Today we’re going to talk about the heated enthusiasts of DC and Marvel. Not the rivalry between the comics, but the movie franchises. I know it may seem odd to the uninitiated, but a Marvel comic fan and a Marvel movie fan are completely two different people. How so? Marvel movies are now enjoyed by all. They’re no longer considered nerdy. Essentially you could say they replaced westerns as the new pop culture phenomenon. It’s not like there’s no cross over between both fan bases as I’m sure a lot of fans out there enjoy the comics and films. Although it is probably safer to assume the majority of fans of the movies are “normal” people that have just jumped onto the comic movie bandwagon.

That’s a good way to describe DC’s approach to movies too. They saw Marvel’s plan was successful, but instead of taking their time like Marvel did they instead rushed things along in order to catch up and it shows. Their movies aren’t that great, but we’ll get into that later. I’m not a DC hater either. Batman is probably my favorite hero of all time with Spider-Man being a close second. I don’t really know anything about any of the other DC heroes, but I’m willing to learn if they just try harder with their movies. Lighten up too, but at the same time don’t force the humor. You all know what I’m talking about. Anyway enough preaching. Let’s get to some hilarious DC vs. Marvel memes.

25 Boy Scouts Vs. Rich Dudes

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In 2016 we had Captain America face off against Iron Man on Marvel’s side with Captain America: Civil War while Batman and Superman faced off in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. There are a lot of similarities between the two movies except when it comes to quality. Captain America and Superman are kind of Boy Scouts while Iron Man and Batman, or Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne, are rich playboys. Batman v Superman was such a snooze fest and it was confusing as well, which is hard considering nothing happens for a majority of it. The one thing I never thought about though is their themes. Huh, pretty funny when you think about it. I guess you could say that about the overall structures of both comic empires too.

24 Eye Of The Beholder

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In this world there must always exist a balance aka light and darkness. If we were to place Marvel and DC on these wavelengths it’d definitely be Marvel being light while DC was dark. I’m not talking about the quality either. This is just about themes right now. Marvel can get serious, but for the most part the movies are lighthearted, fun romps in the park much like the image depicted above. This may be considered too kid friendly, but who cares. I’d rather see something aimed for kids than whatever Batman is trying to do to Superman. It’s not like DC lacks a budget, but they do lack a vision, which is the point this meme is trying to get across. Something like that anyway.

23 If Comics Were Girls

Via Meme Center

This one is a tad similar to the other wherein the guy is checking out the hot stand-in for DC. This time DC is portrayed by what looks like Tim Curry as Frank-N Furter from Rocky Horror Picture Show except way more ugly. It matches DC’s dark movie themes at least. Then there’s the other image standing in for Marvel. At first you could say oh yes the more attractive property is Marvel. Not just one good-looking girl, but there are three. You can do the math. If you delve further into the picture you could also say the creator of this meme is saying that Marvel does a good job of connecting its movies and supporting them much like these flexible ladies. Bet you didn’t think about that at first glance now did you?

22 A Simple Description

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There may not be a lot going on in this meme, but I think it perfectly encapsulates the mood of the Marvel and DC movie universes. Marvel’s movies are all about having a good time both in the theater and in interviews. Everything I’ve watched always makes me think the actors are having a blast behind the scenes. DC, on the other hand, seems like they’re making Passion of the Christ 2 replacing a holy figure with Superman. That really isn’t far off from the truth either. There are so many Biblical references in Batman v Superman that make him seem like the new God for mankind. There’s that flash-forward scene where he flies down from above, cough Heaven, while soldiers kneel beside him. I don’t think they could have been more obvious with the reference.

21 Stan Lee: Comic God And Father

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If there is one actual comic book artist and or creator that is recognized by the world it’s Stan Lee. If you were to randomly quiz someone on the street to name a comic book artist it’d be Stan Lee no matter if asked for Marvel, or DC. He really is like the Mickey Mouse of the comic world at least for real people related to comics. So in a way even though he only helped create Spider-Man he’s also kind of like Batman’s father too. Actually maybe more like a stepfather, or something like that. Can you name Batman’s actual creator off the top of your head without opening the second page to look it up? I don’t think so. Don’t feel bad because I can’t either.

20 Beating A Dead Horse

Via IGN

On face value this image is great. Marvel beating DC to a bloody pulp when the war has been over forever now. Now as for that Simpson’s image it too has been used in a lot of other memes to essentially signify the same thing as this DC vs. Marvel sentiment. There’s not really a whole lot more to say here so let me flex my Simpsons knowledge and explain the scene in question. That is actually a direct quote from the show. In episode fifteen of the sixth season, Homie the Clown, Homer goes after an actor pretending to steal Krusty Burgers, but he doesn’t know he’s an actor. When he starts beating him this then prompts the child to cry out. There’s a little meme education for ya.

