Clayton vs. Gaston

                                                                        Character bios

Clayton: After joining an expedition to Africa, William Cecil Clayton served as a guide and bodyguard to professor Porter and his daughter Jane. As a result, Clayton appeared to be a chivalrous gentleman, using his experience as a hunter to protect the Porters on their journey.  Once the trio began their search for Gorillas in the African jungle, Jane wanders off and is pursued by a group of baboons. Despite this encounter, Jane manages to survive after being liberated by a Wildman. With the introduction of Tarzan, Clayton made several attempts to gain the location of his gorilla family; However, Tarzan was unable to cooperate since Jane's teachings were a distraction. A few days later, a cargo ship arrives to pick up the explorers.

As the captain's crew began to pack their luggage, Jane tries to reason with the Captain, requesting more time to explore. However, the commander denies her requests due to his fear of falling behind Schedule.  As a result, Clayton blames the young maiden for wasting their resources to educate a Wildman. Once his plans appear to be thwarted, Clayton prepares for his journey back to England until he subsequently discovers Tarzan's affection for Jane. As a result, the poacher manipulates Tarzan's emotions, causing him to release his family's location. Not long after the trio meet the gorillas in his troop, Tarzan's adopted father, Kerchak attempts to kill Clayton. Because of this, Tarzan wrestles Kerchak to the ground and places his father in a chokehold. Eventually Clayton reveals his true nature once he betrays the Wildman's trust and captures all the gorillas in his troop. 

Despite the poacher's best efforts, Tarzan managed to rescue his family from captivity. As a result, Clayton opens fire on the jungle king, killing his father in the process. After the death of Kerchak, Clayton engages in a fierce battle with his former ally. Near the climax of their confrontation, Clayton descends into madness and loses his life after being hanged.

Gaston: Once regarded as the local hero, Gaston was a an arrogant, hunter who owned a large tavern; located in a small French, village. As a hunter, Gaston gained popularity after killing several animals, collecting their heads as trophies. After returning from a hunting trip, Gaston pursued an intelligent young woman named Belle. Despite his status amongst the women in his village, Belle, often rejected his advances, showing no signs of romantic interest. As a result, Gaston became smitten with her beauty and attempted to gain her affection with an organized wedding; However, Belle managed to escape his proposal. In order to lift his spirits, villagers in the tavern begin to sing about the hunters greatness. Not long after the festivities, Belle's eccentric father; Maurice, arrives at the tavern and warns the villagers that his daughter was  being held captive by a monster. Despite his best efforts, the villagers find his claims to be absurd and throw him out of the tavern.

As a result, Gaston Seizes the moment at hand, striking a deal with  Monsieur D'Arque; owner of the local asylum, to blackmail the young maiden with allusions pertaining to her father's captivity. After Maurice returns to the cottage with his daughter, Gaston assembles the villagers and alerts the asylum owner. Once the villagers have gathered outside, D'Arque orders his men to drag Maurice towards their carriage. As the men prepared to carry her father away, the arrogant, hunter pressures the young woman into marriage with threats alluding to him serving time in a mental institution. Appalled by his actions, Belle refused to marry Gaston and managed to prove her father's claims by using the magic mirror that the monster gave her. Once his plans begin to unravel, Gaston descends into madness and grabs the mirror from Belle. Consumed by anger, Gaston manipulates the villagers to storm the monster's castle. In order to spare the prince's life, Belle tries to reason with the hunter, but ultimately fails once he discovers her affections for the beast.

As Gaston reached the castle of the cursed prince, the hunter and his troops manage to infiltrate the monster's fortress. After the villagers began to raid his castle, Adam's servants launch an attack on the intruders, forcing them to retreat. Amidst the chaos of their battle, Gaston sneaks into the prince's room and fires an arrow at the monster. As the creature writhed in pain, Gaston knocks him through a glass window and kicks the monster off the balcony. Near the climax of their confrontation, the cursed prince begins to fight back, using his strength to knock the hunter off balance. As the fight continues, the monstrous beast grabs his enemy by the throat and holds him over the roof. Once Belle appears in the courtyard, Adam tells the hunter to leave; However, Gaston stabs him instead. In the end, Gaston loses his balance and ultimately falls to his death.






                                                             Combat skills/ weaponry

Clayton: As a hunter, Clayton is a skilled gunmen, brandishing a 12 gauge double barrel shotgun and a machete. Although it wasn't made clear as to which model he used, based on his preference for high quality craftsmanship, the best comparison for his weapon, is the Purdey, London, best 12 gauge double barreled shotgun. ca. 1886. The Purdey DB shotgun is a long range fire arm with a 12 gauge double barrel made from steel, with 1/2" wood butt extension under a 1/2" horn butt plate. Clayton's bullets consist of two shells; which are self contained cartridges that have been loaded with multiple small, metallic projectiles. In combat Clayton appears to be a brawler and hasn't displayed any significant skill in hand to hand combat, relying on his shotgun to devastate his opponents. However; judging by his build in addition to the high interest in boxing during his era, it can be implied that Clayton was exposed to the sport and might have been trained in the art of boxing. In terms of melee weapons, Clayton used his machete for short-range offense/defensive tactics.

Gaston:  As a prominent figure in his village, Gaston was a very skilled marksman, displaying a high level of proficiency with a bow and arrow, in addition to his mastery of the Blunderbuss, a single shot, muzzle loading firearm with a short, 54 caliber barrel, which is made from solid steel and is flared at the muzzle, taking the shape of a trumpet. The Blunderbuss is a short range weapon and typically uses a set of 100, 54 caliber round, lead balls. In terms of melee weapons; Gaston brandished a hunting knife in order to perform a short range offensive/defensive strategy. Despite his initial lack of intelligence, Gaston proved he can be very manipulative and cunning, black mailing Belle to take his hand in marriage in addition to persuading the villagers to attack the beast's castle. In combat Gaston appears to be a brawler who is capable of beating multiple men, using his strength and size to pummel his opponents into submission.






