If Marvel and DC Got Into a Fight, Who Would Win?

THE FUNNY PAGES
Growing up in Floral Park, New York, in the 1960’s, every day I would visit my family’s Long Island Press to read “the funny pages.” There I followed Peanuts, Family Circle, Beetle Bailey, and my personal favorite, Nancy. (Mary Worth also owned some real estate here, but since there was nothing funny about her story, I skipped it—though years later, my appreciation for soap opera now fully developed as a college student, I again took up a morning ritual with my roommates of visiting the “funny pages” to find out the latest in the saga featuring the sage old woman.)

“Funny pages” were my introduction to the world of comics. As a pre-teen, I knew my younger brother read “comic books,” but fully understood this was something meant for boys only, not for me. I don’t recall ever seeing an actual comic book in my brother’s mess of a room, but assumed they existed somewhere in the heap, because on more than one occasion, my mother expressed her approval by saying, “Well, at least he’s reading something.” Though that always stuck with me, I never experienced any desire to find out what comic books were all about.

KIDS’ STUFF
Said younger brother was also an aficionado of Saturday morning cartoons, so I indirectly became familiar with the classic tune, “Spider-Man! Spider-Man! Does whatever a spider can!” Iconic bits tend to stick with me, so I was also familiar with the classic narration, “Faster than a speeding bullet! Able to leap tall buildings in a single bound!!” I vaguely remember watching black and white Superman adventures on TV, but my main interest was in plucky gal reporter Lois Lane taking complete ownership of her job while dressed to the hilt.

At the time, even I knew that Clark Kent was supposed to look nerdy in his horn-rimmed glasses, but honestly…there was something about his appearance that intrigued me even more than that of his muscle-bound, cape-wearing alter ego. (Since then, I have always had a thing for a man in horn-rimmed glasses. Remember Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Christmas special? My favorite elf was not Herbie, but rather the tall skinny elf that struck me as comedian Steve Allen.)

But I digress. My point is that in my formative years, I had very little knowledge of comics. If I’d ever heard the terms “DC” or “Marvel,” it flew right over my head. As far as I was concerned, all comics came from the same place—a place that barely intersected with my personal universe.

In the late 1960’s, I occasionally caught an episode of Batman but did not watch it religiously. In my lofty nine-year-old opinion, this was nothing more than stupid, silly boy stuff. For “wacky,” I preferred Green Acres, and if I needed a dose of the fantastic, give me Bewitched any day. Even The Flying Nun was better than Batman!

As much as I had enjoyed Bill Bixby in My Favorite Martian, when I followed his career into the 1970’s The Incredible Hulk, I was disappointed. I understood Hulk to be a character from the comics my mom was so glad my brother had been reading, but the premise and execution of this show was laughable. In the late 1960’s, I became infatuated with Bobby Sherman in Here Come the Brides, and the die was cast. A decade later, neither Bill Bixby nor Hulk, as Incredible as he might be, proved capable of capturing my attention.

X MARKS THE SPOT
Fast forward to the year 2000. After a couple decades of personal business—graduating college, getting a “real job,” getting married, having babies—my teenage kids were now dragging me off to see some movie called X-Men. My favorite Star Trek captain was appearing as someone called Professor X, and Hugh Jackman’s portrayal of a powerful but damaged man was absolutely compelling. Again, I had a vague sense that this had something to do with “comics,” but still wouldn’t have known Marvel from DC if they’d both walked up and introduced themselves.

But that movie was the beginning of my real education into the world of comics. Full stop. Turning point. Batman, Superman, Spider-Man, Hulk—get out of my way! Here was story-telling, here was drama, here was excitement. Mind officially blown. I decided I wanted more of this.

A few years later, after many a celebrity crush, when Bobby Sherman had long ago been replaced many times by various compelling young actors, I now became enamored of handsome Welshman Ioan Gruffudd. It began when, through some fluke, I brought home the Hornblower mini-series from our local library. It further manifested with me now dragging my kids off to the movies in 2005 to see Fantastic Four.

Still not knowing the difference between Marvel and DC.

But later that same year, I met Russ. And everything changed. Not only for me personally, but also for my woefully inadequate understanding of comics.

