Spider-Man
Backstory:
Peter Benjamin Parker was born in Queens to CIA agents Richard and Mary Parker, who were killed by the communist Red Skull and framed for treason during a mission. Following his parents' death, a young Parker was adopted by his uncle and aunt, Ben and May Parker, moving in with them at their residence in Forest Hills, New York. After their adopting of him, they became his surrogate parents and raised him as if he were their own son. Over the years into being a teenager, Parker grew to be a prodigy in multiple scholastic subjects at Midtown High School and achieving high honors among his classmates. However, his reserved nature and enthusiasm for knowledge often made him a target for bullying, primarily football star Eugene "Flash" Thompson.
When Peter was 15 years old, he attended the public exhibition of a device called the Isotope Genome Accelerator. A spider on the scene was irradiated by the accelerator during its demonstration. In sudden shock, the arachnid landed on the hand of the oblivious student and bit him before dying from the exposure to radiation. Initially malaised by the incident, Peter left the venue. He was almost hit by a car until he instinctively leapt out of the way, clinging to the side of a building a couple of meters high. Peter discovered that he had somehow gained superhuman powers that he immediately associated with the bite at the demonstration: the proportionate strength, speed and agility of a spider, as well as surface scaling, and a precognitive ability to detect and avoid danger that he dubbed "spider-sense."
Encountering an ad offering a cash prize for lasting three minutes in the ring with Joseph "Crusher" Hogan, Peter decided this would be a good way to test his powers. Wearing a mask to avoid humiliation in case of defeat, Peter used his powers and easily defeated his opponent. TV producer Maxwell Shiffman observed his performance and convinced him to go on television with his 'act.' Designing a full costume and fabricating synthetic spider's web and wrist-mounted web-shooters, Peter debuted as "Spider-Man" to become an immediate sensation.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Genius Intelligence,
Regeneration (Mid-Low; can regenerate broken bones in hours),
Acrobatics (Can easily leap several stories high. States he can achieve perfect equilibrium in any position imaginable and that he's without peers when it comes to any acrobatic acts. Unaffected by a nausea-inducing blast from Vertigo),
Martial Arts Master (Has trained under the likes of Captain America and Shang Chi, and has a fighting style specifically tailored towards his abilities using his training),
Stealth Proficiency (Capable of sneaking into Latveria undetected. Daredevil describes him as impossibly quiet, and has used his abilities to sneak up on his enemies),
Enhanced Senses (Much better than a normal human's. Can detect radio frequencies and radiation trails. Can sense dangerous people. His Spider-Sense is heightened when he's blind, allowing him to "see" danger rather than sense it. Can sense disturbances in Space-Time. Can vaguely sense how many people are coming, how fast, and how close they are),
Precognition and Instinctive Reaction (His Spider-Sense alerts him and works as an instinctive response to danger),
Extrasensory Perception (Can sense presences and how they feel compared to each other. Can sense and dodge invisible attacks. Senses Morwen manifesting in the city. Can use his Spider Sense in reverse to find the most danger),
Perception Manipulation (His Spider Sense slows action down to a crawl and says it allows him to think of jokes for what feels like hours),
Web Creation (Can use his webbing in a variety of ways, ranging from enhancing his mobility in several ways to using it as several forms of projectiles),
Surface Scaling (Can cling to and climb nearly any surface. Strong enough to overpower the momentum of a giant flying robot, being yanked by Colossus, and holding onto a space shuttle. Can also use it to throw opponents or rip off skin from somebody's face),
Paralysis Inducement (After his training with Shang-Chi, Spider-Man has shown knowledge of attacking nerve clusters and using pressure points),
Afterimage Creation (Can consistently move fast enough to create several afterimages of himself),
Pseudo-Flight (Can create wings made of webbing to replicate flight),
Resistance to Mind Manipulation, Empathic Manipulation and Fear Manipulation (Capable of resisting the mind control of the Hypno-Hustler, who controlled an entire night club full of people. Fought against and overcame Helminth's empathic control) Managed to resist and fight back against Psycho-Man's emotional control, which caused self-doubt, fear, and self-hate throughout all of the Avengers Academy students),
Telepathy (His next move is unable to be read telepathically due to relying on instinct and acting before he thinks),
Illusion Creation (Capable of freeing himself from Mysterio's illusions),
Petrification (Recovered from Grey Gargoyle's touch within moments),
Body Swapping (Implanted a chip in his body to prevent body swaps),
