Friday, September 8, 2017

Death Battle Analyses: Spike Spiegel High-Kicks into DEATH BATTLE!

In 2071, roughly fifty years after an accident with a hyperspace gateway made the Earth almost uninhabitable, humanity has colonized most of the rocky planets and moons of the Solar System. Amid a rising crime rate, the Inter Solar System Police (ISSP) set up a legalized contract system, in which registered bounty hunters (also referred to as "Cowboys") chase criminals and bring them in alive in return for a reward. Among these hunters is a dashing man with a sarcastic attitude...

Spike Spiegel

"The music box is broken, or is it? It starts to play and a haunting tune fills the air. I awake suddenly from my dream, there is no music box and yet there it is, a tiny one, nestled in my hand and I awake from the dream again as if I were peeling an onion. It’s a dream no matter how far I go; I can never reach reality, trapped in an endless nightmare." - Spike Spiegel

Born and raised on Mars, Spike was a rising member of the Red Dragon Crime Syndicate, where he worked with his then-partner, Vicious. Both were mentored by Mao Yenrai. Badly injured after a shoot-out in the slums on Mars, Spike stumbled to Julia’s home, who at that time was Vicious’ girlfriend. The pair fell in love while she nursed him back to health. It was during this time that Spike decided to leave the Syndicate with Julia.



Vicious, upon discovering this, threatened that Julia would face death for her betrayal should she go through with the plan and revealed that he intended to kill Spike for his treachery to both him and the Syndicate. In response, Spike managed to fake his own death by engaging in a gunfight alone in a church against unidentified opponents, which allowed Red Dragon to forget about him. He waited for Julia at a predetermined rendezvous point so they could escape and be free but she never arrived.


Some time after his faked death, Spike met the former ISSP cop turned bounty hunter Jet Black, and became partners. Spike moved onto Jet’s ship, the Bebop, and the two men worked together for three years before the other crew members joined. They are later joined by Faye Valentine, an amnesiac con artist; Edward Wong, an eccentric girl skilled in hacking; and Ein, a genetically-engineered Welsh Corgi with human-like intelligence. As a bounty hunter, Spike has confronted a number of unique individuals and several mysteries and plots.

For more information:


Statistics

  • Full Name: Spike Spiegel
  • Allies: Swimming Bird
  • Age: 27
  • Species: Human
  • Height: 6'1" (1.85 meters)
  • Weight: 155 lbs (70 kg)
  • Place of Birth: Mars
  • Base of Operation: Bebop (Space ship) / Mobile
  • Alignment: Neutral with some good
  • Profession: Bounty Hunter, formerly criminal enforcer
  • Fun Fact: May or may not be Jewish

Weapons


Custom IMI Jericho 941 R


Spike Spiegel's signature pistol is a customized IMI Jericho 941 R chambered in 9x19mm. He has installed custom grips and a frame mounted laser sight on the right side, although he never seems to use it. With his sharp eyesight, Spike has proven capable of some good feats of accuracy with it (see feats under Expert Marksmanship).

Other Handguns



While Spike primarily uses his Jericho 941, Spike sometimes carries a spare gun or two for big fights. Two two primary examples are the Beretta 92FS and Ruger P85. Though he's only seen using the Beretta as an off-hand weapon, Spike's also good at using spare guns in creative way, like tossing a cocked gun to serve as a distraction.


Another handgun Spike owns and has used is a futuristic version of the Thompson/Center Contender, which he used to fire a special round made from a rare mineral to take down a biologically immortal opponent. (Episode 6, "Sympathy for the Devil")

M67 Hand Grenade


When he isn't trying to take a person in alive, Spike will utilize M67 Hand Grenades to get the job done. While he will utilize these pups as the typical "unpin-and-toss" style, he can really maximize its lethality with his talent for slide-of-hands.