Edge: As a villain, Gaston displayed a cunning and manipulative nature, exploiting the ignorance of the villagers in addition to bribing the owner of the local asylum in order to blackmail a woman to marry him; however, Clayton is much more methodical and deceptive. In his first appearance, Clayton was several steps ahead of his adversary, examining his every move, patiently waiting to set his plan in motion, before luring him into a trap. In terms of combat, both hunters appear to be brawlers without any known training in hand to hand, making it hard to determine which villain is the superior fighter. Based on Clayton's muscular build in addition to the popularity of boxing during his era, one could argue that the hunter might have trained in the sport, which would give him a slight advantage. However, this claim is mostly speculative and hasn't officially been proven. When it comes to their weapons; both hunters are exceptionally skilled gunmen. Gaston's Blunderbuss is a well crafted fire arm that is powerful enough to cause a significant amount of damage at close range, but Clayton's shotgun provides him with a longer range, quicker re-load, and is much more efficient. Clayton gets the edge in combat skills/ weaponry.












                                                                       Powers/ abilities

                                                                            Clayton




Strength- Clayton is strong enough to support the bulk of Tarzan's weight while standing on one foot, as the jungle king himself remained standing on the poacher's leg. In his final battle with Tarzan, Clayton managed to cut through thick vines and held his own against the wounded jungle king in a brief skirmish.

Speed-  Clayton is extremely fast, moving at speeds far beyond the average capacity of a normal human, placing him among the ranks of athletes in peak physical condition.

Agility- Despite his high level of speed, Clayton is not particularly agile. In his battle with Tarzan, Clayton may have held the upper hand against a weakened Tarzan, but he was unable to outmaneuver the Wildman and hasn't shown any skill to suggest he was capable of performing a high level of evasive action.


Durability- Clayton possessed a high level of durability and was capable of  wrestling a weakened Tarzan. The hunter managed to survive a 20 foot drop after tanking several hits from thick tree branches without any apparent effort.

                                                                            Gaston




Strength- Gaston possesses  an incredible measure of physical strength, lifting three fully grown women with one hand. In his battle with prince Adam, Gaston  managed to hold his own against the beast's superhuman level of strength. The hunter was strong enough to knock the beast through a glass window and was capable of kicking him off the roof with one foot.


Speed- Gaston is incredibly fast and is capable of reaching speeds above the average capacity of a normal human, which places him among the ranks of Olympic level athletes in peak physical condition.

Agility-  Despite his athletic build and speed, Gaston hasn't displayed any notable feats of agility. In his fight with the Beast, Gaston managed to dominate the fight, but hasn't shown anything to suggest he is capable of outmaneuvering opponents in combat.

Durability- Gaston displayed a high level of durability, taking hits from several men in a brawl. The hunter managed to survive a fight with the beast after being tackled and slammed hard onto the roof of the castle. .






Edge: In strength, Gaston is capable of lifting 300 lbs. with one hand and managed to grapple with a monster who possessed superhuman strength, while Clayton could barely handle wrestling against a weakened Tarzan. When it comes to their speed and agility, both opponents appear to be equal. However; due to his age, Gaston is slightly more agile. Despite Clayton's ability to catch up with Tarzan after a long drop, his speed in this instant is a product of circumstance rather than natural skill, since the advantage was not consistent. In terms of durability, Clayton managed to survive a drop that would have broken his spine and killed him, but Gaston was able to survive after being slammed against a castle roof by a monster with superhuman strength. As a result, Gaston gets the edge for power/ abilities.



Verdict: In a battle between hunter versus poacher, this fight would be a contest between Clayton's combat experience vs Gaston's physical abilities. This fight will take place in the forest and end in the Beast's castle. There will be no prep time. The fight begins when Clayton reaches for his gun and opens fire on Gaston. The hunter manages to find cover behind a tree. As the poacher began to reload, Gaston fires a series of bullets. Clayton dodges his assault and takes cover behind a group of rocks. The poacher counters his attack by firing multiple shots, causing the tree branches to fall on his adversary. Once the smoke has cleared, Gaston manages to escape.


After fleeing from the forest, Gaston lures Clayton into a castle. Once the veteran hunter enters the building, Gaston leaps from the darkness, knocking Clayton's gun out of his hand, striking the poacher with a left hook. Once Clayton hits the ground, the poacher trips Gaston. As the two begin to wrestle, Gaston manages to toss Clayton into a wall. Near the climax of their confrontation, the hunter throws a right jab, but Clayton dodges and retaliates with an uppercut. Continuing his assault, the poacher strikes his opponent's midsection. However; the hunter catches his fist. Using his strength, Gaston knocks Clayton through a window. As the hunter begins to lift Clayton's body, the poacher pulls out his machete and slices the hunter's chest. Before the final blow is struck, Gaston dodges his attack, breaking the poacher's arm in the process. As Clayton began to draw his last breath, Gaston delivers the final blow, by cracking his skull against the pavement and tosses his body off the roof. I declare Gaston the victor.

At first glance, a battle between Clayton and Gaston seems like a mismatch once you take all of their weapons out of the equation, however; this fight is actually much closer than some might believe. The poacher is far more intelligent than Gaston. Although the hunter held an obvious advantage in strength, the rest of Gaston's physical advantages were only a few notches above Clayton's physical abilities.  Despite his having more experience and  superior weapons, Clayton lost due to Gaston's overwhelming strength, superior fighting skills, as well as his own ability to improvise his tactics in combat, using his environment to his advantage.

Clayton vs Gaston (preview)

Media dissection: Birth of A Nation vs. The Butler (preview)

After 400 years have passed, the scars of slavery continue to plague humanity, leaving a stain on American history. Initially, filmmakers tackled the subject to open up a dialogue and provide a visual representation of historical accounts, however; the medium has become oversaturated with an abundance of movies that perpetuate an "uncle tom" stereotype and celebrate the breaking of a black man's rebellious spirit. As a result, films like the Butler receive a hefty amount of praise despite it's underwhelming message that fails to inspire those who watch the movie.

Nicktoons vs. Carton Network series preview

Coming this Spring, Nicktoons will faceoff against characters from  Cartoon Network in my next versus series where I analyze their combat skills and abilities to determine who would win in a hypothetical battle.

