Let's You and Him Fight: Difference between revisions

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Also commonly known in comics fandoms as "Fight Then Team Up," or the "Marvel Misunderstanding" (even in the Marvel Bullpen!)

The phrase probably first comes from the 1930s [[Popeye]] comic strip as a catchphrase of [[Manipulative Bastard|Wimpy]], who often gets Popeye to fight big tough guys he's wronged - thus becoming a ''[[Got Volunteered]]''. "Let's You and Him Fight" is also the title of a Fleischer Studios Popeye short revolving around a boxing match between Popeye and Bluto. It also appears in Eric Berne's 1964 book ''[[wikipedia:Games People Play ~~chr~~(~~28)bookchr(29~~)|Games People Play]]'' as one of the identified behavior patterns.

The phrase probably first comes from the 1930s [[Popeye]] comic strip as a catchphrase of [[Manipulative Bastard|Wimpy]], who often gets Popeye to fight big tough guys he's wronged - thus becoming a ''[[Got Volunteered]]''. "Let's You and Him Fight" is also the title of a Fleischer Studios Popeye short revolving around a boxing match between Popeye and Bluto. It also appears in Eric Berne's 1964 book ''[[wikipedia:Games People Play (book)|Games People Play]]'' as one of the identified behavior patterns.

Sometimes occurs - particularly in a [[Crossover]] - in order to tease fans with the possibility of an [[Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny]]. Of course, it almost always ends inconclusively. This is usually because [[Popularity Power]] evens the field when heroes are really mismatched in their [[Super Weight|weight class]].

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* Used twice in ''[[Marvel 1602]].'' Peter Parquagh is sent by Sir Nicholas Fury to deliver a message to Carlos Javier. Before he can even reach the gate, Hal McCoy pins him to the ground and accuses him of being a spy. {{spoiler|Earlier, Parquagh is sent to bring Virginia Dare to visit the queen and is waylaid by her bodyguard Rojhaz. Rojhaz (who later turns out to be Steven "Captain America" Rogers) protests his exclusion from the meeting by lifting Peter up by his shirt.}}

* ''[[Batman: No Man's Land|Batman No Mans Land]]'' has an amusing aversion. Bane manipulates several of the various Gotham gangs into thinking Two-Face has murdered several of their compatriots. Two of the gangs, the Street Demonz and the Eightballs, run into each other while out for revenge and ''immediately'' team up to stage an assault on Two-Face's headquarters. No argument, no tension, no Mexican Standoff, no nothing. Apparently, ''common street gangs'' are better at teamwork than most crime fighters in the DCU.

* Also subverted in ''[[~~Spider-Girl (Comic Book)|~~Spider-Girl]]'', [http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/774475.html#cutid1 when she runs into Araña] (Grown up version of the 616 Araña), who wants to fight her. May absolutely refuses, since she refuses to turn "the hero biz" into some sort of "who's stronger" contest and runs away. But Araña chases her and goads her into fighting. From the start of the sequence;

* Also subverted in ''[[Spider-Girl]]'', [http://asylums.insanejournal.com/scans_daily/774475.html#cutid1 when she runs into Araña] (Grown up version of the 616 Araña), who wants to fight her. May absolutely refuses, since she refuses to turn "the hero biz" into some sort of "who's stronger" contest and runs away. But Araña chases her and goads her into fighting. From the start of the sequence;

{{quote| '''May''' I don't do "tests", "misunderstanding battles", or "grudge matches".}}

* Lampshaded in ''[[~~Exiles (Comic Book)|~~Exiles]]'' and played straight dozens of times.

* Lampshaded in ''[[Exiles]]'' and played straight dozens of times.

* Lampshaded in ''[[Aztek|Aztek: The Ultimate Man]]''. When the [[Genre Savvy]] Aztek is confronted by an angry [[Green Lantern]] out for a fight, he simply swipes Kyle's [[Green Lantern Ring|Power Ring]] and then hands it straight back.

{{quote| '''Aztek:''' Good, well, now that we've passed the predictable fight superheroes are obliged to have when they first meet and established the fact that I'm ''not'' a villain, maybe we can down to business here. Friends?<br />

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* Justice Peace and Thor in ''[[The Mighty Thor]]'' #371. This one has consequences: the fight delays Justice Peace's pursuit of the serial killer Zaniac, who kills several more people before they catch up with him.

* In an early storyline of ''[[Justice League International]]'', Maxwell Lord and his computer ally sicced the League on Metron after framing him for creating a rampaging robot. Their plan went awry when it turned out that Metron and Mister Miracle knew each other as New Gods and were more inclined to talk things out.

* ''[[~~Avengers vs. X-Men (Comic Book)|~~Avengers vs. X-Men]]'' not only pit the two groups against each other, it had its own tie-in miniseries dedicated to just the hero vs hero fighting (''AvX VS'')! Mind you, in this case there isn't any misunderstanding or mistake in identity involved - the two teams simply want things that are mutually exclusive. But some fans feel that the speed at which they resort to violence is just as contrived.

* ''[[Avengers vs. X-Men]]'' not only pit the two groups against each other, it had its own tie-in miniseries dedicated to just the hero vs hero fighting (''AvX VS'')! Mind you, in this case there isn't any misunderstanding or mistake in identity involved - the two teams simply want things that are mutually exclusive. But some fans feel that the speed at which they resort to violence is just as contrived.