Creature Hunting Weapons


When having to deal with a horrific organism that's attacked and incapacitated most of the crew, Spike gears up with a variety of tools to take it down, including an over-the-shoulder net gun, some gas grenades, and a flamethrower. The flamethrower is also useful for cooking (well, burning) some shish kabobs and lighting a cigeratte (sort of). I know that these are far from his usual load out but I feel these deserve an honorable mention. (Episode 11, "Toys in the Attic")

Computer Glasses


Aside from having a cool Victorian-Steampunk design, Spike's Computer Glasses is an important tool in bounty hunting. Serving as a mobile computer you ear as glasses (Google Glasses but are actually fucking GOOD!), which give him a variety of functions, such as identifying bounties as well as provide alternate forms of sight. The full capabilities of this eye ware is largely unknown and Spike rarely uses it in combat, but it's worth noting.

Swordfish II


The Swordfish II is a remodeled MONO Racer. Originally designed for high-speed racing, the craft was given armaments and converted into a space-ready fighter. Features include:

  • ExoSalusia FR.3a power converter and fusion reactor
    • Fusion engine uses a standard aero drive but has been modified with a booster nozzle, which acts as a short-range impulse drive
  • Rolls-Royce AF-15C axial fusion aero-spike turbine
    • High-powered thrusters capable of overcoming  gravitational forces of various planets/moons and overtake most other aircraft/spacecraft
    • Thrust reverser on the main engine allow for quick stops and near-instant changes in flight
    • Features V/STOL (vertical and/or short take-off and landing) capabilities
  • MONO system (Machine Operation Navigation of Outer space)
    • Includes airframe control mechanics, navigation system and auto-calculation software
  • 4 GENOM L-s9.3 blaster cannons
  • 1 WDF Armory M3C Devastator-class heavy plasma cannon
    • Provides powerful long-rang beam, can slice through missiles with ease
  • 2 missile ports on wing tips
  • Composite reinforced titanium hull
    • Can withstand a surprising amount of punishment
  • Forward/Rear Projecting WDF Armory shields
    • Provides first line of defense

Abilities and Skills


Attributes



Peak Human Physical Conditioning: Spike is a man of peak-physical condition. He's displayed intense feats of strength, speed and agility of an athletic human male, as well as endurance FAR beyond any human being.
  • Peak Human Speed and Reflexes: Spike's speed and reflexes are incredible, bordering on the line of superhuman. He's show to avoid gunfire on multiple occasions, whether it's aim-dodging (avoid before bullet's fired) or legit bullet dodging. He's also capable of matching Vicious in combat and speed, who's fast enough to legit dodge bullets. He's also fast on his feet, as he was able to catch up with a moving train, and can easily outpace most normal people.
  • Peak Human Agility: Spike is also extremely agile, capable of doing his signature high-kicks without trouble, as well as leap over obstacles with no problems.
  • Peak Human Strength: His thin frame is quite deceiving, as Spike is actually very strong. Spike can dent thick industrial pipes with a single punch, shatter a gas mask and send its unfortunate wearer flying with a single open-palm strike (also beats the shit out of his friends), and his high kicks can send people flying, including himself.
  • Superhuman Endurance: Spike's endurance is easily his most shocking trait, easily capable of taking insane amounts of punishment and still come out alive... hurt but alive. He's been shot, stabbed, and sent flying by explosions. He has taken an intense amount of punishment in the past, and yet has come out alive. After his first encounter with the Mad Perriot, Spike gets juggled about, gets a knife throwing into his shoulder, and gets caught in two different explosions. In his first fight with Vincent, Spike gets clawed into his chest, slammed through a window, shot through the chest and dropped into the sea, and yet survived it all. Similarly, in his first fight with Viscous, Spike gets stabbed through his upper-right chest and falls two stories on his head, and yet survived.
    • Fast Recovery: After taking the kind of beatings he usually takes, he does eventually run out of gas and need to recover. Thankfully, he capable of bouncing back real fast, as seen after his first fight with Mad Perriot.
    • Immunity to Smoking: Surprisingly, Spike's smoking habit doesn't appear to impair his cardio. Perhaps cigarettes are now non-harmful, humanity has adapted a natural immunity, or Spike is just too vigorous to be fazed.
Keen Intelligence: Spike repeatedly demonstrates an exceptionally sharp intellect, although he has a habit for neglecting to plan ahead. Spike has repeatedly been able to outwit the entire Red Dragon syndicate, predict the moves of his opponents (whether in combat or in the casinos), and use lateral thinking to get out of virtually every situation which life throws at him.
  • Acute Perception: Spike has an impressive eye for detail, capable of noticing things real quick. He was able to identify a unique tattoo on Electra in his fight with her.
Will Power: Spike is renown for his lack of fear. Perhaps relating to the fact that he's already "died once", he tends to keep his cool in deathly situations. He's not brave like some dumb action hero, but he won't allow himself to be intimidated.
  • High Pain Tolerance: If his endurance isn't obvious, Spike can take one hell of a beating. However, he still feels it all. The fact he can endure it all shows that he can withstand intense levels of pain.

