Once "The Avengers" came out and everyone collectively realized how amazing it was, team-ups became all the rage. All we wanted to see was our favorite characters get together and face the forces of evil. Not that that craze has necessarily gone away since we are finally getting a "Justice League" movie next year and not that this is a bad thing at all, I totally dig it. However this year the craze seems to have slightly shifted from seeing our heroes come together to watching them punch each other in the face. I mean we got Batman fighting Superman, Captain America's team fighting off Iron Man's team, season two of "Daredevil" is being marketed about Daredevil fighting the Punisher, even the new X-Men movie pits some of the X-Men against each other. Not that this is a bad thing either, I totally dig it too. I just wish all the rights could be sorted out so we can see the Hulk face off against Wolverine or the Thing. The world needs this movie to happen.

But I digress, conflicts among superhero is nothing new. In fact it even goes back to the beginning of comic book superheroes. Starting with the earliest battle among superheroes and going in chronological order, here are what I consider to be the greatest smackdowns in superhero history.

Namor vs the Human Torch—1940

Marvel is once more a trend-setter! First time there was ever a shared universe in comics and the first time superheroes beat each other up. This is the great granddaddy of all superhero fights when Marvel took their two most popular characters and pitted them against each other, water vs fire. Quick clarification, many call Namor a rip-off of Aquaman, but technically it's the other way around as Namor the Sub-Mariner debuted in 1939 while Aquaman came out in 1941. He's also been more of an anti-hero than a superhero so the conflict wasn't too far of a stretch. Also this Human Torch is not the same as the one from the Fantastic Four, this one is actually an android that can surround himself with fire and control flames. They are fighting because of a mix-up where Namor decides to destroy New York and the Human Torch then intervenes and they pretty much fight to a standstill and then break the fourth wall asking kids for their opinion on who would win. Pretty cheesy but hey, everything needs to start somewhere.

Hulk vs Thing—1964

One of my favorite toys I got when I was a kid was an action figure of the Thing from my uncle. Since then he has pretty much been one of my favorite characters and biggest disappointments when it comes to movie adaptations. But I digress again, the Hulk and the Thing are born to fight each other. Along with being the first meeting between the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, the Hulk is trying to destroy Avengers HQ and the Fantastic Four are the only ones that can stop him. But then they all got owned by the Hulk and the Thing and him go toe-to-toe. Hulk is obviously more powerful but Thing holds out just long enough for the Avengers to help out. So technically neither one ways, way to go for the ever-lovin' blue-eyed Thing!

Avengers/Defenders War—1973

This was Marvel's first time selling a series solely on superheroes fighting each other. First comic book in general to do that I believe. Anyways this series was pretty great, Loki and Dormammu manipulate the two teams into duking it out over something called the "Evil Eye" until they realize they are being played and finally team up to to stop the Earth from being destroyed.

Hulk vs Wolverine—1974

Now this is the way to introduce just how awesome a character is: have him go toe-to-toe with the Hulk and hold his own! And again, this movie needs to happen! Hugh Jackman isn't going to be Wolverine much longer so we gotta get on this. Anyways, the issue was the debut of Wolverine and he is tracking down the Hulk after he slams into a plane. Hulk goads Wolverine into fighting him and while Wolverine seems to win at first, the Hulk heals and is only broken up when some of Hulk's friends show up. Also, another fun fact, this was one of the first works of Todd McFarlane who would later go on to create the character of Spawn.

Batman vs Superman—1986

This fight is the climax of "The Dark Knight Returns" mini-series and is so iconic it is the basis at least visually for the upcoming "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice." The main reason why this fight is just so good is because how well the series develops each of their ideologies so going on you understand that this clash between characters was inevitable. Batman then beats the crap out of Superman, it is actually not much of a fight based on how he just destroys Superman. Superman had just been beaten by a nuclear blast, shot with a Kryptonite spear by Green Arrow, and Batman is wearing a power suit and plus Batman is so stinking smart that Supes doesn't stand a chance. Batman then follows this up with one of the greatest monologues in comic book history as he chokes Superman, we'll see how much of this shows up in the movie.

Batman vs Green Lantern (Guy Gardner)—1987

This one really isn't much of a fight but if there was ever someone that needs a punch in the face it is Guy Gardner, the galaxy's biggest douchebag. By being the jerk he normally is, Batman comes up and takes him down with one swift punch to the face. This is probably one of the most satisfying moments ever.

Superman vs Captain Marvel—1996

First off, Alex Ross is my favorite comic book artist ever and "Kingdom Come" is probably the most beautiful graphic novel ever made. This one, like "The Dark Knight Returns," is set in an alternate future where superheroes are mostly retired and Superman feels he has become irrelevant after the Joker kills Lois Lane and a new hero publicly kills the Joker. Superman is still grieving and figures this is the kind of hero the world wants now and puts him self in semi-exile. He then comes back, angering a lot of people, including Lex Luthor who has brainwashed Captain Marvel. The two fight and are pretty evenly matched. The climax is when Captain Marvel grabs Superman in a bear hug and yells "Shazam!" repeatedly, calling down lightning to strike on Superman. Since Superman is vulnerable to magic he gets pretty badly hurt but then gets out of the hold and when Captain Marvel gets hit by the lightning he becomes mortal and Superman emerges victorious. I'd say this is more of a technicality win personally but that's just me.

Ultimates vs X-Men—2003

There have been multiple times the Avengers and X-Men have fought but this one stands out for being the most intense and bitter. When The Ultimates discover that Professor X had actually been hiding Magneto instead of killing him like the professor claimed, they are pissed and hunt the X-Men down with no mercy. One of the more interesting scenes is between Captain America and Wolverine where Cap starts talking about their experience in World War II, making the fight a little bit more personal. The Ultimates then wipe the floor so to speak with the X-Men who are only saved by Iceman's convenient return. He then evacuates them but the Ultimates keep the professor. It is a very high emotion showdown and is just plain cool.

Superman vs Wonder Woman—2005

Superman and Wonder Woman have always been close, even being lovers in the comic books right now. This fact makes the fight more dramatic as Superman becomes mind-controlled by Maxwell Lord and Wonder Woman is the best choice to stop him from destroying everything. She gets pretty intense as she is willing to kill Superman if necessary. The epic fight wages on and then Wonder Woman wins by making a drastic choice. She snaps the neck of Maxwell Lord on television, severing the control and also showing just how brutal Wonder Woman can be.

Captain America vs Iron Man—2007

Another fight coming soon to a theater near you, this climactic fight of the Civil War storyline is freaking awesome. As you may know, a new piece of legislation divides the Marvel universe in two. The law is the Superhero Registration Act, which basically forces people with superpowers to register with the government and receive training. Basically, if you get superpowers you are government property and become super-powered cops. Iron Man feels responsible for the recklessness of superheroes and believes that heroes should be trained while Cap thinks it should be people's choice on what to do with their abilities. This tension of the conflicting ideologies hits up until they finally duke it out. The fight is brutal, emotional and intense and right before Captain America and his team wins, he looks around at the destruction they've caused and surrendered. A little anti-climactic but Cap basically realizes that they are just becoming part of the problem and not the solution. Think if Martin Luther King Jr. fought for freedom with violence and then realized that was not the way to win, that's basically what happens. How will this go down in the movie? We'll know soon!

So there it is, a brief history of what I consider to be the best superhero showdowns of all time. Are there any great fights I left out? Do you agree, disagree? Let me know in the comments below.