108 Marvel Vs DC

[Arch Stanton]

This weeks Death Match is another straight forward one.
Shazam! The gloves are off and the super powers are being ramped right up, all the way to eleven! It's clobberin' time....

One gave us The Hulk, Iron Man, Fantastic Four, The X-Men, The Punisher, Thor, Spiderman, Captain America, Ghost Rider, Deadpool etc etc

Whilst the other gave us Batman, Superman, The Green Lantern, Aquaman, The Flash, Wonder Woman, The Watchmen, Swamp Thing etc etc


So which comic book publisher is your favourite? And why?




VS

[ltd]

I'm not really into the superhero comic thing but I  prefer Marvel's blue collar approach to the genre: Peter Parker always trying to earn a crust at his day job, Luke Cage living above cinema that only shows westerns and always slightly bemused by his partner Iron Fist's zen approach, or The Thing just being permanently cheesed off all the time. Quite enjoy the sheer nihilistic violence of The Punisher from time to time as well e.g. the one where he's out of ammo being chased through the zoo by mafia goons so he punches a polar bear in the boatrace and does a runner leaving the enraged bear to square up to the hapless goombahs with predictably gory results.

[Arch Stanton]

I have to say that I am completely torn by this death match.

I have no interest in the films really but I do read comics now and again.
You are spot on ltd.. Strips like Ghost Rider, Sasquatch and The Punisher were very cool.
You also have the horror and Kung fu titles of the 70s from marvel which were neat.

Then on the flip side I'm a big fan of Alan Moore's stuff.
His Watchmen and V For Vendetta, Swamp Thing etc were really good. Both Vertigo DC. So was The Dark Knight Returns by Frank Miller.

It's really tough to call.

[plasticpenguin]

I've never read Marvel either.

The only comics I used to read was Giles and Commando

[Arch Stanton]

Words fail me......

[KarinB]

I've never read one but I have had to hand over money to my son who buys them. Some of them are expensive.
So I've consulted my household expert and he says he likes them both.
He buys different ones solely for the characters he likes. So no voting from my house.

[Arch Stanton]

Nov 19, 2017 12:59:18 GMT KarinB said:

I've never read one but I have had to hand over money to my son who buys them. Some of them are expensive.
So I've consulted my household expert and he says he likes them both.
He buys different ones solely for the characters he likes. So no voting from my house.

Tell him that he has to pick one or else you'll stop funding his habit.

[fordcapri]

I'll admit that even as a kid, a long time ago now, I thought that Superhero comics were pretty childish.  There was just something about these idiots wearing their underpants outside their trousers and flying, etc, that was just too infantile and without credibility for me.  Of course I saw various comics over the years and I always liked Batman - but I think that was more to do with the TV series (as absurd as it was).  Doctor Strange, Doctor Doom, The Fantastic Four, The Mighty Avengers, The Incredible this, the Amazing that... oh just f*ck off and grow up!  

My comics, as a kid, were in the first instance, Playhour and Pippin, and then Countdown and TV Action, Look-in and, of course, the 'classics' such as Shiver & Shake, Whizzer & Chips, etc...  I used to get Marvel's Planet of the Apes, in the mid '70s and my brother used to get Marvel's Dracula Lives!  But apart from those, I don't think any of us were really into comics.  By the mid 80s I had a new bunch of friends, several of whom were really into Marvel and DC big time - one or two of them actually wrote and drew comics (the only name I'll mention here is the late lamented Art Wetherell, who was a bl**dy brilliant artist and died far too young).  

These days, it seems that these Marvel and DC comics are the raw material behind numerous goddam awful blockbuster movies - the only ones I have ever really enjoyed were Superman and Superman II (late '70s) and Batman (late '80s).  All the others that I have seen have just been absurd.  Oh yeah and I got Marvel's Doctor Who Weekly from issue 3 - but this had bugger all to do with it being a comic and I always thought the comic strips were (and still are) the least interesting part of it.  

