Battling Blondes: Round 7 - Teamup Tribulations!

This week we shift gears away from the solo adventures of our pair of battling blondes, and dissect how well they work with fellow heroes. Actually we had a sneak peak into John Raymond's teammate chemistry, for when  last we saw him the Web worked well with his brother-in-law, Ralph (the Jaguar) Hardy. Only now, we review Web's inter-team dynamics with fellow Mighty Crusaders. And in a first, we consider Peter Cannon's sole documented case alongside the Sentinels of Justice! How well do both fare? Proceed if you dare...

Right from the start, the Web aspired to join the Crusaders, which we've previous joined fellow heroes Captain Flag and the Fox as potential recruits for the team. When that didn't go so well (in part thanks to John's aching back), they decided to go it as the terrific trio known as the Ultra-Men! They were so successful... they never reappeared. At least two of them bonded, that being the Web and Fox, no doubt due to the fact that both were sons of golden agers under the same monikers.

By the time the 1980's rolled around, John's stock had risen much like most of Wall Street, and he was immediately inducted into that decade's incarnation of the Mighty Crusaders. He carried such clout, he brought along good friend Doc Reeves in tow. In fact, he seemed to be the peacemaker in the group, no one had (or at least expressed) ill feelings towards him. However, on one occasion Web displayed some uncharacteristic prejudice towards Thunder Bunny, although he soon learned to trust the rascally rabbit rounding-up rough rogues relentlessly!

During an epic battle to save their allies from the Druid and his mercenary band of supervillains, the Web even faced death plummeting towards the Earth with death-defying fear and a tinge of remorse only for how his beloved Rose would be affected by her loss of her beloved husband! This same pattern of self-sacrifice for his teammates was reflected in his pursuit of evidence absolving his pal the Shield of a murder charge, and of his avenging the death of Reeves at the hands of Sting and the Brain Emperor.

Alas, Peter Cannon's record as a teammate was not quite as sterling! Mister "I can do it I must do it I will do it" was anything but when his world came under the influence of another Earth's Psycho Pirate. While the rest of the Sentinels of Justice were attempting to fight a perceived alien invasion under emotional duress, Thunderbolt uncharacteristically fled into a wall of white anti-matter. Saved by a superspeeding Jay Garrick aka the Flash, Peter was left in the next issue of Crisis on Infinite Earths as a hysterical looking rookie! What caused this change of demeanor for the normally cool/calm/collected hero? No one can say. Bad writing?

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: With more story to draw from and a solid track record of appearances alongside fellow Crusaders, the Web aces this category easily. Poor Thunderbolt needed some better P.R. when he was purchased by DC Comics, which leads to #2...

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: While the Web eventually gained exploding "web balls" created by Doc Reeves during the Mighty Crusaders run, it was Thunderbolts unexplained ability to seemingly run at superspeed that earns him a nod. Again, bad writing not referring to the source material when introducing classic characters into today's comics.

3.) Adversary: Thunderbolt faced a faster foe and a more fearsome fiend than had the Web, yet the Web's variety of enemies were varied in their approaches and diverse in their motivations. Attempting to transform humanity into mindless snakes beats out scaring the pants of people such for cheese and grins any old day. Web claims this one by a mile.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: Both in the silver and modern ages, the Web's charm laid in his everyman approach to superheroing, and this was never more clear than how well he worked with other champions possessing greater abilities than he. Had the Pete Cannon we all read and loved in the 60's returned during Crisis, he might have had a chance here.

And so the Web has a clear cut victory in this round, and the score is now 3-2-2 with 3 wins for the Web, 2 for Thunderbolt and 2 ties for the lad. So, as Round 7 is where we finish this epic duel, the Web is the victor but not by much. Hence T-Bolt gains honorable mention.

Battling Blondes: Round ? - Betty Versus Peggy

Taking a departure from our typical Battling Blondes (aka the Web and Thunderbolt), let's see how MLJ/Archie's finest blonde Betty Cooper stacks up to Charlton Comics's Peggy, girlfriend of Freddy.


For those who don't know, and there is a fine series of posts elsewhere on Charlton's dark haired weak-sister imitation of Archie, Freddy was a man of many tastes. Blonde, brunette, red-head... he was indiscriminatory and as thick headed as a freckle faced Mr. Andrews. And inexplicably, both attracted gorgeous blonde lasses that were exceptionally long-suffering.

Betty is legendary in her knowledge of cars, and frequently worked on Archie's various jalopies throughout the decades. Peggy, well she tends to view them as rivals!

