Awesome Arena: Batman vs. Nemesis

WRITTEN BY Mike Haynes   Posted on 09 August 2010   Awesome Arena

Longtime readers of the site will remember back to the early days of Panels of Awesome in which we would run a weekly battle between two characters, be they villains, heroes, sidekicks or supporting cast, and let fan voting decide who walks out in one piece. Well, those of you that remember will be pleased (or possibly disappointed) to know that we’re re-opening the doors of the Awesome Arena once again for more superhero beat-downs beginning this week with Batman (DC Comics) taking on Nemesis (Icon Comics)!

Batman (Bruce Wayne)

First Appearance:
Detective Comics #27 (May 1939)

Powers / Abilities:
- Expert martial artist
- Near genius level intelligence
- Large supply of gadgets and equipment

Tactical Advantage:
In addition to being trained in nearly every form of martial arts and having a seemingly endless supply of gadgets, Batman can also call on any member of the Bat-family or Justice League if things get out of hand.

Nemesis

First Appearance:
Nemesis #1 (May 2010)

Powers / Abilities:
- Master tactician
- Access to a large supply of firearms and explosive devices

Tactical Advantage:
Nemesis’ main advantage would have to be that he would be more than willing to take a kill-shot on Batman or any other character that sided with the Dark Knight in a battle. While Batman (as well as many other heroes) will refrain entirely from harming the person they’re fighting, Nemesis would probably want to do as much harm as possible to his opponent.

Now it’s up to you! In the battle between DC’s Batman and Icon’s Nemesis, who gets it done?

Awesome Arena: Batman vs. Nemesis

  • Batman (36%)
  • Nemesis (64%)
  • Draw (0%)
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The doors of the Awesome Arena are opened every Monday as we pit two comic characters against one another to prove who is the greatest of all! If you have an idea for a future Awesome Arena battle, send it to us!

  • http://thevoidcast.com Robbie B

    Just gonna go out there & say it.

    While Nemesis is supposed to be the “anti-Batman”, he stands no chance. Batman is, well, Batman. Not even Superman could take him down without a hell of a fight – and Nemesis is supposed to win with a pile of guns & explosives?

    Let’s be honest here. What makes Nemesis any better than your average street-level thug that Batman deals with on a day-to-day basis? Sure, he’s a tactical expert – but so is Batman. Besides, Batman’s a walking armory himself. And let’s not forget the backup Batman would have if this fight was ever to go down; the entire Justice League & all affiliated teams.

    Hands down, I say this one goes to the goddamn Batman.

  • http://www.panelsofawesome.com Mike Haynes

    I hear you but I just feel like Nemesis is essentially the Joker with little to no desire to keep a hero like Batman alive.

    Joker toys with Batman but has trouble actually finishing Bruce off because of his fascinations with him. Nemesis would not suffer from that in any way, shape or form and probably kill him at the first chance he’d get.

    Although, who’s to say he would get a chance at all?

  • http://slightlyinsightful.com/ Ammon

    The answer to the question of Batman versus anyone is always Batman. Simple as that.

  • http://www.panelsofawesome.com Mike Haynes

    I think we need to get Icon and DC on the phone and get a crossover made.

  • J-Mazz

    Honestly, I don't know.

    I mean, Nemesis was created to have all the abilities batman has except he is pure evil. In terms of heroic experience, well, he's addressed as being the only character in that universe (hence, why he's called the worlds only super villain) making other adversaries non-existent.

    However, as Robbie B puts it, Batman is Batman and would find a way to beat Nemesis. But right now I'm really enjoying Nemesis. So, I'm gonna say this one is just too damn close to call.

    • http://www.panelsofawesome.com Mike Haynes

      Nemesis has been a ton of fun from the beginning. New issue in stores this week!

  • Boxer Joe Manning

    I'm reading Nemesis 3 right now. He took on 97 prison guards unarmed, in a suit that is basically a Bat-suit (I'd assume some light super-weave kevlar or nano-bodyarmor tech, he had explosives in his cowl which is skin-tight so his tech is on Bruce's level). He is as smart as Bruce, as crazy as the Joker, but not as controlled. I REALLY hope they do a Nemesis VS Batman fight. It NEEDS to happen.

    He is probably just as good a martial artist, I'd say he's a little bit faster, and younger. If we're talking Bruce Wayne as he is right now (or how he'll be when he becomes Batman again), this Bruce was able to, in a pinch, take on a whole mess of nasties like Lady Shiva, Solomon Grundy, etc. In the Superman/Batman comics. I'd say he is 41-42 now. Nemesis is late 20s and a prodigy just like Bruce. He is NOT better though. I'd say he is just dead-equal, but far too prideful and he is insane, and that will be his downfall against the Bat. Hell, Nemesis might be a little bit more intelligent than Bruce. But the point remains, his insanity, is a strength and a weakness.
    I like to think of the part in Red Dragon, Ed Norton's Character by all means was just as good as Hannibal in his own way. Just as deadly, too. But Hannibal had more inherent intellect. When Hannibal made a quip about how Will thinks he's smarter than he, Will says "no," Hannibal asks then how did Will catch him? "You had, disadvantages." Will replied. Hannibal curious (but probably already knowing the answer) "Such as?" "You're insane"
    I loved that moment. Gave me chills. Will was such an amazing nemesis (ohh pun) to Hannibal. I wish he would have gotten a sequel over Clarice. But I guess then one of them would've had to die. I dunno, but I digress.

    In this fight one would assume the best way (as a writer) to go about it would be to eliminate the possibly of the majority of DC-universe interference. Think Batman R.I.P or Knightfall. He could've called on the JLA to come help him, but he didn't. Batman's pride is his achillies heel.
    That said, this would only work if both characters are totally allowed to go completely ballistic on each other. This means in what the DC universe would call an Elseworlds tale (it wouldn't be canon anyway since its a crossover from two different universes). I'd have it start out with Nemesis taking out key members of the Justice League. Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern, leave a few like Flash and Martian Manhunter MIA. But Superman should "die" (go comatose from kryptonite poisoning. Batman would know he's still alive but Nemesis would think him dead). Green Lantern and Wonder Woman would be captives, inescapable under whatever weaknesses he could exploit.

    Then he'd have to blow up Arkham Asylum, of course. Can't have the rogue's gallery, especially Joker, interfering. (Of course Joker survives, escapes, and decides to take on this Nemesis character as well)

    But the majority of it, and it would have to be an epic, Hush-level event, 6-12 big fat issues. Would be Batman V.S Nemesis.

    Batman has fought guys like this before in Hush, Bane, etc. But Nemesis would be the first true equal, which should make it interesting, plus he isn't afraid to use a gun.

    • http://www.panelsofawesome.com Mike Haynes

      On a side note, that sequence from the most recent issue of Nemesis was AWESOME.

      Thanks for your comment BJM!