So, sorry, as a fan of Doctor Who, Gerry Anderson, etc, I have to say that, in my opinion, both Marvel and DC are a load of pants.  

[Arch Stanton]

The problem I found with Marvel and DC was that the newsagents didn't get them in regularly.
That or I didn't get em when they came in (someone else probably bought the one copy) or I couldn't afford them. Meaning that I would just have random bits of stories. The odd issue here and there.
My brother has hundreds and hundreds of comics, albeit he doesn't collect them now. So I read quite a lot of marvel. Much more than DC.

Something like Commando or 2000AD or The Beano or Dandy or Whizzer & Chips had stand alone stories and were much more accessible.

Although I hear what you're saying, I don't necessarily agree with your opinion that they were childish though FC.
I think DC in particular moved in the direction of making comics for an adult market.

The thing that annoyed me more so was the comic book crossovers.. So you'd be sat there happily reading an issue of The Amazing Spider-Man but then you had to get say issue 249 of X-Men to find out what was goin on because the stories crossed over and intertwined.

[ace5150]

Another great thread on a forum I am so proud to be part of.

[bensonrad]

Tough one this, as a kid I would occasionally read Spider-Man, Hulk, Batman & Superman stuff, whilst I know a lot of the other characters, I would not call myself a fan of them or pledge allegiance to one. I loved the films, cartoons, TV shows of the 70/80s and early 90s which will more sway my vote to DC, as Batman was probably my overall fav.

I know these days its big money and film studios are pumping out the movies left right and centre, can't say I've watched any of those or have the urge to.

[KarinB]

Nov 19, 2017 13:15:53 GMT Arch Stanton said:

Nov 19, 2017 12:59:18 GMT KarinB said:

I've never read one but I have had to hand over money to my son who buys them. Some of them are expensive.
So I've consulted my household expert and he says he likes them both.
He buys different ones solely for the characters he likes. So no voting from my house.

Tell him that he has to pick one or else you'll stop funding his habit.

He's now picked DC.

[daz]

Razzle and Fiesta. Now that would be a great choice for a death match.

I voted for DC as it gave us the lovely Linda Carter as Wonder Woman, ordinarily I would have sat on the fence on this one.

I did read some as a kid back in the 80s, but they did nothing for me. I was used to my Beanos, Dandies, etc, etc.

[fordcapri]

Nov 19, 2017 21:01:56 GMT Arch Stanton said:

The problem I found with Marvel and DC was that the newsagents didn't get them in regularly.
That or I didn't get em when they came in (someone else probably bought the one copy) or I couldn't afford them. Meaning that I would just have random bits of stories. The odd issue here and there.
My brother has hundreds and hundreds of comics, albeit he doesn't collect them now. So I read quite a lot of marvel. Much more than DC.

Something like Commando or 2000AD or The Beano or Dandy or Whizzer & Chips had stand alone stories and were much more accessible.

Although I hear what you're saying, I don't necessarily agree with your opinion that they were childish though FC.
I think DC in particular moved in the direction of making comics for an adult market.

The thing that annoyed me more so was the comic book crossovers.. So you'd be sat there happily reading an issue of The Amazing Spider-Man but then you had to get say issue 249 of X-Men to find out what was goin on because the stories crossed over and intertwined.

For some reason, that seems like a contradiction in terms!
Yes, I'm sure that the comics did mature with age, and I know that people speak very highly of things like 'Watchmen' and demi-gods like Alan Moore, but taken on face value, I just can't take these characters seriously.  They just seem ridiculous and in no way related to anything approaching reality.  I mean, I don't know for sure what would happen to me of I was to be bitten by a radioactive spider, but I'm guessing that I wouldn't start climbing walls, swinging from roof tops and spinning webs.  But then I suppose that a character called 'Dying Slowly and Painfully from Radiation Sickness Man' might not catch on or be seen as much of a help to the forces of law enforcement.  

