• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

Marvel vs DC: Who has the better villains?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Red Arremer said:
While I love Zatanna as a character and concept (and she's really the only DC character I'm interested in comic-wise), I think Marvel also has a really strong magical/supernatural corner. It just is drowned out by everything else, and usually just represented by Dr. Strange in crossovers.
Click to expand...

Marvel has some nice entities in supernatural corner, but they just don't compare to onslaught of truly amazing stories and characters DC put into their mythical corner. I like Zatanna too, but in DC verse she's is pretty small potatoes compared to A-listers, like Constantine, Spectre, Sandman, Swamp Thing, Doctor Fate or Timothy Hunter.

DC just has a lot richer and more developer supernatural side and one that has delivered far more classic stories. On the other hand, even with the Geoff's valiant Green Lantern effor, I always found marvel cosmic side to be far better and richer than DC one.
 
For me Batman > Spiderman > everyone else DC or Marvel villain wise.

Spiderman has more, but batman's are better.

But The Superior Foes of Spider-Man is probably my favorite villain comic.
 
Sandman was recommended to me by a former customer of mine (we both are comic fans and he is a DC guy while I am a Marvel guy, but I no longer work at that store). I ordered the first book and I didn't really like it, it was too... I dunno. Grimgrittydark and psychedelic. I didn't really understand what was going on and I didn't like the art style. All I remember was utter confusion and some scene in a diner where people would first fuck with each other and then kill each other I think? Something really weird either way.

I watched the Constantine TV show and am kinda sad it got cancelled, it had a lot of potential I feel. And I remember Swamp-Thing from that terrible NES game lol. Also heard about Dr. Fate, he's the dude with the golden bucket for a helmet, right? He seems kinda cool.

But since we're on the topic, Dormammu is a cool Marvel baddie, but... Shuma-Gorath easily is one of the most insane villains in the Marvel universe. And I'm not talking about the silly portrayal of him in the MvC games. Incredibly insidious.


Also, agreed on Cosmic Marvel. Man, that's just the best part of Marvel to me.
 
DC, without a doubt. DC has some of the most iconic villains of all time and they even manage to take their shit villains and make them cool in books like Suicide Squad. Marvel has a decent stable and of course the GOAT, Doctor Doom, but DC wins by a long shot.
 
DocSeuss said:
I'm still having a hard time accepting the fact that MODOK'S 11 actually existed.
Click to expand...

But it was so good.


Spiderman is underdeveloped? When was the last time a hero carried a major event by themselves?

AMS6675-395x600.jpg


Spider-Verse_003.jpg
 
Red Arremer said:
But since we're on the topic, Dormammu is a cool Marvel baddie, but... Shuma-Gorath easily is one of the most insane villains in the Marvel universe. And I'm not talking about the silly portrayal of him in the MvC games. Incredibly insidious.
Click to expand...

It's sad how little he's used. And his last few appearances made him look like a chump, being defeated by the F4 and then by Captain America in a few pages.
 
NEO0MJ said:
It's sad how little he's used. And his last few appearances made him look like a chump, being defeated by the F4 and then by Captain America in a few pages.
Click to expand...

I'm actually really happy he's not used very often. What they should use a lot more is the threat of him getting revived, rather than him actually manifesting. Give him cultists that try to bring him to our world.

Shuma-Gorath isn't just some powerful monster from another dimension like Dormammu, he also has this whole aspect of being an entity of godly proportions and of Lovecraftian style. Shuma isn't a physical being, he's a concept, an idea. The visual appearance he takes of being this one-eyed creature with many tentacles is just the representation he uses to appear to Dr. Strange.
If Shuma-Gorath were to appear in our world, it would lead to a battle of cataclysmic proportions. The mystial fight that would ensue between him and Strange would cause whole star systems to be blown out of existence, and it's unlikely Strange would survive this battle. That's how massive a threat he is. Galactus and Thanos are chumps compared to Shuma-Gorath.

In his first appearance, the Ancient One tricks Shuma into possessing him, which leads to Strange having to kill the Ancient One before Shuma would gain control over the Ancient One (and thus Strange taking up the mantle of the Sorcerer Supreme). In another encounter, after beating Shuma, Dr. Strange was starting to become Shuma-Gorath himself. He had to commit suicide in order to prevent Shuma-Gorath from manifesting in his body (he was later revived by some other magicians). And Shuma healed himself up regardless.

No, I think I like Shuma-Gorath himself being as scarce as he is. But please Marvel, give him some sort of cultists that try to bring him to our world. Give him some allies in our reality that pursue his resurrection and just make him this constant threat to our world but without manifesting often, if at all.
 
EightBitNate said:
I think I'm gonna say DC. But Marvel has better heroes no doubt.

DC's villains are just as iconic as their heroes, which isn't the same for Marvel imo.
Click to expand...

