Hype RPGs: The Official Soundtrack

[Andy C.]

(Inspired by the 'Cast an RPG' thread)

I'd like to say that I'm a very musically-inclined person, despite the fact that I very likely have some of the worst taste in music of anyone I know. That said, when I want to get ideas for something to do with my characters in the RPGs, I more often than not find myself turning on my iTunes and finding some tunes that get me in the right mood to play said characters.

Certain songs remind me of certain heroes or villains, or specific 'scenes' that I really want to play out, etc, to the point where I've compiled enough different songs that I can pretty much make out a whole 'soundtrack' to my activities in the RPGs. And I wanted to see if anyone else here in the Basement does the same.

Andy C's Playlist:

ALL-STAR MARVEL:

Peter Parker: "Space Olympics" by The Lonely Island
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp77WTBLYCA
This isn't really because I think it encompasses Peter's life or his destiny as Spider-Man or whatnot; it's more that I think this is the sort of crap that Parker would think is funny. And tapping into that nerd-humor makes it easier to connect with the rest of Parker's personality for me.

Spider-Man: "Invincible" by Muse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_5V8We3hgg
This is more what I picture as his 'theme song' in his early days of superhero-ing. Peter Parker may be vulnerable and insecure by himself, but when he suits up and takes on the world in the name of his friends and family, he's invincible.

Gwen Stacy: "My Junk" from the musical Spring Awakening
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5e-McEzO3oI
This song is just about perfect for Gwen and her crush on Peter, a repressed and innocent girl who's just starting to get accustomed to her not-so-innocent feelings towards a friend who barely notices her. Yes, I listen to musicals. No, I do not swing that way.

Harry Osborn: "Fitter, Happier" by Radiohead
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=laoq1eeIUxQ
On the outside, Harry is the coolest guy Peter knows, but only Harry himself knows just how close he is to losing it. Underneath his suave and easy-going demeanor is a stew of father issues and whatever the hell happened to him during his years in a 'private school in England.' This song kind of gets me into the mindset of a guy who's tearing himself apart between what is expected of him, and his inability to figure out what he wants for himself.

Mary Jane Watson: "DARE" by Gorillaz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6yantixZ5c
I have no idea what the hell the song is actually about (if anything), but it's fun and just a little weird and will get stuck in your head all day, which is kind of what I'm going for with MJ at this point: someone who's really cool and really fun, and that you can't get out of your head when she's gone.

Eddie Brock: "Nobody Loves Me" by Limp Bizkit
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6nkdG31BvQ
This is pretty much pre-symbiote Eddie Brock in a nutshell, someone who talks and acts like a gigantic jackass and then can't understand why people don't like him.

Peter and Gwen: "Madame de Pompadour" from the Doctor Who soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACz-gFib8zo
I freaking love this song, and the more I thought about it, the more perfect it is for Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy's doomed romance. It's like something beautiful is happening, but you can't bring yourself to look at it because we all know how it ends....

And on the villainous side of things:

The Big Man/Tombstone: "Red Bats with Teeth" by Angelo Badalamenti
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDMC2kNnIls
Great music from the Lost Highway soundtrack, it gives the feel I want for Tombstone, someone who's dangerous and crazy but wants to cling to the illusion that he's classy and high-brow.

Electro: "Bloodrocuted" by Dethklok
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YYZcpMk8qo
Nerdy death-metal about someone getting murderous revenge via electricity? That sounds just about right for All-Star Max Dillon.

The Kingpin: "Have a Cigar" covered by Primus
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqwvNmG651Q&feature=fvst
Personally I like the original Pink Floyd song better, but Primus makes it sound so much sleazier, which works really well for Wilson Fisk. He's a guy you know that you shouldn't get involved with, that any deal with him is going to be bad for you, but he just makes it sound too good to pass up (and the fact that he'll kill your family if you say no is a motivator, too)

The Green Goblin: "One of My Turns" by Pink Floyd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGqbCMHGTiw
While Question hasn't turned Osborn into the magnificent bastard he's destined to become yet, I can definitely see Norman's transformation into Gobby going down to this little ditty. Just a guy who has had the weight of the world on his shoulders for too long and finally just plain loses his ****.

