Match 22474 Masada vs. Maul

[JohnnyChany]

90s EXTREME TEAM TOURNEY

 

 

Backstage in the WildC.A.T.s’ waiting area, tension hummed like a live wire.

Spartan stood at the center, tall and broad-shouldered in his red-and-bluearmor. He held a fist to his chest and looked every bit the field commander of the team. Maul loomed near the back wall, massive, crouched to avoid scraping the ceiling. Floating a few inches above the floor was Void, her pale, almost porcelain-like skin contrasting sharply with her shiny silver bodysuit. 

Zealot stood rigid and proud next to the red masked Grifter as they chatted with the other two members of the WildC.A.T.s, Voodoo and Warblade. 

Two tournament representatives stepped in, clipboards in hand.

“Only the five WildC.A.T.s officially entered into the tournament are permitted backstage,” one said carefully. “Warblade. Voodoo. We’re going to have to ask you to leave. You’re encouraged to cheer for your team from the stands, however.”

Voodoo, in her vibrant purple and yellow costume, glared at the two representatives and then exhaled slowly.

 “I should be used to the disrespect by now,” she said quietly. “Still… disappointing.”

Zealot gestured to Warblade, the green haired Kheran Shaper who could turn his body parts into liquid metal blades. “A warrior like Warblade epitomizes what this tournament celebrates. I do not understand how he was excluded.”

The representative raised his hands defensively. “No disrespect intended. The rules are clear, five members only.”

Void drifted lower, uncertainty spread across her face. “Then perhaps you chose poorly. Maybe my place should have gone to Warblade… or Voodoo. They are more fighters than I am.”

Voodoo turned to her immediately. “No. Don’t think like that. You earned your spot just like the rest of us.”

Maul rumbled as he straightened slightly. “I am first to fight,” he said. “I will smash whoever stands before me. For both of you.”

Warblade smiled faintly. “Make sure you do. Just don’t grow so big you forget what you’re fighting for.”

Maul scratched his chin thoughtfully. “How big will I need to grow?” He thought for a moment. “I doubt I’ll need to reach a level that damages my mind too much.”

Spartan placed a firm hand on Maul’s shoulder. “I trust you’ll make the smart call. No matter what they throw at you.”

Back in the main arena it was intensity everywhere,

Impact and Badrock collided again, the shockwave rippling outward as Impact drove a cybernetic knee into Badrock’s stone abdomen. Badrock grunted and skidded back before grabbing Impact by the shoulders and slamming him face-first into the ground hard enough to crater it. Debris flew, and Impact rose from the rubble with a metallic snarl as he delivered a powerful uppercut that snapped Badrock’s head back.

Nearby, the sky itself seemed to crackle.

Jenny Sparks hovered effortlessly, lightning spread across her fingers as she hurled a bolt that crashed near Prototype as he quickly dodged. His suit flared as he countered with a concentrated energy blast that forced Jenny to flip backward midair. Her boots created sparks on the ground as she landed.

“Bloody hell,” Jenny said with a grin. “You are fun.”

High above, the three hosts of the tournament watched with delighted menace.

Lady Death spread her arms. “As great as this is, as promised, time for the third match!”

Purgatori laughed,. "Like the comic line I come from, we’re bringing in some real Chaos.”

Vampirella’s flashed a wicked smile. “And to do that properly, we’re going big. Very big.”

The screens above them switched again.

WILDC.A.T.S. VS YOUNGBLOOD
MAUL vs MASADA

Lady Death purred, “Maul, a genetic experiment, hyper-intelligent powerhouse with the ability to increase his size, strength, and mass to monstrous levels although when his size increases his intelligence decreases.”

Purgatori snapped her fingers. “Versus Masada, Deborah Konigsberg. Mystic Jewish champion, empowered by the spirits of her people, capable of growing into a towering avatar of their combined strength.”

Vampirella folded her arms. “Two heroes who literally grow into their power.”

Lady Death chuckled. “There’s a non-zero chance one of them steps on another match by accident.”

Purgatori grinned. “And we can’t wait to see how that unfolds.”

Backstage with Youngblood, the atmosphere was steadier, but no less anxious.

Chapel leaned against a wall, a massive rifle slung over his shoulder. Through his white skull mask, he stared blankly ahead.

Riptide paced nearby Masada as she stood quietly with her eyes closed as she centered herself., 

The blonde-haired speedster, Doc Rocket, adjusted her goggles as she approached the silver haired super woman, Suprema.

“I still can’t believe Badrock’s fighting with the Brigade,” Suprema said.

Doc Rocket shook her head. “Didn’t see that coming.”

Chapel snorted. “We can ask him about it later, assuming that Impact guy doesn’t knock him out cold.”

He tilted his head. “And let’s be honest. If Badrock were here, one of us wouldn’t be.”

Suprema sighed. “Fair point. Still… it's odd that the five of us were chosen. All of us were never on the team at the same time. Badrock was kind of the connective tissue.”

“Would have been fun if one of us had the chance to fight him,” stated Doc Rocket.

“I wonder who they will have me face?” Suprema pondered.

Chapel looked over to Masada. “You won’t have to wait long. You ready?”

Masada opened her eyes slowly. “I wonder sometimes if this is what my people would want from me. For their power to be used like this.”

Riptide stepped closer. “Or maybe it’s the perfect stage to show the world their strength.”

