A question as old as time (or perhaps the 1930s): DC or Marvel? On the silver screen, critics, fans, and the marketplace are all decidedly in agreement: Marvel wins. However, the same is not true when it comes to comics. Marvel has had several reboots in the past decade and at times struggled to find its footing. There have been several iterations of Avengers books since Jonathan Hickman left the title after Secret War in 2015.
Yet, when it comes to who is more in line with comic book storytelling on the big screen, that company has to be DC. The overall movie quality might not be as top-notch as Marvel’s films. But the DC films reflect comic book continuity issues, have had Zach Snyder at the helm (for better or worse), reflect the comic book marketplace, have the edge when it comes to casting, and are more comic book accurate.
CONTINUITY ISSUES
At any given time, there are multiple current Batman and Spider-Man series on bookshelves at comic book shops. Aside from the main comic book runs, there are also major comic book crossover events and stand-alone books. Batman in particular oversaturated the marketplace, occupying massive amounts of physical space in mom-and-pop and major comic book stores.
For example, during Tom King’s run on Batman, Jeff Lemire wrote a stand-alone graphic novel about the Joker called Joker: Killer Smile. It stood wholly apart from Tom King’s Batman series, even though it has Batman in the story and decidedly takes place in Gotham City. This sort of thing is extremely common in the comic book space.
Ben Affleck has been Batman on the big screen since 2016. He will reprise his take of a grizzled, gritty Batman in 2022’s The Flash. However, that film will almost assuredly do some time-jumping, as Michael Keaton will reprise his Batman role in the same film. It will have been 30 years since Keaton last donned the cape and cowl.
Furthermore, Robert Pattinson will be taking his first stab at the role in The Batman, which will debut in March of 2022 and will be entirely unrelated to the Batman films that star Affleck. This messiness is reflective of the comic book industry writ large. Writers and artists sometimes unpredictably leave books, or are juggling multiple books at once which can lead to publication delays. The same is true for actors, directors, and movie studios.
THE SNYDERVERSE
Zack Snyder famously directed Watchmen four years before the birth of the DC Cinematic Universe (DCEU). The movie was not particularly well received, however it was nearly a panel-for-panel portrayal on the silver screen. Four years later, Snyder would direct Man of Steel and push the DCEU into the movie space. The movie is decidedly dark as a take on Superman. It received lukewarm support from fans and critics alike, even though it was a box office success.
In this way, Man of Steel mirrors 2011’s Superman run in DC’s New 52 reboot. This run on Superman was darker than usual tales of the Last Son of Krypton. It was not particularly well received by readership, either.
DC MOVIE INCONSISTENCY REFLECTS THE COMIC BOOK MARKET
With very few exceptions, Marvel movies have hit it out of the park with fans, critics, and at the box office since 2012’s The Avengers. That film cemented Marvel Studios as the premier producer of comic book movies in the marketplace.
Also with very few exceptions, DC movies have been a decidedly mixed bag with fans, critics, and at the box office since 2013’s Man of Steel. That film cemented Warner Brothers as a wildly inconsistent producer of comic book movies.
The latter more accurately reflects the state of superhero comics in the marketplace at any given point in history, but particularly this one. Some books are fantastic, some are fine, and others are downright terrible. Just like with DC’s film rolodex.
DC’S MOVIE CASTING
Henry Cavill portrayed Superman in 2013’s Man of Steel, 2016’s Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice, and 2017’s Justice League. The man is relatively tall and extremely well-built. With good looks to match, he was an excellent choice to portray everyone’s favorite alien superhero.
Ben Affleck is 6’4 and built like a brick house, particularly in his portrayal as a very Dark Knight Returns-style Batman in Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice. Say what one will about his portrayal and the movies he stars in as Batman, but lookwise, he is uncannily similar to comic book images of Bruce Wayne. The very same can be said about Gal Gadot in her role as the Amazon, Wonder Woman. Ditto for Jason Mamoa and his 6’4 frame in his portrayal of Aquaman (it should be noted that DC comics actually copied his look, specifically his beard, shortly after he was cast as Aquaman).
Compare this casting to Marvel’s. Robert Downy Jr. is Iron Man as far as the general public is concerned. However, when 2008’s Iron Man debuted and birthed the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), Downy was considered a curious choice. He was a troubled actor who had fairly recently served jail time, and was over 40. Furthermore, he is far from the 6’5, muscle-clad figure that Tony Stark is portrayed to be in Marvel comic books.
Additionally, the same can be true for Jeremy Renner’s portrayal of Hawkeye. The purple-clad archer and
Avenger is a large man in the comics, reportedly also 6’5. Renner is under six feet tall and was 40 when he was cast as Hawkeye in 2011’s Thor.
MOVIES AND THEIR SOURCE MATERIAL
Two movies that are sometimes compared to one another are 2011’s Captain America: The First Avenger and 2017’s Wonder Woman. Both movies are period pieces featuring wholesome, shield-wielding superheroes. However, the latter is a more faithful adaptation than the former. This is chiefly because Steve Rodgers and Bucky Barnes are peers in Captain America: The First Avenger. This is a tremendous departure from the comics, where Bucky is Steve’s ward and is decidedly younger than Steve.
Furthermore, the current movie iteration of Batman is more comic book accurate than the current movie iteration of Spider-Man. Tom Holland is a fantastic Spider-Man, and looks like he’s a teenager (he actually was one when he was first cast as the Wall Crawler). However, in the films, he is given absurdly technologically-advanced suits by Tony Stark (Iron Man). So while this Spider-Man looks and acts like a kid, he has the abilities of a far more seasoned Spider-Man. In the comics, Peter Parker makes his Spider-Man costume himself. However unrealistic this is, it is what Stan Lee and Steve Ditko produced in the comics.
Conversely, Ben Affleck’s Batman is a gritty and even cruel take on the character. While over-the-top in the violence department, this is still a relatively accurate portrayal of Batman from Frank Miller’s The Dark Knight Returns. This is a Batman that has experienced much tragedy, and is extremely seasoned. The suit he wears to face Superman in Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice is pulled straight from The Dark Knight Returns. DC’s movies are simply more in parallel to comic book storytelling, the marketplace, and some of the characters.