Doctor Octopus: "The Cybermen" from the Doctor Who Soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C918zOdSOgs
Pulling again from Doctor Who, this is a great song for what I've got in store for Otto Octavius: a brilliant and ambitious mind who eventually loses all of his ethical inhibitions and goes into flat-out world-conquering mad scientist. Plus it's got a good bit towards the end that would make for a great 'fight scene' song for when he tangles with Spider-Man.

Venom: "Right Now" by Korn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Myj-q0OpETk
Okay, so we're nowhere near introducing Venom yet, but once I've put Eddie Brock through the ringer that he's heading towards, he's going to be at a point where all he can think about is destroying Parker.

Switching gears now...

Nick Fury: "Rooster" by Alice in Chains
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAE6Il6OTcs
Yeah, I know the song is about Vietnam, but it captures what I had in mind for Fury: a guy who has seen way too much over the years, and has pretty much had everything but war burned out of him.

ULTIMATE DC:

Lex Luthor: "The Master Vainglorious" from the Doctor Who Soundtrack (again)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCQ-hYFNpOA
This is a fun one for getting the idea of just how crazy UDC Luthor is, especially when he gets into his gigantic world-scale plans.

Wonder Woman: "Zoosters Breakout" by Hans Zimmer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcPoyqoanRY
From the Madagascar soundtrack, it's got a great energetic feel that gets very superhero-ish, without being immediately recognizable as another character's theme.

WORLD OF HEROES:

Superman: "You're Not One of Them" by John Ottman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqTcFVoor-Q
Yeah, yeah, I know the actual John Williams theme is the more obvious choice, but I really liked the lower-key score that Ottman delivered; it really emphasized the sort of loneliness that someone like Superman would feel, and at the same time the godlike power that he wields.

HEROES VS. VILLAINS

Norman Osborn: "I Can't Decide" by the Scissor Sisters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSdE9x5bvjU
A happy little song about a sadistic villain trying to decide to do with his victim, much like a certain Goblin is feeling now that he's on top of the world at the helm of SHIELD.

 

[Eddie Brock]

Superman: "You're Not One of Them" by John Ottman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QqTcFVoor-Q
Yeah, yeah, I know the actual John Williams theme is the more obvious choice, but I really liked the lower-key score that Ottman delivered; it really emphasized the sort of loneliness that someone like Superman would feel, and at the same time the godlike power that he wields.

I love this track. It really makes you feel sorry for Superman, which is something that can be hard to do when he's invincible and godlike.

 

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[Andy C.]

Indeed. I loves me some white-boy nerd-rap: Lonely Island, MC Chris, etc. Fun stuff.

 

[Batman]

Harder than I thought it was, but I managed to figure out a temp list for the Ultimate Batman mythos:

Batman - "Like A Dog Chasing Cars", by Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0ynjjk2c7Y
I felt that of all the pieces in TDK's score, this one conveyed the themes of the Batman character the best. It starts out gloomy and bleak, eventually delving into a frantic, almost chaotic rythm. But eventually, it emerges with a heroic theme, building and building until you hear the faintest piece of Joker's theme to interrupt it. In a weird way, it highlights a struggle to rise above chaos.

Bruce Wayne - "Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me, Kill Me", by U2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMastE7oBMA
Yeah, it's from the "Batman Forever" soundtrack, but bear with me. I think at it's core, it's a song about someone constantly masking their loneliness. Which is exactly what Bruce Wayne is, whether he's out on the town as a rich snob, keeping himself occupied at home to avoid giving himself a moment's peace, or hitting the streets in cape and cowl.

The War on Crime - "Uprising", by Muse
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtZV5XdfqrI
Well, what can I say? Muse is a great band. And this song, for me, highlights the message that Batman is trying to send to the mob. That they can't control the citizens who fear them, and there's someone out there that's willing to fight back for their salvation.