Iconic I'll give to you. Overall I think Marvel just by the sheer number. There is a lot of Grey area when it comes to Marvel Villians though. Abstracts, allies become enemies and vice versa. Marvel are much more layered.

I think the Red Skull is the only true evil mother in Marvel everybody else can sorta be reasoned with.

Edit: oh Marvel should win hands down for not having an "O" at the end of their Villians name (for the most part).


I don't think I know how to spell Villains.
 
Red Arremer said:
No, I think I like Shuma-Gorath himself being as scarce as he is. But please Marvel, give him some sort of cultists that try to bring him to our world. Give him some allies in our reality that pursue his resurrection and just make him this constant threat to our world but without manifesting often, if at all.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't mind him being a rare appearance (really, all major villains should be a treat when they appear) but the last few times they used him during the last decade have been awful. I guess most good writers don't see him as an attractive subject.
 
Mighty Chin said:
Iconic I'll give to you. Overall I think Marvel just by the sheer number. There is a lot of Grey area when it comes to Marvel Villians though. Abstracts, allies become enemies and vice versa. Marvel are much more layered.

I think the Red Skull is the only true evil mother in Marvel everybody else can sorta be reasoned with.

Edit: oh Marvel should win hands down for not having an "O" at the end of their Villians name (for the most part).


I don't think I know how to spell Villains.
Click to expand...
.

mx4Uq4i.jpg
Click to expand...
 
NEO0MJ said:
I wouldn't mind him being a rare appearance (really, all major villains should be a treat when they appear) but the last few times they used him during the last decade have been awful. I guess most good writers don't see him as an attractive subject.
Click to expand...

I wish I was a comic writer. There's so much you can do with an entity like that.
 
DC, I think, has more villains who are more menacing and obvious dangers to those around them. Marvel's villains tend to be more animated and generally entertaining, perhaps a bit more "real" in terms of characterization. I like them both equally for various reasons.
 
The fact that Warner can make a Suicide Squad film as their 3rd.. and still get folks excited about it... speaks to the quality of their villains or at least the appeal of the Joker.

Like, I don't know how well Thunderbolts would work w/ Marvel's rights anyhow.


Either way, I dig DC's more.
 
Spider-Man has the best rogue's gallery in marvel, and it doesn't compare to The Flash's rogues or even batman

Marvel has too many "this guy isn't as evil as you think!" outside of some dudes who are perpetual assholes (red skull and the like)

DC has guys who are just pieces of shit deep down in their soul(not quality wise)

Zoom and others of his ilk who are just forces of chaos

EDIT: also what Penguin says. Suicide Squad is getting people excited and its not just the joker.

Marvel's recent villain books are like superior foes where they're all incompetent goobers and it's hilarious. (Secret Avengers with "clap for MODOK" or the bomb is funny as hell but not villain shit)
 
Crab said:
I can't name any Green Lantern or Wonder Woman villains. Flash has Gorilla Grod and uh that one that's basically an evil Flash and is in yellow, but I can't name him. Zoom, maybe?
Click to expand...

Sinestro is the big GL villain, and a bunch of less notable ones. WW has a pretty crappy gallery, Cheetah and Circe are go to. Zoom, Hunter Zolomon, the rogues and grodd are the Flash's biggest villains.

There are tons of DC villains better than some of Batman's. Maybe not in popularity but penguin, riddler, ivy haven't really had that many definitive stories. Problem is your only source of DC is Batman movies or the animated series.
 
Marvel easily, in my opinion

if we compare just Batman to another hero
other than Spider Man ;p
then Batman wins but DC as a whole vs. Marvel as a whole is no contest

I mean, you've got Dr. Doom, Venom, Carnage, Thanos, Magneto, Galactus, Green Goblin, Hobgoblin, Doc Ock, Kraven, Mysterio, the Lizard, Kingpin, Mystique, Red Skull, Ultron, Loki, Mephisto, etc.

probably leaving off at least 15 other big names as well as the deep cuts
 
Marvel villains are nerd famous, DC villains are famous famous. Sorry, it's the truth.
DC got way too much head start on tv and movie front
 
phanphare said:
Marvel easily, in my opinion

if we compare just Batman to another hero
other than Spider Man ;p
then Batman wins but DC as a whole vs. Marvel as a whole is no contest

I mean, you've got Dr. Doom, Venom, Carnage, Thanos, Magneto, Galactus, Green Goblin, Hobgoblin, Doc Ock, Kraven, Mysterio, the Lizard, Kingpin, Mystique, Red Skull, Ultron, Loki, Mephisto, etc.

probably leaving off at least 15 other big names as well as the deep cuts
Click to expand...
Carnage, Hobgoblin, Mysterio, The Lizard, Mystique and Mephisto are garbage tier.
 
Thought about it and went with DC. DC has always had the problem that it's heroes are the most over powered heroes in existence. So the villains that need to prove an actual problem for these heroes, are usually pretty interesting and a lot of them are the underdog.