19 Date Marvel, Fantasize About DC

Via Meme Center

If there’s one thing I think we can agree, as a nerdy culture, is that we want everything to succeed and be amazing. I wish every DC movie was as good as Wonder Woman. That makes DC films having a success rate of one out of five including Man of Steel, Batman v Superman, Suicide Squad, Wonder Woman, and Justice League. They’re getting better, or more like tolerable, but still pretty blah. Wonder Woman had flaws, but so do most Marvel movies. I have nitpicks with Wonder Woman and for that matter Marvel movies. Not glaring issues like I do with the rest of DC’s film universe. That said every time I see a trailer for a new DC show, or movie I get my hopes up. Maybe this time I think. It’s nice to dream isn’t it?

18 Sick Burn

Via QuirkyByte

Even though DC denies it they’re trying to do the Marvel movie planning except worse. In a way they are succeeding in the box office at least. They may be making money, but they’re no fun romps like Marvel and or critically loved. I understand DC wanting to do this movie thing on their own terms aka dark and angsty, but they’re not capturing that mood well. Take Dark Knight for example. That’s a dark somewhat slow movie, but it’s well written and paced. None of the DC movies are so now they’re trying to course correct themselves by injecting really bad dialogue in the hopes of scoring a few laughs. Well DC, I’m not amused. These course corrections feel like jokes ripped from The Big Bang Theory.

17 Masking the Truth

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This one is more of a complaint on comics in general, which always takes me out of the experience. How come nobody knows Superman is Clark Kent? He puts on glasses and a suit and that somehow masks his identity? What about Wonder Woman? Now, this meme isn’t totally true for both sides as there are characters that break this logic. Batman wears a disguise much like Spider-Man. So there’s an example on both sides cracking this meme in two. For the most part, though Marvel’s heroes are well known, or at least they are in the film universe. In general, I really don’t like Superman. He’s too strong without weakness. You could say that about a lot of heroes, but there has yet to be a movie, or comic that has swayed my opinion.

16 Yeah But...

Via QuirkyByte

Here’s a great example of a typical debate online. Not sure why it begins with Hulk though. I guess to show he could kick anyone’s butt in DC? Anyway, a good DC comeback is that Warner Bros. has all the rights to the DC hero universe aka they don’t have to broker a deal with Sony, or Fox. It’s probably DC’s, or WB, greatest strength against Disney. Well, that would have been the case had they not made that Spider-Man deal with Sony and now the X-Men one with Fox. Yeah, it’s messy, but at the end of the day, the Marvel movies are far superior to DC. That’s just a fact. Batman hasn’t even been utilized well in this new connected universe so who cares if WB owns the rights to everyone else.

15 Gods Among Us

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The Avengers could be considered demi-gods for their supernatural powers and strengths. At the very least humans worship them like gods. Funny considering Thor is literally a god. No one seems to care about that though. Then there is DC who had a bunch of gods on the scale of Thor like Wonder Woman and Aquaman. Superman may as well be an alien god. Then, of course, there is Batman who has no superpowers other than his intelligence. Somehow he’s still able to beat all of the other Justice League members with his gadgets. Not sure that would really happen. I mean sure Kryptonite is strong against Superman, but he’s also incredibly fast. I don’t care what technology he uses Batman should never win in a fight.

14 Artificial Rivalries

Via Mad Nerd Dads

Ultimately this article is about fans and the artificial wars they start. It doesn’t just exist in comics. If a product exists a fan will emerge and one with a bloodthirsty loyalty to it. It even exists with everyday items like toothpaste. We’re not here to talk about hygiene now although I am curious if my out their example is actually correct. I’ll jot that down for an article idea. Anyway, what this meme is pointing out is that comics are great. They love each other. Sure heroes may fight, but no one is out there to be the best. Fans forget about that mentality. Why does something have to outrank another? Shouldn’t we just be happy nerdy stuff like comics are accepted now? Chill out on the fan wars.

13 Oscar Bait

Via QuirkyByte

This is a touchy subject. Don’t get me wrong. I think Heath Ledger did a fantastic job as Joker in The Dark Knight. Did he deserve an Oscar? Eh, probably not. Pretty sure that was a gimme award for his untimely demise. It was more an acknowledgment to the fans than Ledger himself. I know I feel bad for thinking it too, but let’s face the facts. Whether Ledger deserved the Oscar, or not DC and or WB. can lord it over Marvel. Not sure what’s more impressive though. An award handed out by a bunch of out of touch old people, or cash itself. If it was me I’d take the cash. The Marvel movies are beloved critically and that’s the greatest reward in the end.

