What Manga Character First Shouted Fight Me In A Duel?

Back when Saturday-morning cartoons were my sacred ritual, I was absolutely terrified and fascinated by Baxter Stockman's little metal nightmares. In the world of 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' he’s mostly known for inventing the Mousers — squat, scuttling, crab-like robots built specifically to hunt down mutants. They have those snapping jaws, relentless single-minded programming, and often a digging or clambering mechanism so they can burrow into sewers or burst through walls. I loved how simple but terrifying the concept was: tiny, expendable machines that could be deployed in swarms. Beyond the classic Mousers, different versions of Baxter crank out larger and more specialized machines — bigger battle robots, remote-controlled drones, and other autonomous hunting devices. In several comic runs and cartoons he also messes with mutagen or bio-tech, which eventually backfires and turns him into something else entirely (hello, fly form). Those plot twists made Baxter feel like both mad inventor and tragic cautionary tale, and they kept each episode or issue fresh for me.

I've always been fascinated by how a single frame can make a punch miss by a mile, and anime is loaded with clever little cinematic jukes that feel both stylish and believable. At the core, a juke is about misdirection: animators use anticipation and false telegraphs to make the viewer—and the opponent—commit to the wrong read. For example, a character will often glance, shift weight, or grind their foot like they're going to lunge, and the camera treats that as the obvious choice. Then, right before impact, the motion cuts to a subtle pivot, a smear frame, or even a cutaway to the environment, and suddenly the attacker eats air. You see this trick all over: the substitute jutsu in 'Naruto' is literal decoy misdirection, while 'One Piece' loves exaggerated windups that hide crafty counters. Timing and rhythm are huge. Good fight scenes craft a beat: buildup, tension, release. If the buildup betrays too much information, the juke fails; if it gives too little, it feels cheap. Sound design helps a ton—footsteps, blade whistles, and a well-timed silence sell the fake. Camera work and editing are partners too: a quick over-the-shoulder, a close-up on a clenched hand, then a snap cut to the opponent's shocked face can sell a juking maneuver as brilliantly as the animation itself. I also love the emotional jukes—the character who taunts to bait an attack, or uses a smile to hide a plan. Those are the moments where choreography meets storytelling, and when pulled off, they leave me grinning every time.

If you want the undercard action, I usually start with the official broadcasters and apps because that’s where the clean, reliable streams are. For instance, many 'UFC' Fight Nights put early prelims on 'ESPN+' and then move the bigger prelims to 'ESPN' or 'ESPN2' before the main card. Boxing cards often have prelims on 'DAZN' or the promoter’s free stream, and big PPV nights might put undercards on a cable channel or the promoter’s YouTube as lead-ins. I also check the promotion’s website and social feeds — sometimes they stream undercard fights live on YouTube, Facebook, or their own apps to hype cards and showcase prospects. If I’m traveling or the national feed is different, I’ll look up the local broadcaster (Sky/TNT/Paramount-style networks vary by country). A quick tip: event pages usually list where prelims and early fights will air, and subscribing to the right app ahead of time saves me frantic last-minute signups. I love catching sleepers on undercards; some of my favorite fighters started there and it’s always fun spotting them early.

Hands down, the scene that keeps popping into my head is the final big clash where both teams collide over the Lupin Collection — that pounding mix of heist flair and police precision is just intoxicating. I was watching it late at night on a whim, and the way the camera slices between slick Lupin-style acrobatics and the Patrangers' tighter formation work made my heart race. The soundtrack swells at exactly the right moments, and those tiny character beats — a laughing quip from one side, a grim nod from the other — turn what could be a generic fight into a story about trust, rivalry, and what everyone’s willing to risk for their cause. Every rewatch reveals a new little gag or stunt I missed before, and it still nails that bittersweet tone the show loves. If you only have time for one sequence in 'Lupinrangers vs Patrangers', start there and watch it with the volume up.

