Marvel vs. DC Comics

[Mr Light]

Do you currently prefer Marvel or DC Comics?

Two years ago I got back into reading comics after a 7 year absence. What got me back in was wikipedia and reading about Infinite Crisis and the Sinestro Corps War. So for the first year I only got DC trades. It was only in the second year that I started getting Marvel trades with Civil War and so forth.

Initially I thought that DC was the far superior product with more interesting characters and situations. But in the past six plus months I've definitely gone completely over to the Marvel side. Secret Invasion was a fun romp while Final Crisis was a confused mess. But even more importantly, the post Final Crisis world hasn't been terribly interesting while Dark Reign is showing a lot of promise. I find a DCU missing Batman and Superman to be a heck of a lot interesting.

Now I am getting Blackest Night in issue form, the first individual issues I've bought since SI/FC, and while it's certainly interesting I'm so far disappointed that it's thus far just been about zombie heroes and not about all the different Lantern Corps that have been so incredibly cool and interesting in GL/GLC.

The one title I just "discovered" is Spider-Man Brand New Day. While I thought Spidey selling his soul to the devil for a mystical divorce to be utter drivel, I must say these new Spidey adventures are firing on all cylinders. New Ways to Die and Election Day are definitely excellent Spidey tales.

 

[SG-17]

The comics from both companies are so convoluted I stopped reading them a long time ago. I prefer the DCAU and MAU.

 

[Trent Roman]

Of what I've read, which is admitedly limited, I prefer Marvel's take on things. I just can't seem to get into DC characters (other than Batman, naturally) and even modern DC comics just can't seem to shake that feeling of being... well, corny and retro, in a lot of respects. Marvel just seems like a far more modern product.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

 

[Mr Light]

In DC's defense, I'm loving Green Lantern, Green Lantern Corps, and I just recently caught up with Secret Six which is a hoot. I'm two trades into Superman New Krypton and that's pretty cool. I'm looking forward to getting the Batman relaunch in trade form.

 

[Thrall]

Of what I've read, which is admitedly limited, I prefer Marvel's take on things. I just can't seem to get into DC characters (other than Batman, naturally) and even modern DC comics just can't seem to shake that feeling of being... well, corny and retro, in a lot of respects. Marvel just seems like a far more modern product.

Fictitiously yours, Trent Roman

That's always been my take on things. DC's hero's are based on classic hero mythology and early 20th Century Americana. They're larger then life, and filled with awe and wonder. But at the same time, they're very elitist and detached from the rest of humanity. Their universe can, when it wants to be, darker then anything Marvel could come up with. But usually it's campier then Adam West.

DC's traditionalism can be deceptive though. Some of the most edgy, adult material ever written was under their banner. Watchmen. DKR. Killing Joke. Preacher. Sandman. You name it.

Marvel's boys are, yes indeed, a more modern take on the subject. They're Superhero's as political statements. They're Superhero's as cultural statements. They're Superhero's as Hollywood action stars. They're Superhero's as real people with real problems. The Universe is more natural. More shades of gray. The good guys aren't always good guys and they don't always get along. And the bad guys aren't always bad. DC's hero's are champions of the establishment. Marvel's are outlaws and rebels. They're working class, pop-culture revolutionaries Hell bent on destroying the established order. Especially their own.

But again, this can be deceptive. Because some of the daffiest, silliest, cheesiest ideas around came from Marvel. Forbrush Man. Spider-Ham. Captain America stopping Richard Nixon's bid for world domination. Nextwave. Thor spending entire runs as a frog or a woman. Stuff, so corny and stupid, that it would put a smile on even Dick Cheney's face. There was always a sense of childlike wonder underneath it all that you just had to love. But that's kind of gone now, sadly.

I've pretty much washed my hands of both companies honestly. DC is bound and determined to resurrect The Silver Age at all costs, progress be damned. Marvel is bound and determined to shit all over and cast aside decades of the best modern mythology around in a nihilistic crusade to be more edgy and hip just for it's own sake. DC I can at least tolerate in small doses. But the Marvel of my childhood is dead and gone.

