Marvel vs. DC: 10 Marvel Characters Who Have a Surprising DC Counterpart

Marvel or DC? It’s one of those arguments comic book fans will probably never settle.

For decades, Marvel and DC Comics have introduced heroes and villains with remarkably similar powers, appearances and concepts. Sometimes one character clearly arrived first. Other times the similarities developed as the characters evolved. And occasionally, two creators simply explored similar ideas.

But comparing them is half the fun.

So instead of asking who copied whom, Your Nerd Side is looking at 10 Marvel characters with famous DC counterparts — and what makes the Marvel side of each matchup unique.

10. Black Cat vs. Catwoman

At first glance, this seems like one of the easiest comparisons.

Both are expert thieves, both operate in a morally gray area, and both have complicated romantic relationships with major superheroes.

But Felicia Hardy's story has developed beyond simply being Spider-Man's occasional love interest. Depending on the comic era, Black Cat has operated as a thief, antihero and hero, while her unusual bad-luck abilities give her something Catwoman doesn't have: an actual superpower.

Catwoman may be the more historically recognizable character, but Black Cat has created her own corner of Marvel's universe.

9. Bucky Barnes vs. Robin

Captain America had Bucky. Batman had Robin.

Both originated as younger partners to legendary heroes, but their stories eventually went in dramatically different directions.

Bucky Barnes' transformation into the Winter Soldier completely reinvented the character. Instead of remaining Captain America's youthful sidekick, Bucky became a brainwashed assassin whose eventual return forced Steve Rogers to confront one of the darkest chapters of his past.

Robin became a legacy shared by several characters.

Bucky became something else entirely.

8. Quicksilver vs. The Flash

If you're talking speedsters, The Flash is difficult to beat.

But Quicksilver brings something very different to Marvel.

Pietro Maximoff has spent his comic history moving between heroism and antagonism. He's been associated with the Avengers and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants and has complicated relationships with some of Marvel's biggest characters.

Flash represents the classic superhero speedster.

Quicksilver represents what happens when incredible speed belongs to someone who isn't always easy to root for.

7. Hulk vs. Solomon Grundy

Two enormous characters capable of going toe-to-toe with superheroes — but their stories couldn't be more different.

Solomon Grundy has become one of DC's recurring supernatural powerhouses.

Hulk, meanwhile, has grown into one of Marvel's most recognizable characters.

Bruce Banner also gives writers something especially powerful to explore: the conflict between one of Earth's most intelligent scientists and the virtually unstoppable creature living inside him.

That contradiction has fueled decades of Hulk stories.

6. Doctor Strange vs. Doctor Fate

Marvel and DC both needed someone protecting reality from supernatural threats.

Marvel has Doctor Strange.

DC has Doctor Fate.

Both wield extraordinary magical abilities, battle threats beyond the understanding of ordinary superheroes and frequently find themselves defending entire dimensions.

Stephen Strange's journey from arrogant surgeon to Master of the Mystic Arts, however, has allowed Marvel to explore everything from horror and fantasy to cosmic adventures.

When the Avengers can't punch their way out of a problem, Strange is usually somebody you want nearby.

5. Ant-Man vs. The Atom

Shrinking superheroes sound simple until comic writers start getting creative.

DC has The Atom, while Marvel has Ant-Man.

The difference is that Ant-Man became much more than a shrinking superhero identity.

Hank Pym helped found the Avengers and discovered Pym Particles, while Scott Lang turned the identity into something completely different. Marvel has even explored other versions of Ant-Man, including the considerably less heroic Eric O'Grady.

It's one superhero concept that has produced several very different characters.

4. Captain Marvel vs. Shazam

Here's where comic-book history gets especially interesting.

Long before Carol Danvers became Marvel's Captain Marvel, the hero now known as Shazam was originally published under the name Captain Marvel.

The history surrounding that name is complicated enough for an entire Your Nerd Side episode.

Today, however, the characters couldn't be more different.

Carol Danvers is one of Marvel's major cosmic heroes, while Billy Batson transforms into Shazam after speaking one magical word.

Same famous name.

Completely different superheroes.

3. Deadpool vs. Deathstroke

Wade Wilson.

Slade Wilson.

Even their names invite comparison.

Deathstroke is one of DC's deadliest mercenaries: disciplined, tactical and extremely dangerous.

Deadpool took the mercenary concept somewhere considerably stranger.

Wade Wilson's healing factor, bizarre sense of humor and tendency to acknowledge that he's inside a comic book helped transform him into one of Marvel's most unusual characters.

Deathstroke might take the mission seriously.

Deadpool might stop halfway through it to argue with the person writing the comic.

2. Man-Thing vs. Swamp Thing

Two giant swamp creatures appearing in comics at roughly the same period?

This comparison was inevitable.

But underneath their similar appearances are very different mythologies.

DC's Swamp Thing became deeply connected to nature and the Green.

Marvel's Man-Thing became associated with the mysterious Nexus of All Realities, a gateway connecting different dimensions and realities.

And then there's one of the strangest abilities in Marvel Comics:

Whatever knows fear burns at the Man-Thing's touch.

That's a bad day in the swamp.

1. Vision vs. Red Tornado

Two artificial heroes searching for their place among humanity.

DC's Red Tornado and Marvel's Vision have obvious similarities, but Vision's story became central to some of the biggest relationships and conflicts in Avengers history.

His connection to Ultron and his relationship with Wanda Maximoff allowed Marvel writers to explore a deceptively simple question:

What actually makes someone human?

Vision can fly, manipulate his density and fire energy from the gem in his forehead.

But his greatest stories aren't really about his powers.

They're about an artificial being trying to understand love, family, loss and humanity.

And that's why Vision remains one of Marvel's most fascinating Avengers.

Marvel vs. DC — Now It's Your Turn

Black Cat or Catwoman?

Quicksilver or Flash?

Doctor Strange or Doctor Fate?

Deadpool or Deathstroke?

Some of these debates have been going on for decades, and we're definitely not going to settle them today.

But that's exactly what makes being a comic book fan so much fun.

Which Marvel/DC matchup are you choosing — and which comparison did we miss?

Your Nerd Side