Turns out, though Russ is a comics guy in general, his heart belongs to Marvel, rather than DC. For many years I did not actually read any of the comics he so loves, but I listened and learned. I began to develop a rudimentary understanding that Superman and Batman were part of the DC Comics universe, and Hulk and Spider-Man (I was not yet familiar enough with him to call him “Spidey”) were part of Marvel.

“I AM IRON MAN”
And then Iron Man came out in 2008. And this time it was my husband rather than my kids dragging me off to the theater. I had no idea who Iron Man was, or what, specifically, he did. But I learned quickly. And again, I say: Mind Officially Blown.

And when a very cool looking eye-patched, trench-coated Samuel L. Jackson mysteriously appears in Tony Stark’s living room after the end of the movie and says, “I’m here to talk to you about the Avengers initiative,” I had no idea what was going on, but Russ gasped, and shortly after, explained to me that something big was getting ready to happen, something we had never seen in movies before.

I don’t remember if at that time, he used the phrase “Marvel Cinematic Universe,” but what he described caused me to contemplate…Well, I’d seen and loved all the Lord of the Rings movies, as well as the Pirates of the Caribbean series. This was called a “franchise,” wasn’t it? Was this Marvel franchise going to be bigger and better than those?

Little did I know.

It took years for the Marvel Cinematic Universe to develop, but as it did, I was also sharpening my own sensibilities about the world of comics. I could now look back at my meager experiences in TV and movies and began to develop a sense of critical thinking about what worked best for me. Marvel…or DC? Hmmm…let’s see…

DC VS. MCU
First in line, 1978’s Superman, which of course was a lot of fun at the time, and Christopher Reeve as Superman was inspired casting—so what’s not to like? In fact, my main memory of this movie, beside the wonderful song spoken by Margot Kidder’s Lois Lane, was that for the first time in memory, I heard my mother express an interest in a movie star, she thinking Reeve exceptionally handsome. It’s not always that your mother comes out as a fan-girl, so this is another thing about my mother that has stuck with me down through the years.

The subsequent Superman movies did not make as big of an impression on me—and this was part of my education in the fact that sequels rarely live up to the original. I believe that Gene Hackman’s portrayal of villain Lex Luthor was at least partially meant as comedy or camp, but I found him ludicrously over the top. Was this meant to echo the tone of the 1966 Batman TV series?

But speaking of Batman, let’s go there. I don’t have strong memories of any of these movies, except for superstar Arnold Schwarzenegger as some guy whose power is ice-based, and the alluring Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy. Batman and Robin themselves were nowhere near as interesting. Yet…even as I’m writing this, I’m discovering that George Clooney starred in this particular Batman outing! George Clooney!! And I don’t even remember that! From my fan-girl point of view, it must be a pretty bad movie if I can’t even remember George Clooney.

But then I began to notice a strange thing with the Batman sequels. Each seemed darker than the one before. Batman’s origin story in the first film was much more tragic than Superman’s, and artfully told, but that dark tone soon began to dominate all the movies. Not only were the villains, shall we say, less goofy and much more truly villainous, but the violence also grittier.

Worst of all, when I say “tone” I do indeed mean tone, as it struck me that so many scenes were so dark, I could barely see them! This has always been a pet peeve of mine. If everybody is dressed in black and gray in the middle of the night and I can’t even tell what I’m looking at, then why the heck am I wasting my time sitting in this movie theater?

However, besides the dark tone, and the inexplicably forgettable George Clooney, there was a single dramatic event that sealed my fate regarding the Batman movies.

Before The Dark Knight was released in 2008, we received the devastating news that Heath Ledger had died of a drug overdose. I remember reading a theory that as a method actor, going so deeply into the disturbing role of the Joker may have contributed to his death. I don’t know how true this is, but it’s another one of those things that has always stuck with me. So sickened was I by learning of the senseless death of such a delightful young actor, that I lost any desire to see The Dark Knight. And to this day, I refuse to see any more Batman movies.

CASTING CONUNDRUMS
But, wait. I can’t let this drop. Let’s go back a moment to the George Clooney Batman. That happened…and I can’t remember? Maybe it’s because he spent most of his time behind the mask? Or maybe because I equate Batman with Michael Keaton? Or, hold on…is it Christian Bale? Val Kilmer? No, wait! Didn’t I hear it was Ben Affleck? At some point, I think….Robert Pattinson?

What the heck is going on here?