Skills


Expert Martial Artist (Jeet Kun Do): Spike is a devoted follower of Jeet Kun Do, the martial arts-philosophy developed by Bruce Lee, an "art of fighting without fighting". In its purest form, the style emphasizes quick, efficient strikes and blocking attacks without an excessive waist of energy or flowery maneuvers. Spike practices this mindset of style brilliantly, but he does have penchant for high kicks of French boxing. Spike also follows the Jeet Kun Do philosophy of being "like water;" never be tense or ridged, always be fluid and ready to move. His talents in hand-to-hand combat has allowed him to effortlessly take down a group of thugs single handedly, as well as match and even best individual highly-trained opponents, including Electra, Vincent and Vicious.

Expert Marksman: Spike does enjoy a good fair fight, he's more than proficant with a gun, especially with his Jericho 941. He's displayed sufficient skill to shoot weapons of people's hands, shoot a tiny object he tossed into the air, and shoot a man right between the eyes.

Improvising: While Spike rarely plans ahead, he makes it up in his talent to improvise when the situation calls for it. He can utilize anything to assist in a fight, from party favors to distract or a broom as a staff weapon. He's also skilled at using his gun as a tool for parrying Vicious' sword attacks.

Skilled Pilot: Spike is skilled pilot of aerospace crafts, especially with his personal converted Asteroid Racer Swordfish II. He's more than capable of maneuvering through and around obstacles like asteroids and space debris while at high speeds, as well as evading missilesanti-aircraft rounds and lasers.


Slide-of-Hand: Spike makes use of sleight-of-hand techniques to win card games, pick pockets, and even to slip things onto other people unnoticed. He shown this in stealing several items from a grocery bag, to snagging a vial of Bloody Eye from its drug dealer.

Herbal Medicine: Spike displays a relative understanding of unorthodox medicine, such as utilizing some unusual cures for ailments.

Jester: Perhaps do to his carefree attitude and lack of seriousness, Spike is quick to making quips on the spot. This may not have any actual use in combat but it does make him more memorable.

Cheating Death: As you can guess, Spike has a knack for cheating death. When many believe he's died, he shows back up, a bit worn for ware but still breathing.

Weaknesses


Human Limitations: As inhumanly tough as Spike is, he;s not truly superhuman. A sufficient amount of damage can take him out for a while, even for good.

Nonchalant: Spike tends to be very lazy, carefree and indifferent, never taking anything seriously. He tends to play about with his enemy and laughs at the possibility of death. Only when the situation turns truly life-threatening, his companions are in danger, or he is reminded of his past does Spike take things seriously.

Frequent Fails: As skilled as Spike is in a fight, he's not overly successful at catching bounties. Not that he can't take them down, but they frequently get captured by someone else or killed, leaving poor Spike and friends without any money.

Feats


To be honest, watch the show and the movie. He does a whole lot of kick ass stuff. I also don't want to spoil the series to those interested in seeing it.

