Marvel VS DC. Pick The Winner To Reveal A Favorite Superhero Movie
- by Dylan Dembrow
- – on
- in Movies and TV
A rivalry between Marvel and DC has been around for decades. They’re the two biggest names in the world of comic books, after all, and they’ve given readers no shortage of iconic heroes and villains since they were both founded back in the 1930s and ‘40s.
However, that competition has been taken to new heights in recent decades thanks to the surplus of superhero movies being released. Now, it’s hard to go even a couple months without another comic book blockbuster being released in theaters.
While many fans love to debate the quality of these movies, for this quiz, we’ll simply be focusing on the characters' powers. Of course, in every superhero movie, we get to see how certain heroes and villains powers get to play off each other, which will inevitably end with one character coming out on top. But when it comes to a battle between Marvel and DC characters, we have nothing to use but our own imaginations.
So let's take a look at some of the biggest heroes and villains of these respective franchises and predict a winner for each face-off. Choice wisely and we'll see if the answers point toward an all-time favorite superhero movie!
Iron Man vs. Batman
As far as superheroes go, Tony Stark and Bruce Wayne have quite a bit in common. For starters, they’re both mortal men who have no supernatural abilities. Therefore, they rely on their intelligence and wealth to get them by in the superhero game, and they’ve both stood toe-to-toe with adversaries who are far stronger than them physically. For instance, Stark is able to make Thanos bleed in Avengers: Infinity War and Wayne is able to take down the Man of Steel in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. But how would the two heroes fare against each other?
Thor vs. Superman
Right off the bat, it seems like Superman has far more impressive powers than Thor. He’s able to fly on his own after all, whereas the God of Thunder largely relies on his hammer to channel his godly powers. That being said, Kal-El isn’t actually a god like Thor, but rather an alien whose powers are granted to him by Earth’s sun. Thor also doesn’t have an all-encompassing weakness like Superman does with Kryptonite. But whoever you think would come out on top, this would likely be a pretty intense battle.
Hulk vs. Doomsday
The Marvel Cinematic Universe’s version of the Hulk seems to be having some performance issues as of late. Ever since he was defeated by Thanos at the beginning of Avengers: Infinity War, Bruce Banner has been having trouble calling out the Hulk — likely because he doesn’t want to get hurt again. Meanwhile, a character like Doomsday seems like he’s never not ready go into battle. The monstrous beast appeared at the end of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, where it takes Superman sacrificing himself to take down the monster.
Captain America vs. Shazam
Of course, we have yet to see what the DC character of Shazam (formerly known as Captain Marvel) has yet to be capable of on the big screen. We’ve only gotten a glimpse of his powers from the trailers. But those who have read the comics know that Shazam is capable of some mighty impressive feats and that he is not unlike Superman in his powers. Meanwhile, Captain America is certainly strong, but according to the comics, his powers should only be equivalent to peak human condition.
Black Widow vs. Catwoman
We’ve seen a number of incarnations of Catwoman up on the big screen, but many fans only know Black Widow from the MCU. Here, Black Widow is portrayed by Scarlett Johansson, and she has been a part of the shared cinematic universe since nearly the beginning. In that amount of time, she has held her own against some mighty impressive foes, including Thanos’s Black Order. Meanwhile, Catwoman has faced off against everyone from Batman to Bane. So which one of these superheroes would emerge victorious?
Thanos vs. Steppenwolf
By the end of Avengers: Infinity War, it was abundantly clear that the Mad Titan Thanos was the strongest being in the entire universe. But it’s unclear just how powerful he is without the Infinity Gauntlet. Meanwhile, Steppenwolf seems to draw his powers from nothing but his own being in 2017’s Justice League. He’s easily the most intimidating villain of the DCEU to date. But does that mean he would stand a chance against Thanos, even if the Gauntlet was out of play?
Doctor Strange vs. Dr. Manhattan
Doctor Strange and Dr. Manhattan are both two of the strongest Earth-bound heroes in their respective franchises. Strange is a Master of the Mystic Arts, who is worthy enough of wielding the Time Stone. He’s able to do everything from look into the future to cast spells. Meanwhile, Dr. Manhattan is a character from Watchmen. He is the result of a science experiment gone terribly wrong, though it ends up giving this once mortal man seemingly unlimited powers. Though Manhattan’s lack of emotion often prohibits him from doing anything.
Spider-Man vs. the Flash
In both the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the DC Extended Universe, Peter Parker and Barry Allen are largely seen as the newbies to their respective superhero teams. They’re both still very young, and they lack the experience of the other members of the Avengers and the Justice League. That being said, both characters have no shortage of bravery to draw upon. They also have extremely impressive powers, with few other characters able to overpower Spider-Man or outrun the Flash. So who are you rooting for?
Black Panther vs. Auqaman
T’Challa may be nothing but a mortal man, but he is granted supernatural powers from the heart-shaped herb. This seemingly puts him on the same playing field as the other Marvel characters like Captain America and the Winter Soldier, who were both imbued with superhuman strength. Meanwhile, the Black Panther habit has its own slew of impressive powers and abilities. But would the character dare stand a chance against the nearly god-like Aquaman, who is both part human and part Atlantean?
Hawkeye vs. Green Arrow
A bow and arrow may seem like antiquated technology in a world filled with superhuman beings. But for whatever reason, both Hawkeye and Green Arrow seem to make it work. While fans continued to wonder about Hawkeye’s whereabouts in Infinity War, the first trailer for Endgame finally gave a glimpse as to what the character has been up to — and it doesn’t look good. Meanwhile, Green Arrow has yet to enjoy a big screen treatment, though the popular CW series is still going strong.