Paralysis Inducement (Can receive a nerve pinch from Iron Fist and quickly recover due to his Spider-Sense warning him. Resists the effects of venom darts that should've left him paralyzed for hours),
Biological Manipulation (His metabolism fought back against a drug that should've given him heart failure),
Electricity Manipulation (Capable of taking electricity from Dr. Doom's suit, which is stated to have 100,000 Megavolts of energy. His webbing insulates electricity and leaves Spider-Man unaffected by it),
Fire Manipulation (Spider-Man's webs are unaffected by flames and can withstand the fire from an angered Human Torch),
Acid Manipulation (Can survive being submerged in acid that could dissolve a man in seconds. His webs can withstand it as well),
Extreme Cold and Radiations (Can survive for a limited time in the vacuum of space. Has survived an explosion from a missile that had enough toxins to kill the entire city for several minutes, although he would've died if he wasn't treated),
Earthly Poisons and Diseases (Can even recover from vampirism), possible Resistance to Antimatter Manipulation (Is unaffected by contact with with Anti-matter spheres),
Limited Resistance to Possession and Memory Manipulation (Managed to hold back Mosaic's takeover, which is described as rewriting biochemical systems. While his mind fights against it to protect his memories and keep control of his body, he ultimately fails),
Weaknesses: None applicable
Azrael (Jean-Paul Valley)
Backstory:
Jean-Paul Valley, better known as Azrael, is a vigilante who formerly operated out of Gotham City. At one point taking the mantle of Batman when the original was broken by Bane, he was forcibly fired from the role and returned to his position as Azrael. Named after the Angel of Death, most of his extraordinary abilities come from severe amounts of subconscious training and conditioning he was put through during his youth, unaware that he was being controlled by a 500-year old devout religious sect called the Order of St. Dumas that his ancestors had belonged to for generations.
Powers and Abilities:
Superhuman Physical Characteristics,
Martial Arts (Has centuries of martial arts experience installed into him, Ra's Al Ghul considers his skill to be comparable to that of Batman),
Acrobatics (Consistently performs complex acrobatic maneuvers, often utilizing them in combat),
Stealth Mastery (Snuck up on Tim Drake),
Weapon Mastery (Accurately hits targets with his gauntlet guns from 10 feet (3.05 m) away, precisely calculates the trajectory of his shots to tag a foe ),
Enhanced Senses (Directly notes he has those, the system tells him if his foes are lying or not, can warn him before he eats poisoned food),
Self-Sustenance (Doesn't need sleep or food while under the System's influence),
Instinctive Action (Can fight without thought or awareness),
Analytical Prediction (The System can analyze greater threats and make him react as needed),
Fire Manipulation (His sword and gauntlet blades can light themselves on fire, can shoot blasts of fire),
Rage Power (The system can take control of him and direct his anger to take down a physically superior foe)
Pain and Magnetism Manipulation (His gauntlets can fire augmented magnetic fields that disrupt the nervous system and temporarily knock people out),
Supernatural Willpower (Overcame his addiction to an enhanced version of venom overnight. This version of venom was said to make heroin and cocaine look like chewing gum in comparison, in terms of addiction. It took Bruce Wayne a month to overcome his addiction to the prototype of venom, in comparison),
Regeneration (Low-Mid, his body can heal from significant injuries with no help, healed several bullet wounds in an extremely short timeframe)
Weaknesses: His mental stability is not always great.
Song: Webbed Justice
Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, gracefully traversed the city skyline of New York, propelled by his web-filled swings, he engaged in a patrol, vigilant for any signs of crime. Ready to intervene and deliver his signature blend of witty remarks, Spider-Man navigated the city's heights with a sense of purpose and charm.
As he swung through the city, Spider-Man suddenly felt a familiar sensation at the back of his head; the ever-present tingling of his spider-sense, warning him of a disturbance ahead. The sound of gunshots and shouting reached his acute senses, emanating from a nearby rooftop.
Spider-Man swiftly swung towards the rooftop, his eyes locking onto a vigilante unlike any he had encountered before – Jean-Paul Valley's Azrael. As the scene unfolded before him, Spider-Man witnessed, with growing unease, as the vigilante delivered ruthless justice to the criminals. The realization hit him hard, and he knew he had to intervene.
Spider-Man's voice cut through the air as he called out, a note of caution in his tone, "Whoa, whoa! Hold on, tall, dark, and serious. There's no need to take it that far."
As his words reached Azrael, the vigilante halted momentarily, as if considering the weight of the masked hero's intervention. The rooftop fell eerily quiet. Azrael turned slowly to face the newcomer, a mixture of surprise and annoyance on his featureless face.
"What is it, Spider? I'd appreciate if you didn't get in my way."
