Contest of Marvels II Thread 1

[POWdER-man]

Iron Man (I can't remember who beat him last year, but he took out some heavy hitters...I think it was Dr. Strange....)
Scarlet Witch
Damien Hellstrom
Black Panther

[wiegeabo]

Iron Man (although if Graviton can put the population in danger, he could keep Tony too busy to fight well)
Damien Hellstrom
Black Panther (bad location for Sunfire, and T'Challa has prep-time)
Scarlet Witch

[primemover]

Gravitron - (too much raw power, though Tony might tech his way out, there really isn't an obvious achilles heel with Graviton, his powers are really fundemental but extremly far reaching and versitile)
Damien Hellstrom
Sunfire - (not really buying the stealth angle like Sunfire is helpless, and being hampered by innocents it's not like Hell's Kitchen is a street in China with wall to wall people)
Scarlet Witch - (damn witches, too many ways to get around pure power)

[Harlekin]

Current standings:
Graviton and Iron Man tie at 4-4
Damion Hellstrom is beating Tana Nile with 8-0
Black Panther is beating Sunfire with 6-2
Scarlet Witch is beating Frankie Raye with 7-1

[kytrigger]

Scarlet Witch
Sunfire
Hellstrom
Gravitron-really tough and good match, but I do think that the innocents pose a major obstacle for Iron Man here giving Gravitron the slight edge.

[JewishHobbit]

Scarlet Witch
Black Panther
Damien Hellstrom
Iron Man

[Phaedrus45]

Final Results:

Iron Man tied with Graviton 5-5
Damien Hellstrom defeats Tana Nile 10-0
Black Panther defeats Sunfire-Exiles 7-3
Scarlet Witch defeats Frankie Raye 9-1

[Phaedrus45]

REMATCH:

Iron Man (PHAEDRUS45) bio



vs.

Gravitron (HARLEKIN) bio

[Phaedrus45]

LOCATION: HYDRO-BASE

Hydro-Base is a fictional base in the Marvel Universe. It first appeared in Sub-Mariner #61, created by Steve Gerber, Bill Everett, and Win Mortimer (May 1973).
Hydro-Base is a floating seacraft disguised as a natural island floating off the coast of North America outside US territorial waters. Its first known user was the mad ecologist Dr. Herman Frayne, aka Doctor Hydro, who used it both as a laboratory and an airbase on which to land hijacked planes. Doctor Hydro planned to turn the planes’ passengers into amphibious people, using Terrigen Mist he acquired from the renegade Inhuman, Maelstrom. After Doctor Hydro died, his subjects (now known as the Hydro-Men) inhabited the pseudo-island, along with the marine scientist known as Stingray (Dr. Walter Newell). The Hydro-Men lived on the island until Mister Fantastic and Inhuman scientists found a way to cure them. Stingray continued to use the facility as an oceanographic laboratory, and a residence for himself and his wife, who would serve as caretakers. When the FAA revoked the Avengers’s flight privileges from their mansion, Stingray invited them to create a private airfield on Hydro-Base. The Avengers later moved their headquarters to Hydro-Base when their mansion was destroyed by the Masters of Evil, and Stingray became an unofficial member of the Avengers until they returned to their old base. Hydro-Base was destroyed however by Doctor Doom, although Walter and his wife were able to escape.

(THIS IS AN UNPOPULATED AREA.)

[Phaedrus45]

REMATCH: GRAVITON vs. IRON MAN:

While the other rematch takes into consideration they will both know of each other, this one won't mean much in terms of both characters. They already were very familiar with each other. The only difference will be there is nobody around; so, the argument that Tony will be worried about the safety of others goes out the window.

I just looked longer at this next location, and discover it actually benefits Iron Man quite a bit, as it's an old Avenger's base of operations. I'm sure Tony will come quite prepared with armor that would need to be sea-worthy, as destruction might be a big possibility.

Of course, my opponent and I know we both will stick to our previous arguments concerning how well Iron Man can handle someone of Graviton's power level. I'll repeat my key points below:

I want to point out a couple very important quotes:

(Speaking about the Thunderbolts) They were freed by the Thunderbolt Jolt, who borrowed technology derived from X-51 (aka Machine Man) whose flight capabilities were powered by "cancelling out the gravity equation." Now unaffected by Hall's power, the Thunderbolts escaped and continued to battle, ultimately cancelling Hall's access to his power. When Hall regained his power, gravitational force rushed inward, collapsing inward on himself. He was shunted to another dimension once again.

