DC vs Marvel: Should We Be United or Rivals?

Can't we all just get along in this one article? Note to self, this was written a year before Avengers: Infinity War. The three points I'll be making will be depicted and contrast from fans vs the two studios. Personally, I'm a DC fan but I enjoy Marvel films back in the day. But loved how DC once was in 2008 before CG/special effects got more advanced. From here on out I won't be picking sides, but judging both.

1. Why is there such a rivalry between DC fans and Marvel fans?

When asking the question, "Why is there such a revival between DC fans and Marvel Fans?", I'm mainly asking the question to those who are comic book fans. Mostly because Marvel fans think I'm talking about film wise but not really. This section I merely want to know: Is it the characters? Are the characters relatable? Do you feel a connection or disconnection?

Obviously, it's nothing to do with the comic books. Now I'll pop that question. Is it the films?

Everyone talks about how one studio is better than the other or the other studio doesn't know how to make some superhero movies.

As someone who works in the film industry, what people don't seem to understand is we can't always make the films we want. There's a rule book filmmakers have to follow. Those who don't follow it usually make independent films because the studios won't support them/back them up on their idea. The reason why I bring that up is usually that the audience demands a certain superhero film to be exactly like the comics. Who can blame them, though? We want to see our childhood hero on the big screen and we get upset when our dreams are crushed.

2. What makes them different?

The fact of the matter is each studio holds a theme that another studio attempts to recreate on their own.

Before Marvel became what we know today, the first ever licensed film under the Marvel Studios was the 1998 film, Blade. Now when I said I liked the Marvel films I was referring back to the violent days of time. X-Men and Spider-Man were the next films to be licensed under the studio. These films had a grown-up feel to them.

Disney has owned Marvel Entertainment since Winter 2009. Disney has a theme where the character learns a variable lesson as well using bright contrast in their films. Disney is great at character development which makes Marvel have a better connection with its audience.

But overall, is Marvel too family friendly? Sure, they had two R rated films, but overall, it’s a family based studio. Putting movies like Logan and Deadpool aside, you won't ever see Iron Man or Captain America rip someone to shreds. Or getting more than just a bloody lip. Yes, it's not their character to do so, but we definitely know Logan and Deadpool to be those kinds of guys. But just saying, Marvel, is a PG fling.

Warner Brothers reorganized DC in 2016 and they take a different direction in using a darker theme. Warner Brothers are great at creating an action sequence. It's been that way ever since its success with The Dark Knight trilogies. Unfortunately, it's not considered part of the DC universe. The new releases superhero films lack any story development or formula in my opinion. It also misses the chance to connect the character to the audience.

Here's an example: the audience won't care much for the five minutes of Jared Leto's first screen time playing as the Joker shooting up a building.

"Nobody panics when things go according to plan. Even if the plan is horrifying!" -Joker (The Dark Knight)

The audience wasn't given a chance to feel or even breathe in his character's performance. Jared didn't lose himself in the character as well as the audience not losing themselves in the story. However, audiences were automatically invested in the first five minutes of a mysterious clown robbing a bank. Yes, I am talking about Heath Ledger as Joker in The Dark Knight.

While Warner Brothers and DC try their best at creating a great story, they did accomplish in casting, bringing their childhood superhero to life.

3. Marketing Strategy

What's the best way to get an audience to walk into the theater to see a DC or Marvel film? Well, both films do a great job of attracting an audience:

What these studios both have had wonderful trailers but sometimes too much is bad. DC gives out too many scenes while Marvel has given out just enough to predict what's going to happen in the story. Both studios also get the audience hype up after watching a trailer regardless.

Marvel does a good job with hidden clips in the credits and getting the audience hyped up for the upcoming attraction. They've made a great decision in letting the characters market their own film. The character, Deadpool, took charge of his marketing by making his posters into his own by using other posters and putting a hint of himself on them. His creative and humorous attention grabber was very well received. Another example was when he intimately connected with an audience one on one by acknowledging they were watching his trailer.

DC has had great soundtracks to trailers. You'll have to admit it, but they have had a problem with revealing its "surprise" superhero or anti-hero in their trailers. For example, in Batman v Superman, after understanding that Lex Luthor would be the villain in the film, the studio didn't hesitate to reveal the second villain, Doom, in the trailer, which wasn't a good idea. But at the end of the Justice League trailer, nothing was revealed about who would be coming to the DC Universe for the upcoming film.

Quick Fun Facts: A crossover between Marvel and DC in 1997 occurred in a comic special called “=Batman/Captain America. In this comic, The Joker steals an atomic bomb after being hired by Red Skull.

Conclusion

At the end of all things, we simply want a well-done superhero film that follows through with its storytelling. We both go see each a Marvel or DC film, not to hate it later, but to see if it finally lives up to its name. We just want a good superhero movie that has a strong story with a connection with the audience.

Hopefully, in the near future, we can put our differences aside and just express our love for these two studios instead of always having to pick a side.

Source: Kickassfacts.com, DC Comics, Koozai.com, Marvel & DC Marketing