Marvel is better than DC: The true opinion
February 27, 2023
The debate between Marvel and DC has been the talk of controversy ever since they both came into existence, but as a Marvel fan, it is without a doubt that Marvel is better, and here’s why.
Firstly, Marvel movies have more characters that have more connections both with each other and in their storylines, while DC has a lack of continuity within their cinematic universe. Flop movies are movies that are highly unsuccessful and poorly favored, and DC has had many flop movies. “Catwoman,” was a disappointment at the box office with a total gross of $85 million, and “Green Lantern” faced a similar disappointment despite Ryan Reynolds efforts.
Marvel on the other hand has had more successful box office numbers. For example, “Black Panther” grossed 1.3 billion worldwide and is #14 of the highest grossing movies of all time. From the beginning of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, the origin story of Iron Man grossed over $585 million and is considered a timeless marvel movie. In comparison, doesn’t DC have more flops?
Some may argue that DC has better comics, but from the corny dialogue to the cheap CGI, it is without question that most of DC’s movies are just plain horrible. DC movie plotlines are dull, for an example. If you watch “Justice League,” then you will find Superman defeating all the members single handedly. While that is not the case in any Marvel movie. Consider the movie “Captain America: Civil War.” The battle between team Captain America and team Iron Man was evenly adjusted even though vision was on iron mans side. The amount of action is either to much or too little.
In the movie “Steel,” the action scenes had everything but action. The Justice League is often said to have too much action and too grim and gritty. DC storylines can also be difficult to follow with their casting inconsistencies, making the stories all-the-more confusing. DC tries hard to emulate marvel movies but fail to reach Marvel’s standards. For example when Marvel did a crossover with “Secret Wars,” DC followed with “Crisis on Infinite Earths.” “Doom Patrol” copied the “X-Men” (or vice versa), “Swamp Thing” copied “Man-Thing” (or vice versa), and so on.
“I believe Marvel is better than D.C.,” said Freshman Rahanna Banks. “I was introduced to both at a young age, but I leaned more towards Marvel. Marvel has more characters and a variety of stories, which we now see to be coming together and creating one big story. DC to me just seems like one group of people that they focus on and not other characters, leaving disinterest.”
Marvel heroes are more nostalgic and have an incomprehensible range of the characters. There are over 70,000 characters in the MCU, while DC only has around 10,000 characters. The MCU never disappoints to connect characters to a storyline and portray them in an aesthetically pleasing way.
Marvel also has some of the best superteams. The most popular teams include “The Avengers,” “Fantastic Four,” “X-Men,” “Guardians of the Galaxy,” and “The Eternals.”
“Marvel has a better storyline and is more structured than DC,” freshman Scarlette Ricotta said.
Besides movies, Marvel has also had huge successes with series like “WandaVision,” “Loki,” “Agents of S.H.E.I.L.D,” “Moon Knight,” “What if?..” and more. These shows go into deeper detail for both main and side characters and showcase the versatility Marvel has to go from live-action movies, series, and animated.
“I prefer Marvel because it isnt the same material recycled over and over again and actually has an interesting point of view unlike DC,” freshman Kennedy Ewing-Chow said.
In general, Marvel is better than D.C. due to its complex characters, better superteams, relatable, superheroes, and development. There are so many aspects of Marvel that DC just can’t compete with.
Vyaaa • Sep 7, 2024 at 5:31 am
I feel like they’re both equal to say Marvel characters face real life conflict that you can compare to real life is crazy because you can compare every single thing you said about Marvel to DC for example, Spider-Man lost his uncle flash lost his mother. His father went to jail therefore, DC is equivalent to Marvel
Mark Guevara • Jan 11, 2024 at 5:11 pm
I used to think DC beats Marvel.
While it has iconic heroes like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, sometimes they feel too overpowered to the point there’s not enough conflict and Batman was the only one I like the most when it comes to DC.
But I have to be honest, I feel more nostalgia from Marvel and grew up with it more back in the 2000s and feel more underrated than DC when it comes to animation, comic books, video games and movies. Examples:
Comics:
OG Mainstream Marvel Universe:
The Avengers comic debut felt more well-structured, sympathetic heroes and villains with personal connections (and I mean all of the heroes come together, instead of false advertising on the cover), potential danger a manipulative villain can do to destroy the world from the inside compared to a Magnus Spatium Marine Asteroidea who gets killed by salt.
Not to mention the Avengers is flexible and diverse team that will welcome anyone joining the team to save the Earth from the villains. Heck, most of their (Loki, Ultron, Thanos, Red Skull, Hydra, M.O.D.O.K., A.I.M., Herr Klieser and the Chitauri both from the Ultimate Marvel Universe) represent real-life terrorists, dictators and supremacists that we represent the Avengers oppressing against these real-life villains.
Spider-Man being the first superhero with interpersonal and internal conflicts with real-life consequences while still sympathizing and rooting for him as he takes responsibility of maintaining his powers not to hurt anyone and act like a real jerk. Plus the suit feels more diverse to prove considering anyone can wear the suit as the alter-ego is a constructed identity never limited to one person.
The X-Men basically represented the fight for civil rights against a corrupt and discriminatory society that fears the abnormal like the mutants in the comics. The X-Men represent the good fight with Charles Xavier as Martin Luther King Jr., while The Brotherhood of Mutants represent the bad fight with Magneto as Malcolm X (ironic initials being flipped, if you ask me).