Conclusion


Spike is an utter badass, master combatant, a memorable bounty hunter, and a fantastic character. He's one of the greatest anime characters in anime history, possibly THE greatest in fiction. Though he's not the most powerful character I've researched, there's a lot that can be done with this Cowboy.

Animation Style: 3D (I Hope)


With Spike's style of combat, I feel that 3 dimensions would be needed to make this fight right. Now, the only decent 3D model I could find from a video game was from Cowboy Bebop: Tsuioku no Serenade on PS2. It is a bit dated, but give him some editing and smoothing, and you can get a decent Spike game model.

Sources

  • Cowboy Bebop (anime series, 1998 to 1999)
  • Cowboy Bebop: Knockin' on Heaven's Door/Cowboy Bebop: The Movie (anime movie, 2001)
I appologize for not delving into the manga series. I was not able to find copies for myself to read through. I also left out the games, mostly because they've only released in Japan.


"Just a humble bounty hunter, ma'am."



Possible Opponents


Spike has many tags to his identity: he's an anime character, a bounty hunter, a martial-artist, a charming rogue, space-traveler, a martian-born citizen, and a former criminal trying to leave his past behind. From there, lets see who could fight our cowboy!


Arsène Lupin III (Lupin III)

"Attack your enemy like a hawk and run like the wind." - Arsène Lupin III

The grandson of the legendary gentleman thief of France, Arsène Lupin III has chosen to follow the path that his grandfather but to a whole new level. Commonly declaring his theft in advance, targeting criminals and making the most impossible heists for fun, Lupin is amazing for his talents. He may prefer to steal and run but he's not afraid of fighting when it's needed; he goes in with his Walther P38 and a selection of gadgets to get through the worst. He's almost always with his entourage but he's more than capable of fighting on his own.

Possibility - Medium-High: This is an obvious match up, as Lupin has been a major influence in Spike's visual design. However, when it comes to combat, I don't know if Lupin can truly match. Spike is practically unmatched in hand-to-hand combat and his Jericho 941 easily rips the P38 apart. Lupin does have a selection of gadgets but Spike had been able to hold his own against the Mad Perriot, who's far more bizarre and impossible. Still, he's still a good character.

The Setup: There is a big bounty on the Gentleman Thief, and Spike is more than happy to snatch that bounty.


Han Solo (Star Wars)

"Never tell me the Odds!" - Han Solo

In the entire galaxy, there is no criminal-turned-hero as renown as Han Solo! Hailing from Corellia, Han would begin a career as a interstellar smuggler, along side his co-pilot and best friend Chewbacca. While on foot, Han uses the devastating DL-44 heavy blaster pistol and a selection of explosives to fit his bill. When in space, he chooses to fight in his prized ship the Millennium Falcon, with which he's completed the Kessel Run in less than twelve parsecs. He been a scoundrel for much of his early life, but after meeting Luke Skywaker and Obi-Wan Kanobi, Han would soon become one of the most important members of the Rebellion to date!

Possibility - Medium: A decently frequent request from others. Both Spike and Han are iconic space-fairing anti-heroes with a surprising quality of honor compared to their less-than-honorable pasts. Han does have a note-worth advantage in fire power (I love the Jericho but the DL-44 is crazy deadly) and Han is a good shot with it. However, Spike's vastly superior speed, reflexes and close-quarters-combat skills would easily give Spike a quick win. This fight would allow these two to use their primary ships but the Millennium Falcon requires a co-pilot to be piloted properly, which makes its combative capabilities far less impressive compared. Don't get me wrong; this is still a pretty good match up, but I feel there's some fights more fitting.

The Setup: Big Bounty for the capture of Han Solo, maybe a dozen million woolong, enough for Spike to take up the opportunity.


