As was his usual practice, Charlie decided that it was essential to cleanse himself—both physically and mentally—before attempting to draw from the card pool. He believed that washing away any lingering bad luck or negative energy was crucial for improving his chances of success. After all, when dealing with the unknown, every little bit of preparation mattered.
He knew exactly what he needed: a superhero who could deliver powerful, sustained attacks in the heat of battle. Someone who could stand on the front lines and take the brunt of the enemy's assault, dealing out punishment in return. Ideally, this hero would be even stronger than Captain America, or at least bring unique abilities that complemented the team's existing strengths without overlapping roles.
Batman, with his vast arsenal of gadgets and sharp intellect, was a versatile and balanced hero, capable of handling most situations with precision. However, Batman was still fundamentally an assassin, a shadowy figure who thrived on stealth and subterfuge. He wasn't built for direct, head-on confrontations, especially against overwhelming odds.
There's a famous painting titled "The Seven Giants of the Justice League," often hailed as a masterpiece by fans of the superhero genre. But if you look closely, you'll notice something odd: although it's supposed to depict seven heroes, only six are actually visible in the image. To the untrained eye, this might seem like a simple oversight by the artist, perhaps a miscalculation. But true fans, those who know the lore inside and out, recognize the subtle joke hidden in the composition. The missing hero is none other than Batman, who is "stealthing" in the background, unseen but ever-present, silently influencing the battle in ways only he could.
[TL Note - if you guys find the painting, post the image here]
In truth, there's a reason for Batman's elusive presence. Batman isn't built for the kind of grand, epic battles that define the Justice League. While his teammates clash with gods, aliens, and otherworldly beings, Batman's strengths lie in the shadows, in strategy, and in precision strikes. In a team fight, where raw power and endurance are the keys to victory, Batman's approach often seems out of place.
There's even a famous scene in the early Justice League comics that illustrates this point perfectly. After a particularly grueling battle, the team is regrouping, tending to their wounds, and discussing tactics for the next fight. It's at this moment that Batman and Green Lantern—known as Hal Jordan—get into a heated argument.
The source of their disagreement was a clash in their fighting styles. During the battle, Hal had taken to the skies, his green power ring blazing like a miniature sun. "Fear my light!" he had shouted, unleashing a brilliant beam that illuminated the entire battlefield. But in doing so, Hal had inadvertently exposed Batman, who had been sneaking up on the enemy, hidden in the shadows. The sudden burst of light ruined Batman's stealthy approach, making him painfully visible to both friend and foe.
Batman, understandably furious, lashed out at Hal afterward. "What the hell were you thinking?" he demanded, his voice cold and cutting. "Do you have any idea what you've done? I was about to take out their leader, and you lit me up like a goddamn firefly!"
Hal, never one to back down from a challenge, fired back with equal intensity. "And what about you, Batman? Maybe if your only 'superpower' wasn't sneaking around on your knees, you wouldn't have this problem!"
It was a confrontation that laid bare the fundamental differences between them. Hal's powers were grand, flashy, and designed to inspire fear and awe. Batman's strengths were subtle, rooted in silence, deception, and calculated risk. It was no wonder that after this incident, Batman became even more reluctant to join in full-blown team battles, preferring instead to work alone, where his methods could shine without interference.
As the roster of heroes continued to grow, Charlie found that drawing new ones with unique, non-overlapping abilities was becoming increasingly difficult. But after several days of careful planning and grinding for points—along with the rewards earned from taking down the night's boss—Charlie had finally amassed enough resources for more than 20 draws.
With a deep breath, he began the process, hoping for something extraordinary.
The first hero that appeared was a familiar face, though not as well-known in the movie adaptations. It was Green Arrow, also known as Oliver Queen. Despite not being as prominent as some other heroes, Oliver had carved out a significant presence in the superhero world. He had eight seasons of a popular TV series under his belt, and his image had even been used to promote a well-known chewing gum brand. In many ways, Oliver was the modern Robin Hood—a vigilante who fought for justice with his bow and arrows.
Oliver was a man of many talents, skilled in both combat and charm.
His prowess with a bow was unmatched, both in the battlefield and in more personal settings.
However, despite being a master archer, Oliver's most memorable moments in combat often involved close-quarters bow fighting rather than traditional long-range sniping. His understanding of the bow seemed to go beyond mere marksmanship; for him, it was a versatile tool, as effective in a brawl as it was from a distance.