Gotham City - "Welcome To The Jungle", by Guns & Roses
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kr8-E8may2Y
Fittingly, JB used it in his first post as The Joker, and I couldn't have found a better way to represent what kind of a crazy, messed up city Gotham really is. No one is safe the minute that they step across the city limits, as if being thrown into 'the jungle'. Yet the city allures, and captivates, disguising it's true horror to the innocents that don't know it well.

The Joker - "Paint It Black", by The Rolling Stones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Egt1Hq4wpE
I think that the lyrics essentially describe someone just turning on the world as a whole, wanting to see it "painted black" without any colors to highlight the world's positivity. The Joker is a character that cannot see the redeeming qualities of the human soul, believing - hell, embracing instead that the world is inherently a laughably cruel place to live in. Do the math.

 

[Andy C.]

Very nice. Never would've thought of GnR for Gotham, but I gotta admit, it works.

 

[Carnage27]

What an awesomely awesome thread! Seriously, Bravo!

I'll start with my Star Wars RPG characters:

Darth Acheron - "The Sith" from the Knights of the Old Republic Soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_NRrfhSuio&feature=related
I love this song. It's foreboding, it's powerful, and it comes from a time that Acheron is obsessed with. Namely when the Old Sith attempted to rise again and take the galaxy as an order, rather than just two.

Huc Vondar - "The Force Theme" from Star Wars: A New Hope, by John Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-LCbflIPONM&feature=related
It's something that starts off fairly small and quiet, and then builds to a very powerful song, paralleling the life of a Jedi from an infant(or in Huc's case teenager) to a great warrior.

Mission Ordo - "Mandalorian Honor" from the Knights of the Old Republic II Soundtrack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_TPlUFwVs4
Basically Mission is a warrior. Sure, she's part of the New Jedi Order, but she still has the Mando roots, and will never let her warrior past completely leave her state of being.

 

[Rain Dog]

I actually have a similar process. I don't always listen to the song though, sometimes I just have certain lyrics/chords/verses from them in my head that get me in the mood. But some songs/artists have been big inspirations for characters.

Star Wars RPG

Boolon Chonota: "Across the Universe" by The Beatles

Boolon's a very spiritual, "one-with the universe", type of character, or at least that was my original intention. I think I even described him as an "alien hippie" in his app. The lyrics are just beautiful and it gives me this sort of cosmic awareness whenever I listen to it. I'd imagine it's how Boolon sees things.


Rotta the Hutt: "The Godfater Waltz" by Nino Rota.

The Godfather was my main inspiration for picking up Rotta--he was the Michael Corleone to Jabba's Vito. Rotta's a gangster, but a very classy one, and this song fits that vibe perfectly. Whenever I'm brainstorming for Rotta ideas, this song loops in my head.


Create-A-Hero RPG

Reverend Madlove: There's a couple here--"Moonage Daydream" (what I imagine Madlove's 'sermons' are like), "Starman," and "Star" by David Bowie, "Sweet Transvestite" and the "Floorshow" medley from The Rocky Horror Picture Show

Reverend Madlove is an amalgamation of several people, some real, some not, but he was most heavily inspired by David Bowie's "Ziggy Stardust" character. The whole album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars might as well been listed but those three songs I thought best captured what the characters (both Ziggy and Madlove) are: larger-than-life glam rockers.

The Rocky Horror Show songs showcase another, major side of Madlove--this campy, androgynous, hedonist. Tim Curry's character "Dr. Frank N. Furter" was another inspiration for the character.

The Dummy: "Redrum" by Tom Waits and "Dog Door" by Tom Waits & Sparklehorse.

I'm currently not playing the Dummy but he was one of my favorite characters and during Season 2 of the CAH RPG, these songs would often come to mind whenever I wrote up a post. Redrum is an instrumental song that gives this very unsettling, creepy vibe. Dog Door is an experimental song with bat-**** crazy, non-sequitor lyrics that capture the Dummy's frightening, schizophrenic tendencies.

