Zubat is the better card, but none can deny that Magikarp is the manlier card.
Although it has a significant lack of HP, this is actually much manlier than before, as it constricts your strategic ability and makes you think outside the box. Zubat is just an easy-win card, Magikarp is a hard-win card that makes you work for what you want.
If you attach an Expert Belt to Magikarp and it has four damage counters on it, you will do 60 damage. For 1 Energy on a basic. Although it doesn't break the rules like Zubat does, it can do much better within the constraints of the game than some stage two Pokemon can do (example, Kingdra Prime, which has a drawback and requires Water Energy).
It also MATCHES Zubat's bottom stats, with the exception of resistance, so then your strategy is to let Magikarps die against Donphan, then evolve your last Gyara and lol as you do 180+ (not counting Donphan's Body) damage for no Energy.
I'm just messing with ya
. Zubat wins any day. If I was still into the TCG, I'd totally buy a playset of four Zubat and win every tournament ever. TPCI couldn't even rotate this card, that's how manly it is. Excellent article, I'm sure your super-secret Zubat SD is going to sweep worlds.