Who is Better (Character Comparison Thread)

[tony ingram]

Purely for fun, I thought we'd try some comparisons of characters sharing names and M.O's.

First up: who is better, The Wizard (the DC comics villain)



Or The Wizard (the Marvel comics villain)

[Lucy Ingram]

DC version less likely to make superheroes die laughing.

[tony ingram]

You dare mock the Wingless Wizard? (yes, he did call himself that)

[Lucy Ingram]

What's he gonna do — headbutt me to death?

[tony ingram]

What's he gonna do — headbutt me to death?

His usual M.O was to affix an anti-gravity disc to his opponent which would send them hurtling uncontrollably into the upper atmosphere.
Or to get his mate the Trapster to immobilise them with his paste gun.

[Lucy Ingram]

His usual M.O was to affix an anti-gravity disc to his opponent which would send them hurtling uncontrollably into the upper atmosphere.  

That actually does sound pretty scary. What can the other guy do?

[tony ingram]

DC's Wizard? He was originally just an illusionist, but he later became a genuine sorcerer, though not a particularly powerful one except when he had his Power Stone, Power Glove and Cloak of Invisibility. He was the leader of the Injustice Society and of one incarnation of the Secret Society of Super Villains.

They're actually both mostly team players. Marvel's Wizard is the leader of the Frightful Four.

[Lucy Ingram]

"Power Stone" *snigger*

DC's Wizard obviously no match for Zatanna et al. I'd say the bigger threat would be Marvel's version, especially if you have a fear of heights. Which, admittedly, no flying superhero has....

Oh crumbs, they're BOTH rubbish. Next!

[tony ingram]

Two characters who are both  variations on a classic Golden Age character:

Shazam (DCnU)



or Marvelman

[Lucy Ingram]

First one looks better. Second one looks like he's being sponsored by M&Ms.

[tony ingram]

Philistine...

[Sam_Vimes]

If it were the original Captain Marvel then I'd say him, but since you specified "Shazam" it's gotta be Marvelman. And has anyone else noticed yet that "Shazam" looks like he was designed to be made into one of those sparking action figure things?

[tony ingram]

And has anyone else noticed yet that "Shazam" looks like he was designed to be made into one of those sparking action figure things?

It's probably a reasonably safe assumption that he was designed for just such a purpose.   

[Lucy Ingram]

Philistine...

Yeah, that's me

OTOH, 'Shazam' sounds like a cleaning product.

[Philip K Ditko]

Who's better?

Venomm


or Venom

(Shouldn't that be "I Killed him, Horatio"?)

[tony ingram]

Very definitely Horatio Venomm (whose real name, incidentally, was Horatio. To be precise, Horatio Walters). Don McGregor's Black Panther series has really never been bettered, IMO.

[Lucy Ingram]

(Shouldn't that be "I Killed him, Horatio"?)

You're quite right! It's amazing how often that line from Hamlet gets misquoted.

[tony ingram]

(Shouldn't that be "I Killed him, Horatio"?)

You're quite right! It's amazing how often that line from Hamlet gets misquoted.

Do you actually expect a psychopath in a living alien spider suit to be accurate in his quotations?

[Philip K Ditko]

I knew Venomm's first name was Horatio but completely missed that coincidence. I agree with you about McGregor's Panther. I thought Priest's later run was pretty decent too. Marvel really messed up by cancelling Jungle Action in the middle of McGregor's Klan storyline to make way for Kirby, then finishing it years later without Don. It's also a shame that he didn't get to do Panther's Vows after Panther's Prey. T'Challa should have married Monica Lynne not Storm. And I wish Marvel would let McGregor and P Craig Russell do their graphic novel conclusion of Killraven, Final Battles, Final Lies, Final Truths. I hope McGregor's Sabre prequel with Trvor Von Eeden gets off the ground.

[tony ingram]

I would tend to agree with all of that (despite actually having quite liked Kirby's run). I never understood the whole Panther/Storm thing, which basically seemed like a huge and pointless retcon of both characters histories to invent a relationship that was never really there, just so that they could get their two most prominent black heroes married to each other.

[Lucy Ingram]

Do you actually expect a psychopath in a living alien spider suit to be accurate in his quotations?

Yes! This is Shakespeare. It's important.

[Mbast1]

Yes! This is Shakespeare. It's important.

Damned straight! Despite Black Adder's ire, I love Shakespeare. I'm supposed to visit London in 2017, and I won't go unless I get to see a love production of a Shakespeare play at some point. At the Globe.

[Lucy Ingram]

Mind if I ask how you know three years in advance you're going to be going? Also, I applaud your taste.

[MajorHoy]

Shazam (DCnU)

And has anyone else noticed yet that "Shazam" looks like he was designed to be made into one of those sparking action figure things?

It's probably a reasonably safe assumption that he was designed for just such a purpose.   

I'm sorry, but the New 52 version makes me think of

[Mbast1]

Mind if I ask how you know three years in advance you're going to be going? Also, I applaud your taste.