 

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[Byrd Man]

UDC

Flash

The Distance - Cake

Do I have to even explain this one? C'mon, listen to it. To me, it sums up the Flash in a nutshell. Not just Bart Allen, but all the others who have worn the mantle in mainstream DC.

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Riddler

Fell on Black Days - Soundgarden

I'm a Soundgarden fan, and I've always enjoyed this song. As a bi-polar detective with a drinking problem, he's currently fell on some black days.


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Beautifully Broken - Gov't Mule

This is a song that sums up Nygma's obsession/love with Selina Kyle. It's a song I always have in my head when I write his mental monologues concerning the woman who would be Catwoman

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Question

People Are Strange - The Doors

For those you in the know, you know I played Question as a bit of an oddball. Not so say he's as crazy as Rorschach, he just takes a humorous approach to crime fighting. That said, this is a song I could picture Q singing under his breath as he got his ass kicked.

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Gotham City

This Town - Frank Sinatra

I like MB's take on Gotham City, but I like this song as well. One of my favorite songs by the Chairman, I think this sums up Gotham City nicely.

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[sabetoonth]

ok lets try this one, most of mine are like heavy metal/rock but thats what speaks to me for this, ill add alter egos later

Allstar Marvel
Sabretooth/Victor Creed: Down With the Sickness-Disturbed
it doesnt really match my version of Vic, but it does when he lets go for a fight against military or say Wolverine, he just lets the animal take over. and this song is about letting that inner demon animal taking over, about giving into it.

Hulk: Indestructible-Disturbed
this song is about a being who is unstoppable, is made for battle, a "master of war" if the Hulk has the right direction thats what he is. the chorus really does say it best Hulk is :
"Indestructable,
determination that is incourruptable
Annihilation will be un avoidable
every broken enemy will know that their opponent had to be invincible"
Hulk is nigh unstoppable,
when Banner Hulks out,whatever was on his mind to cause the hulk out, is Hulk's target. unless something bigger like Cap,Shell head and Thor show up to duke it out, then he turns his attention to the bigger threat/distraction.
if theres no superhero to save you, then you're gonna be annihilated in the Hulk's path.
if theres any survivors(usually are) they know Hulk is something else entirely.

Ultimate DC
Dr Victor Freis/Mr Freeze: Feel So-Seven Dust
it pretty much is a song about life in an empty world. and thats how Victor feels after loosing Nora, he is totally devastated and the world empties, and he feels hollow.

 

[J'adore]

World of Heroes -

Spoiler - "22" By Lily Allen
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWjNFC-FinU
This song's about girls that haven't figured out what they want to do with themselves. They can rely on their looks to an extent: people will pay for their dinners and drinks and they don't really have to think. And then suddenly it hits them that they're not doing anything with their lives and it's too late.

Catwoman - "I Like It Rough" By Lady Gaga
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvK0BDWRM4c
A song about how love is tough and how women can be tough themselves. Like having a partner that out shows you to the rest of the world. You always want to be on top of your partner.


Heroes Vs Villains-

Black Widow - "ROCKSTAR 101" By Rihanna
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eMOIUUS8GWo
This song's about not giving a ***** about anything and showing your wild side. Meaning you can act like a careless rockstar, just without the black guitar. Being hard and tough, but at the same time having a strong independent attitude.

Silver Sable - "Battle Without Honor Or Humanity" By Tomoyasu Hotei
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eG2_kpSYxXI
An amazing song with no words, just a heavy instrumental. That fact that it was used in Kill Bill just explains my point on why this is perfect for Silver.

Domino - "Semi Precious Weapons" By Semi Precious Weapons
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FufQs6oeEDIJust a hard song, crazy and wild. Definitley what Domino is. Ready to do whatever she likes, Domino's one hard chick who answers to no one. Unless a killing's involved. This song is just self explanatory I guess.

