DB Prediction: The Grabber vs Art the Clown (Black Phone vs Terrifer)
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(Shimish)
(Scumbag Steve)
“SUCK BRICK KID”
~Marv Murchins, Home Alone 2
CONTENT WARNING: Clips linked in this blog can show very graphic material, viewer discretion is advised
It wouldn’t be Christmas without a content advisory warning heh?
Performers, whether they be Magician or Clown, exist to entertain. But in the realm of horror, even those who once were made to entertain children can be those who kidnap, maim and murder them. Filled with so much hate and evil that they rise from the grave just to continue their slaughter.
The Grabber, Denver's infamous kidnapper turned Dream Demon from Black Phone
And Art, the Miles County Clown from Terrifer
Before we start we should mention we will be focusing on the MOVIE versions of both. As it is the iconic versions of the two and nobody read the original Black Phone story and that Terrifier game kinda looks like ass being completely honest
Background
Grabber
“You know fear is just the beginning.”
The Grabbers backstory is largely unknown. We are only given some tidbits but we never learn how or why he remained a killer. We know he had a brother and we know he was a camp counselor at Alpine Lake. Being given the nickname “Wild Bill” during his time there. But we know that even around this time the Grabber was a sadistic murderer. Having killed 3 children and hid them under the frozen lake.
This would only continue when he moved to North Denver, Colorado. Taking the disguise of a part-time magician to hide his true intentions. He began to kidnap children, forcing them to play “Naughty Boy” with him. Locking them in his basement and playing mental games with them. Leaving the door unlocked to give them just a glimmer of hope to escape just to beat them down and eventually killing them in the end.
It would all run smoothly until Grabber had kidnapped Finney. A kid who’s (unknown to Finney at the time) mother the Grabber framed. And in a sorta form of Karma it was this kid that would end up killing the Grabber, with help from a mysterious black phone which let Finney get advice from the spirits of Grabber’s past victims. And along with some help from Finney's sisters prophetic dreams, they revealed the truth.
But this would not be the end. As the Grabber was sent down to hell he found a misconception. Hell isn't fire, it's freezing. And he returned to the world as a spirit. Returning to that camp from all those years ago and drawing supernatural power from those unresting spirits from those three boys he killed.
Finney and Gwen would end up going to this camp. Despite the Grabber attempted murder of them and the others helping them, they were able to figure out Grabbers weakness. They dived into the ice and retrieved the bodies of those three boys he killed. Laying their souls to rest and dragging the Grabber into the same lake he put them. And (for not at the least) put the Grabber down for good.
Art
“...”
Art's real past is unknown for now (to be established in Terrifier 4). All we can really infer for the time being is Art has probably always been the way he is. A vulgar, nasty and truly brutal serial killer. Yet he was still human at least for a while. Taking dozens of innocent lives before he made a suicide attempt at the end of Terrifier to evade police. But unknown to even Art himself this would lead to him being resurrected by a demon taking the form of a pale faced girl. And very fittingly this led to Art coming back as not a man but a Demon, with the same sick and twisted sense of humor he had before.
The killings he did in the first movie earned the name of the Miles County Clown. Earning a legendary status as one of the most notorious serial killers in his world. Even getting halloween costumes made in his likeness. But after his resurrection Art would find an interesting enemy in Sienna Shaw. Who Art seemed to have some former connection too given he had multiple drawings related to him in Micheal Shaw’s (Sienna’s father) artbook. Micheal even had a vision of Sienna and Art fighting in the future.
The vision would come to life when Sienna needed to save her younger brother from Art, after Art had already killed Sienna’s friends and even her mother. But with the use of a sword given by her father, Sienna decapitated Art thus killing him for a second time. But once again with the Pale Girl’s help Art returned to life, this time during the Christmas season (That's Today!). Delivering holiday cheer to Sienna by killing most of her remaining family and giving her a present (Nice!) that was her brother's mutilated head (Just what she wanted ♥️). But Sienna has no christmas spirit as she then attempted to kill Art and did manage to kill the vessel of the Little Pale Girl.
