Differences between Marvel and DC
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Differences between Marvel and DC
Dan asked me a good question the other day, "what is the difference between Marvel and DC". I thought about it for a second but couldn't really respond. I guess DC does some pretty deep stuff where as Marvel is more about action, but having a limited scope of both ranges I feel this may be an unfare assessment.
So what do you guys think are the core differences between the two?
So what do you guys think are the core differences between the two?
Hourglass- Posts : 466
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Actually, I would say that traditionally Marvel aimed more for realism and rounded characters in their books, while DC were more into whimsy and imagination. This only really started to change in the eighties when DC began experimenting with books aimed at an older readership, something Marvel began to buy into but seemed to fundamentally misunderstand to the point where every Marvel title became grim n' gritty since they thought that equated to 'mature'. Marvel began to turn themselves around a bit in the nineties but are still relentlessly 'serious'. DC seem to be trying to get back to their roots with less serious titles such as Power Girl.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
In the 1960s the difference in the Art and stories was marked! DC had very twee graphics for example JLA No 49 from Dec 1966 is a good example of the DC style!
Marvel was streets ahead by 1968 and DC had a lot of catching up to do.
Marvel was streets ahead by 1968 and DC had a lot of catching up to do.
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Ah, 'Threat of the True or False Sorcerer'! Art by Mike Sekowsky and Sid Greene. Simplistic, yes, but I rather like it...alanultron5 wrote:In the 1960s the difference in the Art and stories was marked! DC had very twee graphics for example JLA No 49 from Dec 1966 is a good example of the DC style!
Marvel was streets ahead by 1968 and DC had a lot of catching up to do.
It's actually dated November though, not December.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
I remember buying it just before Christmas 1966. We never got Marvel until 1968 in Wolverhampton. My elder cousib John-though, did get hold of a few Marvel titles in 1966 and I well remember three of them because of their incredible artwork!
The first was "Tales to Astonish" The `Iron Man` story featured I.M against the "Black Knight" One full page panel saw Iron Man walking down a hallway lined with suits of armour! I think Gene Colan drew it-but i'm not sure!
The second artwork was from "Thor" in where Thor visits the living planet `Ego` Jack Kirby's double spread of the planet was so above DC art!
Thirdly, there was "Strange Tales" the one with the two-page clash between Dormammu and Eternity. Wow! John let me have that one as it had cover page missing. Steve Ditko's last work for Marvel I believe!
The first was "Tales to Astonish" The `Iron Man` story featured I.M against the "Black Knight" One full page panel saw Iron Man walking down a hallway lined with suits of armour! I think Gene Colan drew it-but i'm not sure!
The second artwork was from "Thor" in where Thor visits the living planet `Ego` Jack Kirby's double spread of the planet was so above DC art!
Thirdly, there was "Strange Tales" the one with the two-page clash between Dormammu and Eternity. Wow! John let me have that one as it had cover page missing. Steve Ditko's last work for Marvel I believe!
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
No, Steve returned to Marvel in the late seventies to draw Machine Man, and later worked on a number of titles in the next two decades including Rom, Spaceknight, The Micronauts and Speedball. Though his art style seemed to have changed by then, and seemed somehow to sit rather uncomfortably alongside the other artists of the time...
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
He had a "You have two choices-Black or White" approach to his work and life if J.Ross is accurate! No shades of Grey at all! I'm a bit like that, which I wish I wasn't at times! -but nowhere close to Ditko's extent!
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
He does seem to be a quite uncompromising man, I agree. Not always a bad thing, and I respect the way he's stayed out of the politicking and ego clashes that many of his contemporaries have been reduced to. Ditko always just plugged away, doing his job quietly and never giving interviews...
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Yes! I very much admire that aspect of him indeed! It's only wild speculation on my part, but after seeing what Stan Lee contributed to Ross' special, my guess is Ditko got rather `fed-up` with Mr Lee's `Ego` But, it's only speculation!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
I suspect you may be correct. But then, Stan is just Stan. He'll never change and I don't think I'd want him to. Having read his autobiography, I think much of his OTT 'media persona' is just for show in any case, he just gets a little carried away with it at times.
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
DC artwork was very `pastel shade` to me, with many panels that looked like a `candy-box` Marvel used far darker tones giving a more realistic look! Up till I was about 12 I preferred DC art but from thereon I started to gravitate to Marvel! Al.