Peggy is a no-nonsense girl... she will NOT accept competition nor will she be second fiddle to any ol' bimbo that attracts her Freddy's eye. And Betty? Groan,  this ponytail pinhead  is simply dense! Lord!

These chicks both seem to LOVE to skate with their men and seem to attract some undesirable attention. For Peggy, her competition is a big blob with no eyes...for Betty its a skinny twig dufus with an even bigger appetite than mister manzere!

A toss up, neither are the brightest of bulbs. However, you never get a clear rival for Peggy as she helps stave off all the other gals, while Betty oscillates between a love/hate relationship with Veronica. And as such she is ALWAYS second fiddle. In fact, Betty has to bust her hump maintaining Archie's broken down ride to curry his affections while Peggy need not lift a single finger.

But here's the clincher. What if Freddy met Betty, and Archie met Peggy? Both would still have wandering eyes, yet Archie would definitely dump Ronnie for the infinitely more stylish and self-confident Peg. And Betts would be but one of a menagerie of madams in Freddy's ever typical fictional life in the 50's.

Score this round to Peggy and the blondes over at Charlton (fear not, you Web fans, this won't affect the overall tally of the main competition transpiring between our guy gladiators... we'll revisit that subject in a future posting).

Now the golden age Betty of Earth-MLJ, well.. she was the cat's meow. Freddy would have bought some war stamps for her for sure! Those killer legs and demur look must have done it!

Battling Blondes: Round 6 - Int'l Intrigue!

Once more we return to that tried and true well of battling blondes, Peter Cannon aka Thunderbolt and John Raymond Jr aka the Web, for one more round of our stylish superheroes of the sizzling sixties. This time, each faces an international threat and gangs that are low-tech. So let's inspect this tale we're about to dissect!

For the Web, we advance to the eighties for his first (sorta) solo tale of that era, backed up half way through by his just then revealed brother-in-law, the Jaguar. This story is from Blue Ribbon Comics #14, a MLJ / Mighty Comic's  Red Circle's anthology title as its swan song. Now under the doomed Archie Adventure Series banner.

And in a major case of deja vu (say isn't that an Eastern thing?), and we don't mean the repeated head shots and lightning bolts on the cover, Thunderbolt goes back to the Himalayas for issue 58th issue. And like the 54th issue, he faces an assortment of dinosaurs on the cover. For this go around, he's saving someone other than Tabu, and could it be the love bug might finally bit our hero? Nah.

What an awesome intro that shows a quiet confidence that was quite lacking during Web's silver age run. In an interesting twist, no doubt to differentiate himself from his legendary father, John Jr. is no longer a criminology instructor but now changed careers to become a superhero CSI! He and Barry Allen could've had a rip roaring CSI-DC, couldn't they? Forensics would never be the same!

Meanwhile, Thunderbolt harkened back to his fictional roots way back in the 1940's, wherein his creator Pete Morisi attempted to replicate the nostalgia of the golden age Daredevil aka Bart Hill. Both were raised in foreign societies, acquire  great physical prowess, have similar fashion sense and have a long emnity with foes from the East, for double D it was the Claw... for T-Bolt it was the Hidden One. In this very issue we see the rivalry reignited.

In the opening scenes of his adventure, Web tracks down aspiring athlete Washington Hayes, who has turned to the wrong side of crime. This of course is a prelude to Web's battle with a South African terrorist for hire, the Freelancer, complete with a full scale battle suit and a plan to extort millions by sending a ferry boat into Staten Island using it as a moving bomb! This decades before 911! Very odd!

In what seems to be a regular ritual over at the Cannon-Tabu household, our dynamic duo are once more engaged in a no holds barred smack down to see who dominates once more! And yet again, Tabu ends up doubled over for all his futile efforts at camaraderie. And for once, Pete is already involved in tracking down a missing girl lost near his homeland! Tabu is getting slow in his old age. Or rather, he's slowly becoming less a character and more of a tired plot point.

After this confrontation with a common criminal, John sheds his costumed persona and reveals the creampuff underneath! Berated by his supervisor in the coroners office (Quincy was always a bit cranky before his morning coffee), we learn the young man Web cornered the night before was found dead... victim to a mysterious shadowy man who also stalked the zoo where Jaguar's civilian identity Ralph Hardy was employed at the riles the animals.