My girlfriend and I are 5 days apart in age, and that will be our 50th birthdays. (If we go within the right week, anyway). So, it's a plan. I don't like to fly, while she has been all over Europe, so we'll see...

Thanks. I'm also trying to think of other places I want to see. I watch a lot of British tv/movies, and read a lot of books in/about England, so I really need to decide what I want. But, the Shakespeare play is non-negotiable.

[Lucy Ingram]

Wow, that's so neat! Hope it works out for you guys. If you're a fan of Morse you could go to Oxford.

[tony ingram]

Wow, that's so neat! Hope it works out for you guys. If you're a fan of Morse you could go to Oxford.

If he's got any sense, he could come and see the beauties of Suffolk. We have more antique shops in Suffolk than anywhere in the country, I believe.

[Lucy Ingram]

Yeah, come to Suffolk! It's full of old stuff!

[Mbast1]

We have more antique shops in Suffolk than anywhere in the country, I believe.

That makes me think of Last of the Summer Wine, where the old lady tries to sell something to everyone from her "antique" shop...

[MajorHoy]

Let's try


Dennis the Menace

or


Dennis the Menace

[Mbast1]

Yeah, come to Suffolk! It's full of old stuff!

I take it London isn't?

[tony ingram]

Let's try


Dennis the Menace

or


Dennis the Menace

Well, obviously I'm fgoing with our Dennis. For one thing, he actually was a menace (at least until recent years when he's basically been neutered by the political correctness brigade) unlike his wimpy blonde namesake! 

[tony ingram]

Yeah, come to Suffolk! It's full of old stuff!

I take it London isn't?

Luce isn't from London. She's from somewhere in the bleak northern wastes.

[Lucy Ingram]

British Dennis forever! Did they literally neuter him to stop him reaching puberty??? Poor thing!

And I am not from the bleak northern wastes. I am from the more sophisticated and intelligent half of the country, i.e. the upper half.

[tony ingram]

I am reliably informed that there is no intelligent life north of the Wash.

[Lucy Ingram]

Go up to Glasgow and say that. You'll get yer heid kicked in!   

[Mbast1]

he actually was a menace

Sort of a miniature Frankie Boyle?

Ok, so now, I want to know more about him. Ugh. No time!

[Mbast1]

I am reliably informed that there is no intelligent life north of the Wash.

Uh, the Ninth Doctor was from "The North".

[tony ingram]

he actually was a menace

Sort of a miniature Frankie Boyle?

Ok, so now, I want to know more about him. Ugh. No time!

http://britishcomics.wikia.com/wiki/Dennis_the_Menace

[tony ingram]

I am reliably informed that there is no intelligent life north of the Wash.

Uh, the Ninth Doctor was from "The North".

I rest my case.

[Lucy Ingram]

Sort of a miniature Frankie Boyle?

Yes, but with fewer jokes about disabled children, IIRC.

I rest my case.

Get lost (she said, eloquently)

[Mbast1]

Yes, but with fewer jokes about disabled children, IIRC.

I must have missed that one. I'm still watching him on Mock The Week, where I find him funny.

[tony ingram]

Yes, but with fewer jokes about disabled children, IIRC.

I must have missed that one. I'm still watching him on Mock The Week, where I find him funny.

He can sometimes stray over the line. He's something of an acquired taste, I think.

[Lucy Ingram]

Yes, but I wish he was still on Mock the Week. They got rid of him 'cos he made an off-colo(u)r joke about the Queen, which I think was a shame. It's not been the same since he left.

[MajorHoy]

Yes, but I wish he was still on Mock the Week. They got rid of him 'cos he made an off-colo(u)r joke about the Queen, which I think was a shame. It's not been the same since he left.

I'm not familiar with the chap in question, but is that what really happened or what people assume happened?

Wikipedia* lists some interesting sticky-wickets he was apparently involved in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankie_Boyle#Controversy

* And I would not be caught dead in a pink suit!   

[Lucy Ingram]

I think that's pretty much what happened. It was either that or the joke about Rebecca Adlington.

[Philip K Ditko]

Shazam (DCnU)

And has anyone else noticed yet that "Shazam" looks like he was designed to be made into one of those sparking action figure things?

It's probably a reasonably safe assumption that he was designed for just such a purpose.   

I'm sorry, but the New 52 version makes me think of

 
I always thought Prime looked like the Son of Satan if he'd traded in his pitchfork for some steroids.  Norm Breyfogle should have stuck to drawing Batman.

 
Shazam's hooded cape reminds me of Modred the Mystic.

[Lucy Ingram]

Dear Lord, the dialogue. "Stand you back"...   

[tony ingram]

Dear Lord, the dialogue. "Stand you back"...   

That is classic Marvel shorthand for "I've been around a long time". All characters who have lived for centuries speak in cod Shakespearean English. Even if they're Norse deities. It's well known.

[Lucy Ingram]

But, but, but... the word 'you' is totally unnecessary in that sentence

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