Media Dissection: Sequels & Reboots

Disney Versus Battles: Kerchak vs. Mufasa

                                                                       Character bios

Kerchak: Once a proud father and loving husband of Kala, Kerchak was the leader of a small troop of gorillas that lived in the African jungle. As a father, Kerchak spent most of his time bonding with his son, maintaining the happiness of his family, however, their happiness is shattered when the infant wanders off at night and is attacked by a rogue leopardess known as Sabor. Desperate to save their son, the couple rush to find him, but Sabor manages to grab their infant, eventually killing him in the process. Devastated by the death of his newborn, Kerchak became cold and bitter, viewing anything outside the group as a potential threat to his family's safety. As the couple began to mourn the death of their child, Kala hears the cries of an orphaned baby and discovers an abandoned tree house. After rescuing the child, Kala is attacked, however, she manages to escape. Despite her husband's disapproval, she raises the human, naming him: Tarzan.

Several years later, Tarzan's family is a attacked by Sabor. Kerchak defends the troop against her assault, but she manages to gain the upper hand after scratching his chest and biting his arm. As the gorilla lies helpless on the ground, Tarzan rescues Kerchak from his death. Near the end of their confrontation, the jungle king emerges victorious after killing his murderous adversary. As a result, Tarzan earns Kerchak's respect. Not long after his victory, the jungle king meets a trio of explorers who educate him on the subject of other humans in society in exchange for access to the gorillas in his troop. Angered by the appearance of humans, Kerchak becomes violent and slams Tarzan into the ground. As he regains his composure, the Wildman places his father in a choke hold, pinning Kerchak to the ground. Because of this, Tarzan was banished from the troop.

After Tarzan leaves his family, one of the explorers named Clayton betrays the Wildman's trust bringing back a group of men to capture the gorillas in his troop. Despite his best efforts, the poacher fails to succeed when Kerchak, and his son manage to free their family from captivity. As a result, Clayton grabs his shotgun and opens fire on the jungle king. Kerchak rushes to his aid, however; Clayton fires another round, fatally wounding the troop leader. Eventually, Kerchak loses his life after succumbing to his injuries.

Mufasa: Born as the heir of King Ahadi and Queen Uru, Mufasa was a courageous lion who ruled over The Pride Lands. After the birth of his son; Mufasa, began teaching Simba about the circle of life, training him to take his place as king. As a result, his jealous younger brother; Scar, hatches a scheme to over throw him and rule his kingdom. Once it's discovered that Scar missed Simbas's presentation ceremony; Mufasa, enters the lion's den in order to chastise his brother for his insolence. As the king continues to scold his brother, Scar turns his back and walks away, stating he might attack Mufasa if he turned his back on him. A few months later, Mufasa travels to the Pride Lands to show Simba around his kingdom. As the pair continue their journey, the lion king teaches Simba how to pounce and forbids him from entering the Elephant Graveyard. After being manipulated by his uncle Scar, Simba disobeys his father by traveling to the Elephant Graveyard, but is ambushed by three hyenas.

Near the climax of their confrontation, Mufasa rescues his son after defeating all three of his attackers in combat. After his minions fail to kill his nephew, Scar enlists the aid of Shenzi, Banzai, and Ed for a new plan to steal Mufasa's thrown. As the hyenas wait for their signal, Scar lures Simba into a trap and orders the trio to scare a large group of Wildebeest, causing them to start a stampede. Meanwhile, the king's trusted advisor, Zazu, reports the sighting of an unusual migration of a wildebeest herd. Not long after his report, Scar tells Mufasa that Simba is trapped in a gorge with the Wildebeest. As a result, the lion king heads for the gorge in order to save his son. Upon his arrival, Mufasa catches Simba right before he fell off of a branch, however; the lion king suffers an attack by one of the Wildebeest. Despite his injury; Mufasa, manages to reach a ledge and brings his son to safety.

As the king attempts to climb the ledge; Mufasa gets pulled into the stampede. Before he is trampled by the herd, Mufasa manages to escape after leaping to a nearby cliff. As the king struggled to reach the top, Mufasa begs his brother for help, but he falls to his death after Scar betrays him and throws the lion into the stampede.









                                                             Combat skills/ weaponry

Kerchak: Much like a wrestler in his prime, Kerchak  heavily relied on brute force, using his strength and size to overwhelm his opponents, employing a series of grapples, tosses, and body slams, in addition to strangle holds: choking enemies into submission. Although he possessed an overwhelming offense, the troop leader's defenses left little to be desired. In combat, Kerchak does not possess any melee weapons, using his fist and fangs to pummel his opponents.

Mufasa: As a lion, Mufasa is an apex predator, stalking his prey through the use of stealth, developing a strategy to kill his adversaries with the element of surprise. In live combat, Mufasa battles enemies with animalistic aggression, using his strength, size, and speed to overwhelm his opponents. The lion king possesses razor sharp claws, which are strong enough to cut through flesh. Mufasa also possessed incredibly sharp fangs.






Edge: In combat, both animals have displayed a considerate measure of skill, proving to be formidable opponents, however; the lion king was much more experienced in battle. Although Kerchak appears to have better showings against Tublat in The Legend of Tarzan, and Sabor in the animated feature: Tarzan, Lion's are naturally more aggressive and Mufasa managed to outsmart a Buffalo named Boma, in the novel: A Tale of Two Brothers. The lion king also defeated a group of hyenas. In terms of their weaponry, Kerchak's fist are not as lethal as Mufasa's claws or his fangs. Despite his possession of incredible strength to guide his fist, the lion king's weapons provide him with more options to eliminate his enemies. As a result, Mufasa get's the edge in combat skills and weaponry.












                                                                       Powers/ abilities

                                                                            Kerchak




Strength- Kerchak possesses a massive amount of physical strength and is capable of lifting full grown men. In his first appearance, Kerchak was strong enough to slam Tarzan into the ground with one hand, in addition to pinning Clayton to the ground. The troop leader also managed to out wrestle another gorilla named Tublat.