His voice was cold and calculated, tinged with a hint of frustration at being interrupted. Spider-Man, undeterred by Azrael's dismissive tone, stood his ground, his masked face meeting the blank gaze of the ruthless vigilante.
"I couldn't just stand by and watch."
He responded firmly, the determination in his voice evident.
"There are better ways to handle things than resorting to lethal force. We're here to save lives, not end them."
Azrael's face contorted in disgust at Spider-Man's idealistic words.
"You heroes and your codes. You think I care about saving some worthless criminals? You think you're better because of your 'Thou shalt not kill' shtick?"
Azrael crossed his arms in annoyance. Spider-Man stood firm, his resolve unwavering in the face of Azrael's cynicism.
"It's not about being better," he reasoned, his voice steady and composed.
"It's about doing what's right. No matter how flawed they may be, these criminals still have a chance to change their ways. And as long as there's a chance, we have to fight for it."
Azrael let out a scoff.
"Spare me the sermons, Spider. You have your methods, and I have mine. If you value your life, I suggest you stay out of mine."
Azrael extended his wrist mounted blades, a clear indication that things could turn ugly if Spider-Man persisted. The air crackled with tension as Spider-Man squared off against the armed Azrael. Despite the danger, the web-slinger stood his ground.
"I can't just let you continue down this path. Violence shouldn't be the answer."
His voice held a hint of determination and compassion, hoping to reach the troubled man before him.
"You can't stop me."
Azrael spat, his voice filled with a chilling conviction.
"I am justice. And if you're going to stand in my way, you will share the same fate as these criminals."
His cold and remorseless tone sent a shiver down Spider-Man's spine. He would need all his wits to handle this encounter. Spider-Man, ever quick on his feet, swiftly shot out two web lines, trying to ensnare the formidable Azrael. However, to his surprise, Azrael didn't even need his weapons to intercept the webs. With a swift and effortless movement, the enigmatic vigilante caught the webs in his bare hands, his grip firm and unwavering. Spider-Man's eyes widened beneath his mask, caught off guard by this unexpected display of power and agility.
In an instant, Azrael unleashed his strength, pulling Spider-Man towards him with a swift tug and delivering a powerful clothesline that landed squarely across his neck. Despite the pain, Spider-Man's agility and reflexes allowed him to somersault onto his feet, regaining his footing in a flash. Shaking his head to clear the temporary disorientation, Spider-Man braced himself for the next move, his senses on high alert.
Brushing off the brief disorientation, Spider-Man muttered to himself, his keen mind already strategizing his next move. He whispered,
"Okay, okay. Strong and fast. Gonna have to be smart about this."
Suddenly, his spider-sense tingled, and as if on instinct, he dodged Azrael's incoming attack with incredible agility. Jean-Paul's onslaught continued as he attempted a flurry of strikes; a punch, a high kick, and a knee aimed at Spider-Man's gut. However, with his enhanced senses and agility, the arachnid hero effortlessly dodged and blocked each attack, leaving Jean-Paul seething in frustration. Caught in the heat of the moment, Jean-Paul's frustration boiled over. With a burst of anger, he roared,
"Stay still and fight me, you coward!"
Undeterred by the outburst, Spider-Man couldn't help but chuckle, his agile body gracefully dodging and weaving around each attack. His witty nature and quick-witted responses stood as a stark contrast to Azrael's relentless aggression. As the confrontation intensified, Spider-Man continued to dance around Azrael's relentless barrage, his agile body dodging and deflecting each attack with remarkable grace. Despite the dangerous situation, he couldn't help but keep up the banter.
"You know, you could ease up a bit."
Spider-Man quipped.
"Maybe grab a cup of coffee to calm down those nerves?"
Despite Spidey's clever quips, Azrael was a force to be reckoned with. When the web-slinger attempted to land some counterattacks, Jean-Paul seized the opportunity, catching one of Spider-Man's punches and retaliating with a powerful headbutt that sent the hero stumbling backward. With a menacing tone, Jean-Paul warned,
"Keep joking. We'll see if you can stay funny when I break your jaw."
Acting on instinct, Jean-Paul crashed into Spider-Man, sending them both plummeting off the edge of the rooftop. With a quick reflexes, Spidey shot out a web line that snagged onto the edge of the roof just in time, pulling them up with a swing that sent them crashing into the building. The shattering of glass echoed through the room as they rolled into an office floor, causing panicked employees to flee from the area frantically. Spider-Man stood amidst the shattered glass, his suit slightly torn from the impact. With a wry smile behind his mask, he quipped to himself,
"Well, at least there are no workers in danger now."
