Marvel vs. DC

Marvel and DC facing off is a relatively controversial topic not necessarily because of the violence or what would happen if their characters were to face off (despite that would be a hell of a good fight)! We’re discussing their characters, comics, and movies. What makes these two companies stand out in comparison to other comic incorporations? What makes their characters so intriguing to the common media? Furthermore, why does DC seem to have a limited amount of characters that seem to be video game or movie worthy amongst the media? For instance, Batman is by far one of the biggest DC franchises within the media, respectfully so. Let’s take a look and break it down.

Time for some character examination! DC’s Deathstroke (Slade Joseph Wilson) was made in 1980 in a comic called “The New Teen Titans (vol. 1) #2 ” and quickly became popular. He was an ex soldier that went crazy after he was given (super steroids) which gave him super strength and stamina. He was a sword wielding and gun slinging assassin. Marvels’ Deadpool (Wade Wilson) does the name sound familiar? It should.

In 1991 this character was made to amaze and confuse the reader in “The New Mutants #98”. Similar to Deathstroke, Deadpool has a talent with weaponry (primarily swords and guns) although Deadpool has some prowess! Such immortality, healing, teleportation, and the ability to generate random weapons. Deadpool was a mercenary who developed cancer that disfigured his body this caused him to be placed within the “Weapon X Program” which altered him. One of his most iconic features, however, is he seems to have a habit of breaking the 4th wall.

Marvel and DC actually have many super heroes and villains that mimic one another:

Comic origins and story comparisons! DC tends to have darker storylines and characters with troubled pasts. But their stories are more fictional and most of the time not so realistic, but their stories have morals and life lessons enlaced within them. It’s a dramatic but meaningful way of demonstrating something to their audiences.

Their origins often begin with death and destruction, Superman is a prime example! He came to Earth because his parents sent him to outer space through a pod since their planet was imploding itself. Batman’s story always starts off with him watching his parents getting murdered by some form of robber and this traumatizing experience causes him to make a personal oath to take revenge on all evil. The Flash’s origin involves his mother being murdered right in front of him at a young age by a man who calls himself “Reverse Flash” who The Flash will later face off. Shazam is a story about a kid whose parents are slaughtered and as a result, he’s placed in an orphanage. But not for long because soon after he gets abducted by an alien (who gives him special abilities)!. Hawkman’s origin involves he and his wife repetitively dying, and every time they die, they are reborn just to see each other die again.

The Green Lantern (Hal Jordan) watches his father die in a plane crash when he was just a boy and grows up in the same profession where his father’s plane crashes and receives powers from an alien. Last but definitely not least, Raven from “Teen Titans” is literally half-demon! She’s the daughter of an intergalactic demon, Trigon, who raped her mother after she was offered to him by a cult leader (Brother Blood)! Her mother, Arella, then goes to “Azarath” a place in between dimensions where Arella could live peacefully as Raven was raised by Azarath’s leader until Trigon demolishes the place which then causes Raven to spend her life fighting his influence.

Marvel has a much lighter feel and is more directed towards children (when they first began in 1939 their audience was particularly young boys). Ironically, the only character whom his parents die is Spiderman. Most of Marvel’s origin tales involve their characters growing up and events that occurred to make them what they are. Some of their stories involve history in attempts to make a point about something or other. The X men comics were inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X. Malcolm X believed that the world will never respect black people so black people needed to use force to gain that acceptance. He believed people of darker skin color were superior than people of lighter skin color. MLK believed that the black people could live among white people, without aggression, that we will come to our senses if we are shown the way. This is very similar to the X Men because Magneto believed mutants were more superior and should be in charge of the world. Proffesor X believed the mutants could live among humans without force.

Captain America also was made to make a point to the world. The comic was set in World War 2 during World War 2. The first Captain America comic features him punching Adolf hitler in the face!

This comic acted as a statement saying everyone everywhere has the ability to stand up for what they believe in. This comic brought many men throughout the country to join the American military. It also made children less scared when their fathers went to war. One character however, Thor, was taken from Norse Mythology! As the son of the lightning God Odin and Goddess of Earth Fyogyn. Thor is the God of storm-weather and thunder who carries an indestructible hammer of which only he, and few others can lift. The comics seemed to stay true to his character for the most part, with the exception of the Avengers.

To the main media! Movies and TV! While Marvel seems to have all kinds superheros and villains within the media and movies everywhere including various remakes of movies and comics! DC on the other hand seems to only have specific stories that are popular among the media to receive movie and television recognition such as Batman, Superman (biased opinion warning: I love Superman but in comparison to DC’s other creative characters he’s just some testosterone action packed bullshit) Teen Titans, Green Lantern, Man of Steel. But they still have so many stories and characters that have never made it to the big screen! Even Teen Titans has never made it to the live action big screen! Don’t get me wrong! I love Teen Titans (not as big a fan of Teen Titans Go but it’s not bad either) but I would still love to see the DC original Teen Titans on the big screen! I myself as a child growing up watching the “original” cartoon never knew that they were a DC original despite knowing Robin was once Batman’s sidekick. My first time looking at the original Raven, Starfire, and Cyborg was almost like someone experiencing culture shock. So why is that so many of DC’s stories aren’t “media worthy”? Why aren’t some of the few “media worthy” creations they’ve done don’t get a nice comeback? Again, I love Batman but I would definitely love to see maybe Harley Quinn with her own movie, live action Teen Titans, or

With the new Batman V Superman movie coming soon, and the future Justice league movies I have to start with DC.  Dc has had many flop movies like Superman 4, Superman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Green Lantern and more. Their track record hasn’t been the cleanest, because their movies have been known as too dark, to dry , or put down for bad graphics. But there had been some movies that have brought their company to be very popular like “Man of  Steel”, and the Dark Knight trilogy, and the fact that they have arranged a movie pile up for the next five years. 2016 will involve the continuation of Man of Steel, and will introduce a comic book accurate batman, and storyline that will be revolving around the Dark Knight returns comics. This will make history because this will be the first time Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman will be on the big screen together. It will be the first of many times they’re together.  

DC hasn’t had the best track record with movies, but it does have a great track the  record with TV shows all the way back to the 60’s batman , and all the way up the cw’s  the flash, Arrow, Smallville, and fox’s Gotham.  Now we have also started to watch a new show called Supergirl that has started out so good, that I can’t wait until the next episode.

Marvel has has had the best track record with movies that have grossed to a multi billion dollar company. Marvel was smart enough to start a movie line with hints from other movies until the final call where they combined all of the movies into the Avengers.  Avengers was one of the most popular movies in the world when it came out making millions of dollars.  they will continue the good work, and keep making great movies.

 Marvel’s TV shows are also doing very well with the shows, Agents of Shield, Agent Carter, Jessica Jones and Daredevil are very popular shows, and I hope to see more of them.

I don’t know what your tally was but I think both Marvel and DC are equally as awesome.