Superheros can be found everywhere. Superheroes are everywhere. They are loved by all, yet they do not know from which productions they originated. Some say Superman is their favorite because he comes from Marvel while others say Spiderman is their favourite because he comes from DC. The fact that they do not seem to realize that Marvel is a different production than DC, and the heroes are different but probably share similar powers, is one thing. There are similarities and differences. Marvel and DC’s similarities and differences will be explained so that there are no more misunderstandings.
In 1961, Goodman created the Marvel Universe when he commissioned Jack Kirby and Stan Lee for the Fantastic Four. This was in response to the growing popularity of superhero comics. The Fantastic Four No.1 introduced readers to the superheroic world, while still remaining grounded in reality. Lee and Kirby encouraged their comic-book characters to communicate more emotionally. This included heroes who sometimes disagree and fight with eachother. Marvel Comics brought out a number of new superhero characters in the early 1960s. These include Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk and The X-Men. Lee was writing most of Marvel’s comics at the time. Jack Kirby & Steve Ditko were the most influential and significant artists.
Action Comics No. 38 was the first Superman comic published by DC. 1. Since then, the costumed super hero genre has become the backbone of the comics industry. DC introduced several superheroes to the comic book industry during this so-called Golden Age. Batman, Wonder Woman and others were among them. Licensing Corporation of America was a part of National Periodicals and aided in the success of DC’s superheroes. Superman Inc. (Licensing Corporation of America) was created to market DC characters and supervise their use across media.
Metahumans and Mutants both must conceal their true identities to protect themselves and their family. Barry Allen, S.T.A.R. Labs search for all metahumans after the particle accelerates an explosion. Professor Charles Xavier looks for mutants who can escape the damage. All companies are attempting to find these genetically altered humans. Marvel introduced mutants as a concept in 1963. DC, on the other hand, followed up with metahumans 20 years later. To thrive in America’s capitalist society, a comic book needs to be competitive. Marvel published The Avengers in 1963 just three years following the creation of The Justice League by DC. It was inevitable the idea of combining superheroes would lead to increased profits as readers were drawn to new series and heroes. The Justice League team was about the size of 7 while Avengers had 6. Both universes are able to trade characters but many of them seem to be the same.
Marvel’s superheroes are usually ordinary people who have acquired superpowers under specific circumstances. DC characters boast about their abilities being present from birth. You may find that Marvel authors did not aggressively reduce the powers of their heroes as much as DC writers. Marvel’s heroes have similar powers to Superman, like jumping, shooting eye-beams and firing lasers. Marvel’s characters and DC’s are also different in that DC was much older, produced during the 30s-40s. Marvel’s characters often have names that are similar to DC superheroes. Other than characters such as Dr. Marvel heroes, with the exception of characters like Dr. DC comics are a different story. Justice League members have an air of mystery and excitement. You’ll enjoy DC stories more if you are a fanatic of mythology and magic.
Conclusion: Both productions are hero-based and have their own characters and arcs. Marvel fans and DC fans alike will find plenty to love. Both have a huge fan base, amazing creators and editors that keep the stories moving.
