Rumble Pants XII: Elite Eight
By popular demand, Rumble Pants is back! What is Rumble Pants? Well, the Panteon has decided to play at god once more. We take a few select comic characters and pit them against one another for our amusement, but we figured why keep the fun all to ourselves? So we decided on a format that would require your participation and will hopefully provide amusement for you at the same time. The format is a single elimination tournament with weekly rounds decided by you, the reader. Just keep reading to help decide the ultimate fate of some of your favorite comic characters!
Back to the big guns round, and the sweet sixteen stage had one of the most brutal beatdowns in Rumble Pants history, as Magneto just trounced the hell out of Dr. Polaris and Kang stomped the Legion’s Time Trapper almost as easily. However, DC had some wins on their side as well, as Batman soundly beat Wolverine with a “What healing factor, punk?” 75-25 victory and Superman and Ra’s Al Ghul pulling off narrow victories over their foes as well. Now it’s time for some very interesting match-up, as two playboys (one armored, one decked out in Bat-gear), two flagship characters (Supes and Spidey) and four heavyweight villains duke it out. However, neither power nor guile will be the deciding factor in these battles.
Because as always, it isn’t just about who would be most likely win in each fight; it’s about who you want to win each fight and advance to the next round. Click the bracket thumbnail above to the side to see how the tournament has progressed so far. These polls will close just after midnight on Saturday, May 17th.
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Spidey beats the crap out of boring Superman.
By the way, the last part of the Adam Kubert Superman story was nice!
Then again, i really liked the J. Michael Straczynski Spider-Man stories (until Romita Jr. left, after that i didn;t really care).
11 May 2008 at 7:41 pm
QuoteI voted for Spidey- just because Superman winning is too predictable. And then I was shocked that I was in the majority! It would be a fun story, though, if done right.
Now, Iron Man/ Batman, that doesn’t interest me too much. If you made it Stark/ Wayne, though, that could be fun… and only after that bring in the alter egos!
11 May 2008 at 7:45 pm
QuoteSpider-man beating SUPERMAN? why
11 May 2008 at 7:46 pm
QuoteCan someone, anyone please explain to me how Spider-man would beat Superman? (without using the phrase “kryptonite magically appears”)
11 May 2008 at 7:55 pm
QuoteEverything is going my way…except spiderman vs superman. I’m superised that Kang is even at 29%…………who the hell thinks he is cooler then magneto?
11 May 2008 at 8:03 pm
QuoteTime travelling shills from a future where KANG RULES ALL!
11 May 2008 at 8:09 pm
QuoteWe’ve been talking at the shop about how much fun an Iron Man/Batman crossover could be. Alfred and Jarvis, two playboys with their toys, plus completely different motivations for crime-fighting, justice vs. redemption…
I voted for Iron Man, because I like the character more and I’m tired of Batman winning everything *and* I honestly think repulsors, battle armor and flight beats a guy with a boomerang, even if he knows a lot of stuff.
Probably because Superman is powerful, but Spidey has more determination than anyone else. I think in a pure power fight, Superman takes it, but Spidey wouldn’t give up, and I think that gives him an edge.
People get hung up on power in these “who’d win” scenarios. Don’t forget the character’s personalities. Look at all the powerful villains Spidey has taken on and won. Consider that while he doesn’t have the raw strength/invulnerability, he’s got agility and spider-sense and he’s no slouch in the strength department. Think about all the times Spidey has out-foxed the Juggernaut or the Rhino or Firelord.
A tough fight? Sure. An impossible one? Definitely not.
I’m curious, for Rob, Greg and the no doubt numerous others who think there’s no way in hell Spidey can beat Superman… how do you feel about the Superman/Batman match-ups? Because honestly, Spidey has just as good a chance as Batman at beating Superman, and nobody seems to complain that Bats is *constantly* punking out the man of steel.
