Marvel vs DC Comics

https://aaron.kr/content/talks/marvel-vs-dc-comics/

This presentation was put together as a kind of "cultural study" for the Jeonju University Teacher Trainer program in July 2020. I introduced DC and Marvel comics, and detailed many of the differences and similarities between the two biggest comic book publishers in the US.

"Slugfest: Inside the Epic 50-Year Battle Between Marvel and DC" by Reed Tucker was instrumental in helping me prepare for this presentation.

Transcript

1. This is your
   presentation
   title
   

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2. DC vs Marvel
   

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5. DC vs Marvel
   What do you know about
   

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6. Marvel vs. DC Introduction
   Heroes • Villains • Sidekicks • Teams-ups • Themes
   

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8. A Brief History of DC Comics
   1934: National Allied
   Publications
   1935: Superman
   1937: Detective
   Comics
   1939: Batman
   1940: DC Logo
   1966: Batman TV show
   1967: Purchased by
   Kinney National (WB)
   1970: Jack Kirby
   1976: Jenette Kahn -
   directorial editor
   1980: New Teen Titans
   2005: Batman Begins +
   DC spin logo
   2009: WB Restructuring
   2011: The New 52
   2012: Rebrand + Dark
   Knight Rises + Arrow TV
   show
   2016: Rebirth / rebrand
   

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11. A Brief History of Marvel Comics
    1932: Magazine
    publishing company
    1939: Timely Comics
    (later Atlas) #1
    1941: Capt America
    1961: Stan Lee + Jack
    Kirby (Marvel)
    1962: Spiderman
    1963: X-men
    1986: Company sold
    1988: McFarlane’s
    Spiderman
    1991: IPO (40% sold)
    1992-1995: Numerous
    acquisitions
    1996: Bankrupt
    1998: Emerges from
    bankruptcy
    2000: X-men movie
    2002: Spiderman
    movie
    2009: Bought by
    Disney ($4.3 billion)
    2015: Disney + Sony =
    Spiderman in Capt
    America Civil War
    

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13. DC vs Marvel
    Company Comparison
    

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14. Marvel vs. DC Comic Companies
    Which is more successful?
    

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15. DC vs Marvel
    Characteristics
    ● Old-fashioned, traditional
    ● Sluggish, conservative
    ● 50% sell-through rate
    ● 1930s-40s
    ● Eisenhower
    ● Great Depression / WWII
    ● Establishment
    ● Capes
    ● Targeting youth
    ● Edgier, hipper
    ● Progressive
    ● 70% sell-through rate
    ● 1950s-60s
    ● JFK
    ● Hippies / Vietnam War
    ● Anti-establishment
    ● No capes
    ● Targeting young adults
    

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16. DC vs Marvel
    Characteristics
    ● Old-fashioned, traditional
    ● Sluggish, conservative
    ● 50% sell-through rate
    ● 1930s-40s
    ● Eisenhower
    ● Great Depression / WWII
    ● Establishment
    ● Capes
    ● Targeting youth
    ● Edgier, hipper
    ● Progressive
    ● 70% sell-through rate
    ● 1950s-60s
    ● JFK
    ● Hippies / Vietnam War
    ● Anti-establishment
    ● No capes
    ● Targeting young adults
    

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17. DC vs Marvel
    Heroes
    ● Superman
    ● Batman
    ● Wonder Woman
    ● Gods, super-powered beings
    trying to be human
    ● “God” struggles
    ● Unlimited resources
    ● Flawless, too perfect, clean &
    tidy, boy scouts
    ● Born good guys, perfect hero
    ● Fantastic Four
    ● Spiderman
    ● X-men
    ● Humans, accidentally
    granted super-powers
    ● “Real” struggles
    ● Limited resources
    ● Flawed, imperfect,
    messy, regular people
    ● Anti-hero
    (ex in notes, page 2)
    

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18. DC vs Marvel
    Heroes
    ● Superman
    ● Batman
    ● Wonder Woman
    ● Gods, super-powered beings
    trying to be human
    ● “God” struggles
    ● Unlimited resources
    ● Flawless, too perfect, clean &
    tidy, boy scouts
    ● Born good guys, perfect hero
    ● Fantastic Four
    ● Spiderman
    ● X-men
    ● Humans, accidentally
    granted super-powers
    ● “Real” struggles
    ● Limited resources
    ● Flawed, imperfect,
    messy, regular people
    ● Anti-hero
    (ex in notes, page 2)
    

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19. DC vs Marvel
    Universe
    ● Perfect art
    ● Lacked flair, danger, energy
    (esp covers)
    ● Individual fiefdoms
    ● Not reading other books,
    not using other talent
    ● Characters rarely cross-over
    ● One-off stories, disjointed
    universe
    ● Characters only = stars
    ● Imperfect, stylized
    ● “Stand across the room
    and know a Marvel cover”
    ● Cornucopia of creativity
    ● Reading, sometimes
    stealing, poaching from DC
    (and vice versa)
    ● Characters exist in the
    same universe
    ● Coherent Marvel universe
    ● Writers / artists = stars
    