John Wick (John Wick)

"Well, John wasn't exactly the boogeyman. He was the one you sent to kill the fucking boogeyman!" -  Viggo Tarosov explaining John Wick

The hitman nicknamed "Baba Yaga" had left his career of murder behind. For a woman named Helen. He wanted to live a happy, peaceful life with her, but this life would not last. Helen died of terminal illness, leaving her husband with a puppy to remember her by. Things would sink more when a Russian Mafia leader, Iosef Tarasov, stole the man's vintage car... and kill his dog. With his prized car stolen and his pup gone, along with the reminiscence of his wife's love, he would take it upon himself to take down the criminal who had done him wrong, all the while destroying the criminal empire he had a hand in establishing. With skills, will power and tools of his late trade, the criminal underworld would sleep in terror in the return of... John Wick.

Possibility - High: Both Spike and John Wick are both deadly and ruthless killers who sought to escape the criminal world, only to be pulled back in. Both are dangerous in close-quarters-combat and gunplay, and have beaten the odds on countless occasions. The only trouble I see is Spike's talents and style would allow him to overcome John Wick's rather run-and-gun style, but that's up for debate. Besides, people have been wanting a live-action Cowboy Bebop movie with Keanu Reeves as Spike, so lets have Spike fight a man who was "supposed" to portray him.

The Setup: Perhaps John Wick has a bounty on his head and Spike finds the bounty really tempting, or that Spike is after a target that Wick is trying to kill, leading to Spike having to fight to save his opportunity to buying groceries.


Star Lord (Marvel)

"I was only a kid when I left Earth, and I had no idea what the universe had in store for me." - Peter Quill

Peter Quill had never been a normal person; the child of a Earth woman and a man from another world, Quill grew up without a father of his own. His situation would get worst before it could get better, as he witnessed his own mother die before his eyes (either by aliens in the comics or a brain tumor in the movies) and eventually find himself in space. Whether he was rescued by space pirates or kidnapped by them, Peter would learn many of his talents under the wing of the space pirate captain Yondu. He soon after left his space-pirate crew and began his own career as the "legendary" outlaw known as Star Lord! Yeah... Star Lord... anyway, Star Lord always has his space helmet/mask that protects him from the vacuum of space, jet boosters for speedy aerial travel when without a ship, his signature elemental guns (guns that shoots the elements, duh), and the Ravager M-Ship called the Milano. With his talents, weapons, and incredible luck, Peter would be a fundimental member of his universes' Guardians of the Galaxy, making a name and career for himself as a hero.

Possibility - Low or Medium-High: This has been a match up that some people do want to see. Both Spike and Peter are combat-adept space-fairing asshole heroes. However, there's a big line of brokenness here; the Star Lord armor. Whether it's the original Star Lord or the Kree Battle Suit, if Star Lord has one of his suits, he's have an immense advantage as Spike has little chance of breaking through it. The real trickiness is the question of should Star Lord get one of these suits. In the current canon and the movies, Star Lord doesn't have the suit. If we go with the current canon and not give Peter one of his suits, then we have a reasonably fair match-up.

The Setup: As Star Lord is an intergalactic hero (with some history in bouncing around dimensions, it's not unlikely that Peter would chase down a big bad to Mars... who just so happens to have a bounty on Mars, one that Spike Spiegel is aiming to grab.


Revy (Black Lagoon)

"Let's dance the jitterbug baby!" - Revy

Rebecca Lee was born New York City to an abusive alcoholic of a father and no mother. She was never shown any love or care from her father, nor respect and protection from the law. After a malicious encounter with a corrupt police officer, Rebecca would only come home to her father's callus drinking, finally sparking her to execute her father via bullets. She had lost her faith in God, becoming the perfect pretty killing machine known as Revy. Her peak-human agility and reflexes, combined with her mastery of gun play and street fighting, has given Revy her talent in hurting people, especially with her duel modified Beretta 92FS's, giving her the nickname "Two Hands." As the deadliest combatant of the Black Lagoon Company, it is best you don't be around when Revy gets trigger happy...

Possibility - High: This is another frequent request, and I honestly feel it's a good one. While the two are not overly similar in personality, style or profession, they are still both beloved anime characters with a deadly practice of "gun-fu." They also both border on the line of superhuman, which is common for anime characters.