Speed- Much like his real life counter parts, Kerchak is very fast and is capable of reaching speeds in excess of 20 miles per hour.


Agility- In combat, Kerchak is not particularly agile. Due to his size and weight, Kerchak has trouble out maneuvering smaller opponents.


Durability- Kerchak displayed an impressive measure of durability. In his first appearance, the troop leader managed to endure a bite from Sabor's fangs and cuts from Sabor's claws. Kerchak was able to sustain a decent amount of damage from Tublat in The Legend of Tarzan.




                      

                                                                            Mufasa




Strength- As a lion, Mufasa has displayed an incredible measure of physical strength, defeating a trio of Hyenas, in addition to carrying Simba through a herd of Wildebeests, leaping several feet in the air to rush his son to safety. The lion king also managed to scale a cliff after nearly being trampled in a stampede.


Speed- The lion king is fast enough to chase a herd of Wildebeests, keeping pace with the animals showing no signs of fatigue. On average, lions can reach speeds in excess of 50 miles per hour.


Agility- Mufasa is very agile and was capable of dodging a large group of Wildebeests in the middle of a stampede.


Durability- Mufasa possesses a high level of durability. Before his death, the lion king managed to sustain a massive amount of damage, tanking several hits from a herd of wildebeests and was able to survive the encounter after nearly being trampled in the stampede.







Edge: In terms of strength, Mufasa has displayed an impressive amount of physical strength, beating multiple enemies in combat, however; Kerchak is much stronger, tossing opponents that weigh from 200-400lbs. Despite the lion's potential, gorillas are naturally stronger and Mufasa hasn't been able to achieve the same measure of physical strength. When it comes to speed and agility, Kerchak is pretty quick, but due to his size and weight the troop leader lacks a sufficient measure of mobility, causing him to have slower reflexes. In contrast, the lion king is faster and far more agile in his movements. As previously stated: Mufasa is fast enough to chase a herd of wildebeest and was able to dodge them in the middle of a stampede. Kerchak isn't able to reach that level of speed. When it comes to their durability, both combatants have shown they're capable of enduring a great deal of punishment in combat, however; Mufasa has a high tolerance for pain that far exceeds Kerchak's physical limitations. Mufasa gets the edge in powers/ abilities.



Verdict: In a contest to determine which animal reigns supreme as ruler of the African wild, a fight between these animals would come down to Mufasa's speed and durability versus Kerchak's strength and ferocity. This fight will take place in the west African jungle. There will be no prep time. The fight begins when Mufasa leaps from the bushes to attack his opponent. As the big cat struggles to out wrestle Kerchak, the troop leader manages to knock him off balance, tossing the lion into a tree. Mufasa springs back into action and launches another assault.

Kerchak immediately swings his arms forward, but the lion king evades his attack. After dodging a series of strikes, Mufasa uses his claws to pierce the flesh of Kerchak's stomach. As the gorilla writhed in pain, Kerchak smacks the lion with the backhand  of his fist. Mufasa shrugs off the damage and regains his composure. As the fight continues, both combatants stare each other down. In a matter of seconds, the ferocious lion rushes towards his opponent. Using his massive strength, the troop leader grabs Mufasa's arms, but the lion king bites him on the shoulder and slices Kerchak's face with his claws. As the gorilla is brought to his knees, Mufasa rips through Kerchak's flesh, killing him in the process. I declare, Mufasa, king of the Pridelands, the victor.




In a fight between animal versus animal, Kerchak is one of the strongest fighters in the Disney universe, using his brute strength to pummel his enemies into submission, however; Kerchak's lack of mobility limits the gorillas combat effectiveness, causing  him to struggle with opponents who are faster and smaller. In contrast, Mufasa is a ferocious hurricane that is capable of outmaneuvering opponents who are big or small. Another factor contributing to Kerchak's loss would be his durability. Despite putting up a decent fight against Sabor, it only took two hits to bring Kerchak to his knees. Because of this, Kerchak wouldn't be able to endure the might of Mufasa. As a result, Kerchak loses this match-up.

Coming soon...

Maleficent vs. Ursula

Character Bios

Maleficent: Born as a dark fairy in the Forbidden Mountain; Maleficent, lived in a ruined castle at the top of the mountain's peak. As a result of her isolation, Maleficent  ruled her kingdom with an iron fist, harnessing her dark magic, and plotting schemes against King Stefan. During a ceremony celebrating the birth of Princess Aurora; three good fairies named: Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather arrive at the castle to bless the child with gifts. However; Merryweather, loses her chance to bless the child, when an outraged Maleficent appears in the throne room. Angered that she wasn't invited; Maleficent, places a curse on the King's daughter, stating: before the sun sets, she will die on her 16th birthday after pricking her finger on the spindle of a spinning wheel. However; Merryweather, managed to reduce the curse to a deep slumber. After fifteen years have passed, Princess Aurora's 16th birthday finally arrives. As a result; Maleficent, sends her pet raven Diablo to find her after punishing her minions for their failure to capture the princess. During his search, Diablo discovers that the princess is living in a cottage in the woods with the three Good fairies, posing as a girl named "Briar Rose".

Once the princess returns to the castle, Maleficent waits until Aurora is alone and lures her to a spinning wheel. Ceasing the moment at hand, Maleficent  uses her hypnotic powers to convince Aurora to touch the spindle. As a result, the princess falls to the ground after pricking her finger. Shortly after the princess is motionless on the floor, Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather discover they have failed to protect Aurora when Maleficent mocks them and reveals her lifeless body right before their eyes. As the fairies tend to the king's daughter, the mistress of evil travels back to her castle, ordering  her minions to wait in the cottage and capture Prince Phillip. Upon his arrival, Phillip is then ambushed by Maleficent's henchmen and brought back to her castle's dungeon. Not long after his capture, Maleficent visits the prince, taunting him with knowledge of Aurora's condition, stating: he would be free to exit her domain within a hundred years in order to wake up the princess with a kiss. As the Prince struggles to break free of his chains, Maleficent vanishes from the dungeon and heads to her tower to get some sleep.

