History Main / EvasiveFightThreadEpisode

** There is a legend that in the '80s DC had a memo posted in the editors offices that indicated that anyone with their own comic could defeat Batman ''once'' and ''only in their own comic'', and only if he was surprised. Beyond that there was said to be a list of 5 characters that could beat a prepared Batman in his comic but that these battles were to be saved for big events only.

*** This is because in Batman's comic, people are used to him being awesome. He doesn't need to be a ''MemeticBadass'' during these times. However, it's always nice to remind people in other comics just how awesome Batman really is.

*** Interestingly, Batman ''has'' been defeated, repeatedly, in his own comic. Specifically, [[{{ComicBook/Knightfall}} the first time he fought Bane]], he was absolutely destroyed. Then again, Bane deliberately manipulated Batman so that he would be taxed to the absolute limit of his endurance and unable to put up a fraction of the fight that he could have if he'd been healthy and rested.

** While it's not strictly canon, we do get to see Batman and Superman actually go at it in ''ComicBook/TheDarkKnightReturns''. The aged Batman uses x-ray activated homing missiles, a powered exoskeleton, sonic scramblers, acid-to-the-face, the tank version of the Batmobile (driven by Robin), a [[CrazyPrepared synthesized kryptonite]] arrow (fired by the one armed Green Arrow), and then is helped by the Sun (source of Superman's power) being blotted out thanks to a recent nuclear blast (that Superman was caught in and not yet recovered from). [[spoiler: In the moment of victory, Batman's heart gives out and Superman wins by default]]

* ''Series/KamenRiderDecade'''s Rider Vs. Rider fights are filled with nothing but this. Every time a fight begins, it will ''never'' be finished. Someone will always interfere, or they will simply retreat. In fact, there was one episode where Decade and [[Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger ShinkenRed]] were about to transform and fight each other, but were interrupted. The only time Decade ever won a Rider Vs. Rider fight was when that rider happened to be the BigBad of a world, [[spoiler: or when he taps into his SuperPoweredEvilSide]]. The only Decade Vs. Rider fight he did win outside of these conditions was against Imperer.

** Despite at least 3 chances to have seen an outcome, we have yet to truly see who would win a fair fight between Batman and his closest MarvelUniverse equivalent in BadAss, CaptainAmerica[[note]]Well, technically, Batman's Marvel counterpart would be {{Daredevil}}, but that's not the point.[[/note]]. See:

* Averted in the CrossOver between SavageDragon and ComicBook/{{Hellboy}} in which Dragon was clearly shown to be stronger. The issue was co-written by both character's creators.

** Spidey has a similar relationship with {{Daredevil}} despite the two of them being close friends. They would always fight to a standstill. Often, Spider-Man would be hindered in some way (mind-controled, wounded, etc.) in order to make the fight more even since he had SuperStrength and DD didn't.

* ''Variable Geo'' ends on the first exchange of blows in the battle that will determine who is actually champion of the eponymous tournament around and against which the entire show's action takes place.

* The entire final episode of ''{{S-cry-ed}}'' [[spoiler:is a continuation of the fight between the two main characters, Kazuma and Ryuho, which had been interrupted on several different occasions. The second-to-[[DistantFinale last]] scene of the episode (and the series) has both characters severely injured. It is never explicitly stated who won the fight, although it is popularly believed that Kazuma triumphed based on the fist made by the victor (which is the only thing we see, and in silhouette so that we can't be absolutely sure whether those are Kazuma's scars).]]

* Parodied in the end of an episode of ''WesternAnimation/Undergrads'' where Nitz and Gimpy get into a heated war over who is better at trivia, culimnating in a showdown in a trivia tournament. Their tournament gets interrupted and the episode ends with [[EverybodyLaughsEnding everyone laughing]], but just when you think the trope's going to come into play, Gimpy gets one final line:

* There was a one-shot comic entitled ''SpiderMan vs. {{Wolverine}}'' released in the eighties where the two characters fought without a clear winner (it ended in a deadlock and was broken up by bad guys). Later, a Marvel Comics Presents story with the same title also showed an inconclusive fight (Spider-Man attacked a person whom he thought was impersonating Wolverine and stopped after a few traded blows once Wolvie proved he was the real deal).

** Spidey has a similar relationship with {{Daredevil}} despite the two of them being close friends. They would always fight to a standstill. Often, Spider-Man would be hindred in some way (mind-controled, wounded, etc.) in order to make the fight more even since he had SuperStrength and DD didn't.