DC has gone through a long list of actors portraying both Batman and Superman (Christopher Reeve, Brandon Routh, Henry Cavill…) and that might also contribute to my inability to connect with these characters. Marvel on the other hand, has always had impeccable and consistent casting. Whether you’re watching Iron Man 1, 2 or 3, or Avengers 1, 2 or 3, Tony Stark always looks like Robert Downey Jr., and you’ve been through so much with him already, you can’t help but have a vested interest in what happens next. (The only casting misstep was Edward Norton as Bruce Banner, but once Mark Ruffalo got on board, it’s been smooth sailing all the way!)

As time went on, and Russ and I continued to enjoy the developing Marvel Cinematic Universe, the contrast between these two superpowers grew even more distinct. Where DC movies were twisting into a downward spiral of darkness and violence, Marvel sustained the action with occasional stabs of humor. In the same way a “sense of humor” is often cited as a desirable personality trait in a significant other, it also goes a long way in recommending one movie studio over the other.

And not only does Marvel punctuate action with humor, but it also fills its universe with three-dimensional characters, another admirable achievement I did not find so much in the DC offerings I happened to see. For example, Loki: love him, or hate him? Don’t get me started!

And what about Hulk? The Banner/Hulk dichotomy at first glance appears merely two-dimensional, but even when he is purely Hulk, you are never quite sure if he is villain or hero. And then, Marvel morphs him into Professor Hulk, with his fancy talking and horn-rimmed glasses, and I’m more convinced than ever that Ruffalo is perfect casting, and surprise even myself in finding this big green guy so attractive. How do they do that?? (And would my mother be appalled, or agree?)

OUT OF THE DARKNESS
In general, the MCU is much brighter, more optimistic and tons more fun. Both universes overwhelm with spectacle, but Marvel makes you care about the characters before sending them into a life-or-death battle. Sometimes that can be a gut-wrenching, unpleasant experience, but that comes with the territory. I’m willing to abide it, as long as I am also being immersed and entertained at the same time.

For me, the DC movies have largely devolved into a bunch of dark and somber scenes where things get blown up and “fighting ensues.” To be fair, though, DC has lately provided some more palatable fare, which I’ve actually found quite refreshing.

Shazam offered a lot of the humor I appreciate in Marvel movies; but though I enjoyed the lighthearted tone while in the theater, honestly, I can’t now remember a single specific joke. In contrast, so much from the MCU has become so entwined in my cultural consciousness that the smiles continue long after the lights have come up. (For instance, I can no longer hear the word “shawarma” without thinking of the Avengers after-credits scene. Can you?)

Without question, Jason Momoa is the most interesting looking human being on the planet, and Aquaman stunned with gorgeous underwater scenes, a feast for the eyes. The sibling rivalry between Aquaman and his half-brother is Shakespearean in scope…yet somehow I prefer the conflict between Thor and Loki (“He’s adopted.”)

And kudos to DC for bringing us the first strong female superhero in a title role with the perfectly cast Gal Gadot in Wonder Woman. Yet as cool as she is, I get a much bigger kick out of Natasha “Are you kidding? I’m working!” Romanoff.

So, even though I enjoy these DC movies, almost as soon as I get home, I’m asking, “When is the next MCU movie coming out?”

TV PARTY TONIGHT
As the saying goes, “What goes around, comes around,” and in the last decade or so, both DC and Marvel have experienced a renaissance on the smaller screen—and this time, I’m paying attention! In 1993 I took no interest in Dean Cain and Teri Hatcher portraying Lois and Clark, but in the early 2000’s, Russ convinced me to watch Smallville—all ten seasons of it! I confess, it was not difficult to keep my eye on handsome Tom Welling as Clark Kent, but though the storylines were sometimes a bit confusing and convoluted, I believe this series, with its over-the-top teenage drama, was elemental in my developing a strong love of soap opera.

DC ruled the TV 2000’s with further soap operatic offerings like Supergirl, Flash, Legends of Tomorrow—all of which I have watched with varying levels of interest. The only one I could not stick with was Arrow, which after several seasons fell into the black hole that had turned me away from Batman and Superman. My pet peeve was once again activated by the exceptional number of dark scenes in dark alleys, as well as a darkness of storyline, with very few moments of humor. And though I may like soap opera more than the average person, I discovered that when coupled with confusing, convoluted storylines, I just can’t stay interested.