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
DC definitely retained the traditional 'four color' look far longer than Marvel, i agree. For me, which approach I prefer depends very much on my mood at the time. Sometimes I want to curl up with a glass of scotch in a semi darkened room in the evening and read Gene Colan's Tomb of Dracula, other times I need to be buoyed up by reading the Justice League's thirty nine millionth battle with Starro the Starfish Conqueror in all its garish glory...alanultron5 wrote:DC artwork was very `pastel shade` to me, with many panels that looked like a `candy-box` Marvel used far darker tones giving a more realistic look! Up till I was about 12 I preferred DC art but from thereon I started to gravitate to Marvel! Al.
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Gil Kane drew some `covers` for Marvel as well as bieng the artist on ¬Green Lantern` at DC he drew a superb `take-off` of Lee Marvin in the GL story featuring a villian called `The Lamplighter` (real name Lee Carver) this villian was blind and accidently concieved (as you do) a new light spectrum that he see to some extent via. He used the light as a weapon too!
Possibly my favourite Marvel art came from Dan Atkins in `Strangle Tales` 161 to 168. The two page spread where Dr Strange faces the ruler of Planet Perilous `Nebulos` on the barren landscape of that world is awesome! Strangely, it worked to even better effect when reproduced in `Fantastic` comic in B/W but a far larger picture over two full pages! Stunning!!
Possibly my favourite Marvel art came from Dan Atkins in `Strangle Tales` 161 to 168. The two page spread where Dr Strange faces the ruler of Planet Perilous `Nebulos` on the barren landscape of that world is awesome! Strangely, it worked to even better effect when reproduced in `Fantastic` comic in B/W but a far larger picture over two full pages! Stunning!!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
The Lamplighter is a typically DC villain, Marvel (much as I love them) would never have come up with something that imaginative but off the wall. A similar character was Flash rogue the Rainbow Raider (real name Roy G Bivolo; see if you can work out why), who was frustrated in his ambition to be a painter by being colour blind and took revenge on the world by creating a weapon which could fire coloured rays to induce an emotional response (red for anger, yellow for fear, green for envy Etc) and used it to rob banks. How he could see what colour ray he was shooting was never explained...
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
yes! I posted here! I liked both DC and Marvel a lot! At the time I prefered the DC titles having a complete story per issue where as Marvel stories were often 2, 3, 4 or more issues! Today it is the Marvel style that stands up better to me!
My favourite DC JLA story was in JLA issues 96, 97 & 98 (a rare three parter) where they got beaten very badly (early on) by a `Cosmic Vampire` I think he was copied from Marvel's `Galactus` except that the DC `Vampire` could consume whole stars! Phew!
My favourite DC JLA story was in JLA issues 96, 97 & 98 (a rare three parter) where they got beaten very badly (early on) by a `Cosmic Vampire` I think he was copied from Marvel's `Galactus` except that the DC `Vampire` could consume whole stars! Phew!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Starbreaker! I remember him well-he came back in the early nineties...
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
He's also returned last year in the new JLA series 29 to 34. His initial appearance in 1972 (feb) was the first time I had ever seen `Superman` get clobbered which was quite startling!
I must admit I really loved the JLA 1966/67 period! Batman was often drawn more prominent on the covers that period which caused a few letters of complaint to DC offices!
I must admit I really loved the JLA 1966/67 period! Batman was often drawn more prominent on the covers that period which caused a few letters of complaint to DC offices!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
And almost as soon as Batgirl appeared on the Batman TV show, she suddenly made a totally superfluous guest appearance in JLA #61 (the Penguin was in the next issue). Funny, that...alanultron5 wrote:He's also returned last year in the new JLA series 29 to 34. His initial appearance in 1972 (feb) was the first time I had ever seen `Superman` get clobbered which was quite startling!
I must admit I really loved the JLA 1966/67 period! Batman was often drawn more prominent on the covers that period which caused a few letters of complaint to DC offices!
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Yes I remember that issue Tony! Fans wrote in saying that even though Batman was on the TV he shouldn't be dominating JLA covers like he was. They cut him down then. Issue No 59 had a great cover and quite an innovative storyline where those JLA members who hadn't actively `earned` their powers such as Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, were put in an envoirnment where their powers were nullified.
They earned the right to their powers bieng returned when defeating a strange bunch of aliens called-I think the "Contra's" using non-super powered skills! A good story that one was.