After the Good Fairies discover Phillip's hat in the cottage, they soon realize that Maleficent had him kidnapped and head to the Forbidden Mountain. Using their magic to melt the dungeon lock, the fairies rescue the prince from his captivity, arming him with two enchanted weapons: the sword of truth and the shield of virtue. As the Prince makes his daring escape, Maleficent's goons begin to attack. Dodging  the bulk of their assault, Phillip manages to flee from the castle with the Good Fairies. Due to the commotion caused by the prince, Maleficent emerges from her slumber. Angered by the current state of events, the mistress of evil began shooting lightning from her staff, in addition to conjuring a forest of thorns, however Phillip still manages to escape. During the final battle between the mistress of evil and the heroic prince; Maleficent transforms into a fire breathing dragon. Near the climax of their confrontation, Phillip stabs Maleficent with the sword of truth, ending her life in the process.

Ursula:  Once a respected member of King Triton's royal sea court; Ursula, was banished from the underwater city when it was discovered she planned to overthrow his kingdom. As a result, Ursula began to practice dark magic and established herself as a beacon of hope to unfortunate Merpeople, making business deals and propositions, claiming she can make their dreams come true as long as they are able to complete their task. In the following years, the sea witch spent her time spying on Triton's family, waiting for her chance to exploit their weaknesses and take the king's throne. When the king's youngest daughter; Ariel, falls in love with a human prince named Eric; the power-hungry sea witch orders her minions to lure the child to her lair. During Ariel's visit; Ursula, offers her a chance to become a human for three days. Once Ariel manages to receive the kiss of true love from Eric, her transformation into a human would become permanent, however; if she fails to succeed, the mermaid would become bound to Ursula for all eternity. In order to complete the agreement, Ariel learns she must give up her voice. As a result, the mermaid agrees and allows her to collect her voice.


After Ariel signs the contract and becomes a human, Ursula orders her minions to ruin the mermaid's chance of kissing Eric. Once Ursula realizes Ariel might succeed in obtaining her happiness, the power-hungry sea witch transforms into a beautiful human named Vanessa. With the aid of her dark magic; Vanessa, placed Eric in a trance and forced him to marry her. During the wedding; Ariel's seagull companion named Scuttle, manages to stall the ceremony when he invites a few of his friends to crash the party. Amidst the chaos of Scuttle's interference; the necklace worn by Vanessa, which held Ariel's voice, was broken; as a result, the mermaid's voice returned to it's owner. Before the couple were able to kiss, Ariel is transformed back into a mermaid and Ursula returns to her original form. As the guests begin to panic, the sea witch kidnaps her adversary's daughter. Not long after her escape; the sea witch is confronted by an angry King Triton. Once Ursula reveals her true intentions; Triton is forced to sacrifice his freedom in order to save his daughter, however; Ursula turns him into a polyp.

Once Ursula has stolen the Trident, a furious Ariel attacks the sea witch for her cruelty, but she retaliates by throwing the little mermaid into a rock. As the fight comes to an end, Ursula prepares for the final attack, however; Ariel is saved by Eric after he shoots the sea witch in her arm. After ordering her minions to capture the prince, Ursula attempts to kill him with an energy bolt. Due to Ariel's interference; Ursula misses her target and kills her henchmen in the process. Because of this, the power hungry sea witch seeks vengeance on the little mermaid, using her powers to magically alter her size in the form of a giant. As a result of her new powers, Ursula summons a deadly storm in order to eliminate her enemies. As the couple tries to escape; Ursula, traps Ariel in a whirlpool, declaring herself as: "ruler of the ocean". Before releasing her most destructive blast; the sea witch loses her life after she is impaled by Eric's boat and struck by lightning.




                                                                  Combat skills/ Weaponry

Maleficent: Maleficent wields a magical golden scepter made of Birchwood surmounted by an engraved lotus, baring a glowing crystal orb. As a dark fairy, Maleficent developed her skills in the dark arts, practicing a number of combative abilities in addition to casting powerful dark spells. In battle, the mistress of evil uses incredibly strong dark magic to overwhelm her opponents with an onslaught of mystical energy. Maleficent is also capable of transforming into a fire breathing dragon.

Ursula: In the midst of combat, Ursula wielded the Trident: a three-pronged magical spear made of pure gold. In her base form; Ursula is capable of casting a variety of spells, however; most of her powers lack a combative application and are heavily dependent on a contract. Although her experience in combat is limited; Ursula managed to wield the destructive power of the Trident. In battle, Ursula uses powerful magic to manipulate the weather. The sea witch also possesses the ability to alter her size.




Edge: In terms of their combat skills, both women have displayed an impressive amount of skill in the use of magic, however; Maleficent has much more experience in combat having trained herself in  offensive and defensive techniques. Despite the sea witch holding a similar level of experience in dark magic, prior to stealing the Trident; Ursula hasn't shown any combative abilities. When it comes to their weapons, both combatants used very powerful objects;  Maleficent's staff provides her with a variety of magical abilities while the magic in Ursula's trident is much more destructive. The question regarding which weapon is superior comes down to quantity versus quality. Although the trident has a superior destructive capacity; the spear has never been capable of producing a sufficient measure of defense and has only been capable of manipulating the ocean as well as the weather.  Maleficent's method of fighting in addition to her use of the golden scepter prove to be more practical and effective. Maleficent gets the edge in combat skills and weaponry.







                                                                   Powers/ abilities












      

    
                                                                        Maleficent





Strength- In her base form, Maleficent possesses an average level of strength and hasn't shown any significant feats in terms of striking power. As a dragon; Maleficent's, physical strength increases to a superhuman level.


Speed- Currently, Maleficent's maximum speed is unknown, however; Maleficent is capable of reaching superhuman speeds during flight and has displayed an aptitude for teleportation, using her powers to transport herself from one place to another with ease.


Agility- Despite having a plethora of magical abilities at her disposal, Maleficent is not particularly agile.


Durability- In her dragon form, Maleficent is virtually indestructible. The only force capable of penetrating her skin is enchanted items or weapons.