He then leaped across the cubicle walls, using his agility and quick thinking to reposition himself strategically within the new environment, hoping to gain an advantage on his formidable adversary. Spider-Man sprinted through the maze of toppled desks and cubicle walls, deftly dodging the slashes from Azrael's wrist-mounted blades as they tore through the office space with alarming precision. As the pursuit continued, Azrael declared with a chilling resolve,
"Don't think you'll get away so easily. I am Death's Dark Knight, and I am coming for you."
Spider-Man's heart raced with a mixture of excitement and urgency, the adrenaline pumping through his veins as he navigated the chaotic office surroundings. As Spider-Man spoke, his voice filled with a hint of mockery,
"Let me guess, you're one of those religious fanatics, right? A carrier of divine justice in human hands? I've faced plenty of lunatics before, religious or not, so don't think you're so special."
Azrael's response was as quick as his blade, slicing through the flying debris with ruthless precision, refusing to be disheartened by Spider-Man's taunts. The clash between the two heroes intensified as they engaged in a relentless battle of wits and strength.
"You talk too much."
Azrael's voice cut through the air like razor sharp, his resolve unwavering. Jean-Paul's projectile blade sliced through the air with lethal precision, poised to find its mark. But Spider-Man's reflexes were quicker, catching the cable attached to the blade in his hand. With a witty quip, he retorted,
"What goes around comes around."
In a split second, he yanked on the cable, pulling Azrael towards him and delivering a powerful punch that connected with his adversary's face. The force of the blow sent Azrael crashing into a wall, a satisfying payback for the earlier clothesline.
Azrael, landing gracefully on his feet, retracted his blade back into his wrist before unleashing a plume of fiery flames from his wrist-mounted flamethrowers. Spider-Man narrowly evaded the onslaught with a quick cartwheel maneuver, the scorching heat singeing his senses as he narrowly dodged the attack. The force of the flames shattered the office windows, sending shards of glass flying as the fire spread within the office space.
Despite the sprinklers activating in response to the intense heat, Azrael continued to spew flames, filling the office space with a fiery inferno. The relentless blaze consumed the surroundings, creating a thick haze of smoke that threatened to choke Spider-Man as he maneuvered through the chaotic environment. The flickering flames danced along the walls, casting an eerie glow in the smoky surroundings, and forcing Spider-Man to act quickly to evade the encroaching blaze.
Peter's spider-sense tingled with a sense of impending danger. He turned his gaze towards where the intuition led him, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw Azrael leap through the fire, his costume engulfed in flames, resembling a sinister angel of death ready to strike.
As the relentless assault continued, Jean-Paul delivered a powerful punch that shattered one of Spider-Man's mirrored lenses, revealing his hazel-colored left eye beneath the mask. Spider-Man was then propelled through several office walls, with Azrael's enhanced strength demolishing the obstacles in their path, including a window that sent them crashing out onto another rooftop of a lower building. The impact on the rooftop created a brief moment of disorientation, the force of the collision sending a shockwave through the arachnid hero's body.
As Azrael attempted to land some attacks, his blows met the sturdy defenses of Spider-Man, who blocked each move with precise timing and skill. But as he pushed the arachnid hero against the wall, he lunged with his bladed arm, aiming to catch his adversary off guard. But Peter's quick reflexes allowed him to backflip away, effortlessly evading the strike and gaining a moment's distance from his formidable opponent.
With a quick and tactical move, Spider-Man shot two web lines at the wall where Azrael was pinned, intending to bring it crashing down to potentially incapacitate him. However, despite the momentary advantage, Jean-Paul demonstrated his immense strength, catching the wall and forcefully hurling it through the air toward Spider-Man. Acting swiftly, the arachnid hero ducked beneath the flying debris, narrowly avoiding being crushed by the hefty wall.
As Azrael expertly wielded his blades, which were now engulfed in flames for added force, Spider-Man deftly evaded every swing with a mixture of acrobatic finesse and agility. The arachnid hero swiftly hit him hard in the back, following it up with a daring somersault that allowed him to land a powerful punch on Jean-Paul's face. The impact staggered the vigilante, leaving him momentarily disoriented as he reeled from the surprise assault.
In a split second, Jean-Paul's finely honed instincts and martial arts training kicked in, guiding his actions as he countered the incoming fist with practiced ease. Seizing the opening, he swiftly pressed a hand against Spider-Man's chest, unleashing the scorching flames from his palm in an explosive burst known as the "Angel's Wrath." The fiery inferno engulfed the web-slinger, propelling him backward with an intense force. The spider emblem on his chest was scorched and blackened, marking the impact of the powerful attack. With a pained groan, Spider-Man slowly raised his gaze to meet the impending threat of the approaching Azrael, who cracked his knuckles ominously, extending one of his wrist blades with a deadly grace. The tension hung thick in the air as the vengeful vigilante declared his intent, his voice cold and laced with determination.