They earned the right to their powers bieng returned when defeating a strange bunch of aliens called-I think the "Contra's" using non-super powered skills! A good story that one was.
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Yes-the Contras were hereditary enemies of the Impossibles, so called because it was impossible for them to do anything wrong although they generally had no idea why they were doing what they were doing. The impossibles robbed the heroes of their powers, but as it turned out, if they hadn't the Contras would have been able to kill them! Whatever else you can say about DC's stories, they were seldom lacking in imagination!alanultron5 wrote:Yes I remember that issue Tony! Fans wrote in saying that even though Batman was on the TV he shouldn't be dominating JLA covers like he was. They cut him down then. Issue No 59 had a great cover and quite an innovative storyline where those JLA members who hadn't actively `earned` their powers such as Superman, Flash, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, were put in an envoirnment where their powers were nullified.
They earned the right to their powers bieng returned when defeating a strange bunch of aliens called-I think the "Contra's" using non-super powered skills! A good story that one was.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Yes indeed! Many DC stories were superbly inventive and very surreal. Though I preferred those `one-issue-self contained` storylines of those days, I now think some DC titles could have carried longer stories as Marvel did.
There were the occassional JLA two-parters, the best bieng issues 43-44 (I think) where the Spectre is holding Earths 1 & 2 apart when all of a sudden an `Anti-Matter` man comes strolling along and all JLA & JSA members have to stop him touching either Earth! That was fun!
There were the occassional JLA two-parters, the best bieng issues 43-44 (I think) where the Spectre is holding Earths 1 & 2 apart when all of a sudden an `Anti-Matter` man comes strolling along and all JLA & JSA members have to stop him touching either Earth! That was fun!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Ended with the apparent destruction of the Spectre, didn't it? Though he later turned up dead and well on Earth 1...alanultron5 wrote:Yes indeed! Many DC stories were superbly inventive and very surreal. Though I preferred those `one-issue-self contained` storylines of those days, I now think some DC titles could have carried longer stories as Marvel did.
There were the occassional JLA two-parters, the best bieng issues 43-44 (I think) where the Spectre is holding Earths 1 & 2 apart when all of a sudden an `Anti-Matter` man comes strolling along and all JLA & JSA members have to stop him touching either Earth! That was fun!
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
The Spectre ended up bieng punished by God for some indescretion and he became a sort of `Cassandra` type figure who warned wrongdoers of the consequences of their actions! Basically, he sort of fizzled out!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
He's been through a lot of changes since then, including losing his Jim Corrigan persona and being bonded to the (then) late Hal Jordan, and more recently one Crispus Allen. Still prefer the original, though.alanultron5 wrote:The Spectre ended up bieng punished by God for some indescretion and he became a sort of `Cassandra` type figure who warned wrongdoers of the consequences of their actions! Basically, he sort of fizzled out!
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
It is the original I recall Tony! interesting to know he carried on after the period I followed. I loved the `quirky` DC titles such as `Metamorpho` `Challengers of the Unknown` `Metal Men` Some of the stories were most surreal. In one `Challengers` story the group battled a `living ship` its funnels (four of them) were weapons-the fouth blowing deadly gas!
One of the `Metal Men` issues had a truly bizzarre cover! I will mention it in the section about comic covers!
One of the `Metal Men` issues had a truly bizzarre cover! I will mention it in the section about comic covers!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
The Metal Men actually came back fairly recently as a backup strip in the revived Doom Patrol title.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
"Doom Patrol" There's another title I enjoyed! The battles against the `AVM` man were most inventive!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
The Doom Patrol had some of the weirdest villains in comics, over the years-the Animal Vegetable Mineral Man, Mr 103, Monsieur Mallah and the Brain, General Immortus, and in more recent years Mr Nobody, the Brotherhood of Dada and the Men from N.O.W.H.E.R.E.alanultron5 wrote:"Doom Patrol" There's another title I enjoyed! The battles against the `AVM` man were most inventive!
Mind you, the Patrol weren't exactly normal, themselves. The bandage wrapped Negative Man remains my favourite, though I did like Crazy Jane from Grant Morrison's revived DP series in the nineties (she was a woman who had over a hundred different split personalities, each of which had its own super power).
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
At the time I read `Doom Patrol` (mid 1960's) Tony I had a lot of trouble figuring out what `Negative man` actually was- which was most likely down to me bieng thick! I never did find out-so if you can enlighten me please-be most grateful!