Now assuming his colorful garbs, Thunderbolt tracks the missing girl Lori Carson to a secluded fortress ran by the Hidden One (guess if you were a mayor named Hidden One, you'd pick an out of the way town) where she's merely bait for the mastermind to lure his limber rival into a series of death traps. Which he, of course, manages to circumvent with his fists and his feats of flying fanciful footwork. He always did make it look effortless, sorta like a 60's Jason Borne without all the angst and armaments, you know?

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: Regrettably, Blue Ribbon #14 was the last issue, but not due to the content in this or most past issues, at it was a remarkably strong run for a minor publisher in the superhero genre during this period of time. And this particular story focused on a gripping dilemma wherein our heroes Web and Jaguar face an implacable foe that tests their limits. For Thunderbolt, it seems a tad broiler plated from issue #54 of his title. No contest Web wins!

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: While Thunderbolt operates with his usual athlete flair of mid-air somersaults and seemingly endless stamina, it is the Web who seems to exert an unnatural ability, as in sticking to walls while merely holding a line while forming complete thoughts without a pant of breath! You go boy!

3.) Adversary: The Hooded One is once more implementing his machinations through agents, deception and some of his knowledge derived from the scrolls which Cannon ultimately obtained. Why does he complain so much he practically memorized the whole things before he had to hand it over to blondie. Anyway, he doesn't have nearly the hardware that Freelancer is equipped with... so he wins this for his arachnid adversary.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: The interpersonal plot points interspersed in the Blue Ribbon story, including Rose reading about her husband's soon-to-be foe's path of destruction in the local newspaper... as subconsciously goading John on to right wrongs. Of course, as is true to form, Rose in the end objects to hubby's involvement in the case (while not carrying one wit about her superpowered brother's well being, nucleon belt notwithstanding). And the conversation between brothers-in-law Ralph and John, wherein they both walk away looking down on each other (John thinks Ralph is a womanizer and Ralph things John is a doormat...yes on both points!) .Not much in T-Bolt #58 that hasn't been recycled from earlier in the series.Once more, make mine Red Circle!

And so the Web has a clear cut victory in this round, and the score is now 2-2-2 with 2 wins for both blondes and 2 ties! Will a seventh battle lead to a knock out? We have one more round to go!

Battling Blondes: Round 5 - Saucy Sidekicks

After several weeks hiatus, we continue with our duel to the definitive defeat of either Peter Cannon...Thunderbolt or the Web aka Professor John Raymond. The score thus far is 2-1-1 with T-bolts two wins to Web's single score and a tied first round. Why do we continue to return to these two? Maybe because they are cool... timeless... rad... awesome! They typify the potential excellence of superhero comics when non super-powered men have the nerve to wear brightly clad plumage and exert their mental superiority!

This time we once more shift gears to the saucy sidekicks of our duo of daring do-gooders, and without a doubt both Tabu and Rose definitely can kick the daring dudes in the side where it counts like nobody's business. As in, they can at times be pains in the butt... but our blonde bombshells will still stand by them in good times and bad. And they know that Rose and Tabu will do the same for them. We see this in today's stories and whether they will prove a help... or a hindrance?

While Tabu seems to have what it takes... he trained in the same mountain fortress by the same masters as Pete... it seemed he never had quite enough for mano y mano with the MAN bolt. And he succumbs to a poison planted by their arch foe, the Hooded One. At times he was more a liability than an asset to our blonde battler!

Rose, however, could easily hold her own against any guy whom she came across, and typically left her man John on his knees scrubbing the floor. Here she trains to one up her costumed husband. And she would soon engage in similar covert activities in a new alias!

Launching into action, Thunderbolt crossed the globe and heads to his native Himalayas to locate the cure to his friend's ailment. He comes upon Mongolian bandits and dinosaurs in a secluded valley in order to save his friend. And save him he does, escaping the death trap laid out by the One who is Hooded. However he would seek revenge later using some automatons to do his bidding!

Assuming the identity of "POW" Girl (this was, after all, the "pow wham bam" era of TV's Batman), Rose quickly ended the threat of the Stunner, after hubby already cleaned up after Mr. Scare and his gang of generic thugs. She later considers continuing her heroic adventures... although this proved short lived, much to the Web's unknowing regret (since he never did learn that his wife aided him that evening in her gaudy get-up)! EEK!

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: Thunderbolt wins this category, since Tabu's life is in jeopardy and he has to race against the clock to save his friend. How he does this given the swiftness of the disease and the distance from North America to Asia... well that is left to your imaginations to reconcile!