** While it's not strictly canon, we do get to see Batman and Superman actually go at it in ''[[spoiler:ComicBook/TheDarkKnightReturns]]''. The aged Batman uses x-ray activated homing missiles, a powered exoskeleton, sonic scramblers, acid-to-the-face, the tank version of the Batmobile (driven by Robin), a [[CrazyPrepared synthesized kryptonite]] arrow (fired by the one armed Green Arrow), and then is helped by the Sun (source of Superman's power) being blotted out thanks to a recent nuclear blast (that Superman was caught in and not yet recovered from). [[spoiler: In the moment of victory, Batman's heart gives out and Superman wins by default]]

* In ''{{The X-Files}}'', a fight between Skinner and X comes to an ambiguous conclusion. Both actors still insist they would have won.

** In the comics, there were ''seven'' separate {{Superman}} / {{Flash}} races; all but two ended ambiguously. Flash won both the clear ones: in the first, Flash (Barry Allen) won by a couple feet, after they crawled across the desert without the use of their legs. It's implied that Superman is less used to running as compared to flying, while running is what the Scarlet Speedster does all the time. In the second, Flash (Wally West) won by mere inches, and Superman confirmed that Wally was The Fastest Man Alive.
*** The comics established that in a foot race Flash would always win, but if Superman flew, then he would always win.
** Subverted in 2009 Flash: Rebirth storyline when Superman chases after the Flash [[spoiler:only to have Barry remind him, "Those races were for charity Clark" and abruptly leave Supes in his literal dust. Indicating that who's faster should never have been a real question.]]
** Averted in ''{{Smallville}}'', which makes it very clear Bart Allen is ''much'' faster than Clark. When the two race, Clark nearly catches up, and then Bart enters superspeed ''from Clark's perspective'', after keeping up with him ''while running backwards''.
*** Of course, later episodes establish Clark as being ''faster than bloody light''...of course, there's a lot of room between "faster than light" and "faster than TheFlash."
** Superman did clearly beat the Flash in a race once, when he was [[DorkAge Superman Blue]]... but [[FanonDisContinuity we don't talk about that.]]

* Franchise/{{Batman}} is widely accepted[[note]][[YourMileageMayVary by Batman fans who repeat the phrase "with enough preptime" until the other person throws their hands up in exasperation]][[/note]] to be the clear victor in all fights, including against ''Superman himself,'' on account of him being so CrazyPrepared. Provided he knows who he's up against and he has a little time, he can work out a way to beat his opponent. No exceptions.

* Franchise/{{Batman}} is widely accepted to be the clear victor in all fights, including against ''Superman himself,'' on account of him being so CrazyPrepared. Provided he knows who he's up against and he has a little time, he can work out a way to beat his opponent. No exceptions.

* In the final episode of ''KamenRiderKiva'', the eponymous hero and his half-brother have a fight - at the suggestion of their mother - in order to work out their past aggression ([[spoiler:since most of the way through the series they were mortal enemies]]). The scene cuts away before we see who won, but since it was a LightheartedRematch it really doesn't matter.
* ''KamenRiderDecade'''s Rider Vs. Rider fights are filled with nothing but this. Every time a fight begins, it will ''never'' be finished. Someone will always interfere, or they will simply retreat. In fact, there was one episode where Decade and [[SamuraiSentaiShinkenger Shinken Red]] were about to transform and fight each other, but were interrupted. The only time Decade ever won a Rider Vs. Rider fight was when that rider happened to be the BigBad of a world, [[spoiler: or when he taps into his SuperPoweredEvilSide]]. The only Decade Vs. Rider fight he did win outside of these conditions was against Imperer.
** Averted in the first movie, where the entire point is a [[InevitableTournament Rider tournament]]. We see brief flashes of several fights, but see (or learn) the outcomes of the ones that matter. Decade vs [[KamenRiderBlackRX Black RX]]? [[spoiler:RX dominates most of the fight, but Decade wins in the end]]. [[KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]] vs [[Series/KamenRiderX X-Rider]]? [[spoiler:Kuuga wins it]]. Decade, Diend, and Kuuga vs [[Series/KamenRiderV3 V3]], [[Series/KamenRiderSuper1 Super-1]], and [[Series/KamenRiderBlack Black]]? [[spoiler: Diend [[DirtyCoward punks out early]], Kuuga gets eliminated TakingTheBullet for Decade, and Decade takes out all three opponents at once through clever use of his [[DoppelgangerSpin AttackRide: Illusion]] card.]]