Maria Hill - "In For The Kill: Skream's Let's Get Ravey remix" By La Roux
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkMJZKhVFFYThis song's about telling someone how you feel regardless of what you get back, and not waiting to find out if they want you or not. This shows how you careless you are of people's reactions or what they think of you, just moving on in life at a fast pace.

All-Star Marvel

Jocasta - "Paradise Cirus" By Massive Attack
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jEgX64n3T7g
A song about how Love could be turned into a sin, or the people not knowing about how Love could be a sin itself. Just like the relationship with Jocasta and Hank.

Hank Pym - "Shape Of My Heart" By Noah And The Whale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfZzoPxa_7Q&feature=fvstThis song is about not having any love left in you, and if there is, don't let it show. This is a great song on how MEN can feel like giving up on love and not having hope any more, like a hollow chest. This describes Hanks feelings for Jocasta.

 

[Andy C.]

Heh, I like the emphasis there on "how MEN can feel like giving up on love." Harboring some resentment issues, are we?

I kid, I kid.

 

[The Question]

I imagine Norman, post goblification, really liking this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBOpk33VlSg

As for Doctor Doom, well, this is the song I immediately thing of whenever I think of a big bad coming out of nowhere and ****ing up the heroes' **** when they didn't see it coming, even though he or she has been planning it for a very long time, and that pretty much sums up Victor's schtick:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpZkvMIm4co

 

[sabetoonth]

Allstar Marvel:
Brotherhood:Ten Thousand Fists-Disturbed
its a song about rebellion and rising up, thats what the Brotherhood is about, about rising against humanity and its opression of mutants

 

[J'adore]

Heh, I like the emphasis there on "how MEN can feel like giving up on love." Harboring some resentment issues, are we?

I kid, I kid.

 

[Carnage27]

One Universe

Peter Parker: "Learn to Fly"-Foo Fighters

It's a song about attempting to make things right after screwing up, something I believe is what drives Peter to do what he does. If it wasn't for his arrogance and his mistake which lead to the death of Uncle Ben, he never would have become Spider-man. Yet, the mistake that drives him can never be undone, no matter how hard he tries, yet he never gives up in memory of his beloved uncle.

Spider-Man: "Blitzkrieg Bop"-The Ramones and "Spider-Man Theme" Aerosmith

When I think of Spidey, I think of a high energy fighter and hero, and Blitzkrieg Bop just springs to mind. As for the Spider-Man theme, Peter is the kind of dorky guy that would sing his own theme song as he's swinging through the New York sky, and I think he'd really geek out if a great band like Aerosmith sang it.

Gwen: "You Belong with Me"-Taylor Swift

Yes, I also enjoy Ms. Swift, and I think this song epitomizes Gwen's feelings for Peter. I finally got them together this season, but before then there always was the awkwardness between them.

Peter and Gwen: "As Long as You're Mine" from the musical "Wicked"

Basically a song that says that no matter what is going on in the world around them, and no matter what happens to Pete when he's spider-man, it all fades away when the two of them are together.

Norman/Goblin: "Paranoid"-Black Sabbath

The perfect song about being bat **** crazy.

J. Jonah Jameson: "It's All About the Benjamins"-Puff Daddy

I mean...come on...what other song would represent JJ?

Teen Titans: "Revolution"-The Beetles

The Titans are starting to come into their own as a group, and as an instrument of Colonel Fury, they are an instrumental part of the resistance to Lex Luthor's anti-meta human stance, and Revolution really encompasses that, IMO.

 

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[Rain Dog]

Teen Titans: "Revolution"-The Beatles

grumble grumble

 

[Andy C.]

Good picks there, Carnage.

 

[Green Lantern]

Digging deep into both past and present characters/arcs:

World of Heroes
Season II
Kara Zor-El: Two songs came to mind and were constantly in my playlists whilst writing Kara during the first Dark Alliance arc one for when she was in morning of Bart, and one for when she was seeking vengeance for Bart.