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: Thunderbolt's will power wins out against the Web, who can't seem to face up to a return bout with his twin adversaries. I mean... if he can't face them then dinosaurs would've been the end of our webbed warrior! GASP!

3.)Adversary: The Stunner had a neat gimmick going for him which really seemed to work in his favor, while the Hooded One basically created a setup of superior numbers to try and take down his foe. He would have better and more creative outings then this, while Stunner's one time appearance cemented his success as a one hit wonder. Web wins this.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: This one is all in the sauciest of sidekicks, Rose, who kicks Stunner into tomorrow and kick starts the Web's affections for his long suffering (or sufferable?) wife. She adds a flair to this strip that would've definitely made it all the more endearing. Alas, she also was a one hit wonder in this alias. Still, she bags this for her boy!

And so, yet another tie performance! Will the Web come from behind? Will Thunderbolt finally triumph? Stay tuned!

Battling Blondes: Round 4 - Facing Fiery Fiends

We have been remiss in revisiting the duel between Peter Cannon, aka Thunderbolt, and John Raymond, aka the Web. So we present for you consideration (and consumption) Round 4. While this could just as easily have been slotted into "Friday Fiends", we'll have a different type of entry in that slot this week. So without further ado, let's get under way...are you READY to RUMBLE? Our blondes  are.

We had previously considered today's adversaries, the Dragon (or Dragon Master) and Inferno, in our last entry Round 3 - Cover Boys, and how each stacked up. Let's consider them more in depth as they go mano-y-mano with our battling blondes.

Interestingly enough, Web's tale begins while accepting an award alongside fellow crime fighter Inferno...from a crook as it turned out! Despite this apparent death trap of a ticking time bomb, what really concerns our masked marvel isn't impending death...but impending nagging from his fairer half Rose. Poor professor... he can never seem to catch a break where she is concerned. As a result, she takes a position at a museum as an assistant, leading to jealous feelings consuming Johnny.

Peter Cannon is the antithesis of John... and he would be the ideal mate for Rose formerly Wayne. Ah if only they had met across dimensional barriers! In any event, while on an international flight, Pete's plane is hijacked by the Dragon Master and his thugs, threatening to nuke their prey if their demands are not made. And to make good his threat, old D.M. turns on his mini blow torch and burns cigar chomping chump... showing all present that he means business. Thankfully Tabu had packed his pals suit.

"Down with culture. Up with barbarism"! "He's one of the town's swingingest playboys". You just can't make this stuff up! Well, Mighty Comics can and did so on a regular basis. Thankfully, Web's possessive nature leads him in the right place and time to confront...his old friend whom he JUST hung out with! Has his life turned topsy-turvy or what? More importantly, how will swingingest playboy Tom Alexander handle that portable blow torch that old "flaming carrot-top" insignia is flashing his way?

Over at Charlton, Thunderbolt is making the rounds in his introductions to this issues prime baddie, that Master of Dragons wearing that babuska hat (is this Chinese dude a fan of Russian styles or what). Watch it Petey, you almost ended up on the business end of that flame thrower like your tubby buddy above! Fancy footwork helps him sidestep a grilling from Mr. Fu-Manchu and quickly he out maneuvers his foe... leading to animosity that will lead to another confrontation a few pages later.

Now Web can impress all three.. his sly wife, his sinister enemy and his swinging rival... at one time. Using the element of surprise he quickly gets the drop on Inferno and soon his criminalist instincts leads him to conclude something ain't right in Smithsonian-town. He no doubt is aware of  Inferno's former criminal past, if not from Inferno's own mouth than from Steel Sterling (when they were paling around the back pages of Mighty Comics together). Still, since when did his former heroic colleague need to rely on a weapon

Returning to his secluded mansion outside New York City, he learns that Dragon Master as ascertained his duel identity and taken his loyal manservant Tabu hostage. Nothing gets Pete's lather up than when his buddy is in trouble, and he quickly tracks down both prey and predator. This leads to a trap set by the Master which he hopes will finally seal the doom of the red-and-blue action-hero. A sealed room transformed into a ready made coffin for the pair. Is this the end? Well, it is the last issue of Thunderbolt's 60's run... his creator the enigmatic writer known at the time only as P.A.M. had since vacated the title. So anything is possible.

Finally the real Inferno reveals himself and aids teh Web to take out his imitator and the generic gun wielding henchman that was all in vogue in the swinging 60's. Eat your heart out, Tom Alexander... this is how REAL men take out the trash. While you're dusting off those crusty old artifacts, our spandex supers are dusting off the criminal element in the city! To bad clueless hag Rose doesn't get the point... she goes ape over hubby varnishing the wood finishing at Raymond Casa. Sigh such is a lost art.

