I’m still stuck on whether Captain America could take Batman, or if Superman could lift Thor’s hammer: Tom Spurgeon’s “Three Arguments We Could Be Having”
If the Onion AV Club were teachers, they’d be good ones to have: The AV Club takes a look at another round of comics and comics-related books, and everything gets a passing grade. Even the ones that are judged most harshly—Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel, Forget Sorrow and The Savage Sword of Conan Vol. 7—get C’s. Maybe they grade on a curve?
X-Men Origins: Wolverine makes two: “One Ryan Reynolds superhero movie it’s definitely okay to skip”
This headline riffing on a decades-old TV show gets a pass for having an unusual construction: “Wholly comic books, Batman!”
“What the hell happened?”: At The Beat, Rich Johnson takes a look at recent manga sales trends in the US, which have been dropping, and leading to some bad news among manga publishers (Viz lay-offs, CMX’s demise, etc). Here’s hoping US publishers of all sorts of comics ask themselves some of the same questions Johnson asks, and devote some energy into finding some answers—for a long time now, manga seemed like the key to helping Western comics unlock a wider audience.
May 24th, 2010 at 9:58 am
And Blade Trinity makes three…
May 24th, 2010 at 11:53 am
I’m a Batman fan, but unless he can do something dirty with his utility belt, Cap’s physical superiority and shield would prevail. Superman can’t lift Thor’s hammer, because the magic would negate his super strength.
May 24th, 2010 at 12:14 pm
Cap and Bats are on the same level physically. The difference, Bats trained himself to that level, Cap was gifted it. Bats wants it more, Bats wins. And strength has nothing to do with Thor’s hammer, it’s about the worthiness. So that hammer may sap Supe’s strength, but Clark’s heart wins out – he’s lifting that bad boy.
May 24th, 2010 at 2:48 pm
Cap takes out Batman every time. You think the Red Skull or Baron Zemo don’t already fight dirty or “prep” for battle? There’s one thing Cap doesn’t do, and that’s lose. Kurt Busiek said it best when describing Cap for some Wizard interview a while back: “If Cap were a God, Cap would be the God of winning.”
Superman can lift Thor’s hammer. I don’t think there’s anyone that can argue Superman is not worthy.
May 24th, 2010 at 6:20 pm
Eric, apparently you’ve never heard of the super soldier serum. Cap is the maximum a human can be. Batman is not. No one without it is. Clark Kent does not possess the physical strength to lift Thor’s Asgardian hammer which weighs hundreds of pounds.
May 25th, 2010 at 5:59 am
The super soldier serum turned weak Steve Rogers into the peak of human perfection. Bruce Wayne trained himself to that point. They’re equals, but one of ‘em cheated.
And again, strength has nothing to do with Thor’s hammer, it’s about worthiness, and if you don’t think Clark Kent is worthy of lifting it, then you’re wrong.
May 25th, 2010 at 9:15 am
I don’t think that’s right re: Cap’s strength. I think it’s generally regarded that he’s got “enhanced” strength; that it goes even a bit beyond “peak physical condition”. I read he can bench 1100 lbs (doubt Bats can do that) and didn’t he sorta go toe-to-toe with Spidey in terms of brute strength during CW?
May 25th, 2010 at 10:21 am
I remember there was a period during the 80s when Cap had superstrength, but I was always under the impression the serum didn’t make him super, just peak performance. I will happily admit to being wrong if it’s not so.
Still think Batman could beat him due to sheer willpower.
May 25th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Cap beats Bats. Cap got the super soldier serum, but only b/c of his unwavering committment to SERVE, so never doubt his resolve. The serum makes him the FAR MORE physically superior to any human, no matter how well trained. To say that Cap has not undergone any intensive combat traning is ABSURD and he is a brilliant tactician. Cap has faced the worst the 3rd Reich had to offer. Sorry Bats, but a sadistic clown can’t compare to that. Close fight? For sure, but its CAP all the way.
Oh, and I say this as a Canadian. Just b/c Bats may be more popular, does not mean he can ‘beat’ everyone. It is lame enough as it is at how many times he beats Superman.
I think, given the right circumstances, Superman COULD lift Thor’s hammer as it is about WORTHINESS, not pure strength.
http://www.immortalthor.net/item-mjolnir.html And besides, didn’t Superman already lift and use it in JLA/Avengers?
Next argument – Marvel Rules, DC Droolz…
May 25th, 2010 at 1:48 pm
Both Marvel and DC drool. All comics rool. Except for the shitty ones.
May 25th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Stalemate, and since Batman doesn’t need chemical assistance, he gets the win.