10 Best Fighters in Comics of All Time
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After constructing two different lists, one for both the best fighters in DC and Marvel, I feel it appropriate to do the same for comics in general. You may find that there are some repeats from the other two lists. This is, of course, because if they are good enough to top their own lists, they should probably be included here. The criteria
1. Batman
If I was a betting man, I’d guess that you probably didn’t see this one coming. Of course, if I was a betting man I’d be broke. Batman is one of the best fighters in comics…period. A student of life, criminology, and philanthropy, Bruce Wayne is also a feared fighter. He kind of has to be to fend off his R
And that’s only the tip of the iceberg. Batman is prolific in 127 different fighting styles and uses a lethal combination of 8 of them when fighting. What makes Batman a surefire for this list is that he has bested two of the best fighters in DC, Lady Shiva, and Bronze Tiger.
2. Wolverine
Often considered the most feral fighter in comics, Wolverine knows no boundaries in combat. His mutant ability to heal has granted him an extraordinarily long life and as such, he has picked up more forms of martial arts than most can imagine. However, it isn’t his fighting ability that makes him one of the best fighters in comics. No, it’s his berzerker rage that grants him a spot on this list.
When Wolverine loses his cool, the world watches out. When in berzerker mode, Wolverine has the potential to literally rip a head off…and has done so. This mode causes him to lose his ability to think straight and forces him to act on pure instinct. For a man often considered an animal, this is bad…
3. Cassandra Cain
If this list were based on pure potential, Cassandra Cain would know no rival. The offspring of both David Cain and Lady Shiva, Cassandra was raised to be the perfect assassin.
Watching attempt after attempt
The offspring, Cassandra Cain was trained by David in insolation without any form of spoken language. As a consequence, Cassandra learned to read body language better than any being in existence. This meant that she could predict, with accuracy, the next move of every opponent she faced. Who else could do that?
4. Lady Shiva
Speaking of which…She prefers to kill her opponents with her bare hands…her bare hands! Lady Shiva is one of the most sought-after assassins in the DC universe. And for good reason. She is a Martial Arts Grandmaster who, at a very early age, realizes that she is a martial arts prodigy. Think Anakin Skywalker, The Chosen One, but in DC.
What makes Lady Shiva so special, aside from being compared to Anakin Skywalker, is that she has the ability to read body language. To answer the who else question from earlier, like Cassandra, Lady Shiva can read body language so well that she can react to her enemies before they even do something. Not that
5. Iron Fist
If you have caught any of the Netflix show of the same name, you know the story of Danny Rand. Danny, while out with his family has the plane they were traveling on, struck down. The family lands on the side of a mountain and before they could check to see if everything was alright, are attacked by a pack of wolves. His mother sacrifices herself so that Danny may survive…and he does.
Danny finds his way to the nearby K’un L’un and is trained to become a living weapon. While there, he undergoes a series of tests, none more impressive than the one that makes him the Iron Fist. To become the Immortal Iron Fist, Danny must fight and beat the dragon, Shoa Lao. And he does. With the power of the Iron Fist, Danny is not only one of the best fighters in Marvel, but he’s also one of the best fighters in comics.
6. Karate Kid
The Karate Kid is a no-brainer. Not only does he know every form of martial arts that has been developed up until the 30th century, but he has also developed his own form of fighting dubbed Super Karate. Super Karate! That alone should make him a lock for this list but if it doesn’t, this will.
The man was accepted into the Legion of Superheroes without possessing a single superpower. Not one. And how? He went to battle with Superboy and walked away.
7. Captain America
Known as the first Super Soldier, Captain America is like no other. A soldier through and through, Captain America has been trained in nearly every fighting style in existence. He embodies what it means to be a good person and lives his life ensuring that the worldwide definition of justice is held.
Captain America leads the most powerful team in Marvel and has gone toe-to-toe with some of the worst beings, people, and creatures in existence, all the while never giving up hope. In a world that desperately needs hope, Captain America is there to provide it. He is the reason I tell my son each night before he goes to bed to “Make the world a better place.” Fighting abilities aside, Captain America deserves this list because he’s Captain America.
8. Shang-Chi
Of all the fighters in comics, Shang-Chi is like no other. Shang-Chi is without traditional powers. This, however, doesn’t stop him. He has developed his fighting prowess to be so strong that it in itself is considered a superpower. What does this mean?
Shang-Chi wins far more battles than he loses. Because his martial arts ability is considered power, this makes sense. He, like the Iron Fist, Danny Rand, can channel his Chi. This enables him to dish out some serious damage without taking any in return. Oh, and it gets better. Shang-Chi has such control over his nervous system that he feels no pain. I pity any who cross him on a bad day.
9. Backlash
Marc Slayton, or Backlash, hails from Atlantis. This Atlantis, unlike the Atlantis found in DC, is a society founded by Aliens. As a young child, Slayton’s Atlantis was ransacked by a race of hostiles. To save his son from harm, Slayton’s father sent him away to be raised by his former adviser, Ferrian. Now under the watchful eye of Ferrian, Marc Slayton is taught many fighting styles and eventually left to fend for himself.
He then spends the next 3,000 years wandering the globe never really storing to memory exactly where he had been or what he had done. From the pieces of memories that he has put together, Marc Slayton was a Medieval Knight, a Ninja, an Intelligence Specialist, and an Air Force Colonel.
What makes Marc Slayton so special is that he was the offspring of both a human mother and an alien father. This has granted him the ability to generate psychic energy whips from the backs of his hands. He can also transform himself into a mist-like substance and can heal much as Wolverine can. Above these, his immortality has granted him a lifetime of combat training. Backlash is one of the best fighters in comics…period.
10. Leonardo
Oh, Leonardo. As much as I’d love to say that Raphael is the most prolific fighter of the turtle brothers, he’s not. That title belongs to you. And rightfully so.
Of all the turtles, Leonardo is the best student and has shown the most potential. His dedication to his craft is second to none, while his leadership is even greater. There is a reason that Master Splinter has charged him with leading a group that includes a party animal, a tinkerer, and one who can’t be controlled.
Unlike the other turtles, Leonardo can often be found honing his abilities and doing everything in his power to become the best version of himself. It’s no wonder that he has bested each of his brothers in sparring sessions.
No matter which way it’s looked at, Leonardo is the best fighter of the four turtles and may go down as the best fighter in comics. Or at the very minimum, the best non-human fighter in comics.
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