Steely willed resolve isn't just a mantra... it is literally a way of life for Mr Can... Must... Will. Finding a handy battering ram and the strength to swing it relentlessly despite blazing temperatures that would cause a mere mortal or patsy (read: Tabu) to faint in the presence of...Thunderbolt after two pages of indoctrinating us readers with the "can-do" pep talks all teens need to get out of bed in the morning...evacuates himself and his old ally. And not a moment to soon, for Dragon Master is making a hasty getaway!

And so ends yet another adventure of the Wonderful Web. Talk about "caught in a web of your own making", he knew this was going to happen and yet he still has to suck it up. It might help his cause if he changed out of his work clothes and back into his civvies, it no doubt irked dear Rose to see her love drapped in that wacked out garb. And so ends the silver age run of Professor Raymond... he would not return in a fresh adventure until the 1980's. Two decades didn't soften up Rose nor her stance to much.

Once more our Bolt of Thunder sidesteps a dreadful end at the end of his Asian adversaries barrel, and nearly allows gravity to grab hold of himself instead. Thankfully it is Dragon Master's own arrogance at his booby trapped weapon which cause a grisly end to both he and his own generic henchman (again...they were IT back in the day). And so wraps up the last silver age case of Mr. Raymond and not a moment to soon, as on a previous page he mentioned how every day of life as the Thunderbolt was one more day that Pete died a little more. Rest in retirement, pal.

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: Definitely the thrill of international intrigue lends this category in T-Bolt's direction. Still, how can you beat henpecking by a relentless antagonist that is close to the protagonist's heart? This is almost unheard of in comic book fiction and is a niche that Web fills nicely. However, a novelty doesn't replace a terrorist threat manifest in Thunderbolt #60. So Pete gets this one.

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: Thunderbolt and Web both used equal portions of physicality although Bolt tops him in the endurance department. Web just wilted under the scorching heat of his desert Rose. This goes to Thunderbolt.

3.)Adversary: As previously mentioned in our last entry, Dragon Master wins this item for Pete due to the scope of his scheme. The faux Inferno is strictly small potatoes in his scheme and in his organizational structure...although he's got a WAY cooler costume than D.M. Of course, he stole it so points for originality go to Dragon.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: We must reflect back to Tabu and Rose...and which intangible actually didn't hinder the hero as much as the other? Tough call... Tabu despite his years of training never seemed quite able to defend himself. The monks that raised him must've wanted their money back. Rose, however, was one tough cookie that rarely cracked under pressure. And she never sweated when facing near death by faux Inferno. So Web gets away with this category...if we skip the ending of Mighty Comics #50.

Thus Round 4 is Thunderbolt's victory by a score of 3-1. We have one or two more rounds to go before we find out who ends up the all time winner. Besides, of course, you their readers!

Battling Blondes: Round 3 - Cover Boys

Returning to comparison of those battling blondes, John Raymond aka the Web and the Peter Cannon aka Thunderbolt, so far we have a 3-1 lead from round 2 (round 1 ended in a draw). Our next area of focus are the covers portraying the pair in action. We've picked four...let's get started!

Pete going tet a tet against vicious apes...while John gets spanked by a common thug who is turn scared by bread roller! Pete takes this. Definitely not John's finest hour but the future Pow-Girl is showing some potential.

Although John shares billing with his Fly friends, he's definitely standing erect and ready for battle...unlike John who's tasting the potent power of that poisonous princesses of Ptolemy, Evila. I think John would have a shot against that gal considering he faces Rose every morning, noon, and night.

Once more John shows that he's isn't afraid to tackle solid girth. Those sumos no doubt eat guys like Bolt for breakfast. Meanwhile, it looks like the Fly is doing most of the work with John coming just in time for to bull rush the non-descript felon. We'd give it to the Fly, were he in this contest,  just for the sound effect alone.  This is the "POW" age, after all. You know he means business. Otherwise, this is ALL Petey for manning up.

Two fire-breathing baddies...now we're talking! Pete seems to have his oppenent, this time the Dragon, on the ropes. However, John has taken a tactical advantage..getting the drop on a villain, Inferno, imitating a hero who himself was a villain and foe of Steel Sterling. Anyways, since Dragon seems to be smirking despite encountering this might of the Bolt while Inferno seems to be in panic mode, will give a slight nod to the Web.


Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: Or, at least, Cover Drama? It would seem that Thunderbolt wins out since his covers are serious while typically there are comical elements strewn in Web's appearances. Although Pete's static and stilled poses do not convey quite as much action as John's fluid motions. Pete gets this by a nose.

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: Not much imagination in these covers. Flying fists are fairly typical. As are leaping through windows.Thankfully category 4 touches on this (see below) in a creative way.

3.)Adversary: Inferno beats Dragon since he has style points for his costume and legacy connection. The Wayne women beat Evila as we mentioned last week and Rose...as a foe or ally...wins every time hands down simply due to her dogged persistent and character motivation...preservation of her fool husband's life.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: Heed the Web's words "The Web will not only thrill you...it'll make ya laugh, cry, and mebbe even sneeze..you'll sneeze when...oh go buy the mag". Sneezing is a powerful incentive in our book. Pete's reply? "I can do it...I must do it...I will do it". Yawn! John wins.

To sum up, John wins Round 3! We'll resume Battling Blondes in a few weeks, after we introduce Dueling Ditko: Bugged-Out Bouts! Can't wait.

Battling Blondes: Round 2 - Femme Fatales

Last time on Battling Blondes, we ended in a tie between our contestants, The Web and The Thunderbolt. Once more we're using a four point grading system: 1.) Story Drama, 2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities, 3.)  Adversary, 4.) Intangibles that Worked. For Round 2, we introduce two femme fatales!

We now present Mighty Comics #45 amd Peter Cannon...Thunderbolt #51:

We've previously been introduced to Web's true arch-enemy, his mother-in-law! Mama Hardy truly is the epitome of ruthlessness as she is doggedly determined to ruin the career of Professor John Raymond, M.D.! Yet she is not the only ancient evil brunette menacing mankind...there is also Princess Evila!!! Revived after centuries if immobility thanks to the machinations of Thunderbolt's recurring nemesis, the Hooded One, she now uses her own indomitable will to create a tide of criminal activity to styme Peter Cannon. Who is stronger, the mommy or the mummy?

When faced one-on-one with these potent practioners of evil, our boys realize they are in BIGGGG trouble: The unearthly gaze of these haunting paralyzing pupils! GET OUT OF MY HEAD you beautiful, bemuse-ed, bellicose butchers. Un-trust... ing. Un-know... ing, Un-love... ed? Uh...huh?!?

Best to have a brief interlude in the story at this point to helps the Dudes reassess how they became THE BATTLING BLONDES to begin with!

Deep thinking young men confronted by other young men with potential yet bent toward a different path leading to a conflict between the two pairs forevermore.


Now back to the battle of wills with the horrible hags. Can these chicks get under a guy's skin or what? Looks like the bachelor has it all over married man in vanquishing his egotistical estrogenic enemy decisively!

Battling Blondes Rating

1.) Story Drama: Web's story is plain goofy as par for the course. Still, Thunderbolt's tale isn't a masterpiece of storytelling either. However, thanks in no small part to story length of T-Bolt's 20 pages to Web's 3 (he was hamstrung between features, this issue) plus a couple challenges faced by the former, this one goes to Pete.

2.) Imaginative Use of Abilities: Thunderbolt's reverse polarity of pulsating psyche to turn his foe into an elderly hag and out of the picture. And Web's...ummm...groveling at the feat of his own hag-in-law? No contest. Pete wins this hands down!

3.)Adversary: As far as raw power Princess Evila seems to have the upper hand, swaying the criminal community and reviving her once legendary infamy. However, she was a one-hit wonder while Rose's Mama Hardy would return for further bouts and held her own against costumed foes (see Madman). Yet at the end of T-Bolt's tale, Tabu reflects on the restoration formula and that Evila spelled backwards is Alive! Would she return one day? A big question mark in the last panel seems to indicate this.Until we see this story, John's foe helps him claim this category.

4.) Intangibles that Worked: A picture is worth a thousand words. Peter Cannon definitely has it where it counts in the multi-faceted skill set of all non-powered action heroes.

Johnny will eventually take on crocodiles of his own, although he'll do so aided by his pals he Mighty Crusader and the crocs in question are Crusaders! For THIS story, Pete takes this as well!


This round concludes with Thunderbolt winning 3 to 1! We may eventually have to jump ahead past the silver age of comics to give Web a fair chance, though there might be a surprise or two in store before we get that far in our epic Battling Blondes! Next up is Round 3: Cover Boys!