Last we see of Art he is all banged up on a bus ride to somewhere. Where he may go and what he may do is unknown until Terrifier 4 comes out. But undeniably Art will be delivering even more holiday cheer when he does return
Experience/Skill
Grabber
The Grabber is clearly mentally unwell but very much clever in spite of that. Having kidnapped and killed several kids over the years and evading the police every time. Despite the fact he always left the same black balloons at each kidnapping spot. He even frammed Finney and Gwen’s mom’s murder as a suicide to cover his tracks
He also is the one responsible for the soundproofing of his basement. Which works so well even when the spirit of Vance was shaking the entire thing none of the noise alerted any neighbors or the Grabbers own brother living in the house. Him being able to hide his kidnappings and killings from his brother also shows just how stealthy and deceiving the Grabber can be. Especially when it all goes down in the same house they both live in.
After becoming a spirit himself Grabber also showed he is a surprisingly good fighter. Easily taking down Gwen and using his skills on ice to give a hockey inspired beat down on Finn, Gwen and the rest of their Crew
Art
Not much is known about Art but if one thing is for sure he is definitely a crafty killer. We've seen that he does like to tinker away at his little workshop on some of his killing tools. Usually just throwing together some very basic stuff like a club or his liquid nitrogen sprayer. He has shown that he can cobble together some more advanced tools like his bomb disguised as a present.
But he'll find unique ways to hack people up with anything from knives and guns to glass bottles and scissors. His skill with a blade even goes beyond just killing. Shown as when he was able to perform “surgery” on a woman all while keeping her alive. Cutting off her arms, legs and breast all while carving some not great words on her. He was also able to get the jump on Vicky by putting on a disguise and making her believe he was a hurt woman.
Even with how over the top Art is he can be surprisingly sneaky when the time calls for it. Being able to get into a public school without alerting any staff in broad daylight. Or when he was able to surprise attack somebody from the front somehow by stabbing them in the dick (ouch).
Arsenal/Equipment
Grabber
Mask
Can attach and take off different parts of the mask. Doesn't serve much of a useful purpose beyond covering his identity
Black Balloons
Used as Grabbers sorta calling card. Used to obscure himself along with the victim he is kidnapping
Gas Can
Uses to release a spray onto his unsuspecting victims to make them pass out
Belt
For beating kids until they pass out (return of Mr.Bob’s dad jokes
(“That wasn’t even a joke you just mentioned child abuse” ~Mr. Bob)).
Can also be used to trip people up.
Pocket Knife
Axe
The Grabbers' most iconic weapon. Also used this in FORTNITE HELL YEAH. Good if he ever needs to kill his brother (could prove very useful in this fight)
Cold Revenge
Makes all your guns look cool as shit
Black Van
Was used by the Grabber for getting around and to help him kidnap children as a human. Also keeps several tools inside the back
Art
Trash Bag
Used for carrying his various weapons. Undeniably contains Crash Bandicoot Mascot vs Pepisman
Various Weapons
Art has used dozens and dozens of deadly objects across his 4 movies. His list of weapons including
Hacksaw
Syringe filled with sedatives
Plastic Bag
Makeshift Flail
Pistol
Butchers Knife
Scalpel
Hatchet
Kitchen Knife
Machete
Acid
Shotgun
Axe
Nail
Boxcutters
Liquid Nitrogen
Hammer
Present Bomb
Chainsaw
Blowtorch
Cutlery Club
Good for killing. But better for harvesting materials
Clown Attack
Makes all your guns in Fortnite look like shit
Bleach and Salt
That's just sick
Santa Suit
Because why else would this come out on Christmas
Car
He aint even a bad driver honestly. Plays some good songs too
Tricycle
I might swerve bend that corner woah
Powers/Abilities
Grabber
Spirit Body
The Grabber after Black Phone 2 is no longer human. As he had been sent to hell, removed of all his human parts and left as a bottomless pit of Sin. And as such from the normal human’s perspective he is completely and entirely invisible, only visible by those whose dreams he invades
Fear Boost
The Grabber draws power from the very fear of his victims as long as their bodies are not at rest
Dream Manipulation
Grabber after his death essentially became a modern day Freddy Krueger. Being able to mess with people inside their dreams and even mess with the dreams themselves to a degree. Any damage that The Grabber does to people inside the dream world affecting the real world version of them. Allowing him to kill people from within their dreams
Technology Manipulation
Caused the lights in a phone booth to shut off and brought them back soon after. Messes with Mando’s radio and even shuts off all his lights.
