It’s Time for a DEATH BATTLE!
Boomstick: “He’s Wiz and I’m Boomstick.”
Death Battle “Samus vs. Boba Fett” (Season 1, Episode 1)
Wiz: “And it’s our job to analyze their weapons, armor, and skills to find out who would win… a Death Battle!”
Who would win in a fight? It’s the question that everyone asks at some point. Can Batman beat Iron Man with enough prep time? Can McGruff the Crime Dog kill Smokey Bear? If Captain Jack Sparrow crossed blades with The Dread Pirate Roberts, who would survive? These are the questions that inspired Death Battle.
Death Battle is a web series analyzing the skills of fictional characters before showing them fight to the death, similar to Spike’s Deadliest Warrior. Mad scientist Wiz details the characters’ pasts while drunken redneck Boomstick covers their abilities and feats of strength. They’ve hosted 199 fights at the time of this writing. So to celebrate the 200th, we’re counting down the top 5 episodes. Who is fighting? Who will live and who will die? Let’s find out. It’s time for a DEATH BATTLE!
Table of contents
#5 Scooby Doo vs. Courage the Cowardly Dog
Series: Scooby Doo, Courage the Cowardly Dog
Boomstick: “[a dance Scooby performed] was so beautiful it literally lit up the entire universe and blew up the enormous snow globe containing it. It makes sense if you watch the show. Actually… no, it doesn’t.“
“Scooby Doo vs. Courage the Cowardly Dog” (Season 10, Episode 13)
Wiz: “We can measure the volume of the broken glass compared to the size of our entire cosmos within it. [calculations appear] In order to shatter what is essentially an enormous glass superstructure, each dancer would have to be generating enough energy to destroy our universe 11 quintillion times over!“
Boomstick: “That’s right: Maddie Ziegler is a universe-buster!“
True courage isn’t being fearless, it’s being scared out of your mind and doing the right thing anyway. You won’t find bigger scaredy cats anywhere, but Mystery Incorporated’s Great Dane and the bravest Beagle of them all showed their courage in a Death Battle.
The Analysis: The hosts introduce Scooby Doo as if he were a real celebrity, covering his humble beginnings as a crime solver. Wiz then covers Scooby dealing with real monsters and godlike abominations while Boomstick handles cartoon gags that the hosts take literally, building up Scooby as a cartoon-fueled trickster.
Courage’s rundown starts similarly, exploring his abandonment and later adoption by the Bagge family. His goofier feats are taken just as literally while building up Courage’s namesake trait in the face of everything that Nowhere, U.S.A. can throw at him. Wiz takes more responsibility for the rundown while Boomstick declares a vendetta against Courage’s abusive redneck owner: Eustace.
The Battle: Courage and Scooby bump into each other in a spooky mansion. A monster attacks both of them and Courage trips Scooby as they run away. The Great Dane is pissed at the betrayal and starts fighting Courage while they run.
Many running gags from their shows make an appearance as the dogs try to overwhelm each other. Their weapons and powers escalate, but which of them will be the top dog? And what is the monster trying to kill them?
#4 Joker vs. Giorno Giovanna
Series: Persona, Jojo’s Bizarre Adventures
Giorno: “This, sciocco fantasma, is justice. This… is REQUIEM!”
“Joker vs. Giorno” (Season 11, Episode 2)
Justice holds many meanings to people, but these gold-hearted criminals rebel against society in pursuit of their own justice. Whose conviction is stronger: Japan’s Phantom Thief of Hearts or Italy’s glittering Gang-Star?
The Analysis: The hosts cover Joker’s beginnings as a high schooler whose life was ruined when he was accused of assault. The story expands to his discovery of the Metaverse and forming the Phantom Thieves to brainwash corrupt authority figures into repenting. Wiz explains the lore behind Joker’s mythological Personas, ranging from Arsene Lupin to Satanael. Boomstick delves into the magic he draws from Personas and goofier parts of Persona 5’s story.
Giorno’s rundown covers his childhood rescue of a dying gangster who repaid him by scaring off bullies. Wiz outlines Giorno’s vision of reforming the Mafia into peacekeeping “Gang-Stars” and his struggles to reach that dream. Boomstick covers Giorno’s Stand: Golden Experience, a spiritual bodyguard that creates life and fights on Giorno’s behalf.
The Battle: Joker infiltrates Giorno’s mind to steal his Gang-Star dream. Arsene and Golden Experience duke it out while Giorno devises strategies to counter Joker’s weaponry and tricks.
Joker summons several personas to keep Golden Experience guessing, but falls for many tricks because he doesn’t understand Giorno’s powers. Once the Gang-Star evolves his Stand into Golden Experience Requiem, they nullify everything Joker can throw at them. Can the Phantom Thief steal victory from the jaws of defeat or is his rebellion useless, useless, useless?