12 Collateral Damage

Via QuirkyByte

This is another complaint has always been in the back of my mind whenever I watched TV shows, or movies, or read comics. This was especially true whenever I watched the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Even at a young age I always wondered who paid for the buildings destroyed. For that matter what about the people inside of them? This also crossed my mind in Avengers, which they sort of address. At least there are scenes of them helping people. In Man of Steel, he does not. It’s just a big boring destruction derby. I don’t like Superman, but that portrayal was lower than low. So yes, that’s why people complained more about Man of Steel than The Avengers. It’s also because it sucked raw rancid eggs.

11 Race To DC Mountain

Via QuirkyByte

Does anyone know where this meme is from? This scene has been featured in so many amazing pictures that’s it’s lost all ties to its origins aka Race to Witch Mountain. This one scene has been remembered for almost a decade now. Does anyone recall the film fondly as much as this one scene? Personally, I thought the movie was fine so let’s leave it at that. Anyway like a lot of other pictures you can put anything in here as long as the middle portion is shocking. Seeing that surprised look on the Rock’s face is rewarding every time. I am curious though. Is she saying DC movies are better than Marvel films, just the comics, or the entire empire? Guess we’ll never know.

10 Mommy Dearest

Via iFunny

What the heck is up with this scene in Batman v Superman? If you haven’t seen it let me paint a picture. Batman and Superman fight, Batman is winning so Superman tells him to save Martha aka his mom. See he’s only fighting Batman because Lex Luthor is blackmailing Superman with Martha. Anyway Batman’s mom was also named Martha. I want to emphasize this. They are not related and or the same woman. Somehow this creates this flush of emotions in Batman, which makes him realize Superman isn’t a threat any more? What? Okay new plan war chiefs of the world. If your mom has the same name as your enemy you can’t fight them any more. So all mothers change your name to Martha. There. World peace has been solved.

9 Let My Heroes Go

Via me.me

I’m a little confused as to the point of this meme. DC’s villains aren’t recognizable outside of Batman’s gallery of rogues to the general public. If they’re saying they are actually recognizable then that sentiment is wrong. The bottom part is great though and a subject I’ve already touched on earlier. The Marvel cinematic universe’s main villains are Sony and Fox. Spider-Man and the X-Men, especially Wolverine, are integral characters to a lot of the big Marvel plot lines. Taking them out was fine as I believe they did a good job of retooling everything, but just think how cool it’d be if Spider-Man joined up earlier, or if Wolverine was in there? Thankfully a deal has been brokered with both studios so this meme has kind of lost all value.

8 Universal Praise

Via QuirkyByte

By this point I feel like I’m beating a dead horse. Batman v Superman is a bad movie. There’s not a single thing redeeming about it. Most disappointing of all it’s just bad bad not good bad as in its not even fun to make ridicule other than two scenes. There’s the aforementioned Martha exchange and then that bit where Lex Luthor tries to jam a Jolly Rancher into someone’s mouth. Those two scenes are ridiculous and amazing, but not worth the two hour plus slog. 32% is too high for me and at the same time so is 100% for Civil War. It’s a darn good movie, but not perfect. It’s probably somewhere in the 80-90% range for me. Either way it’s definitely good enough to tease Ben Affleck about.

7 DC’s Best Assets

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Another bit that doesn’t need repeating by this point is that Marvel rules the movie theaters. That’s it though. In terms of their other media expansions they’re failing pretty hard. TV is average with some nice standouts in there, but DC, I would say, has the better connected TV universe and ratings overall for their shows. Games are pretty much absent for Marvel, but they’re slowly starting to rebuild. Marvel vs. Capcom: Infinite was good, but not as great compared to Injustice 2. I really enjoyed Marvel Heroes when that got ported to PS4 this year. You know, before it was shut down on Thanksgiving. So aside from movies Marvel’s other content is mixed whereas DC seems to have their head on straight across their other media. It’s their one advantage over Marvel’s movie empire.

6 Reversed Redemption

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Okay so Ben Affleck was in Marvel’s Daredevil back in 2003. He then switched comic sides when he played Batman for the first time in 2016’s Batman v Superman. This meme was hoping for the best, but sadly both movies Affleck starred in sucked. What about Ryan Reynolds’ redemption? He played ball with DC in 2011 for Green Lantern and then switched to Marvel with Deadpool in 2016. At least that’s what this meme proposes, but if you look back further you’d see there is potentially a better image for this meme. Don’t forget he played Deadpool in 2009’s X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Putting this reversal for both actors was cute, but if you really want to see redemption it’s Reynolds rebooting Deadpool in a major way.