Limited Time Manipulation/Memory Manipulations
Formed a memory from in the past into the dream world for him to take Gwen too. Forming it from his hate and memories left after he came back from Hell. Allowing him to visit and take people to the past but not affect the events of the past in any way
Creation
Spawns a Phone Booth out of nowhere for Gwen to go into
Telekinesis
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Telekinetically launched a bunch of kitchen tools at people trying to pull Gwen away from him. Used it to seal up a Phone Booth on multiple occasions to trap both Gwen and Finn
Ice/Snow Manipulation
Created Ice Skates out of actual Ice for himself. Launched a snow at Mando’s window in the shape of a face only for it to disappear soon after
Teleportation
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Possible Duplication
Art
All Hallows Eve Powers
Art was depicted quite differently in All Hallows Eve compared to his self in Terrifier. He's implied to be capable of teleportation and was able to hide behind a beam far too small to actually hide him.
Most interestingly, he has some weird Technology powers. The tape the babysitter played during the move is implied to contain actual footage of Arts killings, shot as if it was an actual movie despite no cameras in sight. He even messed with the TV the babysitter was using to make it show her and the room around her, the only difference being Art showed up on the TV but not in the actual room.
He was also fully capable of seeing people through the TV while his tape was inside of it and he was even capable of banging on the actual TV screen from the other side.
Possible Fire Manipulation
Sienna has a dream about Art and after that her costume randomly erupts onto flame. Very much could have been caused by the Sinister Entity
Body Control/Limited Regeneration
Can both pilot his head and his body if they are separate. Was also able to reattach his head after he his second resurrection
The Little Pale Girl
Not an ability OF Art but it should be noted that Art is seemingly protected by them. So while Art will not get help fighting from the Sinister Entity (as standard DB rules) the things that benefit Art from being connected to this thing are noteworthy enough to be mentioned in the blog. This entity being the thing responsible for Art’s resurrections in the series. Bringing him back to life at the End of Terrifer from his gunshot wound and at the end of Terrifier 2 by having his head reborn by Victoria (???). This entity can also heal some wounds, like Art’s missing eye he got from the first movie.
Feats
Grabber
I think he killed some people
Manage to evade suspicion from both the police and his brother for a good while
Killed his brother 💔💔💔
Is in Fortnite
Art
Also getting “murderer” vibes from this fella
Touted as one of the most gruesome slashers of the modern era
Gets up to “bomb detonated in a public area" terrorism
First man to survive the Murder Suicide they perpetrated
Is in Fortnite
Power
Grabber
Killed several children as a human, including those who knew some self defense like Vance and Robin
Still held on to Gwen despite two people pulling against him
Effortlessly broke through the glass on a Phone Booth, which Gwen and Finn were unable to
Manhandled Gwen, swinging her around and spun on like a top for several seconds
As a spirit himself should be comparable to other spirits. Including Vance who shook the Grabbers basement
When at full power should be comparable if not above Gwen who shattered a phone booth with a shockwave
Art
Cuts off a Man’s hand with a single slash of his knife (Terrifer)
Knocks out a guard with a single whack to the head with a hammer (Terrifier)
Stomps a man’s head into a disfigured mess with just a few stomps
Tears a girl’s arm off and then proceeds to split the other in half
Slams a girl hard enough into a stall door to break it off the hinges (Terrifier 2)
Speed
Grabber
Even faster on skates, able to perform acrobatic high jumps into the air while on them
Art
Digs underneath a barn to catch a girl in just a few seconds
Commonly will outrun his victims
Durability
Grabber
Stood close by Gwen’s shockwave which shattered the remains of a Phone Booth
Withstood having his face repeatedly smashed into ice before having his foot chopped off
Art
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Was left alive after being stabbed through the head with a metal beam and shotgunned to the stomach (Terrifier 2)
Escapes at the end of Terrifier 3 despite having his throat slit
Weaknesses
Grabber
In Black Phone 1 his weaknesses are simple enough. He is by all means your average joe, only far more mentally unstable. But he is especially upset if his mask is removed. In the Dream World he isn't so easily affected but still has his fair share of weaknesses. Most notable is that if victims from his time as a Camp Counselor are recovered he seems to lose a lot of his power. For something not nearly as specific if his opponent can choose to wake up if they realize they are the one who entered into the dream world and not the Grabber who brought them there
Art
Art has a bad tendency of playing around with victims. Drawing out their deaths or even making them watch their friends or family die slowly beforehand. This has even messed him up in the past, leading to his near death in Terrifier 3.