#3 Heracles vs. Sun Wukong
Series: Classical Mythology, Journey to the West
Sun: “Woo! I haven’t had this much fun since I fought all of Heaven! CHANGE! [assumes a giant multi-limbed form] Behold me: The Immortal Monkey King!”
“Hercules vs. Sun Wukong” (Season 9, Episode 7)
Heracles: “Huh… Multiple heads. Of course.”
Anime, comics, video games, and other mediums fill Death Battle’s roster, but this fight was the first to focus on mythology. East meets west as China’s Victorious Fighting Buddha takes on the Greek God of Heroes.
The Analysis: The hosts discard every adaptation to examine the original legends. Wiz unearths Heracles’ legendary Twelve Labors and other heroic tales he appeared in. Boomstick details the demigod’s strength, artifacts, and ascension to divinity upon death.
Sun Wukong’s rundown starts with his birth and ends in enlightenment. Wiz covers his studies, the gods he opposed, his fall from grace, and redemption. Boomstick analyzes Sun Wukong’s magic, artifacts, and the seven layers of his immortalities. Yes, plural.
The Battle: A narrator introduces the battle as Heracles and Sun Wukong fight over a magic apple. The Greek hero lands devastating blows, but the Monkey King’s tricks, transformations, and immortality allow him to survive.
A scroll appears several times that sends the combatants to new battlefields. Heracles puts Wukong on the backfoot with arrows coated in Hydra venom that can pierce his immortality. Their fight transcends the world, resulting in their divine forms clashing. A riddle, dear readers: Who wins when the unstoppable God meets the immortal Buddha?
#2 Death Battle: Bowser vs Doctor Eggman
Series: Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog
Eggman: “Excellent work as always, Metal. Ready to wrap this up, Sage?”
“Bowser vs. Eggman” (Season 11, Episode 3)
Sage: “As you command.”
Eggman: “You know what they say, the more the merrier!”
Bowser: [transforms into Fury Bowser] “SHOWTIME!”
Death Battles are almost always one on one. The rules ban outside help with a few exceptions. This is one of them, an all-out war between the Koopa Kingdom and the Eggman Empire.
The Analysis: The hosts discuss Bowser and his minions during the rundown. Wiz outlines his rise as the Koopa King and the familial band of misfits that he formed to conquer the Mushroom Kingdom. Boomstick highlights the foot soldiers, generals, and the many magical artifacts that Bowser has stolen over decades.
Wiz pulls back the curtain on fellow mad scientist Dr. Eggman, exposing his trauma and later creation of a murderous machine army. Boomstick shows the inner workings of that army, paying special attention to ultimate weapon Metal Sonic and Eggman’s A.I. daughter, Sage.
The War: Eggman stages a fake wedding with Princess Peach to lure Bowser into a trap. He uses a giant robot to battle the furious turtle-dragon. Their minions are evenly matched as their leaders pit brains against brawn.
Generals escalate the war. Court wizard Kamek wields magic against the machines while Bowser Jr. empowers his dad with cursed paint. Metal Sonic single-handedly turns the tide with his invincible Super Neo Mode, bolstered by Sage computing thousands of strategies to support the army. Can the Koopa Kingdom’s unity and magic overcome the Eggman Empire’s greatest creations?
#1 Superman vs Goku 3
Series: DC Comics, Dragon Ball
Goku: “You’re still holdin’ back. Give it your all, no regrets!”
“Superman vs. Goku” (Season 10, Episode 15)
Superman: I’m doin’ just fine.”
Enough with the scuffles, it’s time for the Main Event. This match-up has been argued for decades. It ended Death Battle’s first season and became their first rematch. But now, the victor must be declared: Is the Super Saiyan Son Goku stronger than Superman: The Last Son of Krypton?
The Analysis: Wiz summarizes decades of Goku’s growth from a Sun Wukong adaptation into a hero fighting in multiversal wars. He then expands into spinoffs and non-canon media to see how strong the mightiest Saiyan can become. Boomstick studies Goku’s martial arts, ki techniques, and every transformation from Kaioken to Mastered Ultra Instinct.
Superman’s analysis covers everything from the first comic to the modern movies. Wiz crunches numbers to understand Superman’s greatest feats while Boomstick delves into every power Clark’s used.
The Fight: Superman and Goku have previously fought, but Goku believes that he can win this rematch. He realizes Superman is holding back and urges him to cut loose, using his strongest transformations to push Superman further. It doesn’t work until they accidentally destroy the moon and Goku reminds Clark that they can use the Dragon Balls to fix any damage that they cause.
Superman unleashes his full power, tearing holes in space-time with every punch. Goku ascends to Ultra Instinct to counter attack, pushing both of them past their limits as they fight across Earth. But when both of them achieve their strongest forms, who will triumph in this universe-destroying clash of paragons?
What is your favorite Death Battle? Did we miss an amazing duel? What characters do you want to see fight to the death? Tell us in the comments.
Jared Bounacos has written for Movie Rewind since 2016.
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