There's something about watching a character grow through fights that hooks me every time, and with 'Fairy Tail' that's especially true for Yukino. If you're after the best scenes where she actually shines, start with her early debut fight — it's rough around the edges but you can see her style and the emotional stakes that push her forward. That scene gives context to later moments and makes her progression feel earned. Later, look for a one-on-one clash where she gets to show off technique over brute force. Those kinds of fights highlight her magic's nuance, the pacing shifts, and a cooler soundtrack — it's the sort of duel that rewards patience. Then there's a team battle where Yukino tags in alongside guildmates: those are great because you see synergy, combos, and the little tactics that make 'Fairy Tail' battles fun. I love rewatching those when I'm in a nostalgic mood. Finally, don't miss an emotionally charged confrontation tied to her past — it's less about flashy moves and more about the character beats, which often stick with me longer than the explosions.

Watching Jiraiya’s last stand in 'Naruto' still hits me in the chest — not just because of how heroic it was, but because of how physically brutal the fight got. He went up against the Six Paths of Pain and got absolutely battered: multiple chakra receiver rods pierced his body in dozens of places, leaving him with deep puncture wounds across his chest, stomach, back, and limbs. Those black rods aren’t just stab marks — they act like conduits for Nagato’s chakra, and being pierced by them meant Jiraiya took constant, agonizing trauma until his body finally couldn’t cope. Beyond the stab wounds, the Deva Path’s concussive techniques and the Asura Path’s mechanical assault shredded his defenses. The Preta Path kept absorbing his chakra, so his sage mode and ninjutsu were steadily drained away, making every injury worse. In the end it wasn’t one neat blow; it was a cascade—internal bleeding, broken bone shocks from the impacts, and the sustained piercings that turned fatal. I always find myself thinking about the little details: his toads trying to help, the way he forced that final report back to Konoha — it’s heroic and heartbreaking at once.

There's something about the first punch that always hooks me — and in the 'John Wick' movies there are so many punches that actually feel earned. For me, the Red Circle nightclub scene in 'John Wick' still ranks at the top. I caught it on a cramped weeknight screening with my roommate years ago, and we both leaned forward when the music swallowed the visuals. The tight camera work, beam of red light, and the way Keanu moves through bodies with that almost metronomic rhythm made each shot and knife swipe feel purposeful. It’s a masterclass in mixing style with clear spatial geography: you always know where John is in relation to his enemies, which makes the chaos readable and thrilling. I love how each weapon shift — pistol to knife to bare hands — reads like a short chapter in a cold-blooded manual on efficient violence. Another sequence I go back to is the catacombs and gladiatorial-style brawl in 'John Wick: Chapter 2'. That whole section leans into the idea that Wick is an almost mythic figure walking through layers of the world that have rules of their own. The staging there feels like a dance in a tomb, every movement syncopated to sound design and lighting. What really sticks is the mixing of close-quarters hand-to-hand with brutal, quick gunwork — the transitions are so smooth that it feels like watching a single organism move. I also have to applaud the rooftop/sidewalk chases and the more intimate one-on-one duels across the whole series; they’re different flavors of the same precise brutality. Finally, 'John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum' has a streak of scenes that I replay when I need a pick-me-up: the hotel-brawl sequences where the Continental’s neutral ground is torn apart, and the encounter where Sofia and her dogs tear into business with a balletic ferocity. That pairing of trained animals and choreographed takedowns felt wildly original on-screen and added a surprising emotional kick. Across all the films, what keeps me watching is how every fight is choreographed for purpose — not just to show skill, but to reveal something about Wick’s mindset and the world’s rules. It’s the tiny touches — a reload in the middle of a scuffle, the way a glance decides an opponent’s fate — that make these scenes linger in my brain long after the credits roll.

Man, the fight between Ottar and Bell in 'DanMachi' is such a hype moment! It happens in Season 3, and wow, does it deliver. Ottar, the strongest adventurer in Orario, finally clashes with Bell, who’s been growing like crazy thanks to his 'Liaris Freese' skill. The fight isn’t just about brute strength—it’s a turning point for Bell’s character. He’s forced to confront the gap between them, but his sheer determination makes it epic. The animation and choreography? Chef’s kiss. It’s one of those battles that leaves you on the edge of your seat, yelling at the screen. What I love most is how it reflects Bell’s growth. He doesn’t win, but he proves he can stand his ground against a monster like Ottar. The aftermath is just as impactful, with Bell more fired up than ever. If you haven’t seen it yet, drop everything and watch it—trust me, it’s worth the wait.