[ace5150]

Always preferred Marvel to DC comics ALTHOUGH always liked Wonder Woman and The Flash.
DC were the first to use their characters in film/TV with Superman in the 50s and the camp, but essential Batman in the 60s. Marvel only had cartoons to represent their characters.
DC struck first on TV in the 70s with Wonder Woman and competed with Marvels Hulk, BOTH excellent. Marvel scored an own goal with Spider-Man, which IMO was weak.
DC triumphed with the film Superman, despite the now creaky FX,it's STILL a great film, along with its sequel. Ten years later, another spectacular film Batman.
A few hits and misses before Marvel unveil Dare Devil, to me, a flop. DC churn out more Batman films, all sub-standard. Marvel make The Hulk, featuring a cartoon Hulk. A massive flop.
Then Marvel hit it big with Spider-Man. VERY good indeed. The sequels were equally decent. X-Men does very well as well.
DC reboot Superman. A flop. They try The Flash. Another flop.
Marvel reboot Hulk. A hit.
DC on the ropes now.
Marvel on a roll. Several excellent adaptations do well, Iron Man, Capt. America, Thor, more X-Men, Avengers and Fantastic Four. Marvel have the upper hand and have everyone's attention.
DC reboot Batman. Very good.
DC try Green Lantern. A flop.
Now Marvel flop with a couple of duffers over the next few years (Iron Man 3, Logan, Dr Strange, Ant Man and commit hair Kari with Fantastic Four reboot)
In the meantime, DC reboot The Flash for TV, a hit*.
Marvel get it spectacularly correct with Guardians of the Galaxy.
They reboot Dare Devil for TV
DC flop again with the much hyped Barman v Superman
DC hit the jackpot with Wonder Woman

This isn't a lesson you can research on imdb, it's just to show both get it right and wrong in equal measure.
I used to look forward to the latest Marvel films, but they churn out too many in a short time to enjoy now.
I have several of theirs not viewed yet. Once, that wouldn't have happened.
It's hard to pick, BUT I'd probably lean towards DC for their early film adaptations, and Marvel for their comics.

*The Flash IS visually great, BUT aimed at a teen market. Not for me.

[chopper]

DC just edges it for me......

[Arch Stanton]

Nov 20, 2017 16:21:27 GMT fordcapri said:

For some reason, that seems like a contradiction in terms!
Yes, I'm sure that the comics did mature with age, and I know that people speak very highly of things like 'Watchmen' and demi-gods like Alan Moore, but taken on face value, I just can't take these characters seriously.  They just seem ridiculous and in no way related to anything approaching reality.  I mean, I don't know for sure what would happen to me of I was to be bitten by a radioactive spider, but I'm guessing that I wouldn't start climbing walls, swinging from roof tops and spinning webs.  But then I suppose that a character called 'Dying Slowly and Painfully from Radiation Sickness Man' might not catch on or be seen as much of a help to the forces of law enforcement.  

Not a massive contradiction in terms though.
Oh how fanboys like to term them graphic novels now.... Reading Spiderman from a graphic novel as opposed to a big comic sounds much more grown up and cool doesn't it?
However putting those oiks to one side for a minute, one cannot disagree with the fact that the medium of the comic (for arguments sake let's say 'using words and pictures to tell a story') has evolved, in particular over the last 30-40 years, because it has.

Although not a fan of comics per se myself (very occasionally I do read them if I'm in the mood - mostly for nostalgia), one cannot deny how popular they are at this moment.

Also I think your argument that they seem ridiculous is rather contradictory. I don't see them any less ridiculous than Dr Who, or say Captain Scarlet, or the characters from Whizzer and Chips for that matter etc etc.
They're just adventure stories about aliens and folk who have super powers. How is that different to Captain Scarlet or Dr Who??