** Averted in the first movie, where the entire point is a [[InevitableTournament Rider tournament]]. We see brief flashes of several fights, but see (or learn) the outcomes of the ones that matter. Decade vs [[KamenRiderBlackRX Black RX]]? [[spoiler:RX dominates most of the fight, but Decade wins in the end]]. [[KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]] vs [[Series/KamenRiderX X-Rider]]? [[spoiler:Kuuga wins it]]. Decade, Diend, and Kuuga vs [[Series/KamenRiderV3 V3]], [[{{KamenRiderSuper-1}} Super-1]], and [[Series/KamenRiderBlack Black]]? [[spoiler: Diend [[DirtyCoward punks out early]], Kuuga gets eliminated TakingTheBullet for Decade, and Decade takes out all three opponents at once through clever use of his [[DoppelgangerSpin AttackRide: Illusion]] card.]]

** Averted in the first movie, where the entire point is a [[InevitableTournament Rider tournament]]. We see brief flashes of several fights, but see (or learn) the outcomes of the ones that matter. Decade vs [[KamenRiderBlackRX Black RX]]? [[spoiler:RX dominates most of the fight, but Decade wins in the end]]. [[KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]] vs [[Series/KamenRiderX X-Rider]]? [[spoiler:Kuuga wins it]]. Decade, Diend, and Kuuga vs [[KamenRiderV3 V3]], [[{{KamenRiderSuper-1}} Super-1]], and [[Series/KamenRiderBlack Black]]? [[spoiler: Diend [[DirtyCoward punks out early]], Kuuga gets eliminated TakingTheBullet for Decade, and Decade takes out all three opponents at once through clever use of his [[DoppelgangerSpin AttackRide: Illusion]] card.]]

** Averted in the first movie, where the entire point is a [[InevitableTournament Rider tournament]]. We see brief flashes of several fights, but see (or learn) the outcomes of the ones that matter. Decade vs [[KamenRiderBlackRX Black RX]]? [[spoiler:RX dominates most of the fight, but Decade wins in the end]]. [[KamenRiderKuuga Kuuga]] vs [[KamenRiderX X-Rider]]? [[spoiler:Kuuga wins it]]. Decade, Diend, and Kuuga vs [[KamenRiderV3 V3]], [[{{KamenRiderSuper-1}} Super-1]], and [[KamenRiderBlack Black]]? [[spoiler: Diend [[DirtyCoward punks out early]], Kuuga gets eliminated TakingTheBullet for Decade, and Decade takes out all three opponents at once through clever use of his [[DoppelgangerSpin AttackRide: Illusion]] card.]]

* {{Batman}} is widely accepted to be the clear victor in all fights, including against ''Superman himself,'' on account of him being so CrazyPrepared. Provided he knows who he's up against and he has a little time, he can work out a way to beat his opponent. No exceptions.

*** Of course, it turns out to be ThePlan [[spoiler: to cover his retreat from such a public crime fighting role]] anyways, but still.
** We get to see Batman kick the alien out of Superman with nothing but a Kryptonite ring [[CrazyPrepared he always carries]] in ''Hush.''
*** To be fair, he doesn't actually win. He just keeps Superman occupied until [[spoiler: Catwoman can threaten Lois and break Poison Ivy's hold over him.]] He states that he could tell that the S-man was holding back unconsciously because it's such a deeply ingrained characteristic to not hurt people. When he's actually under the influence of [[spoiler:Max Lord]], he puts Batman into traction.
** Of particular note is that despite at least 3 chances to have seen an outcome, we have yet to truly see who would win a fair fight between Batman and his closest MarvelUniverse equivalent in BadAss, CaptainAmerica[[note]]Well, technically, Batman's Marvel counterpart would be {{Daredevil}}, but that's not the point.[[/note]]. See:

->''"You know, we never settled who was the [[SuperSpeed Fastest Man Alive]]..."''

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** {{Subverted}} in another ''The Lost Adventures'' strip, "Swordbending". Sokka challenges [[spoiler:Zuko (after his HeelFaceTurn)]] into a "Swordbending Kai" (which of course is simply [[SwordFight a duel fought with swords]]). [[CurbStompBattle Sokka loses in a matter of seconds]]. And then again... and again... [[OverlyLongGag and a couple times more]]. ''Even his last effort to throw [[spoiler:Zuko]] off focus and defeat him with a sucker punch fails.'' In the end however, Sokka proudly states that even having lost the battle of ''swords'' he won the battle of ''words''.

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* Tex and Carolina in Machinima/RedVsBlue. The first time they fight, they're just running toward one another when they're interrupted by [[spoiler:the Director shouting "Allison"]]. The second time, they actually do get to fight, but they're interrupted again, this time by the ship plowing into a planet from outer space. [[spoiler:And Maine throwing Carolina off a cliff.]] Carolina ends up [[spoiler:saying Tex is stronger, but she was facing 50+ Texbots at the time]].

* In a recent PairOfKings episode, we never do get to find out which twin was born first. To make matters worse, commercials aired for weeks prior promising we'd find out, and the whole episode was drummed up big time.