It seems Marvel was a few years behind DC in its television offerings. First came Agents of SHIELD…which I liked very much at the time, but when I look back at it now, my feelings are not as positive. I loved the characters and their relationships, but the storylines were sometimes more complicated than I would like. Remember, I was not trained in comic books from my youth, unlike Russ and others of our generation who have spent decades honing their mental muscles for complex storytelling. I tried to keep up, but sometimes my simple brain got lost along the way. But I guess I enjoyed it as much as I was able.

Agent Carter proved much more fun for me than SHIELD. Spanning two seasons instead of seven, the storyline was more concise, and I love the retro vibe. The clothes, the cars, the music! I liked seeing a young Howard Stark, and Jarvis is such a wonderful character, so poignantly played by another of my favorite actors, James D’Arcy.

Later, Netflix gave us Daredevil. Like some of the DC shows and movies, this series also has its “dark” moments…yet somehow different. I can’t really put my finger on it. Was it that I cared more about the characters? Or did I appreciate the big-screen production values on the smaller screen? In the first episode, there is a fight in a hallway. It’s a brutal encounter, much more violent than I generally care for, but somehow I could not look away. The action just kept coming and coming…and slowly I began to realize, This is one long take. A bold choice! Compelling. I was hooked.

Later in Netflix we moved on to Jessica Jones, Iron Fist, Defenders. Not all of these were my favorite shows ever, but I recognized how well they were done. (I also especially liked that there were usually only about eight episodes, not eight seasons, so even if they weren’t the best show ever, I was willing to make the short-term commitment. And after I made the commitment, more often than not, I was glad I’d stayed for the duration.)

THE MARVELOUS MOUSE
And now at last we come to the most current stage of Marvel on the small screen, with Disney offering a plethora of miniseries stretching the gambit of characters and genres. This wave started strong with WandaVision, still my favorite, though others like The Falcon and the Winter Soldier did not interest me as much, mainly because it was too action-heavy for my liking. And while I’m a big fan of Oscar Isaac, Moon Knight was just too out there. For the same reason, I was disappointed in Loki. Of course She-Hulk was TOO much fun, and I’m hoping to see more of that. (Oh! And one more thing: even though Modok did not run on the Disney Channel, it still needs to be mentioned for its high entertainment value.)

A SOAP OPERA WHERE A FIGHT BROKE OUT
You’ll notice that as I approach the end of this post, it’s all about Marvel, very little DC. I believe there are still plenty of DC offerings out there, but as I am now in my 60’s, not my 20’s, I am painfully aware that I only have so many more years left for reading and watching, so why would I waste them on entertainments that do not adequately capture my attention? As someone once said, “Eat dessert first!” It might not actually be good nutritional advice but makes total sense, when filling your leisure hours.

Going back to the beginnings, I haven’t read much in the way of the old printed DC comics, but my understanding is that, basically, good guys fight bad guys, and the good guys win. Period. Mostly. Whereas, after only a few years of reading Marvel Comics, I’m most enchanted by the personal stories of these superheroes who have real relationships and real-life problems. In regards to the movies and TV shows from both comic houses, DC may be catching up to Marvel in this area, but still, at least for me, they have not yet perfected this aspect of their storytelling.

In addition to comic-based TV shows, Russ will sometimes choose a documentary about Marvel. I always love a good documentary, and the history of Marvel is fascinating. We were recently watching Icons Unearthed, and this whole question of Marvel vs. DC was discussed at length. I was most taken by Jeph Loeb, Marvel writer and Head of Marvel Television, who said, “Marvel Comics were intended to be a soap opera where a fight broke out.”

BINGO! That does it for me! If Marvel and DC got into a fight, there’s no surprise which contender gets my prize.

In her final years, my mother had no patience for entertainment that was overly dramatic, stressful, violent, dark or serious. “When I go to the movies,” she said, “I want to be entertained!” Well, so do I. Maybe in my old age, I’m turning into my mother, after all? However, I’m not quite “old” yet, and at least so far, I’m still willing to put up with a bit of violence, a bit of stress, and a little darkness—as long as ultimately, I’m getting a compelling, interesting well-told story with characters I care about. As I age, that may change, and I may only be able to handle the drama inherent in a cozy mystery or old re-runs of Murder, She Wrote. But for the moment, Marvel fits the bill for me, better than DC.