Point/Counterpoint: DC vs. Marvel

May 18, 2011

It goes without saying that there is no place in a library for bias. To remain neutral regardless of personal feelings --especially on hot button issues -- is a main tenet in our credo. 

Still, sometimes you just have to point out when someone is wrong.

In this vein, we have convened a panel to finally answer once and for all the age-old question: which comic giant is gianter? Has DC, home of Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman, risen to the heights of the illustrated world? Or perhaps, has Marvel found the way to dominance through their epic Spider-Man, X-Men, and Hulk franchises?   

Before we continue, a few ground rules must be established.

1. While we acknowledge that lesser known publishing houses are doing quality work. Marvel Versus Dark Horse is akin to comparing watermelons and prunes. One is larger, has a better reputation, and overall enjoys a greater mass appeal than the other. Provided you aren’t a lobbyist for the prune industry, I think we can all agree on this.
2. Movies will not count against you. Granted DC managed to kill off every Super-villain Batman ever faced, but Marvel exterminated ¾ of the X-men throughout the course of their trilogy, so it’s a wash. It’s also been agreed that Howard the Duck and EVERY SUPERMAN MOVIE EVER MADE cancel each other out as well.  As such, the panel takes it as given that the publishers should never have strayed into film and so we will not speak of this unpleasantness again.    
3. We’ll be keeping the kiddos out of this one. Yes, maybe more children could identify a picture of Spider-Man than could identify the American president. That doesn’t change the fact that Superman lunchboxes, Hulk underpants, and Wolverine Halloween costumes are hardly an indicator of true comic book greatness.
4. We agree that mass public opinion can sway us in our beliefs. It’s possible that one or both of us is wrong about comics in general. And since we trust the judgment of our blog following populace at large, we encourage you to submit your opinions as well.

So stay tuned to this blog, same bat time, same bat channel as we finally bring closure to a topic so near and dear to our hearts!

Jamie B. & Rick G.
Parkville Branch