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I recently read Justice League #8 and Batman found himself fighting the Karate Kid (a horrible moniker and a level 15 fighter according to Clark Kent; Bats is listed at level 12) and it seemed that he got his butt handed to him! If it wasn't for the help of Black Lightning I think the Kid might have gotten to Bats! Don't get me wrong, Bruce got his shots in, but Karate Kid even managed to remove Bruce's utility belt! What do you guys think?

LOL havent read it yet but might pick it up just too see that!

There is some discussion on if Black Lightning actually did help Batman in that scene.

The same sequence was completely different in Countdown #50, and it was obvious that BL zapped him from behind. In JLA #8 I think Batman took him down.

Besides, Karate Kid wasn't in his right mind yet, so it wasn't a true test of his skill.

Yeah, it did seem like he was handing Bats his a@@. It would have been interesting to see how that would have ended had it just been the 2 of them alone.

Batman also had his hat handed to him in the last issue of the regular Batman series; but then it is Morrison writing so...there you go.

As for the Karate Kid - which IMO is a dumb ass name for yet another martial artist superhero - he would have stomped the Bat if not for Black Lightning.
-g-

The way I read it, Karate Kid does indeed out-class Batman in terms of sheer fighting ability. I mean, Karate Kid supposedly knows every form of hand-to-hand combat, presumably a great deal that develop in the far future. However, I think Batman "wins" this fight because of his ability as a strategist. He knows he can't out-fight Karate Kid, so he maneuvers him in position so that Black Lighting can take him out. Sneaky? Yes. But certainly in line with Batman's character. And as for Karate Kid's name - yeah, it is lame. But I think the character was actually around before the movies. So, if there is a goofy association to the name, blame Ralph Macchio!

i agree. it fit batman perfectly.

Black Lightning didn't help...I read it,Bats put it to him.....no matter how ugly the fight is.last man standing is the winner

R U sure Lightning didn't help? I was sure I saw electricity pulsating around his body and what about the phrase "you cheated" that Karate Kid uttered?

karate kid has been around for quite a while: Adventure Comics No. 365 (Feb 68) "Origins and Powers of the Legion of Super-Heroes" (text) & Adventure Comics No. 367 (April 1968) "No Escape from the Circle of Death"

Karate Kid is skilled in every form of combat known in the galaxy, from boxing to savate to kendo. He has also made it a point to become an expert with every weapon used in hand-to-hand combat, from fencing foils to Jovian Trident spears to Krishnu gauntlets from Gaman Tol.

so even if he has a name that is not very populer now a days its due to coming from the ladder 60's but didnt he die legion of super heroes 4 of the 1984 book? only to be rewriten blah blah blah