Despite that though, I'll always prefer Marvel characters to DC characters. Marvel characters are working class Joe's and, as such, give a damn about the individual lives of the people they interact with. Marvel characters you could ask out for a beer. Thor, Wolverine, The Thing, and Spider-Man would all gladly take you up on that offer. Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman would ignore you or tell you to fuck off.

 

[drychlick]

make mine dc all the way

 

[the Dagman]

Why do so many comic book fans have this either/or fixation with DC and Marvel? I find that both companies have a similar ratio of good books vs. bad books. Usually I find that if you like what a writer has done, you stand a good chance of liking their other works no matter the publisher. The same with artists, but they sometimes get paired with a crappy writer that totally takes you out of the story. I'd rather have a good story and mediocre art than a mediocre story and good art.

But saying that, I do prefer DC's editorial direction over Marvel's. I have a real problem with the character of the people in Marvel editorial. They seem to think they are of good character, but their decisions behind their stories indicate they lack true moral fiber. Things like thinking the SHRA is a good and legal thing, when it is actually so far against the Constitution it is laughable to think that. Like thinking Spider-Man making a deal with Marvel's devil trading his marriage and future family for the life of his dying aunt would be a better way of breaking up Peter and MJ than MJ finally deciding she just can't handle being married to a super-hero anymore and divorcing him instead. Like the Chameleon sexually assaulting Peter's female roommate while impersonating Peter, and Peter telling her only to get her from being so clingy to him rather than being the right thing and playing the whole situation off for laughs. That's right, sexual assault played up for laughs. Sorry to any of their fans out there, but in terms of what is morally right and wrong Marvel has lost their way. And it has come from the top down in their editorial offices. If I had any children, I would not allow them to read any current books from Marvel aside from the Marvel Adventures line.

 

[The Mirrorball Man]

Marvel vs. DC is like Coke vs. Pepsi. Sure, if pressed, you could name a favorite, but when all it's said and done, they are pretty much the same thing. Capes & spandex comics are so weighed down by tradition, writing conventions and continuity that these days, they've become as highly stylized as kabuki theater.

I still read superheroes comics from time to time, but honestly, I'd rather read something else, and I don't care who's publishing it.

 

[Robert Burke Richardson]

I prefer Marvel for superhero stuff, but I read a lot from DC's Vertigo and Wildstorm imprints, and Bayou, published for free on DC's online imprint Zuda.com is probably the best comic published anywhere today.

 

[TemporalFlux]

I tend to go back and forth on it, but I'm mostly a DC person. The last time I would have truly considered myself a Marvel person would be the mid 80's to early 90's; the mid to late 90's belonged to DC. From 00 to present day, it's been much more volatile; but DC has still stayed the dominant for me through today.

Marvel just seems to have become so "street level" under Quesada, and though it's had its moments, I've never really cared for that. I like grand adventure that truly sparks the imagination, and DC delivers. DC is more of a modern mythology to me; it's where legends live.

 

[DarKush]

As a kid I was always drawn to Marvel's characters more. They just felt more relatable, though I always felt that DC's main heroes were more iconic. That feeling hasn't changed over the years. Thanks to the library, I've been able to read more about and gain a greater appreciation of DC's characters, but I still prefer Marvel mostly. Though Batman is my favorite comic book character, go figure.

I'm enjoying the Dark Reign arc. It's something DC could've done, and perhaps to greater affect when Lex Luthor became President, but they seemed to squander that golden opportunity. I wasn't really reading DC at the time, and only recently read the President Lex trade. I think the Imperiex War happened on Luthor's watch but I don't think the Lex thing was as long or comprehensive a story arc, which it could've been.

I also think Marvel's crossovers are better. I didn't know enough, or care enough to get into Final Crisis, but I enjoyed Civil War, Secret Invasion, and Dark Reign. DC has Blackest Night right now, and I've enjoyed Johns' run on GL, but I wonder if they are stretching things out a bit too much to compensate for the lack of pow Final Crisis seemed to have. DR will probably overstay its welcome too, but right now I'm still into it.

