Dissertation Research - The Contrast Between Marvel and DC Comic Television Series

Superheroes are all the talk and high in the popular culture food chain,  whats interesting is how much they truly mean to human society today. Not only to the youth of today's generation but to teens to adults as well.  Whats more interesting is how they not just effect us on on an emotional level but how that it's triggered psychologically.

But when it comes to their representation and and contrasts, Marvel and DC are portrayed differently when it comes to television. Marvel television  especially in the late 80s to 90 were always animated but with a huge difference, Marvels shows such as Spiderman and The X-Men where extremely colourful.  As for DC series such as Batman and Superman their stories as well as the portrayal were told and shown at lot more darker.

For example just their title sequences alone:

Marvel's X-Men

• Colourful
• Action Packed
• Loud
• Positive look
• Enthusiastic
• Powerful

DC's Batman the Animated Series

• Dark
• Moody
• Dramatic
• Serious 
• Fearful
• Threatening
• Mature

Just from two examples of TV introductions show how not only his each universe acts but how they show their stories and their sense of justice. Even now as our technology evolves and using real life actor to portray our heroes for todays audience keep that same formula. 

Comic book television series such as:

Marvel's Agents of Shield

• Bright
• Powerful
• Colourful
• Enthusiastic

DC's Arrow

• Dark
• Serious
• Dramatic
• Thrilling
• Tense Feel

But with all these differences can their be also similarities? Well in terms of stories there is always a death involved. Marvel's Spiderman was the death of Peter Parker's uncle Ben and he then became Spiderman. DC's Superman had the death of his entire planet to take in to then later on making him become the man of steel.

In terms of the people, Marvel to me seem to take a sense of realism into the people of their universe, like with the X-Men. The people are concerned and scared over the fact there are people around with un natural powers roaming around where they live and the government are called into question weather they should be cured or destroyed. Now with DC, the superheroes are mostly keep their identities a secret, but when they are called to action the people are more intrigued and fascinated by what they heroes can do. Like with the Flash, the people know he's a hero and know what he can do. Or Superman once again, the people root for Superman because they know they can trust him limiting their thoughts on what his power are capable of doing if he were to loose control.

There are many comparisons to what DC and Marvel have shown us, Marvel like their heroes to be out there and often show themselves to the public with their identities known. Like Tony Stark aka Ironman, who reviled himself to the press and the public. Lastly DC, they are shadow sneakers, masters of disguise, they are know by the public but not as the people they are hiding underneath the mask. Arrow, Batman, Superman, Flash, Wonderwoman, and Nightwing all have these traits in common with each other.

So those are just some into what makes these Comic legends so different but at the same time not so different all together. All these superhero stories have a death or tragedy happen to them and that is primarily how most of them take up the mask and fight crime for al that is good and justice .