Superheroes often claim they stand for truth and justice, but in the end, it's all about how hard they can punch. With Ant-Man introducing a new kind of hero into the comic book movie fold, it's time to look back at the absolute best superhero fight scenes.

The Final Battle in Hellboy II: The Golden Army (2008)

What happens when a wisecracking a demon, a well-spoken fish man, and a German ghost take on a rogue elven warrior’s army of clockwork robots? Just one of the coolest and craziest battles in superhero-movie history. Hellboy II is full of crazy, fantastical scenes, but the climax is director Guillermo del Toro totally unleashed. This may be one of the nerdiest scenes in movie history. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. Actually, everything is right about that!

The Mafia Party Massacre in Punisher: War Zone (2008)

As his name implies, the Punisher doesn’t go easy on his enemies. In the criminally underseen Punisher: War Zone, Marvel’s brutal vigilante pays a visit to a dinner party being attended exclusively by criminals and mafia bosses. And, well, he does what he does best. The Punisher isn’t just an action hero – he’s a comic book antihero. That means there has to be at least some dramatic flair to fighting style.

Batman Takes on the Joker in The Dark Knight (2008)

In a one-on-one fight, the Joker doesn’t stand a chance with Batman. But the Dark Knight’s arch nemesis knows this and leaps into the fray anyway. The actual fisticuffs between the two of them are thrilling, but the fight is really just an excuse to get to Heath Ledger’s unforgettable monologue, which he delivers while suspended upside down after getting his butt kicked. This isn’t just a simple throw down. It’s a battle for Gotham City’s soul... and that makes every punch feel all the more important.

Hit-Girl Clears a Path in Kick-Ass (2010)

It’s hard to forget about Hit-Girl, the pint-sized, foul-mouthed assassin who manages to steal Kick-Ass right out from under its title character. Although she dominates the screen every time she shows up, her best moment arrives late in the movie when she clears out an entire hallway full of henchmen and makes it look easy. Combining guns and martial arts, she takes down a small army of grown men as if they were made of paper. The use of Joan Jett’s “Bad Reputation” on the soundtrack only makes her badassery look all the more impressive. Not every superhero can kick butt to pop hits!

Nightcrawler Invades the White House in X2 (2003)

The joy of the X-Men movies is watching how the various superheroes combine their varied powers to take down their foes. But there’s one power that’s a little cooler than everyone else’s – Nightcrawler’s teleporting. The opening scene of X2 features the blue-skinned mutant invading the White House, effortlessly punching and kicking his way through the tightest security in the country. His unique powers are utilized to their fullest extent as he vanishes into thin air to dodge bullets and appear behind his opponents. This was one of the first truly great superhero fights and it’s still amazing over a decade later!

The Vampire Rave Gets Crashed in Blade (1998)

Blade doesn’t get enough credit for helping kick off the modern superhero boom. Heck, a lot of people may not even realize that he’s from the Marvel universe and has rubbed shoulders with Spider-Man! His first movie may predate many of the more famous comic book movies, but everyone’s favorite vampire-hunting vampire has one of the most memorable entrances of any superhero. Comic book fight scenes may have gotten bigger over the years, but they have rarely been as visceral as this one. It’s the kind of scene that makes you want to take a shower.

Tony Holds a House Party in Iron Man 3 (2013)

Although Tony Stark tends to go through a few new Iron Man suits in every movie, Iron Man 3 was the first movie to take full advantage of his surplus of military-grade hardware. Outnumbered and outgunned by a group of superpowered baddies, he initiates the “House-Party Protocol” and all of his suits come to the rescue. In one of the cleverest battles in any superhero movie, Tony proceeds to leap from suit to suit, ditching each one as it takes damage. There’s a hilarious tinge of slapstick to the whole thing. Just when it can’t get more ludicrous, the movie finds a way to top itself.

Superman Battles Zod in Man of Steel (2013)

There has literally never been a scene quite like the climax of Man of Steel, which takes imagery that has only ever been possible in the pages of comic books and makes it a reality. No Superman movie has ever quite captured the true, godlike power of the world’s most famous superhero. No other comic book movie has captured the awe and terror that would accompany an actual battle to the death between two unstoppable beings. This is a tough fight that goes above and beyond epic. It feels like something torn out of myth, with Superman cast as the noble warrior and Zod as the monster he must defeat.

Spidey Catches a Train in Spider-Man 2 (2002)

What do we really want in a comic book movie brawl? Do we want two people simply slugging it out, or do we want a hero going out of his way to save the lives of innocent people? The battle between Spider-Man and Doc Ock on top of a speeding train is thrilling by itself, but it becomes one of the best scenes in any superhero movie when the tentacled villain gives our hero a choice: chase him, or save everyone on board the out-of-control train. Everyone knows what choice Spidey is going to make, but that doesn’t make his sacrifice any less noble or thrilling or moving. It’s okay. You are allowed to cry during this scene.

The Chitauri Invasion in The Avengers (2012)

The Avengers is the best superhero movie of all time for many reasons, but it’s the lengthy final fight scene that seals the deal. When Loki opens a portal in the sky above New York City and unleashes an alien army, Earth’s mightiest heroes must work together as a unit to repel them. The result is an action scene that acknowledges the strengths and weaknesses of each Avenger, finding clever ways to make Hawkeye as useful to the fight as the Hulk. The sequence skillfully blends together each of these disparate characters and their wildly different powers, showcasing how a man in a robot suit and a spy and a god can all work together. It’s comic book movie bliss.