Kara in mourning - Take Away My Pain by Dream Theater

Kara in a rage - These Walls by Dream Theater

Season III
Kara Zor-El: One song really hit home about the situation Kara was in with her idol siding with the season's big bad.

Heroes by Shinedown

Kara's Theme throughout:

Dream On by Aerosmith - Kara's a dreamer, always holding on to hope for the future.

Kara and Bart:
I can't pick anything but what I consider to be the best love song of all time.

Something by The Beatles

Roy's Theme:

I've had a couple of songs I've used over the years to get me into the mood to post as Roy Harper.

Bleed the Freak - Alice in Chains

Six Gun Quota - Seether

I'll post for other characters later, but those are the first two I'm going to knock out.

 

[Carnage27]

grumble grumble

Quite correcting my terrible spelling and post in Star Wars.

Good picks there, Carnage.

Thanks.

 

[The Question]

Also, while I haven't played him in a while (although I might want to fix that soon), I've thought of this as The Question's theme song for a while. Largely because, regardless of what version of him you're talking about, it reflects an unchanging aspect of his worldview.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=monyiOsoKxg

 

[Eddie Brock]

All-Star Marvel

The Punisher: "Broken" - Seether ft. Amy Lee

The one thing I want to emphasize most with Frank Castle/The Punisher is his humanity. Like Peter Parker with Uncle Ben, Frank never forgets his family and why he does what he does. It's also pretty cool that this song was on The Punisher (2004)'s soundtrack. I didn't realize that.

Iron Man: "Thunderstruck" - AC/DC

This was a pretty obvious choice. Tony Stark is a rock star in his own right, and he leads the lifestyle to back it up. Between fast cars, loose women, stiff drinks, and his own personal battlesuit, there's no thrill Tony won't try to achieve.

Araña: "Rise Today" - Alter Bridge

This song really feels like something you'd hear on the Spider-Man or Spider-Man 2 soundtracks. While the lyrics speak to trying to save the world, the music itself is something you could picture playing in the background as Araña runs around the city, performing all kinds of acrobatics which would give Spidey a run for his money.


One Universe

The Human Torch: "Noots" - Sum 41

Ever since hearing the opening riff of this song as Johnny Storm was snowboarding in The Fantastic Four, this song has epitomized Johnny for me. Fast-paced, living on the edge, all these things represent Johnny perfectly. Unlike Tony Stark with '80's rock, though, Johnny would cling to more modern music.

The Joker: "Joker & The Thief" - Wolfmother

Oh, come on? How could I not?

"I said the Joker is a wanted man/ He makes his way all across the land/ See him sifting through the sand/ So I'll tell you all the story about the Joker and the thief in the night!"

Plus, there are times in the song where either the lead vocalist's voice or the lead guitar seems to waver, as if giving into the insanity of the Joker and the thief.


Ultimate DC

Green Arrow: "Right Before Your Eyes" - Hoobastank

Some of you might recognize this as the training montage song from Daredevil. I like it for Green Arrow because it's all about forging a new life for yourself, which is exactly what Ollie is doing. It's also a little more upbeat, which is nice because it helps differentiate Green Arrow from the darker world of Batman.

Selina Kyle: "Fighter" - Christina Aguilera

That's right. Time for some vintage Christina. Let's face it. This song is pretty much the penultimate anthem for women standing up for themselves, and that's exactly what Selina is going to do in the wake of the attack on her life. Maroni has made Selina a fighter, and it's something I'm sure he'll come to regret.

 

[Spider-Man9X17]

Heroes Vs Villians: Hawkeye

I imagine one of these two songs when Hawkeye's been pushed just a little too far and finally lets all hell break loose. They both start out with a slow little lead in, then explode, much like Clint. JUst imagine him standing there, eye twitching, s***-faced grin before the arrows and fists begin to fly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9MdzQf7hXw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6hI3YUOVg1w