Right here. Magneto’s played, and he can’t decide if he’s a good guy or a bad guy. Wishy-washy. Kang? Guy got bored ruling the universe in the future so he came back to conquer a different century.
Also? Time travel vs. magnetic powers? Time travel back to when Magneto didn’t have powers yet, drop him in caveman times. Done.
11 May 2008 at 8:37 pm
QuoteI think the difference in the Batman/Superman match-up is that they occupy the same universe so Batman would have so many strategies devised to take Supes down if he ever had to. When it comes to characters from separate universes, I tend to think of these battles as them meeting and fighting, and under those circumstances Spidey doesn’t stand a chance. I can’t imagine spider-sense and agility would top superspeed, and one punch from Supes takes Spidey out.
11 May 2008 at 9:00 pm
QuoteSpidey probably made some sort of deal with the devil. He’s always doing that.
11 May 2008 at 10:03 pm
Quote11 May 2008 at 10:36 pm
Quote“Because as always, it isn’t just about who would be most likely win in each fight; it’s about who you want to win each fight and advance to the next round.”
This would be why I voted for Spidey.
11 May 2008 at 11:45 pm
QuoteI voted Kang coz I don’t like the X-Men.
12 May 2008 at 9:13 am
QuoteThough logically that means I should have voted Magneto ???
12 May 2008 at 9:14 am
Quoteactully there’s nobody here I don’t like except Ras
12 May 2008 at 9:42 am
QuoteWhat is the appeal with Ras Al Ghul?
12 May 2008 at 10:17 am
QuoteVoted for Kang cause he’s badass! Magneto might have been an interesting character once but hasn’t been written so for a long time now, on the other hand Kang stories almost always rock.
Voted for Kingpin just cause of my love of Daredevil, Kingpin is a little played out right now, but there have been some wonderful stories in the past, many of the Ras stories I’ve read, have been lackluster and dull.
Iron Man over Batman, mostly because over the years I’ve just like the character better, but then I’ve always been a more of Marvel fan.
Spider-Man over Superman, no contest, Spider-Man rocks! Superman on the other hand, other than the Allen Moore stories and Morrison’s All Star book has never interested me all that much.
12 May 2008 at 11:00 am
QuoteYe
I don’t know he was kind of cool in his very first story but now Ras just shows up when some lame story needs to look BIGGER
12 May 2008 at 11:12 am
QuoteI grew up an X-Men fan, so Magneto of course won out for me. But, I really like Kang and am surprised it’s not a little more even.
Ra’s vs. Kingpin is a no-brainer to me though. I see it more as syndicate vs. syndicate and Ra’s, well, he’s a chess player on Batman’s level and think he would thoroughly dismantle Kingpin.
Batman vs. Iron Man was the hardest one for me. But, with all of Batman’s gadgets, I assume he has some sort of electronic pulse in there somewhere that would short out Iron Man’s suit and that would be game.
Spider-Man’s only prayer against Superman would be based on location. If it was at Star Labs or Oscorp, maybe he could wrangle some sort of tech together to help him squeak it out. Otherwise, he’s not the strategic mind Batman has been played up as and Superman’s just too strong and fast for his own powers to be of any use without a handicap.
12 May 2008 at 12:33 pm
QuoteThis week, make mine Marvel. In the Spidey vs. Superman, I vote Muhamed Ali. I remember these two event comics coming out around the same time (supes vs. ali and supes vs. spidey). I think Ali could take them both.
12 May 2008 at 3:14 pm
QuoteI’m sick to death of the “Batman could beat anyone” meme. There’s a lot of fun to be had with the underdog triumphant over superior opposition angle, which is why it used to be so fun when Batman would get the best of Superman, but Batman has really run that whole angle into the ground. It’s just stupid now. Almost as stupid as Spider-Man winning. I hope Superman punches Aunt May so hard Spider-Man has to retcon himself out of existence to get her back this time.
12 May 2008 at 3:39 pm
QuoteWow, all of my picks are losing. Awesome.
