When it comes to comic books, movies and video games everyone loves a good scrap. There have been some memorable ones over the years and some have even reached iconic status. Superman vs Batman, Spider-Man vs Juggernaut, and Jet Li in Fist of Legend are but a few of the best pop culture brawls of all time. The following fights may not be on your all time list but they’re the ones that keep coming up during discussions here at Comix Asylum. Read on and let us know if you agree with our list. We’d love to hear if there are any that you think that we might have missed.
10. Red Viper vs Mountain
This classic David and Goliath inspired match up was featured in one of the more intense episodes of Season 4 of HBO’s Game of Thrones. With Tyrion Lannister’s fate to be decided in battle between the Mountain (Gregor) and the Red Viper (Oberyon), the final moments of the episode had audiences on the edge of their seats. Using his speed and a poisoned blade, Oberyon got the better of Gregor and held the upper hand before things took a turn for the worse. The end of this fight not only sank the hearts of many in the audience but also had us wincing and screaming at the TV at the same time.
Click the link the see the battle on YouTube.
9. Old Boy
One man with a hammer against a horde of adversaries might sound like a scene from a Thor comic or movie but it’s actually from the 2003 South Korean classic, Old Boy. The element that makes this fight scene so great is the fact that it’s done in a single take.
8. They Live
If you like to chew bubble gum and kick then this slugfest from John Carpenter’s They Live is for you. The late Roddy Piper and David Keith go hammer away at each other in a knock down drag out affair. This one has it all including eye gouging, low blows, biting and a couple of wrestling moves thrown in for good measure. Warning as the video has some explicit language.
7. Invincible: The Viltrumite War
Ever wonder what a battle royal involving Superman power level combatants would look like? Well “The Viltrumite War” in Image Comics’ Invincible title leaves nothing to the imagination. It’s an absolute bloodbath and the battle is so brutal and violent that panel after panel feature body parts flying everywhere.
6. Singham123
This film’s truly amazing fight scene elicits laughter and leaves you speechless all at the same time. We’re not sure if it’s the ridiculous use of a banana as a weapon, the Matrix like moves or the shirt ripping throw down that elevates it. To further cement the fight’s status as one of the best is the apparent fact that according to Wikipedia, there’s been an increase in banana sales since the film’s release.
5. Dragon Ball Z
Seriously how can you pick just one fight from a franchise filled with them? Whether it’s Goku vs. Frieza, SSJ2 Gohan vs Super Perfect Cell or Majin Vegeta vs Goku there are countless battles to choose from. Everyone has their own personal favourite so feel free to suggest your own if you disagree with the one we’ve posted.
4. Yoda vs. Dooku
Star Wars fans had been waiting for this moment for over 20 years. Ever since Yoda made his appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, the diminutive Jedi master became a pop culture icon. While the prequels were lacking, Yoda’s fight scenes were among the highlights. There are so many memorable moments in this fight from Yoda catching and absorbing Dooku’s force lightning to his myriad of flips and lightsaber attacks. Not bad for a 900 year old.
3. Batman vs. Superman (The Dark Knight Returns)
Before there was a #TeamCap or #TeamIronMan there were comic book fans who lined up behind the man of steel and those in the Caped Crusader’s camp. While their history has generally been a friendly one, it wasn’t until Frank Miller’s seminal The Dark Knight mini-series that DC’s big two went toe to toe in such a fashion. This fight is so iconic they made a movie about it 30 years later and had it as the centrepiece of this summer’s Batman V Superman.
2. Bruce Lee in Game of Death
The iconic yellow suit and the progression through bosses set the stage for modern video game battle structure. Bruce Lee was the undisputed master of kung fu and helped to make the genre of movies so popular in North America. The final fight scene had it all: humor, fierce moves, some trash talk and Kareem Abdul Jabbar kicking ass from a rocking chair! Lee’s influence is felt to this day and the iconic yellow suit even got its due in Kill Bill: Volume 1.
1. Evo Moment #37
This epic battle between gamers Justin Wong and Daigo Umehara during a Street Fighter III: Third Strike gaming competition is the stuff of legend 12 years after the fact. The battle is memorable not only for the inconceivable comeback but also the term it spawned. Ask any gamer what clutch means and they’ll refer to this epic showdown.
Honorable Mentions: James Bond vs. Jaws (The Spy Who Loved Me), Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazer (Thrilla in Manilla), Hulk vs the Marvel Universe (twice!), Bruce Lee vs Chuck Norris (Way of the Dragon), Superman vs Doomsday, Taylor Swift vs. Kanye West
