Daniel probably drove here from his hometown of Erlangen, Germany. On the other hand . . . Luke surely didn’t drive. Even the plane trip must have felt like forever. He’s from Down Under, the lovely city of Sydney, Australia.

Wild Ride for Dagger, Child of Light gave Steinsdorfer his first play. Bartter answered in kind with his own Wild Ride for Iron Fist, and Daniel answered with Shang Chi.

Iron Fist went by Punisher’s Armory and came out ready to beat up Shang Chi, while Dagger went out to fetch Midnight Sons. Soon, Daniel had shown his true colors: Spider Knights. The German played Dagger, Tandy Bowen on turn 3, while Luke took a Wild Ride for some help. He got the peachy Elektra, Elektra Natchios.

Finally they started the real fight. Iron Fist traded with Shang Chi in a martial arts “mirror match” and Elektra tried to crush Dagger, but Steinsdorfer had Tragic Loss to even things out.

When the dust cleared. only the ladies remained. Bartter brought forth Luke Cage, Street Enforcer, and Daniel made me lean in to read Puma, Thomas Fireheart. Luke Cage brought down Dagger, and Puma struck back directly at Luke. Elektra dove in to punish Puma, but again, Steinsdorfer used Tragic Loss to turn the tables.

Turn 5 meant Daredevil, Matt Murdock for both players. Yes, again. The twins clashed, and Puma again had a free road. He brought Bartter to a mere 4, while Daniel was at 28.

The Australian leaned back and tried extremely hard to find a way out of this mess. He sent Elektra in, with Crime and Punishment. Daniel let it through. Luke Cage swung in, and the turn ended with Luke Bartter at 1 and Daniel Steinsdorfer at 16.

Again, naturally, Luke Bartter sat back and tried to puzzle his way out of the problem while Daniel got a bit . . . shall we say . . . quirky. He asked the judge to take a photo of them playing with his sheep, so he could show his girlfriend that—like she asked—the sheep was giving him good luck. It surely appeared to be helping.

The best Luke could do on turn 6 was Moon Knight with boost. Daniel used Wild Ride to get Luke Cage, Power Man on the table, falling to 10 endurance in the process.

So we were down to Daniel’s Luke Cage, Power Man and Daredevil, Matt Murdock facing of against Luke’s boosted Moon Knight; Luke Cage, Street Enforcer; and Daredevil, Matt Murdock. The endurance totals stood at Daniel 10, Luke 1, and Luke had the initiative.

Bartter’s Luke Cage and Daredevil team-attacked Daniel’s Luke Cage. That left Luke at -4 and Daniel at 4. Moon Knight picked up some Crime and Punishment and came after Daredevil.

Daniel did the math, muttered “Anything else?”, and extended his hand. He came crushing down to -16. Luke smiled and apologized. “Sorry about the sheep.”

Result: Luke Bartter wins.