And it should be noted while Art is supernatural he isn't that far off from a human on the physical level. He's still a bitch and a half to kill but a chop to the head or gunshot to the brain can put him down. At least until he gets resurrected for the Sequel
Before the Verdict
Is The Grabber a Pedophile?
It’s not on screen so prolly not which makes our pedophile record still zero
What's the Deal with Art’s Powers? (All Hallows Eve Talk)
Art has some very strange and potentially helpful supernatural powers. Mainly from All Hallows Eve, but there's just oooooone little problem with them.
He just…dosent use them. Or really many supernatural powers really during the events of Terrifer. In fact he doesn't seem much aware of supernatural stuff in Terrifer at all. For instance instead of just teleporting away from the cops he just…decides to kill himself. He doesn't seem to show any form of supernatural ability until post resurrection with him moving around without a head.
Art also was completely unaware of the fact that he’d be resurrected after killing himself as confirmed by creator statements. Implying even further Art has no real knowledge of the supernatural. Which may go to show that the abilities Art possess in the film and maybe even the film entirely are Non-Canonical to Terrifier. Want more proof? Well it's just entirely confirmed to be non-canonical lmao. So yeah, any feats and abilities are null for the purpose of the conclusion.
Predictions
Shimish
“HANG UP THE PHONE, NOW”
For a battle like this it’s quite interesting for who wins.
If this blog was made when it was just The Black Phone 1. Then Art would win with negative difficulty, having pretty much every advantage over Grabber. But with the Black Phone 2 giving Grabber way more stuff to work with. It’s gotten way more interesting. For starters it would be very hard for both to kill each other permanently, however. Art has shown to be able to be put down with physical force there’s a reason he has to use the spirit girl to revive him. Meanwhile, The Grabber in his spirit form has only shown to able to be killed from his past spirits dragging him down into the lake permanently, meaning Art has no way to kill him. A counter would be that Art would realistically not fear The Grabber normally, however with his dream manipulation, and being able to teleport people into visions, I think that The Grabber would be able to teleport Art into a bad scenario for him, maybe causing him to fear The Grabber, giving him enough power to kill Art. Otherwise it’s a stalemate because Art cannot realistically kill The Grabber without outside help. Not to mention that he CANT SEE The Grabber at all, so Art can’t even use his superior arsenal and strength without swinging wildly.
The Winner is The Grabber.
Scumbag Steve
“Four Stooges got me working on Christmas. My life is a prison”
Ill admit there was a bit more to the debate of this than I thought at first. Both lay around the Street Levels of physical power. With Art taking a bit of an edge just do to how he brutalizes some of his victims. Art also has the greater arsenal of the two. His sedatives, acid and liquid nitrogen are all potentially capable of messing up a human Grabber.
But that's sort of where Arts chances at winning fail a bit. Because the Grabber is no longer a human. Art's vast arsenal would be helpful if not for the fact that Grabber is totally invisible in the real world. Even if he were visible he'd still find himself hardly affected by any of the Arts equipment due to his various abilities.
Art had a few powers but they had nothing on the Grabber. His Telekinesis in particular would allow him to potentially disarm any item Art tried against him. And despite both being about average in speed, the Grabbers teleportation would allow him to land a hit before Art even knew what happened.