[Arch Stanton]

Nov 20, 2017 17:33:40 GMT ace5150 said:

My Death Match suggestion.......my reasoning.
Always preferred Marvel to DC comics ALTHOUGH always liked Wonder Woman and The Flash.
DC were the first to use their characters in film/TV with Superman in the 50s and the camp, but essential Batman in the 60s. Marvel only had cartoons to represent their characters.
DC struck first on TV in the 70s with Wonder Woman and competed with Marvels Hulk, BOTH excellent. Marvel scored an own goal with Spider-Man, which IMO was weak.
DC triumphed with the film Superman, despite the now creaky FX,it's STILL a great film, along with its sequel. Ten years later, another spectacular film Batman.
A few hits and misses before Marvel unveil Dare Devil, to me, a flop. DC churn out more Batman films, all sub-standard. Marvel make The Hulk, featuring a cartoon Hulk. A massive flop.
Then Marvel hit it big with Spider-Man. VERY good indeed. The sequels were equally decent. X-Men does very well as well.
DC reboot Superman. A flop. They try The Flash. Another flop.
Marvel reboot Hulk. A hit.
DC on the ropes now.
Marvel on a roll. Several excellent adaptations do well, Iron Man, Capt. America, Thor, more X-Men, Avengers and Fantastic Four. Marvel have the upper hand and have everyone's attention.
DC reboot Batman. Very good.
DC try Green Lantern. A flop.
Now Marvel flop with a couple of duffers over the next few years (Iron Man 3, Logan, Dr Strange, Ant Man and commit hair Kari with Fantastic Four reboot)
In the meantime, DC reboot The Flash for TV, a hit*.
Marvel get it spectacularly correct with Guardians of the Galaxy.
They reboot Dare Devil for TV
DC flop again with the much hyped Barman v Superman
DC hit the jackpot with Wonder Woman

This isn't a lesson you can research on imdb, it's just to show both get it right and wrong in equal measure.
I used to look forward to the latest Marvel films, but they churn out too many in a short time to enjoy now.
I have several of theirs not viewed yet. Once, that wouldn't have happened.
It's hard to pick, BUT I'd probably lean towards DC for their early film adaptations, and Marvel for their comics.

*The Flash IS visually great, BUT aimed at a teen market. Not for me.

It's a good Death Match suggestion. Really good, Ace.

[ace5150]

Overlooked Ghost Rider. Awful adaptation. The last of the films wasn't too bad to be fair.
Don't start me on Howard the Duck or Nick Fury (David Hasselhoff)
Deadpool WAS good.

[jno]

This is a really hard one - in the end I opted for Marvel though. The reason is that as a kid I loved Spiderman, Captain America and the Fantastic Four more than the popular characters in the DC lot. That said, some of the DC lot were pretty cool too.

The Fantastic Four and Captain America in particular, I do remember reading plenty of mags back at young age. Spidy too - all great stuff. The Hulk is one of my favourite TV shows plus this forum is a marvel, thus it's Marvel that gets my vote!

[ace5150]

I liked Shang-Chi, hot on the tales of the Kung Fu craze, Marvel cashed in.
Their follow up, Iron Fist I wasn't too keen on. However, it's been made into a TV Series.
Given Arch's love of martial arts kitsch, did he like these adaptations?

Another comic I did like was The Inhumans, but the tv series promotion looks iffy

[pr1]

When I read comics on a regular basis Captain America and The Fantastic Four were my favorites so I would vote Marvel. That said I did read DC comics as well but didn't follow any particular title for every issue. I do like the reprints of various DC comics from the 1950s and 1960s.

[Arch Stanton]

Nov 27, 2017 13:40:50 GMT ace5150 said:

I liked Shang-Chi, hot on the tales of the Kung Fu craze, Marvel cashed in.
Their follow up, Iron Fist I wasn't too keen on. However, it's been made into a TV Series.
Given Arch's love of martial arts kitsch, did he like these adaptations?