The Setup: With Revy's reputation for killing massive numbers of individuals, she'd more than likely get a bounty put on her, which Spike would totally take. Alternatively, Revy is also the kind of person to take a person down for payment, so she might be chasing down someone that Spike wants for a bounty.


Rally Vincent (Gunsmith Cats)

"Gun oil and gunpowder, my favorite fragrance." - Rally Vincent

Born to an Indian Olympic marksman who ran a gun shop and a British disciplinarian, Irene "Rally" Vincent was taught about firearms by her father while her mother wanted her to become a proper lady. When her mother was murdered, her father had left to find her killers, leaving Irene alone with periodic money sent from her father. When the money stopped coming, Rally was forced to take a career in bounty hunting to make money; it didn't go well. She then decided to continue her father's store. After recruiting her future best friend "Minnie" May Hopkins, the store become known as "Gunsmith Cats." When not selling guns, Rally and Minnie still continue a career of bounty hunting. Rally uses her expert marksmanship (or markswomanship) in her bounty hunting, always arming herself with a CZ-75 pistol, which happened to be her father's favorite brand of handgun, but is more than capable of using any gun she gets her hands on.

Possibility - Medium: Both Spike and Rally are talented bounty hunters, as well as well fun, interesting characters of their series. Rally is notably the superior shooter, while Spike is the superior hand-to-hand combatant and . However, I don't see her as good of an opponent for Spike as others. I'd rather have her fight someone like Revy, as both place more emphasis on gun-play

The Setup: Both Spike and Rally are after the same target, and neither are fond of sharing.


Leon S. Kennedy

"I'm sure you boys didn't just tag along so we could sing "Kumbaya" together at some Boy Scout bonfire. But then again, maybe you did." - Leon S. Kennedy

When Raccoon City infestation started, Leon S. Kennedy was just a rookie cop who was one day behind his intended arrival. When he did arrive, he found the city he was suppose to protect to be infested to the brim with the products of the t-Virus. Despite his noob status to the police force, Leon would prove to be a fighter and survivor. He would successfully save a number of lives, kill big creatures and escape the city before it gets nuked. He wouldn't stop there, though; the U.S. military saw the immense potential in Leon and would turn him from a rookie cop to one of the best secrete agents around. An expert in hand-to-hand combat, knife fighting, marksmanship, and stealth, as well as gifted with strength, speed and endurance far above what a human could have, Leon is easily Resident Evil's coolest, deadliest, and handsomest hero.

Possibility - Medium: This one may seem unusual, but there are some unusual similarities; both are inhumanly strong and tough for their lean frames, both are crazy skilled up close and at a range, and both are dashingly handsome. That said, these two are completely different when it comes to genre (sci-fi/comedy/neo-noir/space western vs sci-fi horror), personality (some quips from both but different everywhere else) and profession. I feel that Leon should fight someone like Frank West from Dead Rising, as both fight zombies created by bio-engineered mutagens. Still, worth some love.

The Set Up: ... I got nothing.


Lesser Mentions

Here's a few other possible opponents, who I'm not as interested in seeing as Spike's opponent but other people have noted.

Ryo Saeba (City Hunter) - A private detective and skirt chaser, who grew up with Central American guerrilla fighters before leaving to the U.S. and then Tokyo/Hong Kong/South Korea (depending on depiction). Uses a Colt Python with crazy marksmanship.
  • Even with City Hunter having made a return with the new South Korean live action television show, I feel there's opponents more worthy of facing Spike.
Golgo 13 (Golgo 13) - A professional assassin with a mysterious past. A master marksman, uses his signature M16A2 with sniper scope to perform virtually impossible shots.
  • Golgo would make for a great combatant in Death Battle, but I don't think he should face off against Spike. In my opinion, he should face off against someone like Agent 47 of Hitman, or John Wick.
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Any tools or skills I missed? Any potential opponents you think Spike could fight? Tell me in the comments below.

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