12 May 2008 at 5:20 pm
Quotei’ve been sick of Batman BEATING EVERYbody ever since Wizard said “Batman would beat Flash by turning off the speed force
12 May 2008 at 5:39 pm
QuoteWhat wizard said this? Gandalf?
Yeah, count me in on hating the “Batman always wins!” club. Iron Man, also a gajillionaire genius, would tear Batman a new one. What if the underdog could pick the battle? Tony vs. Bruce in a drinking contest (the faker Wayne wouldn’t have half of Stark’s drinking ability). At least future Batman in “Kingdom Come” realizes the possibilities and safety of mechanized armor.
12 May 2008 at 6:54 pm
Quoteiron man over batman. cuz the movie rocked that hard.
12 May 2008 at 7:33 pm
QuoteMy Picks and why:
I’ve always liked Magneto and have always thought Kang was one of the stupidest looking supervillains ever created.
Ra’s Al Ghul because I can’t even look at Kingpin after that stupid “Back in Black” story where he broke apart a table and it turned into a room full of money. Ugh.
The only one I had to really think about: The Iron Man movie rocked but Batman still hasn’t ever achieved quite the douchebaggerie that was Stark during Civil War so Iron Man lost by a hair.
And Superman because Spider-Man is all but dead to me now.
12 May 2008 at 8:49 pm
QuoteI LOVE kang becuse in Avengers 8 (kang’s first story) they say all AVENGERS get to lead once a month. Made me wish Hulk stayed longer.
I also wish just once Kang would say “wait WHO THE HELL are these NEW AVENGERS?
12 May 2008 at 9:56 pm
QuoteI voted for Magneto, Ra’s, Bats and Superman.
I’m happy to see Superman recovering from Spidey’s kryptonite webbing and cutting into his lead. My favorite thing about RP is seeing the close races. Looks like this one is gonna come down to the wire and as well it should
Bats beating Iron Man by that much? I do love my Bats but that’s pretty suprising. I guess it just goes to show that the Bat-fanatics are some of the best.
12 May 2008 at 10:55 pm
QuoteKang is so lovable with his goofy green blouse and his purple pants.
13 May 2008 at 6:41 pm
QuoteYep. He’s one fierce tranny.
13 May 2008 at 10:25 pm
QuoteI SHall forever be in the Batman Always winning club!!!!!!!!!!!! Unless your name is Chuck Norris you have no chance against Batman……..and Chuch Norris has a .01% chance of giving him a challenge.
Yes I realize the absurdity of him always winning…but considering super heros are absurd I am okay with it.
13 May 2008 at 11:50 pm
QuoteI can’t believe Spider-Man is winning by exactly one vote at the moment. Closest Rumble Pants ever?
14 May 2008 at 10:54 am
Quotethat’s kinda cool I LOVE Spider-man but it’s soo long since he’s been good.
14 May 2008 at 3:43 pm
Quotehte kang vote is obviously those who feel a vote for Kang is a vote against Magneto
14 May 2008 at 5:19 pm
QuoteNot at all. A vote for Kang is a vote for change!
Change in the timelines, I mean. What If All The Avengers Were Left-Handed? What If Wolverine Had Spoons and Forks Instead of Claws? What If Daredevil was deaf instead of blind?
With a time-traveler low on scruples and high on what voters call “Conquerification,” Kang is your man to get it done!
Kang ‘08.
Or ‘04.
Or 2028, really. Eventually he’ll get your vote and then time travel back as duly elected leader and conquer.
14 May 2008 at 9:21 pm
QuoteMy vote for Spidey makes it 143 to 142.
Its a dead heat, which actually surprises me.
15 May 2008 at 12:44 am
Quote15 May 2008 at 5:29 am
Quote15 May 2008 at 7:48 pm
QuoteYou ready Mr. Guiteau?
“I am a Stalwart of the Stalwarts!”
Quick. To the TARDIS!
15 May 2008 at 10:25 pm
Quote