And:

Graviton was last seen, apparently alive and well, escaping the Raft (a metahuman prison). he fought and bested the New Avengers, but was defeated and almost killed by Iron Man after Hall severely injured Spider-Man.

I want to point out that you are only as good as your last appearance, and it seems to me that once a group or hero understands Gravitron's powers that it makes defeating much, much easier. Clearly, Iron Man has an understanding of Gravitron. Since Gravitron was difficult for this New Avengers team to defeat, until Iron Man came along, it shows he was still very powerful. But, looking at the New Avengers, that first appearance, many of them aren't suited to take out Gravitron. Iron Man is. Tony Stark will know of the same information that the Thunderbolts discovered from Machine Man...Tony Stark will have all of his past encounters as information in defeating Gravitron....and, most importantly, Tony Stark has 24 hours to come up with the means to defeat his opponent, an opponent he's met and defeated before.

Also:

I discovered some interesting information in my research. It would appear that Graviton has "evidently sustained a head injury," as stated in the most new Official Handbook, and this head injury is concurrent with his appearance in New Avengers. Plus, I just finished reading through New Avengers, and the only mention of drugs is in regards to Purple Man. None of the escape prisoners seemed to be effected by any drugs at all, and even Purple Man seemed uneffected by any drugs. The idea that Graviton is drugged is purely speculation; and, from what I read, false speculation.

What defeated Graviton wasn't "a lucky shot," but Tony Stark's Extremis enhanced Iron Man. Tony Stark had a means of defeating Graviton, and especially with his prep-time, he'll be further prepared. Also, this head injury makes Graviton "more megalomaniacal than ever during this ... escape, declaring himself capable of forgiving and punishing sins." Obviously, Graviton isn't in his right mind, and this greatly hinders his scientific and deductive abilities. Dude's loco, even more than before.

Of course, I was incorrect about Purple Man, as I was looking at the end of issue #2. Here is what I was able to deduce from my findings:

I do stand corrected. I had looked at the end of New Avengers #2, where it shows Purple Man taking control of Luke Cage. Of course, in issue #3, they show this was a trick, and Purple Man couldn't use his powers at all.

BUT, this does prove a point I was making. As pointed out, the only character refered to as being drugged is Purple Man in New Avengers #1. It was my statement that none of the other characters were drugged. In Iron Man #8, we see the battle, and Harlekin even gives us a few of the pictures (but, not the best ones, where Graviton is handing the entire New Avengers their butts and using his powers to their fullest extent). I point this out because if Graviton was being drugged, he should have the same problem as Purple Man, which is no ability to use his powers. This isn't the case; thus, it must be assumed that he isn't drugged and weakened upon escape.

Well, that's it. There is one clear difference in this match that I hope will sway the readers to determine that Iron Man holds an advantage now: Location. There is absolutely no civilians around, and this was also an old Avenger's base, in which Tony would have the most information about. Plus, Tony will be prepared for the water environment if it becomes necessary.

Winner = Iron Man

[Harlekin]

OPENING COMMENTS: Graviton vs Iron Man

I know what you must be thinking: A location without innocents makes this an easier match for Iron Man than last time. There's where you would be, to put it bluntly, wrong. We need to factor in these characters' personalities at this point, and if there's one thing we know about Graviton, it's that he's arrogant and vengeful. Coupled with this is a tendency to immediately apply great force.

How does this affect the match? The Hydrobase is getting destroyed the moment Graviton enters the match. He can protect himself while completely and utterly laying waste to the complex, crushing Iron Man within it. There's not much Iron Man can do to stop this, and there's little he can do to stop himself from being crushed. Graviton has complete control over gravity. The location, a big base that he can crush easily and quickly, is perfect for his kind of power. Tony Stark drowning in the water is just an added bonus.


WINNER=GRAVITON

[Phaedrus45]

Originally Posted by Harlekin

OPENING COMMENTS: Graviton vs Iron Man

I know what you must be thinking: A location without innocents makes this an easier match for Iron Man than last time. There's where you would be, to put it bluntly, wrong. We need to factor in these characters' personalities at this point, and if there's one thing we know about Graviton, it's that he's arrogant and vengeful. Coupled with this is a tendency to immediately apply great force.