Pyrokinesis- Maleficent possesses the ability to manipulate a massive amount of fire and is capable of using it for offensive and defensive measures.


Electrokinesis- With the aid of dark magic, Maleficent is capable of producing a celestial storm at will, delivering a maelstrom of lightning bolts to devastate her opponents.


Flight- Maleficent is capable of achieving flight by transforming into an orb of magical energy. In this form; the mistress of evil, can move at superhuman speeds. It is currently unknown how fast she is able to fly.


Chlorokinesis: During her battle with Prince Phillip; The mistress of evil, managed to create a forest of thorn bushes that were extremely large and durable. The only objects that are able to penetrate the branches, are enchanted items, such as the Sword of Truth.


Dragon form- In her final battle, Maleficent transformed into a large, fire breathing dragon. In this form; the mistress of evil, is capable of breathing acid green fire that can melt solid stone with ease and is strong enough to knock enchanted items out of it's owner's hands. Maleficent also possesses superhuman strength in her dragon form. As a dragon, the mistress of evil is immune to fire and conventional weapons.












                                                                          

                                                                            Ursula





Strength- In her base form; Ursula, hasn't displayed any impressive feats of strength. After the sea witch absorbs the energy of the Trident, her strength increases to superhuman levels. It's currently unknown how much damage she can cause in terms of striking power.


Speed- When it comes to her speed on land or in the water; the power-hungry sea witch, is very slow in her movement due to her weight and tentacles hindering her performance.


Agility- Ursula has never been depicted possessing any form of agility in combat.


Durability- Much like her strength, Ursula's durability is greatly increased in her giant form, however; she is not indestructible. Unlike Maleficent; the power-hungry sea witch, can be harmed by conventional weapons. With enough force from a large object; Ursula's skin can be penetrated.


Energy bolts-Due to the power held in the Trident; the sea witch is able to shoot her enemies with destructive energy bolts. Each ray of energy has enough force to break through solid stone with ease.


Water manipulation- Ursula possesses the ability to control the ocean, causing massive tidal waves and hurricanes, in addition to creating whirlpool's in order to drown her opponents.


Transmutation- In her base form the sea witch has the power to transform merfolk into polyps if they fail to complete a deal. No matter how strong the person may be; once the contract has been signed; Ursula, can easily turn a client into a polyp.


Size shifting- With the aid of the Trident, Ursula is capable of altering her size, transforming into a giant.


Metamorphosis- Ursula has displayed an ability to transform into a human after mixing potions. It's currently unknown whether she can take the form of anything outside her human appearance, or if she's capable of producing extra abilities with the aid of her potions.





Edge: In terms of their physical abilities, both combatants are said to have superhuman strength based on the size and mass of their final forms, however; neither villain has been shown using their strength in combat, which makes it seem impossible to determine who is the stronger fighter. If we compare them based on their size and mass, Ursula is larger than Maleficent and given her massive weight; the sea witch is potentially stronger in terms of striking force. When it comes to speed and agility, Maleficent has the ability to move faster than Ursula, due to her mastery of teleportation. Despite Ursula's gigantic appearance, Maleficent's dragon form possesses a higher level of durability and is immune to conventional weapons, unlike her adversary who was impaled by a boat during her final battle. Due to her pyrokinetic anilities, Maleficent has enough power to burn the sea witch, however; Ursula's command over the ocean is stronger, possessing enough force to douse her flames. When it comes to energy manipulation, both combatants are seemingly equal, however; Maleficent can produce a larger amount of lighting without any apparent effort.

Due to the trident's limitations, Ursula hasn't been able to produce more than one stream of energy bolts at a time. Although Ursula is capable of turning merfolk into polyps; this power has only worked through the use of a contract. Maleficent's mastery of chlorokinesis would be useless against an opponent  who battles in the ocean. Ursula's ability to transform without the trident is heavily dependent on magic potions; none of which are combative in nature. Due to the circumstances of this fight; Maleficent's ability to fly gives her a significant advantage. When  it comes their final forms; Maleficent is much more durable, possessing a higher level of energy projection with her acid fire. Despite Ursula's superior strength and size, the mistress of evil has far more advantages in terms of physical combat. Maleficent gets the edge for powers and abilities.








                                                                         Verdict


After analyzing their combat skills and abilities, it's clear a fight between these villains would come down to magic versus magic. This fight will take place on neutral ground with 70% land and 70% water, in addition to several small towers floating in the water. There will be no prep time. Once the fight begins; Maleficent shoots a bolt of lightning, but Ursula counters her attack with an energy bolt. As the fight continues the villains clash in a duel of energy vs lightning, deflecting and blocking each other's moves. After their powers collide for the last time; Ursula summons a hurricane to kill maleficent. Before the hurricane reaches her tower; the mistress of evil, teleports behind the sea witch and causes a thunder storm to distract her. As Ursula turns to block the attack; Maleficent transforms into a dragon. Once the storm is over the sea witch launches a stream of energy, which is then met by the power of Maleficent's acid fire. As their energies clash, Maleficent's fire quickly over powers the sea witch, knocking the trident out of her hands. Desperate to survive; Ursula grabs the dragon by the throat and prepares for her final attack. Maleficent bites the sea witch with her venomous fangs, causing her to open her hand. As a result; Maleficent unleashes a massive amount of fire, melting Ursula in the process. I declare, Maleficent mistress of evil, the Victor.

• In a duel of magic versus magic, Ursula is a powerhouse utilizing the destructive force of the trident, however; she lacked a sufficient amount of combat experience and was far too limited in her scope of abilities. As a result, the sea witch was painfully predictable in her movements. In contrast; Maleficent practiced a variety of combative abilities, applying each method in a strategic manner to overwhelm her opponents. Ursula's lack of versatility in addition to her predictable method of fighting, caused her to lose this match.