Marvel is almost the reverse. Overpowered villains vs the underdog heroes.

DC are the winners of the villains.
 
Most of DC's top tier villains come from Batman and Superman. Most of Marvels top tier villains come from X-Men and Spider-Man.

The MCU has had such a weak assortment of villains up to this point because Marvel didn't have access to to the Spider-Man or X-Men roster (or Fantastic Four, for that matter). This has always been the worst part of the Marvel movies, IMO.

I can;t think of many (if any) great villains outside of Batman and Superman on the DC side. Batman's villains are the most interesting as most are victims of circumstance, or suffer from mental and physiology disorders. They are never just evil for the sake of being evil.
 
phanphare said:
Marvel easily, in my opinion

if we compare just Batman to another hero
other than Spider Man ;p
then Batman wins but DC as a whole vs. Marvel as a whole is no contest

I mean, you've got Dr. Doom, Venom, Carnage, Thanos, Magneto, Galactus, Green Goblin, Hobgoblin, Doc Ock, Kraven, Mysterio, the Lizard, Kingpin, Mystique, Red Skull, Ultron, Loki, Mephisto, etc.

probably leaving off at least 15 other big names as well as the deep cuts
Click to expand...

I like how you mention Batman and then list Marvel as a whole w/ half of your list being Spider-man villains.

And some of these are... yeah Carnage is an awful character. Let's put cards on the table.
 
MrCunningham said:
Most of DC's top tier villains come from Batman and Superman. Most of Marvels top tier villains come from X-Men and Spider-Man.

The MCU has had such a weak assortment of villains up to this point because Marvel didn't have access to to the Spider-Man or X-Men roster (or Fantastic Four, for that matter). This has always been the worst part of the Marvel movies, IMO.

I can;t think of many (if any) great villains outside of Batman and Superman on the DC side. Batman's villains are the most interesting as most are victims of circumstance, or suffer from mental and physiology disorders. They are never just evil for the sake of being evil.
Click to expand...

check out 52

Blackadam52.PNG
Click to expand...

what's the point :(


Mighty Chin said:
Ok at this moment in comic history Dr. Doom exists and he's God.
Click to expand...

~Devil Trigger~ said:
doesnt matter, Doom is still there
Click to expand...

is he multiversal or just universal?
 
Penguin said:
I like how you mention Batman and then list Marvel as a whole w/ half of your list being Spider-man villains.

And some of these are... yeah Carnage is an awful character. Let's put cards on the table.
Click to expand...

well yeah Spider Man has the best villains in the Marvel universe. it stands to reason that a lot of his villains would be represented. I'd expect a DC list to be just as populated with Batman villains. don't really see the issue here.


and why all the Carnage hate? is it because he was introduced in the 90s?

edit: ok I guess people don't like Carnage lol. I stand by that pick, love the character. granted not a lot of writers have done good stories with him but the potential is there imo.
 
Schweinehund said:
check out 52



what's the point :(
Click to expand...

And after 52, Black Adam: The Dark Age. But this is just one example. There are plenty of nuanced, sophisticated villains in the DCU. The problem is most of the iconic DC villains are really black and white, extreme personalities. Marvel has a lot more who are sympathetic victims of circumstance.
 
I've been mulling it over, and I think I have to give it to DC.

* Batman has probably the best rogue's Gallery for one hero. (Joker, Two-Face, Penguin, Riddler, Poison Ivy, Harley, Man-Bat, Mr. Freeze, Hush)
* Superman is no slouch either with Lex Luthor, Doomsday, Bizarro, Zod, Metallo, Mr. Mxy, Brainiac, Parasite, Livewire, Cyborg Superman, and Kalibak.
* Flash has one of the more fun rogue's gallery with Professor Zoom, Captain Cold, Heatwave, Mirror Master, Weather Wizard, Rainbow Rider, Golden Glider, Gorilla Grood, and Pied Piper.
* That isn't even mentioning Deathstroke, Sinestro, Starro, Black Adam, and Darkseid.

It's doesn't mean that Marvel is that far below in the iconic villain departments, since Magneto and Dr. Doom by themselves match the best of DC. Also Spider-Man has a rogue's gallery that rivals Batman but is tarnished because the majority of his classic rogues are either dead, not villains any longer, or just missing.
 
hard to say. I slightly prefer Marvel's. Magneto, Sinister, Goblin, Morbius, Doctor Doom and many more are exceptional in my book
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Secondary villains who stole the show
2
58
2K
Durien replied
Lantern | Trailer (HBO/DC)
2
50
780
DeafTourette replied
  • Poll
Who is the better actor, Will Smith or Maggie Smith?
12
557
Avid Reading Horse replied
The DCU's Brainiac has been cast
12
469
SJRB replied
Disney Layoffs Hit Marvel Studios Hard
2
54
452
jason10mm replied
Top Bottom