The Fantastic Four is actually the first family superhero team that helped bring out the charm and light-tone that actually works to their advantage. Each of their dynamic feels more relatable and you can imagine your own family being in their shoes. This balances well with the excitement and introducing us to a cosmic theme to the adventures without rushing or feeling forced. Instead let it smooth out before we finally get action from threats like Doctor Doom and Galactus.
Ultimate Marvel (the comics I feel nostalgia as a 2000s kid and helped Marvel Movies come to life including the MCU):
Ultimate Spider-Man: the most popular comic in the imprint that saved Marvel from the Ch. 11 bankruptcy that reintroduced new readers to their characters but trimmed the fat and focused on the important and established details, while giving a modern realistic take on Spider-Man with even more flaws and a little less sympathetic but still likable enough to root for.
The Ultimates 2002-2004/2 2004-2007(or Ultimate Avengers to remind everyone who the heroes originally were in the mainstream universe): I find it enjoyable and sit through the bad traits like their jerky behaviors. I thought they were outweighed for the only likable heroes like Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Wasp, Nick Fury and Hawkeye. And the most important detail, it’s realistic and modern aesthetic, cinematic scope and darker tone helped save the Avengers franchise form obscurity and actually inspired the MCU. Heck, the first Avengers film in 2012 along with the other Avengers films were inspired by the Ultimates comics.
Video Games:
Spider-Man 2 the Video Game, this was the game that first show more care in how the superhero should function before Arkham Batman or even Insomniac Marvel Gaming Universe.
Marvel: Ultimate Alliance. AKA The TRUE AVENGERS Game or Marvel: Ultimate Avengers to differentiate from Square Enix’s Avengers 2020 Game. It may be an action RPG, but they took advantage of showing more heart and soul put into it as a love letter to all the Marvel fans. You have the ability to explore the entire Marvel Universe while saving it and you get unique chemistry with each interaction with the heroes and villains. You can even have your custom team. Mine is ‘Ultimate Avengers’ with members of Captain America, Iron Man, Thor, Hulk, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Spider-Man, Wolverine, Storm, Spider-Woman, and Deadpool (I might change the roster and team name though).
Insomniac Marvel Gaming Universe:
Spider-Man Video Game Series. Do I have to say anything other than how beautifully crafted he is to the modern times, advanced gaming mechanics and feel even more connected to the arachnid hero than ever? And judging from the amount of easter eggs and references to other Marvel Heroes, I can imagine Spider-Man is the start of the Marvel Gaming Universe. Especially when Wolverine is coming up.
I know Captain America and Black game, Iron Man EA Game, and a Blade game are not really made by Insomniac, but I’m excited and hopefully they’ll be part of the Insomniac universe and maybe they can give us a new and even better Avengers game since Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and LEGO Marvel Superheroes, unlike Square Enix in 2020.
Movies:
2000s Marvel Movies or Non-MCU (the movies that truly saved the Superhero Movie Genre from Extinction, plus I grew up with them and enjoy them dearly sometimes more than the MCU):
2000s MCU:
Blade Trilogy, Sam Raimi Spider-Man Trilogy, The Fox X-Men Movies, Hulk 2003, Daredevil 2003, Elektra 2005, Ghost Rider Duology, The Punisher 2004/War Zone, and the Fantastic Four 2000s Duology.
Non-MCU:
TASM Duology
Sony’s Spider-Man Universe:
Venom Movies
Finally the MCU, mostly the Infinity Saga. The saga that was well-crafted, took alot of time and heart especially when Stan Lee was in-charge, have stories mix between drama/action and comedy, plenty of chemistry and development with the characters and balanced comic-accuracy with realism.
Even if it’s lackluster post-2019, I’m not giving up on them and still enjoy it, even if Disney is milking it dry. But real fans and content creators working outside and inside Marvel and Marvel Studios really love and care for the franchise so much, I would not stop and hope for the MCU to get better.
Besides, I like Black Widow, Shang-Chi, Eternals (more or less), Spider-Man NWH, Doctor Strange sequel, Black Panther sequel, Wandavision, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, Moon Knight (more or less), Hawkeye, Echo, GotG 3, and even The Marvels (better than the first, except for the Disney Princess scene, yuck). And I cannot wait for Deadpool 3, MCU Fantastic Four and X-Men and the Avengers 5 and 6 to come out, regardless.
Animation:
90s Marvel Animated Universe:
X-Men TAS, Spider-Man TAS, FF TAS, Iron Man TAS, Hulk TAS, and Silver Surfer TAS
Ultimate Avengers Duology Animated Movies (The Animated Avengers
Movies that brought the Avengers movies and the MCU to life)
My Headcanon of the Yostverse:
The Avengers EMH, Wolverine and the X-Men, Fantastic Four: World’s Greatest Heroes, Iron Man: Armored Adventures, X-Men: Evolution, Hulk vs. Wolverine/Thor, Thor: Tales of Asgard, and The Spectacular Spider-Man
Spider-Verse Animated Movies
Sorry for long comment. Just wanted to get all of it off my chest.
Matthew • Dec 12, 2023 at 12:40 pm
Well what about Ghost Rider?