# Marvel versus DC **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 19, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281 "2003-08-19T20:41:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Freiheit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e8c25b/32.png) [@Freiheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freiheit)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/1 "2003-08-19T20:41:34Z")
I searched for this, but couldn’t find that it’s been done before. I vote for Marvel. Spider-man and X-Men alone do it for me. Superman and Batman have never really interested me. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/2 "2003-08-19T21:00:41Z")
Marvel. The characters have as many personal problems as we do. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Geshtal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a9a28c/32.png) [@Geshtal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Geshtal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/3 "2003-08-19T21:07:45Z")
You didn’t check very hard. 😉 [Marvel Vs. DC](http://www.hillcity-comics.com/graphic_novels/dc/dc_versus_marvel_marvel_versus_dc.htm) I own the four issue set. Not as exciting as you’d think, but it sorta actually works in to vague clues scattered in Marvel Universe. (Like the Celestials mentioning in passing that the Big Bang was an aftereffect of a larger event. It _could_ be referring to this, although I’m sure that’s not what they had in mind when they wrote the original comment. ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/4 "2003-08-19T21:17:31Z")
I like the general freedom to have angst and anti-heroes in the Marvel Universe, but I like a higher number of specific characters in the DC Universe. I tend to like DC alternate universe stories and ‘special’ books like Watchmen more than Marvel What Ifs; I can’t think of any Marvel mini or maxi-series that are similar to Watchmen in being a unique self-contained universe not related to the company’s ‘headliner’ characters. The only comic I read with anything approaching regularity from either company is from DC, so I guess DC wins. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/5 "2003-08-19T21:21:10Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Geshtal \* > **You didn’t check very hard. 😉** I believe the OP was referring to seeing if there had been any other SDMB threads on the subject. ---
**Author:** ![enigmatic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/898d66/32.png) [@enigmatic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enigmatic)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/6 "2003-08-19T21:42:33Z")
DC. but only because of the vertigo line. If forced to compare the mainstream superhero title’s I’d go with marvel. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/7 "2003-08-19T21:54:17Z")
Marvel. I loathe Superman, Batman, and other practically omnipotent DC characters. ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/8 "2003-08-19T22:00:31Z")
DC all the way. Superman has always been my favorite hero and the JLA, Legion and Justice Society my favorite groups. ---
**Author:** ![Freiheit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e8c25b/32.png) [@Freiheit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freiheit)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/9 "2003-08-19T22:29:54Z")
photopat…My problem with JLA etc is that there will be those “omnipotent” superman and batman teamed up with lesser superheroes. More realistic superheroes, if that’s possible. Superman and batman just wouldn’t need the help. “Hey…we need Hawkgirl, she can fly… I mean, wait…” “Let’s call Aquaman! It’s the third time this week we need to talk to a fish.” ---
**Author:** ![JThunder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e95f7d/32.png) [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/10 "2003-08-19T23:21:15Z")
DC, if Batman’s prepared. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Improved\_Scott](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/f17d59/32.png) [@New\_Improved\_Scott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Improved_Scott)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/11 "2003-08-19T23:31:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mearlchan \* > \*\* I tend to like DC alternate universe stories and ‘special’ books like Watchmen more than Marvel What Ifs; I can’t think of any Marvel mini or maxi-series that are similar to Watchmen in being a unique self-contained universe not related to the company’s ‘headliner’ characters. > > \*\* I would suggest a look over at **Squadron Supreme** by Marvel for that sort of thing. Well, in a straight fight, there’s no way that the characters from Marvel would stand a chance against those from DC. DC’s characters are really powered up in comparison, on a general basis. (Except for Xavier, he’s rediculously overpowered). In terms of which books I prefer to read, well, I’m not very brand specific. I currently read “The Ultimates”, “New X-Men” and “Wolverine” from Marvel, and “JLA” and “JSA” from DC, with Image’s “Powers” and Devil’s Due “G.I.Joe” and “G.I.Joe: Frontline” in the mix as well. ---
**Author:** ![transitionality](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5e925/32.png) [@transitionality](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/transitionality)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2003, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/12 "2003-08-19T23:52:17Z")
Superman’s omnipotent. Batman? Not really. He’s constantly haunted by his past. You never really know when he’s going to go over the edge. He’s just a normal guy with a lot of toys. I don’t see how he’s different from Spider-Man. ---
**Author:** ![Mearl\_Dox](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/65b543/32.png) [@Mearl\_Dox](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mearl_Dox)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/13 "2003-08-20T00:02:09Z")
Thanks for the recommendation, **N&I Scott!** 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![photopat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e95f7d/32.png) [@photopat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/photopat)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/14 "2003-08-20T01:34:54Z")
**Freiheit** , have you read JLA lately? Also give JSA a try. They’re both really good books. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/15 "2003-08-20T05:00:01Z")
There are more DC characters that I like, and I enjoy their titles more at the moment, but I’ve never been able to say “I like DC and I don’t like Marvel” or vice versa. They’re different and I like them both. ---
**Author:** ![Odinoneeye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/97f17d/32.png) [@Odinoneeye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odinoneeye)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/16 "2003-08-20T05:01:24Z")
I havn’t read comics regularly for years, but I was always much more into DC than Marvel. Pre-reboot Legion was my favorite comic of all time. But, as Grant Morrison proved when he started Animal Man, it doesn’t matter what character you’re dealing with, a good writer can make it shine. I mean, he even made B’wana Beast into an interesting character. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/17 "2003-08-20T11:28:19Z")
Marvel all the way. DC characters seem to have too much power and too poor geography. Batman’s good, but SUperman seems to have become a caricature of himself. Marvel seems to fit things together in a less hokey way, for me. Plus, Darkseid cannot compare to Thanos. ---
**Author:** ![Harborwolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Harborwolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harborwolf)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/18 "2003-08-20T11:34:40Z")
The omnipotency of batman springs from the “if batman’s prepared” argument. If given an amount of time, batman will come up with a plan and win. The same could be said about any super hero but batman seems to make it look easier than most. He rarely needs help with anything and gets annoyed when a fellow hero comes to help out. As far as the O.P., I pick marvel. It seems to me that Marvel has a more diverse power base and larger numbers to choose from. At the end it would be a dog pile of Marvel heroes on batman and superman and batman simply wouldn’t have enough time to prepare;) ---
**Author:** ![Neurotik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/91b2a8/32.png) [@Neurotik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Neurotik)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/19 "2003-08-20T12:07:51Z")
Wouldn’t even need to go that far, **Harborworlf**. Xavier would just turn Batman and Supes into drooling vegetables like he did to Magneto. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2003, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281/20 "2003-08-20T12:43:43Z")
DC. 1. I want superheroes, not soap opera. 2. Vertigo 3. No Ron Perelman 4. Comics for grownups, not adolescents. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/marvel-versus-dc/196281.md?page=2)