When it comes to hand-to-hand fighting,Batmanis one of the greatest in the DC Universe - but at least one person is better. There are very few characters who can stand up to his mastery over martial arts, but there are a few who are better than him, and DC is holding a grudge match between two martial artists who would absolutely destroy Batman if he tried to step into the ring.
In an interview withPolygonabout his new series with Ryan Sook,Black Canary: Best of the Best,Tom King discusses just how dangerous Lady Shiva isand why Black Canary will have to be the “best of the best” to go up against her. King states that, as the title implies, the comic is about only the best fighters that DC has to offer, and unfortunately, Batman just doesn’t make the cut:
I mean, the book is calledThe Best of the Best, and Lady Shiva is the best hand-to-hand fighter in the DC universe. Male, female, what have you, she’s number one. And Black Canary is number two. This is a fight that if Batman got in the ring, he’d get his ass kicked by both of these women. And I say that as a guy who’s written hundreds of issues with Batman [laughs] and loves the character, but that’s what this fight is about. It’s about who is the best fighter in the DC universe. And it just happens to be that the number one champion and number one contender are both women.
According to King, DC’s best fighters are Lady Shiva and Black Canary.Batman isn’t even the best fighter in the Bat-Family.
Lady Shiva Has Always Been DC’s Greatest Fighter, Not Batman
Batman Actually Never Stood a Chance
Black Canary: The Best of the Best #1 by King and Sook - Lady Shiva is ready to fight
Black Canary has always been one of the greatest fighters in the DC Universe, and in King and Sook’s new series, she’s going up againstwho is widely considered to be DC’s best fighter: Lady Shiva. Many fans might want to see Batman jump into the ring and show off his own martial skills against these two iconic characters, but the truth is, Batman would get completely destroyed.
The entire point of Lady Shiva’s character is to demonstrate that no matter what, there’s always someone better.
After the death of his parents, Bruce Wayne traveled the world and attempted to learn from the greatest martial artists to ever live. This training definitely paid off, as Batman is one of the greatest fighters around. But he’snever been able to stand up against Black Canary or Lady Shiva. Batman has even outright admitted that he stands no chance againstCassandra Cain, the daughter of Lady Shiva, who often fights on par with her.
Batman Has Never Beaten Lady Shiva Under Normal Circumstances
But Maybe Black Canary Stands a Chance
The entire point of Lady Shiva’s character is to demonstrate that no matter what, there’s always someone better. Lady Shiva has spent the majority of her adult life traveling the world, trying to find someone who would finally be capable of killing her, and she hasn’t found anyone yet.Shiva has gone up against some of the greatest fighters in the DC Universe, and at one point or another, she’s defeated all of them. She regularly fights Cassandra Cain to a stand-still, and she’ll be one of Black Canary’s biggest challenges yet - a challenge thatBatman himself has never been able to overcome.
Even Superman Admits This Shock Hero Is Batman’s Equal as a Fighter
There are plenty of powerful criminals in Gotham City, but only one of them is stated to be on the same level as Batman by Superman himself.
While it’s true that Batman has beaten Lady Shiva before, it was almost always under extenuating circumstances, such as when she was being mind controlled by Gorilla Grodd during thePublic Enemiesstory arc. Lady Shiva is almost always put above Batman in terms of martial skill, and Black Canary is no slouch either. As fun as it might be to imagine Batman going a few rounds with either Lady Shiva or Black Canary during this event, the truth is that this is one grudge match thatBatmanwouldn’t stand a chance in.
Black Canary: Best of the Best#1is available now from DC Comics!
Source:Polygon
Batman
One of DC’s most iconic heroes, Batman is the vigilante superhero persona of billionaire Bruce Wayne. Forged by tragedy with the death of his parents, Bruce dedicated his life to becoming the world’s leading martial artist, detective, and tactician. Recruiting an entire family of allies and sidekicks, Bruce wages war on evil as the dark knight of his hometown, Gotham City.
