Game of Narratives: Marvel V. DC

Game of Narratives
DC vs. Marvel!!!!!

With Sam Williams, Levi Rogers, and h.

Intro:
DC Comics? Or Marvel Comics? Which one do you like better? It’s a question as old as are microwaves or toasters better? TV or radio? Pompadours or Crew Cuts? Sinatra or Crosby? It’s a question that eats at the soul, and gets many a geek heated in the cheeks as he shouts like a freak.

But here on Game of Narratives, with Special CHAMPIONSHIP BELT HOLDER HUB as our darling guest, we aim to answer that question for better or for worse.

Lil More Intro (also my rap name)

SW: I got to be honest with you all. I’m obsessed with comic book movies and some TV shows, less so with comics. I’ve seen like 98% of superhero movies since Tim Burton’s Batman. I’ve watched about 50% of all TV shows relating to caped crusaders since 1992, and I’ve read about .001% of all comic books.

That’s not to say I don’t like comic books. I really do, but I just haven’t prioritize them over things like the Alexander Hamilton biography I’m reading. So, dear readers (and h.), this is all to say that my picks of this bracket are highly influenced by the movies and less so by the comics. Also, video games and tv shows came into play.


Here’s the Bracket:

​

Round One

h.’s Quick Thoughts:

I’ve always been a “Make Mine Marvel” person over… what do DC fans even say, “I enjoy DC despite how awful most of the movies have been - hey we have Wonder Woman now, so that’s a thing?” I mean, they have Batman and Superman, pretty iconic. Really their best stuff has been on the Vertigo imprint, though, and I don’t see Preacher on this bracket.

Speaking of icons, The Joker, man. I’m not one of those nuts who post memes with his face or anything, but I know the character better than this Starfire character. Same with Poison Ivy over Static. I’m into the Batman Rogues Gallery so far. For me though, Thanos wins, hands down.

Levi’s Thoughts:
I have to admit, along with Sam, that I’m more of a comic book movie guy and less pure comics. But guys, mainly I’m just really confused why Scarlet Witch isn’t on this list. I mean? Why? And first up, for starters, this whole Marvel v. DC Character thing is difficult because of one reason--Christopher Nolan. DC has created more memorable, long-lasting characters. And Nolan knew this because Batman is, by far, the most compelling and flawed superhero character and makes the best superhero movie/comic. He has layers man. In a way Superman could never touch. But Christopher Nolan sort of rigged superhero movies for years to come with his Oscar-winning director/storyline behind the 2000’s Batman series. The Dark Night is hands down the best superhero movie ever made. No one else could beat these expectations, even Marvel, and so they pivoted to their own unique style punctuated by fun and humor. That being said, Marvel is by far the better cinematic franchise. Besides Wonder Women and aforementioned Nolan films, all the DC films have been rubbish. But I also find the Marvel style, while fun, and even quite dark as witnessed by  Infinity Wars, to be growing tired with their ever connected storylines and universe. At first I found it intriguing. Now, I’m just tired. I don’t even want to see the next Infinity Wars but I probably will cause at this point I’m in too deep to stop.


Sam’s Quick Thoughts on the Bracket:

• The first one, Spider-Man vs. Jessica Jones, killed me a little. However, let’s be honest, the best thing about Jessica Jones is David Tennant’s performance in the Netflix series. Jessica Jones is an amazing inspiring female character, but man, Tennant is on fire in that show. I also really didn’t want to reward a twice-rebooted film franchise,  but MY GOODNESS Spiderman is just TOO CLASSIC. Also, he invented his own technology without being super rich.
  • P.S. David Tennant may be my favorite actor of all time.
• Any person who has the idiot fly-boy Human Torch over the compassionate and self-less Groot is a monster.
• OKAY. If we’re talking only about Jason Mamoa’s Aquaman, it’d be close between Hawkgirl and Aquaman. (Just, how incredibly attractive is Mamoa as the fish dude?) Unfortunately, there are many renditions of the man who can talk to fish, and Family Guy’s absolute take-down of this Superhero sunk Aquaman’s ability to take the cake.
• The Flash is an amazing character. However, Raven is the best dark hero in DC and the potential for her character arc is what puts her over the edge.
• People need to read anything to do with Red Hood.
• Also, Wonder Woman is a beast.
• Captain America, like Superman is a tired and old story. Those should not be rewarded. Plus, Benedict Cumberbatch plays Dr. Strange.
  • Certain heros and villains get bonus points for excellent casting. Such is the case with Dr. Strange.
• Gambit is SO COOL. However Bonus points for Ian McKellan being cast as Magneto, and also Magneto is one of the most filled out characters in all the comics.
• I really struggled between Thor and Star-Lord. Thor has such great art to accompany it, but I’m team Pratt in the battle of Chris’s so I went with Pratt’s MCU character.
• Honestly, with Cyclops over Hawkeye, it mainly has to do with the fact that I love the Cyclops from the X-Men cartoon of my youth. Though I almost chose Hawkeye because of Cyclops disappearance from X-Men 3 (blame the actor).
• I really really really wanted Superman to lose in the first round. But I got to admit, as much as I don’t like Superman as a character. I like Beast Boy even less. He’s just incredibly annoying. I like Beast Boy episodes on the older Teen Titans cartoons way less than I like Meg episodes on Family Guy.
• If people don’t know who Static Shock is, look him up.

LR:
The Slow Thoughts:
Both Joker and Batman had some weak-ass competition. Whoever set this bracket up rigged it from the start. And Star-Lord over Black Panther? Please. And why isn’t Scarlet Witch on this list?! You know who I’m talking about right? She’s played by Elizabeth Olsen in The Avengers Age of Ultron?  You know who Elizabeth Olsen is right? Have you seen Wind River? God, I love Elizabeth Olsen.


​