Comic Book "Clones" -- Why do Marvel Fans Like the DC Versions Better?

[gurkle]

I don't think there are a lot of people who identify so strongly with one company that they automatically prefer that company's characters. Sure, there are some, but most "Marvel fans" just happen to be people who read and like more Marvel comics than DC comics.

So I am a "Marvel fan" in that I tend to be more interested in Marvel comics and Marvel characters - but I'm not going to pick the Nova Corps over the Green Lantern Corps or Black Cat over Catwoman; it's no contest which is the better character, even overlooking which one came first.

[Username taken]

I think one answer to your question about Namor is that in most appearances a casual reader would see him in, he's either working with the bad guys
or having a misunderstanding and either attacking humans or fighting a hero every time he pops up. There's also the fact that he acts like a dick. His fans
may consider that something positive or regal. To others, he's just a dick. Although Aquaman, at least the version a lot of us were first introduced to on
Super Friends, might be treated as something of a joke, he didn't ever act like a jerk. His characterization these days is more like Namor anyway, and he's
been powered up, but he doesn't have the years of bad things associated with him like Namor does. If you think about it, Namor is still making shitty choices
whenever he has options, all the way to current. I doubt he's gaining any fans, and it's a testament to the loyalty of his dedicated fanbase that they can
still rationalize that he has always been in the right. That's not to insult anybody, but it is the truth, and Aquaman doesn't have so much negative crap
attached to him.

Agreed 100%.

I actually much prefer Aquaman to Namor now.

[Bl00dwerK]

If you like DC's characters, better, why wouldn't you label yourself a DC fan?]

Because DC sucks?

[Agent Z]

I think as long as their's enough nuance between the two characters it shouldn't matter which one came first. I like both Catwoman and Black Cat (and I could get into another argument over which one had who's characteristics first but won't) and I think the differences between the two were clear enough (well at least initially). I think Namor's a cool character in his own right and I get he has his fans but I do prefer Aquaman.

[FanboyStranger]

Man-Thing isn't all that original. Behold, the Heap,

http://www.comicvine.com/the-heap/4005-30639/

Yes, plus the fact that Len Wein and Gerry Conway were roommates when they both came up with swamp based monsters at the same time. Marvel just got their version out slightly before DC did.

[Sansomon]

Doomsday



Hulk

[Sansomon]

Brainiac



Ultron

[emac1790]

Yes, plus the fact that Len Wein and Gerry Conway were roommates when they both came up with swamp based monsters at the same time. Marvel just got their version out slightly before DC did.

I always though that one day they were discussing the Heap and the next thing you know, Man-Thing and Swamp Thing came about. Marvel put out Gerry's "creation" first.

I'm not saying it happened just like that, but that sounds very likely.

[emac1790]

Doomsday


Hulk

Brainiac



Ultron

The only thing the Hulk and Doomsday have in common is they're both super strong berserkers.

Brainiac, IIRC, was not a robot or an android originally. That came in the early 80's before Crisis. Ultron was a robot from the jump. Also, their motivations are totally different.

[FanboyStranger]

I always though that one day they were discussing the Heap and the next thing you know, Man-Thing and Swamp Thing came about. Marvel put out Gerry's "creation" first.

I'm not saying it happened just like that, but that sounds very likely.

I think that's exactly what did happen.

[Reviresco]

I just read a quick run down on Aquaman's history. This character has been rebooted like 6 or 7 times! How the heck can anyone think DC has done the Sea King better than the original, when they can't make up their mind what the heck he is???

[GoingPostal]

To be honest, DC versions are just better.

Catwoman is a far more interesting character than Black Cat ever has been, the Green Lantern corps is an awesome concept and DC has made an intensive use of it (GL books are selling like cookies) and really Superman to Hyperion? People don't even know what a Hyperion is supposed to be.

Now, Green Arrow and Hawkeye is a bit more difficult. Green Arrow is simply not the same character as he used to be so here it's really more thanks to the tv show maybe.

They have done quite an excellent job with Aquaman those past years and well, the dude's name is like one of the most famous (for bad and good reasons) of all comics history.

[Mighty Roman]

To be fair, some of the Marvel characters on this poll didn't stand a chance, considering that it featured some of DC's most popular heroes. If it was Iron Man vs Cyborg or Steel, it would be a different story.
That said, I still prefer some 'later iterations' of characters. I vastly prefer Thanos (who actually has a personality) to Darkseid, one of the most boring comic book villains in the history of the genre.
Talking of Thanos and Darkseid, they prove that the 'earlier iterations' aren't always the most famous. I'd say that Joe Public would probably be more likely to recognize Thanos than Darkseid.

[SuperiorIronman]

They didn't even attach a poll for both companies popular characters. I know that wasn't the point but what I'm saying is that of course the poll looks the way it does. A lot of Marvel heroes on that poll are not A or B heroes, so of course people would prefer DC counterparts.

I would still prefer reading about Scott Lang over Ray Palmer.

-"I'm Ray Palmer, welcome to pain."
-He retreated into Countdown
-And was apart of the dumb as hell plot that was identity crisis.

[Pat Thomas]

Namors fanbase spent always think he is in the right. There are however multiple occassions with his position as a monarch that chocies were justifiable. Most fans just think that the "humans" are always right cause they are them but the citizens of Atlantist what Namor does in their name he is a hero.

It's a matter of perspective in most instances when dealing with Namor.

It would be easier to understand the attacks on humanity if there was a valid reason for it. Mostly, though, it's been because of a misunderstanding, or one human pisses
Namor off and he gathers his armies to destroy New York. If Thunderbolt Ross was always waging war against Namor, it would be different. It would also cast humans in a bad
light if he was being unreasonable about it. But Namor might attack due to a crewman throwing a cigarette butt into the ocean, or something along those lines, and then he
attacks civilians who don't even know anything happened. That's not really an imperial decision; it's a personal one. A good leader would do everything in their power to find
a solution without going to war. All you have to do is catch Namor on a bad day, and his temper and pride will cause him to act rashly. And nothing good ever comes of
it either. Only a die-hard fan would be willing to look past that, but Namor seems to have a lot of those fans. Also, I realize Namor isn't the only character whose fans defend
everything they do. There just isn't a need to start a pissing match by mentioning any of them here.