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Oh! forgot to mention. I sent you attatcment on E.Mail to you Tony a `Sparky-file` thing I had on Memory stick-for `Crikey`! archives. Hope it reached you.
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
I'll check my emails now, Alan-thanks.alanultron5 wrote:Oh! forgot to mention. I sent you attatcment on E.Mail to you Tony a `Sparky-file` thing I had on Memory stick-for `Crikey`! archives. Hope it reached you.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Hope it got through Tony!
alanultron5- Posts : 453
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Marvel works towards ensemble movies, setting up each character in a solo movie then bringing them together in one big one. DC does not.
Marvel characters react with each other in all forms of media. DC ones don't.
Marvel characters all have superhero powers. Not all DC ones do.
Marvel characters react with each other in all forms of media. DC ones don't.
Marvel characters all have superhero powers. Not all DC ones do.
Dalekbuster523- Posts : 13
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Hmm, let me see...the Punisher, Black Widow and Hawkeye might disagree on that last point (to name but three)...
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
I forgot about Black Widow and Hawkeye, actually. Never seen the Punisher in action.tony ingram wrote:Hmm, let me see...the Punisher, Black Widow and Hawkeye might disagree on that last point (to name but three)...
Dalekbuster523- Posts : 13
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Come to think of it, Night Thrasher, Mockingbird, Shang Chi, Nick Fury and Moon Knight have no powers, either...
Hang on. I'll go and dig out my Marvel Universe Handbooks; there are bound to be more. Shouldn't take me more than an hour or three.
Hang on. I'll go and dig out my Marvel Universe Handbooks; there are bound to be more. Shouldn't take me more than an hour or three.
tony ingram- Admin
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
So, have you found it yet?tony ingram wrote:Come to think of it, Night Thrasher, Mockingbird, Shang Chi, Nick Fury and Moon Knight have no powers, either...
Hang on. I'll go and dig out my Marvel Universe Handbooks; there are bound to be more. Shouldn't take me more than an hour or three.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2736
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Given the amount of stuff in his house... probably not.
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
I guess he still hasn't found it yet . . .Lucy McGough wrote:Given the amount of stuff in his house... probably not.MajorHoy wrote:So, have you found it yet?tony ingram wrote: . . . Hang on. I'll go and dig out my Marvel Universe Handbooks; there are bound to be more. Shouldn't take me more than an hour or three.
By the way, another difference between DC and Marvel (at least over in these parts) is price. DC still offers a good number of $2.99 (U.S.) titles, while Marvel keeps going to $3.99 for all but a handful.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2736
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Yeah, but the Nu 52 aren't worth any more
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
MajorHoy wrote:So, have you found it yet?tony ingram wrote:Come to think of it, Night Thrasher, Mockingbird, Shang Chi, Nick Fury and Moon Knight have no powers, either...
Hang on. I'll go and dig out my Marvel Universe Handbooks; there are bound to be more. Shouldn't take me more than an hour or three.
Hey, Tony . . . are you still looking for them?Lucy McGough wrote:Given the amount of stuff in his house... probably not.
MajorHoy- Posts : 2736
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
Wouldn't surprise me...
Lucy Ingram- Posts : 2447
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
tony ingram wrote:and took revenge on the world by creating a weapon which could fire coloured rays to induce an emotional response (red for anger, yellow for fear, green for envy Etc) and used it to rob banks.
I wonder how much influence this was on Geoff Johns?
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
tony ingram wrote:He [Ditko] does seem to be a quite uncompromising man, I agree.
He's a follower of Ayn Rand/Objectivism. That sort of black/white thinking is a big part of that group. Ditko has done some fascinating personal work (Mr. A, Avenging World) and has done some good work in incorporating his ideas into stories. I don't agree with his philosophy but he is really good.
Robin Snyder does collections of his, and Fantagraphics have two collections of his more personal work. There was a hardcover of Witzend, which is supposed to have Mr. A work in it, also.
Last edited by Mbast1 on Wed Jan 13, 2016 11:34 pm; edited 1 time in total
Mbast1- Posts : 1707
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Re: Differences between Marvel and DC
tony ingram wrote:Batman was often drawn more prominent on the covers that period which caused a few letters of complaint to DC offices!
I read an article the other day about how we got the Batcave, and it's from one of the early serials. So movies having influence on the comics has been happening for a LONG time.
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