“A Contest of Champions”
Writer: Kurt Busiek
Artist: George Perez
Publisher: DC/Marvel
Is it just me, or do you feel a little bit cheated, too? Maybe let down is a better term to use, but either way I was disappointed in this issue. It’s not that I expected an Earth-shattering story that would change the way I thought of superhero comic, but I think I expected something, for lack of a better term, cooler than this. I realize that it’s almost impossible to not be disappointed, but that doesn’t change the fact that I am. I remember reading somewhere (I think it was this very site) that Busiek was writing what he considered the definitive fight between the characters fans have always wanted to see go at it. Unfortunately, the writer fails to deliver in the manner I, and am sure a lot of people, were expecting.
Sure the two teams fight in spectacular fashion, but I wanted the kind of one-on-one, no-holds-barred, “Rocky vs. Ivan Drago” kind of fight, and what I got was a more or less muddled clashing of teams. There are really only two face-to-face match ups, and only one of them is satisfying. Batman and Cap square off, but nothing really comes of it. I should have expected that from two smart characters, but I wanted to see someone land a punch at least. Thor and Superman throw down beautifully, but the fight takes place in the middle of the teams and therefore never gets the attention it deserves. These are two titans, and the force of their blows should shatter windows and knock down trees, not get stuck in the middle of the page with too many distracting panels bordering it. The fight ended to my satisfaction, but I was really hoping for the kind of fight I described earlier. Oh, and if Green Arrow and Hawkeye (or “Purple Arrow” as Flash calls him) don’t mix it up, my disappointment will know no bounds.
I like that Busiek is examining the differences between the world, though if he uses the “Squadron Supreme” joke one more time I may have to boycott the rest of the series. The idea that Marvel’s Earth is smaller than DC’s is quite novel, though obvious when you realize that DC has a ton of cities that Marvel doesn’t. Each hero’s reaction to the new world they find themselves on was a treat to read, though I’m quite sick of Superman always bashing the Marvel characters (and, coming from someone who reads JLA and two Superman titles a month and none of the books starring any Avengers, that’s saying something). Kyle’s use of the Cosmic Cube is wonderfully clever, and I liked the Flash’s attempt to keep his speed in Marvel’s world, but giving the Scarlet Witch this much power doesn’t sit well with me given she’s a third tier hero in her normal realm.
Given my disappointment, why does this book get four bullets? Because it was a heck of a lot of fun to read. Because Busiek clearly thought this story out to the minutest (Wonder Woman’s anger at Hercules was a particular treat). Because, despite the fact that I think George Perez is overrated, the artist’s work looks fantastic. Because Busiek slips in a “Spinal Tap” joke that’s pretty amusing. Because Triathlon barely makes an appearance. Because Iron Man gets to use a Mother Box. And because Galactus shows up pissed off like I’ve never seen him.
I know there are flaws (the Thing sounds like a blathering idiot during his brief appearance and I couldn’t wait for him to disappear), but I simply got a kick out of reading this story. Sure, no one really cares about the big cosmic beings that bookend this chapter, but that’s not the point, is it? And sure, seeing as how the teams will most likely work together from here on out and Superman will undoubtedly realize he’s been wrong all along and “grow as a character” when he apologizes, I’ll most likely have the same reaction to the rest of the series. But that doesn’t mean the journey to those moments won’t be worth the price of admission.
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