Arguments can be made for both sides, but from the countless blockbuster hits to fans’ emotional investment, it’s evident the Marvel universe is superior to the DC universe.
Not only did Stan Lee create works of art with his comic books, but the way he and his team brought the universe to life on screen is unmatched.
“Marvel absolutely had already laid out their plans for different phases to build and expand their cinematic world of superheroes,” according to a March 5, 2018 Forbes article.
Marvel transports viewers to an entirely different universe and makes them fall in love with the characters.
When Iron Man released in May 2008, I was seven years old. I still remember watching it for the first time and feeling like Pandora’s box was opened. At the time, I don’t think any of us anticipated how Marvel would alter pop culture throughout the next decade.
Through countless lives lost, villains destroyed and incredible love stories told, we witnessed excellent character development that makes us feel like we are a part of the story.
We are able to connect to Marvel’s characters and now that I am 20 years old, I still feel an attachment to the universe.
The same can’t be said about the DC universe because the movies were rushed to compete with Marvel.
The MCU took 10 years to set up their universe, allocating the time to let the characters be introduced to the audience. Marvel left subtle hints throughout that eventually led to the climax of phase four.
“The DCEU has rushed their story and rushed their character development forcing audiences to naturally be put off the films,” according to a 2019 article published on Geeks, a comic book, TV and movie platform that hosts user articles.
Both universes had a fair amount of casting and recasting that made series and timelines confusing, such as The Incredible Hulk for Marvel and all of the different Batmans from George Clooney to Christian Bale.
The universes struggled to find the perfect match but Marvel got its train back on track and that success is largely because of the perfect casting of each character in the universe.
You can’t tell me Robert Downey Jr. is not Tony Stark. He embodies the character so well on and off the screen. The same goes for Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans and Chris Hemsworth with their respective characters.
“Stan Lee has continued to praise the performances of many Marvel actors including Chris Evans as Captain America and Tom Holland as the most recent Spider-Man,” according to a Nov. 5, 2018 article published on Comic Book Resources (CBR.com).
The article also said Lee hopes the actors stay with the franchise forever.
Another factor that sets the Marvel universe apart is how relatable the movies are.
“Marvel using real locales makes their work feel all the more relatable and, by extension, all the easier to connect with as a result,” according to a July 2019 article posted by What Culture, a movies and entertainment website.
We cannot forget about the feel-good aspect of Marvel movies.
Many DC fans argue for the darker tone DC movies create. I understand the appeal, but that’s not a deal-breaker for me, especially because we already live in such a dark world.
When I watch Marvel movies I feel hopeful and believe there are good people out there even if the characters are fictional.
The Marvel universe gives me hope, which is why it’s superior because its stories are about the good in people. If that still doesn’t convince you, then no need to worry because like Steve Rogers said, “I can do this all day.”