While Charlie recognized that Green Arrow could be a valuable asset, especially in missions that required precision and archery skills, he couldn't help but feel that Oliver was more of a niche pick. He would certainly be useful in the right circumstances, but he wasn't the game-changing powerhouse Charlie had been hoping for.
This wasn't lost on others in the superhero community, either. There's a well-known anecdote from the early days of the Justice League, where Green Lantern Hal Jordan had openly mocked Green Arrow during his application to join the team. Pointing to Batman, Hal had said, "Sorry, but we already have one who's good at nothing. We don't need a second."
The next hero to emerge was another female character, but she stood in stark contrast to the previous heroines who often wore revealing outfits and relied on their agility and acrobatics. This new heroine was petite, with a lithe, almost childlike frame, and none of the exaggerated curves that had become a staple of comic book designs. Her entire body was clad in a sleek, black battlesuit that hugged her form like a second skin.
In simpler terms, while the earlier heroines had leaned towards the mature, older sister archetype, this one had more of a loli vibe.
Her face was completely obscured by a black mask, but the pointed bat ears and the golden bat symbol on her chest made it clear that she was part of the Bat family—a young Batgirl.
This was the third Batgirl, Cassandra Cain.
Unlike the character's portrayal in the 2020 Birds of Prey movie—where Cassandra was reduced to a simple pickpocket—the original Cassandra Cain had a much richer and more complex backstory.
Her father, David Cain, was a top assassin from the League of Assassins, a shadowy figure known for his lethal skills. Although he didn't have many high-profile kills to his name, within the DC universe, he was considered one of the top martial artists, capable of going toe-to-toe with the likes of Batman (or so it was said).
But it was her mother who was the real legend. Cassandra's mother was Lady Shiva, renowned as the greatest martial artist in the DC universe—a woman who had long been recognized as the pinnacle of martial arts mastery. Lady Shiva was a force of nature, someone even Batman respected, if not feared.
However, as is often the case with such titles, being the best in the world is both a blessing and a curse. It's a title that inevitably invites challengers, those who seek to prove themselves by taking down the reigning champion. And the one who eventually surpassed Lady Shiva was none other than her own daughter, Cassandra.
Cassandra's most significant achievement was defeating her mother—not just once, but multiple times. These victories solidified her status as the top martial artist of the new generation in the DC universe. Even when the "Rebirth" storyline attempted to reset the balance by having Lady Shiva regain the upper hand, Cassandra quickly reclaimed her title with a decisive and dramatic victory.
This loli had the skills to best DC's martial arts gods, earning her the title of the world's greatest fighter. After investigating her background, Batman discovered that Cassandra's father, David Cain, had subjected her to brutal, inhumane training from a very young age.
The purpose of the training was to develop a brand-new martial art, one that had never been seen before, and it required starting with a child who hadn't yet learned to speak. Cassandra was taught to read micro-expressions and muscle movements, allowing her to predict her opponent's moves with uncanny accuracy. This made her virtually unbeatable in hand-to-hand combat, as she could counter any attack before it even began.
However, the price of mastering this technique was the loss of her ability to speak. She could only communicate through gestures and drawings, a limitation that added to her mystique and made her an even more intriguing character.
A loli, mute, the strongest assassin—a combination that made her both adorable and deadly. If not for the bat symbol on her chest, she could easily be mistaken for a character from a two-dimensional anime studio.
What made Cassandra even more appealing to Charlie was that she wasn't just cute and formidable; her character's nationality was rooted in the East.
It seems that in the minds of American writers, martial arts is always tied to the East. Whenever they design a martial arts master with superpowers, there's almost always a connection to the ancient traditions of the Far East.
Cassandra's unique fighting style, with its predictive capabilities, was intriguing. It seemed like it could be more effective than Captain America's combat skills.
If Charlie could somehow incorporate her abilities into his own, it would be a significant upgrade.
But perhaps it was the new shower gel he used that day, or maybe it was just good luck, but when Charlie redeemed his remaining single lottery tickets, he drew a hero he had long been hoping for.
A true powerhouse of the supernatural kind.
Moon Knight.
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Let's Pay homage to Jackie Chan here; The man, the myth, the FCKING GOAT!!!!
[Also I don't know who the hell moon night is, so can you readers give me an introduction]
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