Marvel vs. DC: ‘Difference & Which Is Better?’

Since the 1930s, Marvel and DC Comics have had a friendly rivalry, stemming from the comic book pages and now transcending onto the big screen. Movies such as The Dark Knight (DC), The Avengers (Marvel), and the recent Guardians of the Galaxy (also Marvel) have broken box office numbers, showing that film adaptations of comic book superheros — even obscure ones — are truly a force to be reckoned with. However, despite the similarly avid fans, there are major differences between the two companies.

STRUCTURE

Marvel Studios, lead by the ubiquitous Kevin Feige, is a subsidiary under Marvel Entertainment. Since 2009, when the Walt Disney Company acquired Marvel Entertainment, Disney can now use all its divisions (consumer products, television, etc.) to promote a Marvel film, which ends up raising the Disney stock.

DC Entertainment is under Time Warner. Both Marvel and DC Entertainment reported about $6 billion in licensing revenues (in 2011.) However, as DC does not have a separate production house away from Warner Bros., the numbers include big mainstays such as Harry Potter and The Hobbit. In contrast, Marvel’s separate division can use all its marketing forces to promote the latest superhero film.

THEMES

In DC Universe films, superheroes such as Batman and Superman seem to carry all the weight of humanity on their shoulders — and they broodingly act out that way. Christopher Nolan’s version of Batman is the darkest superhero adaptation on screen. Batman goes through whatever dubious means to catch a villain such as the Joker; audiences have also noted the political undertones in the reboot trilogy.

Marvel films tend to take on a lighter note. The heroes are ultimately virtuous and shining rays of hope — even with wild playboy-types like Iron Man and Star-Lord. Both characters often lighten the mood, joking around in the midst of action. Even Captain America, who isn’t exactly a Marvel class-clown, is never ruthless in his quest for justice. Batman or Superman? Not so much.

STORYLINES

Marvel has a continuous, cohesive world both on the page and on the screen. The “Marvel Cinematic Universe” began in 2008 with Iron Man. He, among film-adapted superheroes including Captain America, the Hulk, and Thor, appears in The Avengers (2012.) Another Avengers film is scheduled for 2015. The continuity also transfers to the small screen with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and a Netflix series.

DC has yet been able to build a cohesive universe on screen, although Warner Bros. has been in the early stages of talking about wanting to do so. The hit CW show Arrow depicts the origins of Green Arrow and also features other DC Comics characters, including numerous Batman villains. The upcoming film Batman v Superman may be the biggest attempt at a “DC Cinematic Universe.”

THE FUTURE

Marvel has overall detailed plans laid out through 2018. Avengers: Age of Ultron opens in 2015, as does Ant Man, the third Captain America in 2016, and the third Spider-Man with Sony Pictures in 2018.

DC has Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, which recently switched opening dates from May 2016 to March 2016; this moves the film away from sharing an opening date with the third Captain America installment. Other than Batman v Superman, which is being set as a sequel to 2013’s Man of Steel, Warner Bros. has no DC superhero films lined up. Talks of a live-action Justice League film, which would include Wonder Woman, have been going on for years.

Let us know which line of films you prefer and which movies you’re most looking forward to in the comments below.