Wonder Woman vs. Storm Fight Analysis

Wonder Woman was always going to be one of the top 5 fights, but I don't think Marvel really had anyone comparable. Well, let's see what happens...

For DC: Wonder Woman
At her best? We're in the Byrne era (as the fact file might make apparent), so she's perhaps at her most "super-hero-y" since the Bronze Age. This isn't a well-remembered era for the character. Perez's reimagining is evergreen, and Diana had just been through the popular Deodato run that gave us Artemis. Later, she'd become a movie star and cement her place as part of DC's Trinity. But in terms of power levels, she's as strong as she's ever been.
Her advantage: The magic lasso. Bracelets that deflect anything. She's practically Superman level.

For Marvel: Storm
At her best? In terms of popularity, the X-Men are still selling like gangbusters and the animated series is still on. She's still a team player, though, and wouldn't get her own series until recently, after becoming the Queen of Wakanda. So her participation in the voting finals is dubious, but I can get behind her being the second most popular X-Man behind (wayyyyyyyy behind) Wolverine.
Her advantage: Mutant mania.

Why this match? Both have been considered goddesses at some point - Diana rose to Olympus at the end of Crisis, and Ororo was worshipped in Kenya before she joined the X-Men. Both are presumably each company's most high-profile female hero. It's thin, guys. Real thin. Like Lobo and Wolverine, there's a giant power level gap that I have a hard time reconciling. And it's real damning that Marvel doesn't have a heroine with her own title at this point that they had to dip into a team book.
Were they Amalgamated? Yes... ish. Ororo did become Wonder Woman in the Amalgam Universe, but Diana ALSO existed, palling around with Steve Trevor/Punisher and fighting New Gods... I don't know what to tell ya, so... yes.
What if they fought their Amalgam Buddy? They did.
Better match-ups: In my opinion, Storm has no business being here, and I think She-Hulk would have made a fine replacement, ESPECIALLY given the John Byrne connection (he could have been roped into drawing the match-up). If we don't require her to fight another woman, then clearly, it would have had to be Hercules, even if he was a few years out in terms of getting his own series. But Herc has a long history (or, uhm, mythology) with the Amazons. A part of me would have liked to see Thor in this spot, though, if only to see Diana catch and spin his hammer around, defeating him roundly. Against any of these, she wins. Honestly, the REAL match-up against an X-Man should have been Jean Gray/Phoenix, which would have made for a more believable X-victory. I would have kept Storm in the preliminaries (if at all), perhaps against Zatanna who has magical mystery of the elements (and we'll leave Dr. Strange to Constantine).
If DC vs. Marvel had been fought today: Wonder Woman would probably be fighting Captain Marvel, to whom she could lose, though the votes would probably go the other way this time. Phoenix, Hercules and She-Hulk are still options, and even Storm would be worthier of the match today. Regardless, Diana's cred has risen to the point where I think she would win with fans.

Play by Play: The smell of BS hits my nostrils early with this one. After the Thor/Captain Marvel fight, they have Diana find Mjolnir and prove worthy of the power of Thor. So she's meeting Storm extra-powered... because the writers didn't think Wonder Woman would win against Storm?! Are they INSANE?! This is a one-punch fight in the making, and they think readers won't accept the result unless they give Diana an unfair advantage?!!!!

But see, Storm has already won the vote, so Diana gives the hammer up (for fairness - I think you could have made an exception seeing as the whole universe is on the line, Princess). But you know what? They're still not on an equal footing, Watch as Wonder Woman simultaneously rips Storm's leg out of its socket AND breaks her skull with a super-powered kick:

Which does NOTHING, apparently. Storm should be out like a light. Hell, her head should be landing in the next state. So because Diana is pulling her punches, not only refusing to use Mjolnir, but also her lasso (conveniently missing, last seen in issue 1) and bracelets to reflect anything back at 'roro, she gets zapped and loses the match.

Result: This is a lot like Wonder Woman losing to the Weather Wizard, which would NEVER happen. This is, BY FAR, the most outrageous outcome in DCvM, more so even than Lobo/Wolverine, because at least that one was funny. This is just sad.

Next time: Send in the clones!