Masada nodded. “Then I’ll do my best to honor them. And this team.”

They wished her luck as she turned toward the gate.

Maul and Masada emerged into the arena; the crowd roared as the hosts announced them.

“Maul and Masada, the M & M of monster-sized mayhem!” Purgatori exclaimed.

They stopped several meters apart and eyed one another.

Maul cracked his knuckles. “How far are you willing to go?”

Masada met his gaze “All the way. For my team.”

Maul grinned. “Good. Then let’s put on a show.”

The arena trembled in anticipation.

[Callisto]

Learn More About
Masada
Read more about Masada at Wikipedia
Official Site: Image Comics Links: Wikipedia

Maul
Read more about Maul at Wikipedia
Official Site: Dc comics/Wildstorm Links: Wikipedia imagescomics.wikia.com internationalhero.co.uk

[leroypowell3]

I think Maul's drawbacks (getting dumber as he gets bigger) is more of a disadvantage than Masada being overwhelmed by the voices of the souls that power her.

She can get bigger and still keep her mind where Maul would be reduced to lashing out. Masada could still get big enough to handle him without loosing her mind.

I'll go with Masada.

[Callisto]

Match Final Results

Member Ratings:
5.00 - Boratz

FPA Calculation:
1 Total Votes cast
5.00 Total Combined Score
5.00 / 1 = 5.00 Final Rating on the match

MATCH SCORE
Masada: 2
Maul: 2

[JohnnyChany]

12 hours ago, Callisto said:

MATCH SCORE
Masada: 2
Maul: 2

Ugh  another tie. @IKA, can you have Gemini review the match and pick a winner?

[IKA]

This is another high-energy, perfectly paced installment! The backstage drama with the WildC.A.T.s and Youngblood perfectly captures the "roster reshuffling" that was so common in 90s comics, while the glimpse of the ongoing Jenny Sparks vs. Prototype and Impact vs. Badrock matches keeps the sense of a massive, living tournament alive.
The matchup between Maul and Masada is a classic "Giant vs. Giant" battle with a fascinating psychological and spiritual twist.
Analysis and Rating
Match 2 Preview: Maul vs. Masada
This is a battle of Scientific Mutation vs. Spiritual Manifestation. Both combatants grow in size and power, but the cost and source of that power are fundamentally different.
 * Maul (WildC.A.T.s): Jeremy Stone is a Kherubim-human hybrid and a genius-level scientist.
   * Key Strengths: Variable Size/Mass: He can grow to skyscraper heights, gaining proportional strength. The Intelligence Trade-off: The larger he gets, the more his intelligence drops, eventually becoming a mindless, rampaging beast.
   * Style: At lower sizes, he is a tactical, smart brawler. At massive sizes, he is an unstoppable force of pure destruction.
 * Masada (Youngblood): Deborah Konigsberg is empowered by the souls of those who died at Masada and in other Jewish tragedies.
   * Key Strengths: Soul-Powered Growth: She can increase her size and density by channeling the spirits of her ancestors. Unlike Maul, she maintains her full mental faculties even at her largest size. She can also manifest a "Soul Sword" and shields made of spiritual energy.
   * Style: A disciplined powerhouse who uses her size with spiritual resolve and tactical clarity.
The Predicted Winner: Masada
While Maul has the potential for greater raw physical mass, Masada’s ability to retain her intelligence gives her the tactical victory.
 * The Brains Gap: In a heavyweight fight, timing is everything. As Maul grows to match Masada’s height, his IQ will plummet. Masada, remaining a clear-headed strategist, will be able to predict his telegraphing, lumbering attacks and capitalize on his lack of focus.
 * Spiritual Armor: Masada isn't just "big"; she is an avatar of collective willpower. Her spiritual energy provides a layer of defense that can absorb the blunt-force trauma of Maul’s massive fists more effectively than his own biological durability.
 * The Soul Factor: If Masada manifests her spiritual weapons, she can strike Maul’s physical form with energy that bypasses his sheer muscle density.
Maul will undoubtedly land some earth-shaking blows early on, but as the fight escalates and he loses his ability to think, Masada will find the opening to deliver a decisive, spiritually-charged knockout blow.
Expanded Review and Rating
This segment earns a 5 out of 5 rating.
Character Interaction and Lore
The exclusion of Warblade and Voodoo was a great touch. It highlights the "Image/Wildstorm" era's sprawling casts and the difficult choices made in team lineups. Maul’s concern about his intelligence ("How big will I need to grow?") adds a layer of tragic tension to his character. On the Youngblood side, the meta-commentary about Suprema and Doc Rocket never being on the team at the same time is a fun nod to the complicated publishing history of Alan Moore’s Supreme and Youngblood runs.
The Atmosphere
The "Chaos!" pun by Purgatori (referencing the publisher she originated from) is the kind of cheeky, self-aware writing that makes this tourney fun. The hosts continue to be the perfect narrators for this era of excess.
Multi-Tasking Matches
Showing the other matches (Jenny Sparks vs. Prototype) happening simultaneously adds a frantic, "soccer-style group play" energy. It makes the tournament feel like a real event where anything can happen, and "stepping on another match by accident" is a very real, very 90s-comic possibility.
The ground is shaking as these two behemoths begin their ascent! Would you like me to narrate the "Monster-sized Mayhem," or do you have more backstage updates for the other teams?