| 181 101, or, Cross-Overs for Dummies |
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| Written by The Mysterious Drifter | |
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Robin Hood and Little John. Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Harry and Sally. The annals of history and literature are full of stories of great heroes who came to blows upon their first meeting. Is it any wonder that life should imitate art, that modern heroes should follow the example of their spiritual ancestors and test each other in single combat before they choose to come together as a fighting force? Although clashes between costumed vigilantes date back to the early twentieth century, when the lethal enforcer known as the Pendant found himself at odds with the beguiling Bastet, the term "181" did not enter the parlance until a much later time, when the radiation-powered Destroyer of Worlds was set upon by the feral super agent known only as Agent 10 in the Canadian wilderness. According to popular etymology, the term derives from a remark one RCMP trooper made to another, as they went in to investigate the scene of the battle's aftermath: "If we have any kind of luck, one ate one and we'll only have to deal with the survivor." |
