Category Archives: Versus

HeroMachine 3 Replacement Items 2 VOTE!

In lieu of our usual Poll Position metaphysical question today, it's time to vote on what items you'd like to see in HeroMachine 3 to take the place of various unclaimed contest prizes! You can vote once, for up to 10 items. As of noon next Tuesday, the top 10 vote getters overall will be slotted in as replacement prizes. These are all from the suggestion thread a few days ago.

You should be able to click the image next to each choice for a sample of what the submitter was talking about. On a few, I lumped together several suggestions into one choice if they were similar enough. Others I left off because they were either already done by dblade (Converse shoes) or have already been claimed as a prize by someone else (3/4 view head).

There are a lot of these, so I'm putting the poll after the jump so the front page doesn't get too long. If you want to make your case for a particular item in the comments, go for it!

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Poll Position: Alphabet Soup, government style

This week's Poll Position asks you to make some trade-offs:

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Discussion to follow!

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Poll Position: Wanton destruction of cherished childhood icons

I'm apparently feeling evil today, thus:

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Imagine the mighty green muscles flexing, tiny cartoon bodies flying, untold carnage ensuing ... It's World War Hulk, toon-town style! So this is your chance to vent about whatever innocent yet infernally annoying creation you've come to loathe, and fantasizing about their ultimate, disgusting, violence-filled demise. Enjoy! And let us know in comments why you want to see your chosen group mauled by Big Mean Green.

Poll Position: Batman vs … Batman?

Since Batman wins every poll, I thought I would turn the tables on you and make you choose one Batman over another! Ha!

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Note that for now I am leaving on the option to enter your own answers, as I'm sure there are some iconic versions I have missed. I'll close that if the answers get stupid enough, though.

And now, to the Batdebate!

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Poll Position: Batman versus … ?

I have a strange feeling -- call it intuition, call it a gut-check, call it some ineffable transmission from another world, a world run by Chris Sims -- that people 'round these parts like them some Batman. I know, it's a wild idea, but I'm going to roll with it for today:

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So many possibilities, it makes my geeky brain esploded! Let's get into the specific:

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Poll Position: Robots ATTACK!

We return once again to our "Versus" series, this time pitting two of the best-known robotic leaders in comics. One is dedicated to pure evil and destruction, while the other is a noble defender of goodness. And also a truck. The question facing you today, intrepid intellectual, is:

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First, let's examine Ultron. He has an adamantium shell, hypnotic powers, "a genius intellect, a capacity for creative intelligence and self-repair, superhuman cybernetic analytical capabilities, and the ability to process information and make calculations with superhuman speed and accuracy" (from the Wikipedia entry). Unfortunately, his personality is based on the brain of Henry Pym, the biggest loser in the Marvel Super Hero Pantheon. As evidence, he once created a robot bride with the brain of Mockingbird. Mockingbird! And has been defeated by the West Coast Avengers at least once. How he had the cajones to show his face at the annual Super Robot Villain convention that year, I'll never know.

On the opposite side we have Optimus Prime, the noble and powerful leader of the Autobots. In addition to his massive durability, strength, and intelligence, Optimus Prime contains within himself the Matrix artifact, which gives him the awesome acting ability of Keanu Reeves. No, wait, wrong Matrix -- which gives him the power to do whatever the writers need him to do at any particular point. Plus he has a laser gun that goes pew pew. However, his "super power" is to turn into a Mac truck. With flames pointed on the side. That's right, he's a big, smelly, gas-guzzling long-hauler who usually has a fat bald guy with back hair (hey now, that could be me I'm talking about!) sitting in his lap. Not exactly intimidating.

So who would win in a fight between these two titanic titanous titans of titanosity? Would Ultron's concussive blasts and impenetrable skin be a match for Optimus Prime's centuries of experience in warfare and alien technology? Would the universe collapse into a singularity in an all-out acting war between Keanu Reeves and Shia LaBeouf?

Only you can resolve the conundrum, my friend! So chime in and let us know who you think would win, and why!

Poll position: Hulk vs. Doomsday

While thinking about John Byrne's "Death of Superman" classic (what, doesn't everyone spend their days thinking about decades-old superhero battles?!), I started wondering about the following Epic Question:

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So even if the Hulk couldn't defeat Superman, and Superman couldn't defeat Doomsday, does that mean the Hulk couldn't beat Doomsday? Wait, that's too much like doing math.

The potential for collateral damage hampered Superman's efforts to fight Doomsday originally. When you care whether or not entire city blocks full of innocent bystanders die, that influences your tactics. Whereas the Hulk ... well, let's be kind and say that the "innocent bystander" factor isn't exactly at the top of his list.

Plus, the madder the Hulk gets, the more powerful he grows. And he'd be pretty mad after a while of Doomsday whaling on his green butt. Since the fully enraged, yet still coldly capable, Hulk was able to annihilate virtually the entire Marvel Universe in World War Hulk, you'd have to think he could, at a minimum, give the Spiked Wonder a run for his money.

On the other hand, Doomsday was designed to be the ultimate weapon, while the Hulk is largely an accident. Can purposeful design beat fortuitous circumstance?

At the end of the day, I'd have to go with the Hulk winning this one, especially if it's the World War Hulk era character.

What about you, what do you think would happen?

(Image via dnno.)

Poll Position: Wonderful toys

With a hearty tip-o-the-cowl to The Great Batman Equipment Archive, I present to you the opportunity to choose from the Master of the Cool Gadget's collection of goodies for your very own personal use:

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Quick, to the Bat Argument Room!

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Poll Position: Summer Movies 2011

We've been fortunate enough to have the Summer of Supers this year, which prompted me to consider the following question:

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Poll Position: Greatest villain organization

After a bit of back-and-forth about just what a "villain organization" is, I have arrived at a list of the greatest such groups in comics history so you -- yes, YOU! -- can pass judgement on which is the best of the best. Or worst of the worst, if you prefer.

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Without further ado, we race to the Bat Cave of Judgement!

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