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20. DC vs Marvel
    Universe
    ● Perfect art
    ● Lacked flair, danger, energy
    (esp covers)
    ● Individual fiefdoms
    ● Not reading other books,
    not using other talent
    ● Characters rarely cross-over
    ● One-off stories, disjointed
    universe
    ● Characters only = stars
    ● Imperfect, stylized
    ● “Stand across the room
    and know a Marvel cover”
    ● Cornucopia of creativity
    ● Reading, sometimes
    stealing, poaching from DC
    (and vice versa)
    ● Characters exist in the
    same universe
    ● Coherent Marvel universe
    ● Writers / artists = stars
    

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21. DC vs Marvel
    Multimedia
    ● First, best to TV / movies
    ○ 1966: Batman TV
    ○ 1978: Superman I
    ○ Innovative, risk-taking
    ○ Retained rights
    ○ Live action TV
    ● First to publish European
    style books (no ads)
    ○ 10% direct sales
    ● Shoddy movie / TV work
    ○ More conservative,
    controlling of universe
    ○ Sold rights
    ○ Animated TV
    ● First to direct sales
    ○ 20% direct sales
    ○ Multiple covers
    ○ Collectibles
    

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22. DC vs Marvel
    Multimedia
    ● First, best to TV / movies
    ○ 1966: Batman TV
    ○ 1978: Superman I
    ○ Innovative, risk-taking
    ○ Retained rights
    ○ Live action TV
    ● First to publish European
    style books (no ads)
    ○ 10% direct sales
    ● Shoddy movie / TV work
    ○ More conservative,
    controlling of universe
    ○ Sold rights
    ○ Animated TV
    ● First to direct sales
    ○ 20% direct sales
    ○ Multiple covers
    ○ Collectibles
    

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24. DC vs Marvel
    cinematic Universes
    

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26. Marvel vs. DC Videos
    Top 10 Differences
    

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27. DC vs Marvel
    Movies & TV
    ● Zack Snyder (Man of Steel)
    ○ Director controlled
    ● Team-up / fighting first, then
    individual intro films
    ● Superman vs. Batman
    ○ Straight men
    ○ Dark, gritty, violent
    ● DCEU - no overlap, more
    variety (not as strong,
    cohesive)
    ● Kevin Feige (Avengers?)
    ○ Overseen from above
    ● Individual intro films first,
    then team-ups
    ● Capt America: Civil War
    ○ Pranksters
    ○ Colorful, humor, light
    ● MCU - all characters
    together, united vision
    (more planning = payoff)
    

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28. DC vs Marvel
    Movies & TV
    ● Zack Snyder (Man of Steel)
    ○ Director controlled
    ● Team-up / fighting first, then
    individual intro films
    ● Superman vs. Batman
    ○ Straight men
    ○ Dark, gritty, violent
    ● DCEU - no overlap, more
    variety (not as strong,
    cohesive)
    ● Kevin Feige (Avengers?)
    ○ Overseen from above
    ● Individual intro films first,
    then team-ups
    ● Capt America: Civil War
    ○ Pranksters
    ○ Colorful, humor, light
    ● MCU - all characters
    together, united vision
    (more planning = payoff)
    

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31. Scene
    Fights!
    From ScreenCrush
    

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32. Batman v Superman.... Captain America: Civil War
    Justice League.... Avengers
    Wonder Woman.... Captain America
    Suicide Squad.... Guardians of the Galaxy
    Aquaman.... Black Panther
    The Dark Knight.... Logan
    Man of Steel.... Iron Man
    Wonder Woman.... Thor
    SnyderVerse.... MCU
    Snyder Cut.... Josstice League
    

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33. Batman v. Superman
    Captain America: Civil War
    

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34. Avengers
    Justice League
    

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35. Wonder Woman
    Captain America
    

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36. Guardians of the Galaxy
    Suicide Squad
    

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37. Black Panther
    Aquaman
    

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38. Logan
    Dark Knight Rises
    

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39. Iron Man
    Man of Steel
    

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40. Thor
    Wonder Woman
    

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41. MCU
    SnyderVerse
    

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42. Snyder Cut
    Josstice League
    

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43. All Differences from Theatrical Version
    Top 10 Biggest Changes
    Film-making Comparison
    23 Biggest Changes
    

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44. DC vs Marvel
    Upcoming features
    

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45. The Suicide Squad (8.6.2021)
    The Batman (3.22.2022)
    Black Adam (7.29.2022) (alternate)
    TV: Titans Season 3 (8.12.2021)
    

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46. Black Widow (7.7.2021)
    Shang-Chi (9.3.2022)
    Eternals (11.4.2021)
    TV: What If…? (8.11.2021)
    

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47. Venom 2: Let There Be Carnage
    9.15.2021
    ?
    

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49. DC vs Marvel
    Winner?
    

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50. Team Coco
    Batman Wants to Join the Marvel Universe
    

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52. Brand
    battle!
    

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53. DC vs Marvel
    Other Big Rivalries
    B
    a
    

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54. DC vs Marvel
    

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55. DC vs Marvel
    

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56. DC vs Marvel
    

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57. DC vs Marvel
    

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58. DC vs Marvel
    

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59. DC vs Marvel
    

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60. DC vs Marvel
    

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61. DC vs Marvel
    

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62. DC vs Marvel
    

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63. DC vs Marvel
    

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64. DC vs Marvel
    

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65. DC vs Marvel
    

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66. DC vs Marvel
    Others?
    Vs
    Korean
    comics?
    

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68. THANKS!
    Any questions?
    Watch some more trailers?
    68
    

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