10 Most Brutal Villain Beatdowns In All Of Comics

5. X-23 Vs Zander Rice - X-23 #6

Mysterio Beat Down
Marvel Comics

Saying that X-23 has authority issues is like saying Shinji Ikari has daddy issues. But then, you'd be messed up too if you went through the weapon X program.

For those younger readers among us who love X-23's current adventures, it must be jarring to say the least to go back to her 2005 series or earlier appearances, because the difference in her attitude and emotional wellbeing is like night and day. And nowhere is this more evident than when she goes up against Dr. Zander Rice in X-23 #6.

Zander Rice was the lead scientist on the project that gave her her powers, so needless to say, they have a bit of unfinished business. With Rice's base minutes away from exploding, Laura is forced to choose between running away or using the time left to make sure Rice dies today. But when Rice shoots her in the back, the choice is made for her.

Laura doesn't even use her claws, sheathing them to make sure the last 11 minutes of Zander's life feel as long as possible. Zander spent so long taking out his anger at Wolverine on Laura, and all of that comes back to haunt him.

Contributor
Contributor

John Tibbetts is a novelist in theory, a Whatculture contributor in practice, and a nerd all around who loves talking about movies, TV, anime, and video games more than he loves breathing. Which might be a problem in the long term, but eh, who can think that far ahead?