12 Most Iconic Battles In Comics
9. Superman vs. Flash
From: Superman #199
While Superman vs. the Flash was not a true battle in the strictest sense of the word, this 1967 Superman issue is considered by many to be one of the most iconic hero vs. hero competitions in comic book history. That's because it was the first of many comics to set out to answer a question DC fans had debated for ages: Who's faster? Superman or the Flash?
The premise for this story is that the Secretary-General of the United Nations approaches the heroes about the idea for a benefit race. Since both could hypothetically circle the planet in a blink of an eye, a number of obstacles are set up to slow the pace, and Superman is forbidden from flying. Of course, a couple of crooks catch wind of the race and kidnap Superman and Flash, replacing them with impostors in an effort to fix the results. Superman and Flash manage to escape and both cross the finish line at the same time, giving everyone a happy, if not indecisive, ending.
The comic was such a sensation, DC repeated the Superman vs. Flash formula a number of times since its publication. While DCs prime industry competitor was telling the world about the Age of Marvels, the comic book standard bearer demonstrated it could still fill readers with a sense of awe and wonder by having Superman and Flash compete against each other.