MARVEL OR DC

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There are a lot of comic book superheroes onscreen these days. And between Marvel and DC there are filmic fights going down offscreen, too — so which studio has it right?

We’re living in a golden age of comic book movies with more characters making their way to the big screen than ever before.

But years ago, comic book movies were a rarity. The critically slammed 1997 "Batman & Robin" put the genre on ice for some time. If a movie was based on a comic book, studios were less than forthcoming with that information. The next high-profile comic franchise was 2000’s "X-Men," which reinvigorated this style of movie; Sony’s "Spider-Man" solidified that superheroes could be viable in film again.

Now, Marvel Comics in particular is driving this trend. Though popular Marvel heroes like Spider-Man and the Hulk have starred in films and TV shows since the 1960s, the publisher has dug into its portfolio over the past few years to make stars out of lesser-known characters like Iron Man and Daredevil. And as more characters become box-office draws, they’ve continued to exist in the same interconnected movie and TV universe.

Marvel’s biggest rival, DC Comics, is diving into the cinematic-universe-building business, too, but with a less cohesive strategy where its TV and movie worlds don’t intersect -- ever. Since there are only so many hours in a day, which universe should you invest your time and energy in?
Both Marvel and DC’s approaches have their pros and cons. The Marvel Cinematic Universe populated by the Avengers (a team of superheroes that includes Captain America and the Hulk) is filled with stories crossing from the big screen to the small, which makes it a lot of fun to get involved. But those hours and hours of stories to watch can get a little overwhelming -- miss a single episode or film and you may miss references to past events or inside jokes.

Unlike Marvel, you don’t have to watch years of movies to get to know DC’s new filmic universe. "Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice" recently introduced a slew of characters at once. Future DC films will pick from that storehouse of heroes and focus on a single character each. While it’s possible this approach will be easier to follow, there’s a catch: DC’s TV programs like "Arrow" and "Gotham" have no connection to the movies. And because different actors will be playing the same role (at least in name) on TV and the big screen, that can get frustrating.

Adsız.pngkfıflf.png ENJOY THE FIGHT
The upside is two-fold: You get a choice while enjoying the DC vs. Marvel battle many comic book fans have had for years. So, which is for you? Well, that depends on what you’re looking for.

If you’re a continuity junkie, Marvel’s Avengers universe is your pick. The Marvel universe is filled with stories crossing through all of their properties, from the big screen to the streaming one, which makes it a lot of fun to get involved. But sometimes it can get a little overwhelming, and without watching every single show and movie, you may miss some inside jokes or references to past events.

If you’re afraid a vast, sprawling film universe will mess with your favorite TV show, stick with DC. DC’s universes are more localized, and you can enjoy smaller TV properties without worrying about how it affects the big films. Since the main movies are just getting started, it’s hard to predict what we can expect in terms of interconnectivity. It’s possible that by introducing a multitude of characters at once it will be easier to follow each storyline as DC narrows each film by character.

Whatever you prefer, hours of fun from both give you a great deal of options to devour. Maybe one day comic book fans will finally get an intercompany crossover, say "Avengers vs. Justice League?" But don’t hold your breath.