"End of the road, itsy bitsy Spider,"
Azrael declared, his eyes fixated on his adversary as he prepared to strike the final blow. In the heat of the moment, as the vengeful Azrael lunged forward with a lethal stab, Peter swiftly rolled to the side to gain momentum for a well-placed kick. His foot connected with Azrael's elbow, targeting the vulnerable joint with surgical precision. A satisfied smile tugged at the corners of Spider-Man's lips as he quipped,
"That's what you think, Stabby!"
The blow delivered a devastating impact, effectively incapacitating the villain's arm. In a moment of vulnerability, a cry of pain escaped Jean-Paul's lips as he clutched his injured arm. But fueled by anger and determination, he tried to compensate by firing his extendable blade from his undamaged limb. However, Spider-Man swiftly intervened, seizing the blade mid-air and tugging Azrael towards him. With a calculated strike, he targeted the villain's other elbow, snapping it with a powerful punch. The breaking of the joint sent shockwaves of pain through Azrael's body, leaving him doubly incapacitated.
Despite the incapacitation of both his arms, Jean-Paul's indomitable spirit remained undeterred. With unwavering resolve, he declared,
"You think I need my arms? I can easily crush a bug like you under my feet."
Spider-Man couldn't help but chuckle at the villain's defiant remarks, amused by the tenacity in the face of obvious defeat. With a playful chuckle, Spider-Man responded,
"Alright, first off, spiders are arachnids. Second, you mean these feet?"
With a quick and strategic move, he used his webs to ensnare Azrael's feet, yanking them out from under him. The sudden loss of balance sent the villain crashing to the ground, where Spider-Man swiftly subdued him with multiple layers of thick webbing, effectively immobilizing the defeated foe. With a victorious smirk beneath his mask, Spider-Man quipped,
"Stay there while I alert the authorities. Just another day for the amazing, the spectacular, the ultimate Spider-Man."
With a graceful leap, he launched himself into the air with a powerful web-sling, disappearing into the urban skyline, leaving the defeated Azrael helplessly tangled in his webbing.
Strength: Now, unlike most of the bat family, Jean-Paul did happen to have enhanced strength, keeping him from being overwhelmed. Without his costume, Valley was able to lift a tree off the road and toss it aside. Assuming it's a common pine and given the overall dimensions, Jean-Paul likely lifted a 20.5 ton tree. And his costume likely made him stronger. However, even if the tree was heavier, or the suit doubled, or even tripled his strength, Peter is known for having strength feats between 60 tons to 130 tons. And he's faced physically superior foes like the Lizard, Rhino, Sandman, and Venom. While Peter may normally need an exuberant amount of motivation to perform his strongest strength feats, it's safe to say that Spider-Man's always going to be between 1.2-2X stronger than Azrael at minimum.
Speed: Thanks to Azrael's enhancements, their bullet dodging feats are quick similar, and he even has a variation of his own spider-sense, where both can fight and react without active thought. However, while Jean-Paul is able to react to bullets and explosions, Spider-Man has been able to outpace those with analytical predictions, like Daredevil, Captain America and Black Panther, the first former stating he can barely keep track of him. It's doubtful that Azrael would be any different.
Skill: Jean-Paul is the obviously more skilled in martial capability, but Spider-Man has learned some fighting techniques from Captain America and Shang-Chi, so he had some martial skill and has mastered his techniques of Spider style fighting. Still, Peter falls short in this category.
Experience: Unfortunately for Jean-Paul, he does not have Spider-Man's 12 year repertoire of fighting against villains, the latter having faced villains more powerful and dangerous than Azrael could ever hope to be.
Powers: Having a Kevlar suit does give Azrael better armor, and the swords does give Valley some range and the ability to cut through webs as strong as steel, but Spider-Man's spider-sense just negates any advantage Jean-Paul would have. And despite having the ability to attack Peter's nervous system directly, he's powered through attacks like that before, and functions similarly to the Shocker's concussive blasts, which enough webbing could take out both. This is actually why I didn't pit him up against the more thematically appropriate choice of Daredevil. To avoid another Daredevil vs Nightwing thing.
Next time:
"Enough prattle! You'll both bend a knee to Outworld's new emperor."
"I am the Shadow Lord! You have no power over me!"