And keep in mind that the Grabber as his spirit while still not physically as strong as Art, is still far more powerful. Given that we have seen other Spirits shake entire rooms with Telekenisis and Gwen creating a shockwave that destroyed a phone booth and sent the Grabber flying. All feats the Grabber himself is more than comparable to.
Keep in mind Art has been Bested by far less capable people than the Grabber himself. In the first movie he was getting his ass kicked by a scared girl with a wooden plank. And Sienna nearly killed him almost instantly after getting access to her sword in Terrifier 3. So clearly if his opponent is at least somewhat competent when facing him they have a good shot at taking him down at least temporarily.
Of course Grabber has been taken down by normal humans before as well. But as his spirit self this was only done after his past victims had been set to rest. Spirit Grabber also shows that he clearly knows how to throw down better than human Grabber, especially if he is on ice.
And Art has no real way to depower the Grabber. He has no knowledge of the frozen body and, let's be honest, the last thing Art would do is have someone peacefully rest. And without depowering him the Grabber is just too powerful of a force compared to any of Art's other victims.
Which is why I think in a fight of modern horror icons, The Grabber stands victorious
Mr. Bob
“Economy’s fucked bro, there’s only three stooges on FourStoogesVSDebating”
I’m a man, I can admit my inadequacies, I didn’t really have a hand in this blog outside of compiling information from my two other stooges, but I’d be damned if I skip out on the tradition of me being lazy and also skipping out on making a thumbnail for the Christmas blog. On that note it’s kinda crazy how this is the blog to actually release on Christmas and the Rankin Bass Royale was released in January. Not to abuse a transition too much but on that note thanks to whoever got The Rankin Bass Royale nominated for the official Death Battle 2023 blog of the year, now how exactly did it get there? I don’t know. How did it take us two whole years to learn this? I also don’t know, but shout out to this blog wiki’s page on Freddy vs Pennywise for being where we found out. If there’s anything else I can waste time by yapping about, this blog wasn’t planned to be the “big ol’ return blog” it was something Tyler and Shimish cooked up while that was in production and it ended up being finished first, and given the “big ol’ return blog” doesn’t really have a set release anymore (Rule #1 of VS Blogging: Never give an unreleased blog a release date) and so after some riffing in a Fortnite game we decided to cobble together a quick jokey update blog and announced this blog you’re reading (sorry to anyone who for some reason thought we were doing any of those blogs, but actually like why would we even do a Shovel Knight vs Shantae blog?!?!??!). But hey we got a matchup to settle, who do I think wins the blog that has the most mentions of both the Black Phone and Terrifier Fortnite collabs? Can Art even kill Grabber’s ghost self, I don't think he can? Like okay Art is also just seemingly immortal but that usually has a lot more setup, I don't think having to wait for a pregnant woman to give birth counts as a viable method to continue the fight lol. So yeah Grabber kinda just needs to kill Art once to secure a win while Art has no way to even actually kill the Grabber to begin with, and what’s Art supposed to do if he can’t violently murder somebody?
Final Verdict
“Nighty night, naughty boy”
Advantages
Far more powerful post-death
Far greater set of powers even if All Hallows Eve was canonical
Speed was virtually equal
Invisibility and Telekinesis would make any of Art's weapons or attacks virtually useless
Better fighter overall, especially when he’s on the ice
Disadvantages
Physically weaker and less durable
Most of his weapons are likely useless against Art
Does enjoy toying with his victims far more than Art
“...”
Advantages
Better Physical Strength and Durability
Far wider and deadlier set of weapons
Speed was virtually equal
Likely the more experienced killer overall
The Pale Girl could bring Art back…
More Likely to go for the kill first…
Disadvantages
Far less powerful overall compared to Spirit Grabber
Far fewer and less useful powers
Cant see the Grabber unless he is in the dream world
…but has never done so instantaneously
…if he could actually kill Grabber in the first place
Overall Tally-
Grabber- 3 (Shimish, Scumbag Steve and Mr. Bobert)
Art the Clown- 0 (Coal for you)
The Winner is The Grabber
Next Time
Next Time?
We give you this beautiful blog as a christmas present and you DEMAND a next time trailer as well???? What a rotten child you are, work on yourself you selfish prick
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