Though I will say that DC has been pretty innovative with the Vertigo line and perhaps does mature comics better. I'm enjoying the heck out of Scalped right now. I also liked Bite Club, Preacher, and read some of the 100 Bullets series. I also enjoyed the Papa Midnite miniseries.

 

[Mistral]

Marvel vs. DC is like Coke vs. Pepsi. Sure, if pressed, you could name a favorite, but when all it's said and done, they are pretty much the same thing. Capes & spandex comics are so weighed down by tradition, writing conventions and continuity that these days, they've become as highly stylized as kabuki theater.

I still read superheroes comics from time to time, but honestly, I'd rather read something else, and I don't care who's publishing it.

I agree with the kabuki comment. That's why I read stuff like this:

http://www.postnukecomic.com//

I pick up DC/Marvel trades on occasion but the price of their issues is ludicrous. They should be able to sell them for 1/2 of what they do, especially with so many print mediums going under this year-you'd think they could squeeze the printers and drop their prices. Until then-make mine tpb!

 

[The Boy Who Cried Worf]

I am heavily into Marvel and barely into DC, but I wouldn't mind giving DC a try. I have only been collecting comics a few years but for some reason I was just a lot more familiar with the Marvel product even before I started. Other than their A-listers I don't know much about the DC universe. I do see what a lot of people say about DC seeming less realistic than Marvel though.

One series that I though did a good comparison of the differences between the two universes was the JLA/Avengers crossover. Unlike the earlier crossover where the two sides got along this one put the two teams at odds based on their differing philosophies. The Marvel guys felt the DC world was antiseptic, bordering on fascist, and the heroes must demand glory for their work. The DC guys felt the Marvel universe was a moral shambles where the heroes must not care enough to try and make a difference.

 

[Galactus]

They are both (insert whatever your worst personal insult can be, I will just use "$#@%****&!!!!!!!!!!" at the moment).

Both companies are a reflection of the world we live in now and the people that read them. There was a time when folks at least tried to aspired to great things. Now all the comic companies do is try to hammer home the point that human beings are $#@%****&!!!!!!!!!! and everyone wants it that way.

Nobody ever thought we were in a fairy tale but nobody wants sick realistic either. The very idea of a realistic comic book is flat out laughable but yet that is what the masses of fans are always clamoring for.

To be fair, it is not just comics that are this way, it is all of our culture at the moment. Seems the human race is just bent on wallowing in $#@%****&!!!!!!!!!! and loving every minute of it. I can only hope the pendulum swings back the other way at some point, but I know that will never happen.

 

[Chaos Descending]

I'm a Marvel guy, but if I had a larger comics budget (money AND time), I'd probably be reading the Green Lantern and Flash titles.

 

[captcalhoun]

Ultimate Marvel

 

[Piper]

Marvel. Aside from the DC biggies I've no interest in their second-tier heroes which is not true of Marvel.

 

[CaptainCanada]

In terms of characters, I like both companies' main groups. The 90s Batman, X-Men, and Spider-Man shows were my entry points into the characters (though, ironically, I've not actually followed Spider-Man comics at any point since I started reading in 2004, and Batman comics only intermittently). I guess I like Marvel's characters more overall, but I've read/watched and enjoyed many things featuring lower-tier DC characters.

In terms of current purchases, my list is overwhelmingly slanted towards Marvel: 14 Marvel, 4 DC (though I follow four different Vertigo series in trade as well). And I think Marvel is producing all of my favourite regular product right now; DC doesn't have anything that matches Incredible Hercules (a brilliant mix of myth, comedy, and action-drama) or Captain America (the finest techno-thriller in production in any medium).

 

[Forbin]

One evening I was talking comics with a friend, who happens to be gay. I'm a Marvel fan, and he's old school DC (Supes, bats, Flash). The conversation ended thus:
Me: "I guess I'm just a Marvel kinda guy."
Him: "Well, I'm a DC kinda guy. In fact, I'm an AC/DC kinda guy!"

 

[Skywalker]

I prefer Marvel overall, but DC is the home of my favorite comic book character: Batman.