New Update

As of right now, I am currently recording and adding footage for Maleficent vs. Ursula's combat skills/ weaponry section, so I'm not far from completing the video. Once I'm finished, I will be looking into another Disney themed theory that has been on my mind for awhile. The theory itself involves Lady Tremaine and a link to Maleficent. In the meantime, there will be an older article I made regarding reboots and sequels, which I plan to upload as a video some time after M vs. U. In the following week I will be presenting who the next fighters will be with a preview. Hope everyone enjoys the content I have planned for the future.

Theoretical Inquiry: Sylvia Browne, Psychic or Fraud?

Captain Phoebus vs. General Li Shang: The French Knight vs. The Chinese Soldier

                                                                     Character Bios

Phoebus: After participating in an unknown war; Phoebus de Chateaupers, is summoned to Paris in order to serve as judge Claude Frollo's Captain of the Guard. Not long after his arrival in Paris; Phoebus, comes across the beautiful, dancing gypsy known as Esmeralda. Smitten with her beauty; Phoebes, gives the talented lady two gold coins for her performance. Not long after she receives her reward; Esmeralda, is harassed by two thugs working for Frollo. As the two men attempt to arrest her for being a gypsy; the Captain, helps her escape by blocking their path with the help of his horse: Achilles.  After revealing his identity to the judge's goons; Chateaupers is taken to the Palace of Justice. Once he reaches his destination; Phoebus meets Frollo and begins to dislike him based on how he treats his predecessor for being a "disappointment". As the captain is lead to an outside balcony of the palace; Frollo, reveals he was summoned from the war in order to capture "fortune tellers and palm readers".

Despite  initially being surprised by this revelation; Phoebus, accompanies Frollo to the Festival of Fools. During the festival, a crowd turns on the hunchback known as Quasimodo thanks to a riot started by thugs; which result in torture. Phoebus asks for permission to end their cruelty, but Frollo urges him to wait; showing no sign of mercy. Furious with his lack of empathy; Esmeralda, publicly ridicules the heartless judge. After the beautiful gypsy evades Claude's foolish henchmen for the second time; an impressed Chateaupers decides to follow her as she sneaks into a cathedral in Notre Dame. Before long, the pair engage in a brief skirmish until Phoebus assures Esmeralda he had no intentions of arresting her. As the captain locked eyes with the object of his affection; it was clear the pair were naturally drawn to each other. Just as the couple begins to kiss; judge Frollo, along with his thugs arrived at the cathedral. Once Frollo enters the building, Captain Phoebus claims sanctuary for Esmeralda and the Archdeacon arrives, ordering Claude's men to vacate the premises.

 However; the French Captain sneaks back inside to search for Esmeralda, but runs into Quasimodo instead. The hunchback attempts to frighten him off until Phoebus asks Quasimodo to apologize to Esmeralda on his behalf for accidently trapping her in Notre Dame. When the hunchback helps the gypsy escape; Phoebus is forced to join Frollo on a ruthless manhunt to capture her. Irritated with Claude's unjust actions and behavior; the French knight finally rebels against him after he is ordered to burn down the house of an innocent man without any concern for the man's wife and children who were inside. Phoebus is then branded a traitor and ordered to be killed.

After being shot; the French knight is rescued by Esmeralda. In the process, the pair admit their feelings for each other and share a kiss. Enraged by the state of events; Judge Frollo, plans an attack on the gypsy hideout: The Court of Miracles. Despite Quasimodo and Phoebus's best efforts; Frollo, manages to capture all the gypsies; arresting the former captain in the process. At Esmeralda's execution; the hunchback, rescues her from her death and gives Phoebus enough time to escape from the cage he was thrown in, in addition to rallying citizens to fight against Frollo's tyranny. Near the end of the climatic battle between Quasimodo and Frollo; Phoebus, saves the hunchback from falling to his death. In the end, Frollo is defeated and Phoebus enters a long term relationship with Esmeralda.

Li Shang: After Han China is infiltrated by a ruthless clan known as the Huns, the emperor seeks the aid of one man from each family. During this period in time, General Li; vouches for his son's competence and skill as a leader , giving Shang the rank of Captain in the imperial army. Due to his age; Chi-Fu, the emporor's sexist advisor, objects to the general's decision, expressing concerns, regarding how well the young man would handle the weight of his responsibilities. As a result of these suspicions; Shang is ordered to train the new recruits. If the trainees meet the expectations of Chi-Fu, they would gain his approval to join the main branch of the imperial army at the Tung Shao Pass. Although his new recruits were severely lacking in skill; Shang, was capable of turning them into respectable soldiers. Despite the young Captain's accomplishments; Chi-Fu refused to grant his approval, stating his beliefs of Shang's promotion being the product of favoritism. After receiving a fake message created by Mulan's guardian spirit; both Shang and Chi-Fu were under the impression they had been ordered to join General Li in the front lines.

As the soldiers reach a village in the mountains, the men discover that the village was destroyed by the Huns. During his search for potential survivors, Captain Shang learns that the entire army as well as his father was killed in battle. Shortly after finding the bodies of his former comrades, Shang mourns his father's death and makes a  small shrine in his honor. While in pursuit of the Hun army; Mushu, accidently fires a cannon, giving away their position, which results in an ambush. Outnumbered and outgunned by Shan Yu's troops; the young Captain prepared for one last stand. However; Mulan, disguised as a man named "Ping", managed to stop the Hun army by using a canon to cause an avalanche, and buries their enemies in the process. After he is caught in the avalanche; Ping, rescues Shang. Following the defeat of their adversaries; Captain Shang thanks Ping for his help and considered  him to be a trusted friend. However, their friendship comes to an end once he discovers Mulan is a woman. Although her actions were punishable by death; Captain Shang, refused to kill her, choosing to expel her from the army.

Once the young captain reached the Imperial city with his troops, they are honored for defeating the Huns. Despite the recognition he received for his actions; Shang, is discouraged by the events that led to Mulan's departure. Not long after his fall to introspection; Mulan, suddenly arrives in the Imperial city, claiming Shan Yu, as well as his troops, survived their last encounter. Due to her previous deception, Captain Shang ignores the former soldier's warnings. As a result, he soon discovered she was telling the truth when Shan Yu and his troops kidnapped the emperor. After a failed attempt to rescue the emperor; Mulan, Yao, Ling, and Chien Po manage to defeat the Huns in hand to hand combat. With the help of her guardian spirit, the young maiden eventually killed the mighty Shan Yu.
One month after the death of Shan Yu; Captain Shang, marries Fa Mulan and is then promoted to the rank of General in the Imperial army.




