Earth, fire, air and water — they’re the cornerstones of our planet — and forces of nature that are in constant collision. Sure, we can make a big deal out of the seismic implications of unstoppable, uncontrollable elements in conflict — but really, isn’t it just a whole lot more fun when a fire guy and a water guy just haul off and keep slugging each other until one or the other is defeated?
With this week’s Blu-ray/DVD release of the first season of Nickelodeon’s animated epic The Legend of Korra, a spinoff of the blockbuster Avatar: The Last Airbender saga, we got to thinking about all the best fights when masters of one of Earth’s primordial elements squared off against another in a titanic clash.
5. Iceman vs. Pyro
X-Men: The Last Stand didn’t have much going for it, but the elemental battle of fire and ice was one of the high points. Bobby Drake had gotten tired of his former schoolmate John’s arrogance and mischief. So when the chance came to go head-to-head with Magneto’s new bitch-boy, Iceman didn’t freeze. The battle is short, but shows the two using their powers in interesting ways to try and take each other out.
4. Godzilla vs. The Smog Monster
Smog may not be an element on the periodic table, but there is no denying the titanic elemental battle between The Smog Monster and Godzilla in the 1971 movie Godzilla vs. Hedorah. In another scene, people watch form a distance as the smoggy cloud at the base of Mt. Fuji is lit up by Godzilla’s fire and Hedorah’s lightning.
3. Voltron vs. Lo Tron
When the five elemental lions of Voltron Force combine, there is usually nothing to stand in their way. It was clear Lotor was going to have to do something radically different and came up with his own combining robot: Lo Tron. The clash between the two in the 1986 anime Voltron: Fleet in Doom was everything Voltron fans hoped it would be.
2. Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Crossroads of Destiny
The epic battle in the caves below Ba Sing Se in episode 40 of the classic series was the first great battle of experienced fire, water and earth benders. Aang and Katara taking on Zuko and Azula made for an excellent tag team and one of the most memorable episodes of the series. (Especially when Azula manages to hurt Aang while in the Avatar State.)
1. Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Earth King
While there are plenty of great individual battles in the Airbender series, none of them match the epic conflict outside the walls of Ba Sing Se as the Fire Nation drilled through the walls of the great city. The action bounces form the top of the walls, to the ground underneath the Fired Nation army and inside the drill itself. It’s bending on a grand scale and it looks awesome.
