply pounding each other. The true battles are clashes of ideology by two people who reeaaaaaaaally hate each other. In these fights, there are often no rematches...
1. Batman Vs. Superman- Batman, the Dark Knight Returns, Book 4. For decades, the relationship between these two was of two pals who always liked each other, traded cookie recipes, blah, blah, blah. Frank Miller saw past the shiney-happy mirage and saw the brutal reality; two warriors who see the world very differently and eventually end up on opposite sides of the battle line. A perfect example of the strengths of both characters coming to a head; the elemental power of the Man of Steel versus the intellectual might of the Dark Knight.
2. Tony Stark vs. Obadiah Stane- Iron Man 200. Yep, already gushed about this one already. The key, though, is to remember this isn't about Iron Man vs. Iron Monger. This is personal; Stane has taken Stark's, money, life... his soul, and Stark will have it back.
3. Boba Fett Vs. Jodo Kast- Boba Fett; Twin Engines of Destruction. This is more like a Tyson fight from the late '80s. Yes, the opponeents sucked... but man, did you ever see people get housed like that before? In this case, Jodo Kast is a bounty hunter who also happens to schlep around in Mandoralian armour. To help his income, he's come up with the brilliant idea of occassionally acting as the Fett. Oh boy. Over this one-shot, we see why Boba Fett is THE deadliest hunter in a galaxy far, far away.
4. Batman Vs Predator; Batman vs Predator 1-3. When first heard of this, I thought it was the DUMBEST thing I ever heard. Then I read it, and it worked incredibly well. Gibbons and the Kubert brothers create a wonderful story where Batman finds himself in a very unique position; the hunter, rather then the hunted, on his home turf. To make matters worse, Bats gets his clock cleaned in the first issue, and must put himself back together with the wry assistance of Alfred. The end result is a great fight to prove who is the King of Gotham.
5. Just about any issue of Usagi Yojimbo. Yep, already gushed here, but still merrits repeating. Unfortunately, martial-arts techniques are best seen in a moving, visual medium rather then in something static like comics. Nonetheless, Stan Sakai pulls it off, recreating the lethal beauty of the long-eared Ronin. It's not just a slash-fest, either. Anyone can draw gallons of blood and lopped-off limbs. The beauty of each confrontation is seeing Usagi-san strike with the speed and ease of a true martial ARTIST.
6. Capt Kirk vs Redjack, Star Trek 22 and 23. The run of Trek on DC during this period was wonderful, a bunch of new characters to peak our interestwith just enough looks to older stories that make you go, 'So THAT'S what happened.' My favorite is the two-parter featuring the return of Redjack. Jack the Ripper returned from dispersion in 'Wolf in the Fold' and is back in force to wreak it's vengence on our favorite starship captain. This time we see the true energy-infused incarnation of this agent of chaos; all horns, all teeth, all Hell... literally. Great moments with all principals, from Savick using computer brilliance to Scotty busting out another miracle, with Kirk making everything come together.