How does this affect the match? The Hydrobase is getting destroyed the moment Graviton enters the match. He can protect himself while completely and utterly laying waste to the complex, crushing Iron Man within it. There's not much Iron Man can do to stop this, and there's little he can do to stop himself from being crushed. Graviton has complete control over gravity. The location, a big base that he can crush easily and quickly, is perfect for his kind of power. Tony Stark drowning in the water is just an added bonus.


WINNER=GRAVITON

The problem with this lies in the fact that Tony Stark will realize this would be Graviton's first idea. Thus, he'll have both the knowledge and the armor ready to survive in water. With Tony's flight capability, he'll easily make himself airborne if needed. With the seabase destroyed, Graviton has just water around him, in which Tony has the upper hand. Tony knows he just needs to drown Graviton like a rat and he's won the match.

Winner = Iron Man

[Harlekin]

REBUTTAL: Graviton vs Iron Man

Airborne? So he's leaving the Hydrobase, aka the location? That's a ring out. I have no doubt Iron Man will have a seafaring armor, but can it withstand the pressures of the ocean together with the forces of gravity pounding down on it? History has shown that is not the case. Iron Man is going down with the Hydrobase or he flees, giving Graviton the win by default.

WINNER=GRAVITON

[Phaedrus45]

Originally Posted by Harlekin

REBUTTAL: Graviton vs Iron Man

Airborne? So he's leaving the Hydrobase, aka the location? That's a ring out. I have no doubt Iron Man will have a seafaring armor, but can it withstand the pressures of the ocean together with the forces of gravity pounding down on it? History has shown that is not the case. Iron Man is going down with the Hydrobase or he flees, giving Graviton the win by default.

WINNER=GRAVITON

As JH has stated in the past, we're allowed to go about above the location up to a certain point. (I can't quite remember right now how far at or around. This was determined when we fought on one of the prisons that was surrounded by water.) Even Graviton must be outside and above the location if he's going to destroy it.

As for Iron Man surviving, I am pretty sure he can do better than Gravy. Graviton will emerge somewhere in the Hydro-base, unaware of exactly where to go right away. Iron Man won't have that problem.

Winner = Iron Man

[Harlekin]

REBUTTAL: Graviton vs Iron Man

Considering the Hydrobase is quite a bit under water, I'd say above water is out of the game. Even with the Raft, flying characters were only able to stray away from the core location a mile at best. As for needing to be outside the location to destroy it: What makes you think that? He can just have everything around him be destroyed. Essentially, he's still in the Hydrobase.

Iron Man can't go top speed in the Hydrobase, so Graviton has at least a minute or two. He knows the way these matches work, and isn't going to waste time. While Iron Man is flying to meet Graviton, the walls suddenly crash into him as the life is crushed out of him.

WINNER=GRAVITON

[Phaedrus45]

I'm just going from Wiki's description, but it does say "Hydro-Base is a floating seacraft disguised as a natural island floating off the coast of North America outside US territorial waters." If it looks like a natural island, then it is above water in some areas. Now, if it's underwater, Graviton would be even more at a disadvantage. If he destroys the base, he kills himself.

Winner = Iron Man

[Harlekin]

REBUTTAL: Graviton vs Iron Man

I recalled the Hydrobase being underwater, but I checked it out and you're right. I could've sworn there was also something underwater, but oh well. Two things: It doesn't really change anything, since Graviton is destroying the place immediately, and if it IS underwater, Graviton wouldn't kill himself at all. Complete control of gravity bears repeating here. The water wouldn't even come close.

Now, if anyone doubts that Graviton would go for the killing blow immediately in a rematch, I point you to his first fight against the West Coast Avengers, where he didn't hesitate to kill Wonder Man (who turned out to be alive in the end, but Graviton certainly thought he was dead).

WINNER=GRAVITON

[Phaedrus45]

I'm cool with ending the debate. The voters know everything we said before. Voting starts again tomorrow; then, we can hopefully get to new matches. If it's another tie, then the match will appear in Sparta's thread. We get one write-up and one rebuttal of the original person's write-up if that happens. (Whoever responds second with a rebuttal cannot rebutt the other person's rebuttal.)

[Phaedrus45]

Voting May Begin!!!

[Phaedrus45]

*Iron Man

[Harlekin]

You should vote Graviton.

[Phaedrus45]

Ah, Jedi mind tricks!

[wiegeabo]

Iron Man (this time)

[kytrigger]

Iron Man

[Ahura Mazda]

I am still of two minds about this one. The prep time is a big advantage as long as Stark can disrupt the gravitons.

Iron Man.