For the First Time in History, Marvel Has a Stronger Superhero Roster Than DC Comics

Marvel vs. DC Comics is the comic book industry’s biggest rivalry, and while Marvel may have courted more mainstream success than its counterpart over the past decade, DC has long laid claim to the most powerful line-up of superheroes – until now. Perhaps for the first time in both publishers’ histories, Marvel has more powerhouse heroes than DC.

An oft-quoted axiom among comic fans goes: “Marvel has comics about humans playing god, and DC has comics about gods playing human.” Even Batman, who lacks conventional superpowers, is depicted as almost godlike in his ability to overcome any obstacle in DC Comics, while Marvel heroes traditionally struggle more against greater odds. Yet Marvel heroes are no longer just humans, but some of the most powerful beings in comics.

From Phoenix’s ascent into godhood, Thor’s All-Power, and Storm’s courting by the Universal Abstracts, multiple Marvel fan-favorite characters have risen to its next stage of superherodom.

DC Has Traditionally Had Stronger Superheroes Than Marvel, But That Has Changed

The House Of Ideas Levels Up Its Most Powerful Characters

The list of Marvel characters reaching their maximum capacity has never been longer, and it starts with two beloved X-Men characters. Separating herself from the X-franchise ensemble, Jean Grey’s Phoenix is evolving into her new cosmic form. She is becoming an abstract of reality with the powers of creation, turning god-like villains into stars and conquering death with the power of the Phoneix’s flame of rebirth. Phoenix is no longer just one of the X-Men, but a dynamic character in her own right, with a solo series that shows how powerful Marvel heroes can be on their own.

In both Storm and Jean Grey’s cases, it seems as though Marvel is making a concentrated effort to match DC’s most fantastically overpowered heroes.

And Jean Grey is not alone, as Storm is also interacting with the Universal Abstracts. Becoming a godess herself, Storm has been summoned in her solo series by the might of Eternity who has found her worthy. She is destined to become the Eternal Storm, upgrading herself from an Omega-level mutant, past godhood, and into the realm of abstraction. In both Storm and Jean Grey’s cases, it seems as though Marvel is making a concentrated effort to match DC’s most fantastically overpowered heroes.

Marvel And DC’s Rivalry Has Been At The Heart Of The Comics Industry For Nearly A Century

The Publishers’ History Of Competition, Explained

DC and Marvel have been rivals for comic book supremacy ever since their creations; Marvel was founded as Timely Comics in 1939, and DC began its true history with Superman’s debut in Action Comics #1 in 1938. Over the years, there have been many crossovers between Marvel and DC, which have not only brought two fanbases together, but provided excellent stories, like the unlikely friendship of Superman and Spider-Man, or Batman’s battle against the Hulk. At the end of the day, however, they remain in competition, and in terms of powerful heroes, DC has long held the advantage.

The traditional dynamics that both DC and Marvel fans are familiar with have steadily reversed over the past several years.

Marvel is an ensemble comic publication. The best Marvel comics revolve around a few characters, such as Spider-Man, Thor, and Captain America, but its history lies in its team-ups. DC, on the other hand, leads with Batman, Green Lantern, Flash, Superman, and many more individual heroes. However, with the release of Justice League Unlimited – written by Mark Waid, with art by Dan Mora – DC will become a more ensemble work, allowing other characters their chance to shine. Meanwhile, team-up characters like Luke Cage, Storm, and Phoenix are getting their own spotlight.

In other words, the traditional dynamics that both DC and Marvel fans are familiar with have steadily reversed over the past several years. There is always a great deal of back-and-forth between the two companies, as one tries to replicate the success, or avoid the failures, of the other; DC’s newly launched Absolute Universe is just the latest example of this, as the company follows the blueprint set by Marvel’s Ultimate line of comics. For fans, what this amounts to is a rich, exciting new creative epoch for both companies.

Even Marvel’s Gods Have Surpassed Their Original Limits

Off-The-Charts Power Levels

Apart from the X-Men, some other characters are getting their time to shine, including Marvel’s most powerful hero of all time. His name is Power Man, and he’s a future version of Luke Cage – but he’s also a conglomeration of Hulk’s gamma strength, Sentry’s reality-bending abilities, and a mastery over the Iron Fist. This makes it clear that, at Marvel, it is not just ensemble characters getting their own time to shine, but new characters too, even those that are a remix of characters powerful enough on their own.

Then, of course, there are the Marvel heroes who have been gods the whole time. In Thor’s current ongoing series, he has received the All-Power which makes him the strongest Avenger. In the vein of Norse mythology, Thor has followed in the path of his father Odin, by receiving infinite knowledge that gives him great power to bend reality in the form of greater strength, speed, healing, and other powers. In other words, even the gods of the Marvel Universe can get an upgrade.

For The First Time In Forever, Marvel Heroes Beat DC’s In Terms Of Individual Powers

The True Test Is Another Crossover

DC has often had its long list of solo titles focused on powerful heroes, but as DC moves into more ensemble works, and Marvel branches out into solo titles, the balance of power in the comics industry is starting to shift – at least, that is, when it comes to the power levels of its most famous characters. There are now more powerful heroes in Marvel than ever before, maybe even more than in its rival DC, and if they ever go toe-to-toe again, Marvel might just come out on top.