Another comic I did like was The Inhumans, but the tv series promotion looks iffy

I never read Iron Fist.
I read Shang Chi. He was in Master of Kung Fu. They were good. But it's donkey's years since I read one. Early-mid 80s. They still going? I imagine not.

There was one called Deadliest Hands of Kung Fu too. But I only read one or two of them.. I think they were earlier and were given to me as (deadliest?) hand me downs from somewhere. I come from a biggish family.
They weren't the same character I don't think and may not even been DC or Marvel. They were good though. Lots of fighting. If I had to say, I'd say Marvel but I dunno.

I bet they're wicked reads nowadays. Like you say Ace, very kitsch and of their era.

[mrschisholm]

Marvel. I love Deadpool and Spidey as well as some of the older prints like Namor, Defenders (with Namor and Strange), and Doctor Strange. I like DC too, mostly Batman, but Marvel is just more fun.

[pr1]

I'm off topic but I was wondering when American comic books became readily available in the U.K. the same way they were published in the US. I know Marvel UK printed material from over here but it was often in a different format and sometimes in black and white. When did it become standardized?

[Arch Stanton]

Dec 5, 2017 1:00:59 GMT mrschisholm said:

Marvel. I love Deadpool and Spidey as well as some of the older prints like Namor, Defenders (with Namor and Strange), and Doctor Strange. I like DC too, mostly Batman, but Marvel is just more fun.

Out of nowhere I was reading some early Doctor Strange the other day. Whilst listening to 70s, psychedelic rock.
The one where he first comes up against The Dread Dormammu.
It was a limited story but pretty mind bending. Doctor Strange got his backside whupped but wins the battle on a technicality.

[Arch Stanton]

Dec 5, 2017 3:45:44 GMT pr1 said:

I'm off topic but I was wondering when American comic books became readily available in the U.K. the same way they were published in the US. I know Marvel UK printed material from over here but it was often in a different format and sometimes in black and white. When did it become standardized?

Dunno. I'm sure they were colour when I started to read em in the very early 80s and these comics were marvels from the 60s-70s.

[ace5150]

Dec 5, 2017 3:45:44 GMT pr1 said:

I'm off topic but I was wondering when American comic books became readily available in the U.K. the same way they were published in the US. I know Marvel UK printed material from over here but it was often in a different format and sometimes in black and white. When did it become standardized?

The glossy smaller type US format were around in the 60s as I have a couple with 1/- (1 shilling old pre-decimal coinage) in the price column.
In approx Sept 1972, Marvel released its first UK format comic, featuring The Hulk, Spider-Man and Fantastic Four. After its massive success, ten weeks later, they released another comic, Spider-Man Weekly that featured Spider-Man and Thor.
I think the glossy covers came a year later.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvel_UK

[I used to think I was a parrot]

I like them both but voted for Marvel as I had to choose one. There are many great stories with writers doing many different things with the characters.

V for Vendetta is a classic.

[thecraftyleek]

I watched Aquaman yesterday. I used to like both DC and Marvel comics when I was younger, and I’m quite torn on this poll.

I voted for Marvel though. As a package, the recent film reboots are generally better I think. Aquaman left me somewhat disappointed. It’s a long film that seems to go nowhere. A bit like Batman Vs. Superman, Wonder Woman, Green Lantern and the Justice League. Unlike Marvel, the films just take so much longer to get started.

That said, DC still have a habit of picking very good actors. Jason Momoa seems as cool as a cookie as Aquaman and seems the kind of character I’d love to go for a few beers of Doom Bar down the Cornish coast. Ben Affleck is also a superb Batman and very believable.

And here lies my dilemma with this poll. The Bat is probably my favourite superhero, largely because there’s nothing super about him. He is just far more intelligent than other superheroes and just uses wits to outsmart everybody else. It’s the human vs. alien concept again. Maybe the next superhero film should be DC vs Marvel. I’d certainly let Marvel make it though.