Vengeance (noun – 14th century latin origin):
1 – Punishment inflicted in retaliation for an injury or offense
2 – Infliction of injury, harm, humiliation, or the like, on a person by another who has been harmed by that person; violent revenge

There are not very many things (if any) that are more epic than true revenge / vengeance. It is substance for great movies. It is inspiring… It defines heroes. It is human nature… A true gift.

An unordered list of one of my favorite tales of revenge follows with more detail:

• Detroit Red Wings vs. Colorado Avalanche – In 1996, Claude Lemieux of the Colorado Avalanche layed one of the cheapest hits in NHL history on Kris Draper of the Detroit Red Wings (shown in this clip: NHL Cheap shots ). Kris Draper suffered a broken jaw, broken cheek bone, and concussion. He had to have re constructive surgery on his face due to the injuries. Claude Lemieux never apologized to Draper, or to anyone… Even though the hit was from behind, into the boards, and widely regarded as one of the dirtiest plays in the NHL…
  
  In the following season, the Detroit Redwings would seek their vengeance.
  
  On March 26th, 1997.. in Detroit’s own Joe Louis arena, the best game in NHL history was played. Words really cannot even describe it. It had to be seen. From the first drop of the puck, every Detroit RedWings fan knew it was going to happen. The score didn’t even matter. This bitter rivalry flourished. The teams were pushing, shoving, body checking at every chance… They hated each other. A couple fights came and went, but none involved Claude Lemeiux.
  
  Then it happened. Detroit’s Darren McCarty started the war with a single punch to Claude Lemieux. Lemieux fell instantly, turtled, and tried to cover up… Darren McCarty continued to strike him furiously – his fists powered by the relentless vengeance of every living Red Wing fan. Several Avalanche players made an effort to get to McCarty and stop the onslaught, but each Red Wing did their part and stopped the Avalanche players from interfering. Brendan Shanahan leapt into the air to hit Patrick Roy. Shanahan then grabbed another Avalanche player as Detroit’s Mike Vernon and Colorado’s Roy (the goalies) had their own blood soaked battle.
  
  As the smoke cleared and the referees finally pulled McCarty away, Lemieux’s blood was pooled on the ice and he had to be helped back into the Avalanche locker room… Ironically, he walked right past Detroit’s Kris Draper who was at the end of the Detroit bench…
  It was one of the most fantastic things I have ever seen. Darren McCarty was a hero.
  
  As the game progressed, smaller fights continued due to the bad blood between these teams, but it didn’t matter any more. Detroit had their revenge. The score of the game grew to a tie (5 -5) and actually went into over time. And in what can only be described as actual proof of divinity, Darren McCarty scored the game winning goal in overtime to give the Red Wings the victory.
  
  As Detroit celebrated, Darren McCarty shook the hand of every Red Wing as they made their way towards the locker room. As Kris Draper headed in, he stopped and embraced McCarty as if to say “Thank you”. It’s one of the most epic and powerful moments I can even remember seeing. This video does a fantastic job of telling the entire story in only 4 minutes, so I urge every living being to view it. RedWings vs. Avs
  
  Another longer version can be found here… but it isn’t set to “Filter – hey man nice shot”… http://youtube.com/watch?v=9N5xCY8be2o&mode=related&search=
  
  Literally, figuratively, seriously, and wholly epic.