                                                             Combat skills/Weaponry

Phoebus: In battle, the French knight wielded a double edged sword with a golden guard facing in an upward fashion and a medium length hilt, baring a golden pommel at the end of the handle; which is similar to the medieval blades used by the Knights Templar. As a knight; the captain has received extensive training in terms of  armed combat. In a fight; Phoebus, is more of a brawler, lacking a formal technique and does not appear to have any significant hand to hand combat skills, however; Phoebus, is capable of beating more than one opponent at a time.

Li Shang: Trained in the art of combat; General Li Shang, had become a skilled practitioner in the field of martial arts, mastering a number of techniques such as: Tessenjutsu and Bojutsu. In combat; Shang wields the Jian, a double edged sword with a bronze guard, resembling short wings that cover the surface of a medium length hilt. Due to his military training, General Shang is a cunning strategist capable of beating men who are larger and stronger than himself in a one on one battle.


Edge: In terms of their skills in hand to hand combat, Phoebus has proven he can hold his own in a fight, beating numerous men in a bare knuckle brawl, however; Shang is a better trained, more disciplined fighter, displaying a superior level of skill. Although the French knight holds more experience in combat, the young General has a keen mind for strategy and defeated an enemy who outclassed him in physical strength. Given the nature of Shang's training; Captain Phoebus, doesn't have anything he hasn't seen before. When it comes to their weaponry, both combatants hold a considerable measure of skill; based on the fight scenes presented in their respective films; neither appear to have a significant advantage in swordsmanship. However; the Jian blade is a lighter weapon and is easier to handle unlike the Captain's sword; which is heavier, making it hard to maneuver in battle. Shang's method of fighting in addition to the advantages his weapon provides him with prove to be more practical and effective. General Li Shang gets the edge in combat skills and weaponry.




                                                                       Powers/abilities

                                                                      Phoebus



Strength- In his first animated appearance, Phoebus displayed an incredible measure of physical strength, punching a man with enough force to knock him out with a single blow. During the final battle with Judge Frollo's forces, the French knight managed to outmuscle three trained guards, knocking  them off balance at the same time.

Speed- The French knight is capable of moving at an average level of speed for a man in good physical condition.

Agility- In battle, Phoebus has displayed a decent measure of agility, using quick reflexes to dodge and outmaneuver trained enemies.

Durability- Although he hasn't shown any significant feats of durability, as a knight; Captain Phoebus, was subject to a rigorous training method and has survived an unknown war.

                                                                     Li Shang


Strength- General Shang has displayed an impressive amount of physical strength. In his first appearance, Shang was capable of kicking Shan Yu (an opponent much larger than himself) with enough force to knock him off balance and managed to pin him to the ground.

Speed- The young General is remarkably fast moving at speeds slightly above the average capacity of what humans are capable of achieving; which gives him the rank of an Olympic level athlete in peak physical condition.

Agility- In combat; General Shang is incredibly agile and has been able to dodge  fireworks, arrows and some explosives, in addition to leaping on extremely narrow logs protruding from a lake.

Durability- Due to his military training, Shang has developed a high level of durability and was able to take hits from Shan Yu for a brief amount of time.



Edge: In terms of their strength, both combatants have displayed an incredible measure of power. During his battle with Shan Yu, Shang managed to overcome the evil warlord, wrestling him to the ground, however;  Phoebus is physically stronger and was capable of moving three men who were heavily armored, knocking them off their feet. Although General Shang has defeated multiple assailants in the midst of combat, in addition to out wrestling a stronger opponent, his success was a result of his skills in martial arts rather than a testament of his physical strength. Despite the captain sharing a similar level of speed as the general, in addition to holding an admirable measure of agility; Shang is much more agile and fluid in his movements. When it comes to their durability, neither opponent seems to have a significant advantage over the other. Although Shang was able to endure the might of Shan Yu for a brief amount of time, considering Phoebus hasn't been shown taking hits from an opponent who is stronger than himself, we can't determine whether or not he is capable of sustaining the same amount of damage. I declare; Phoebus and Li Shang equals in powers and abilities.





                                                                       Verdict

After analyzing their combat skills in addition to their physical abilities, it's clear a fight between these warriors would come down to Phoebus's strength and experience versus the General's combat skills and agility. In the beginning, both fighters would stare each other down, sizing up the competition with their hands hovering over their blades. Reaching for his sword, the French knight lunges towards Shang's mid section, but the General counters his attack with a diagonal slice. After deflecting his counter-strike; Phoebus, mounts an assault with a series of committed strikes. Shang manages to parry the bulk of his assault, dodging a number of his attacks. As their swords continue to clash, Phoebus swings his sword backwards in a sweeping motion. Shang parries his attack. As the soldiers continue to lock blades,  With a flick of his wrist; General Shang rotates his sword, disarming his adversary in the process.

After kicking his opponent to the ground; Shang, lunges toward Phoebus, swinging his blade downward for an over head slash. Before the final blow is struck; the French Knight catches the blade with both hands clapped together. Twisting the blade from his hands; Phoebus, proceeds to kick the General in his stomach and launches an elbow strike to his face. After landing two powerful blows; the French knight, continues his assault with a left hook, but Shang manages to dodge his attack, countering with a sharp jab to the ribs, and a swift palm strike to the chin.  As Phoebus begins to gather his bearings; a determined General Shang, launches another palm strike. The French knight blocks his attack and retaliates with a right jab. Shang catches his arm mid-swing and slams Phoebus to the ground. Desperate to gain an upper hand; Phoebus trips his opponent and leaps several feet in the air to perform an elbow drop. However; Shang, counters his attack with a flying kick, snapping the Captain's neck in the process. I declare; General Li Shang, the victor.