Gamora vs. Harley Quinn
In the comics, Gamora is painted as one of the most dangerous individuals in the universe. However, it seems like her powers have been severely nerfed in the Marvel Cinematic Universe — as seen when characters like Peter Quill are able to get the drop on her during a fight. This might put the big screen Gamora on a more even playing field with someone like Harley Quinn, who is 100% a mortal, though she certainly has her fair share of tricks up her sleeve when it comes to facing off against enemies.
Deadpool vs. Deadshot
Thanks to his impressive regenerative healing abilities, Deadpool may never be able to meet his demise. But that doesn’t mean he can’t lose during a fight. In fact, the character is somewhat famous for getting beat down time and time again, only to rise back up and take another beating until he finally gets the better of his opponent. So do you think Deadshot would stand a chance against taking down the Merc with a Mouth? Or does Deadshot’s mortal status simply make him too vulnerable?
Loki vs. the Joker
On the surface, it seems like Loki would easily win in a battle between these two comic book villains. But keep in mind that these are two characters who rarely resort to beating their enemies with nothing but sheer strength. Instead, they both seem to take much more pleasure in outsmarting their opponents. They both enjoy partaking in their fair share of mischief as well. So is it possible that Loki might just meet his match when facing off against the Clown Prince of Crime?
Valkyrie vs. Wonder Woman
Valkyrie first showed up in Thor: Ragnarok where she reluctantly helped the God of Thunder save the Asgardian people right before they lost their homeland. But unfortunately, the character was MIA throughout the events of Infinity War — which is really when the heroes could have used her impressive powers the most. Of course, they could have used someone like Wonder Woman as well, who seems to be just as powerful as Valkyrie, if not more so. So which one of these goddesses would come out on top?
Red Skull vs. Ares
Both Red Skull and Ares are hell-bent on causing as much chaos as possible. Red Skull first appeared on the big screen in Captain America: The First Avenger, where he was in possession of one of the Infinity Stones. Meanwhile, Ares made his DC film debut in Wonder Woman, where he was revealed to be the God of War and the brother to the titular hero. Both villains have powers well beyond those of mortal men, but do you think one of them has a slight edge up on the other?
Ronan the Accuser vs. General Zod
Ronan the Accuser first popped up in Guardians of the Galaxy, where he was working for Thanos in the attempt to gather the Infinity Stones. However, once Ronan acquires the Power Stone, he decides to keep it for himself, giving him immense power and making him a threat against the galaxy. Meanwhile, General Zod more recently popped up in Man of Steel where he fought against Superman on Earth. Zod had mighty impressive powers, largely granted to him by Earth’s sun. But that still didn’t make him a match for Superman.
Nebula vs. Doctor Poison
Considering that she is one of the few remaining Guardians of the Galaxy, Nebula is bound to play a vital role in trying to undo the actions of her father in Avengers: Endgame. The character is an expert fighter and assassin, who also has no shortage of body enhancements that grant her additional strength. Meanwhile, Doctor Poison made her big screen debut in Wonder Woman, where she serves as a henchman. She may have been nothing but a mortal, but her intelligence made her a formidable adversary all on its own.
Obadiah Stane vs. Lex Luthor
Obadiah Stane was the very first primary antagonist in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He was portrayed by Jeff Bridges, and he showed up in 2008’s Iron Man. Though he isn’t inherently a villain from the get-go, Tony’s changing opinions about Stark Enterprises pushes Obidiah further into antagonist territory until he finally takes up the role of the Iron Monger. But while this massive suit may be intimidating, are they any match for the intelligence of Lex Luthor, who is largely considered one of the smartest comic book characters of all time?
Vision vs. Cyborg
When he first came onto the scene in Avengers: Age of Ultron, Vision was easily the strongest Earth-bound character in all of the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The character wielded an Infinity Stone in his forehead, which granted him everything from matter manipulation to the ability to go intangible — which made him seemingly undeaftable until Thanos’s Black Order strolled onto the scene. Meanwhile, Cyborg may have just been getting a handle of his powers in Justice League, but his connection to the Mother Box certainly made him a force to be reckoned with.
Abomination vs. Doomsday
Abomination made his MCU debut all the way back in 2008’s The Incredible Hulk. But despite the character being brought into custody at the end of the film, he hasn’t shown up in the franchise since. Meanwhile, Doomsday first appeared in the DCEU in 2016’s Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, where he was a creation of Lex Luthor’s doing. While Doomsday might not be all that intimidating upon his “birth,” the antagonist only gets stronger the more he’s attacked, making him a hard villain to defeat using traditional methods.
Pepper Potts vs. Lois Lane
Pepper Potts and Lois Lane might not be superheroes, but they’ve certainly proved themselves as highly capable characters on numerous occasions. Pepper has donned the Iron Stark armor before and even helped take out Aldrich Killian when she was imbued with the Extremis superpowers. Meanwhile, Lois has no shortage of bravery, as she’s never afraid to follow a breaking news story — even if it means traveling to one of the most dangerous places on Earth. But which one do you think is more capable than the other?
Hela vs. the Enchantress
Hela is one of the most powerful antagonists to appear in the MCU to date. She is the long-lost sister of the God of Thunder, who is able to break Thor’s hammer without even breaking a sweat. She’s also responsible for the end of Asgard. Meanwhile, the Enchantress made her DCEU debut back in 2016, where she was a mystical being over 6,000-years-old. She seeks to dominate Earth, and she likely would have succeeded if not for the team of supervillains that were out to stop her.
Star-Lord vs. Green Lantern
When he first appeared in the MCU, Peter Quill was thought of as nothing more than a mortal man. But by the time the second Guardians of the Galaxy film rolled around, we learned that he was actually half Celestial, which grants him additional powers — including the ability to hold an Infinity Stones. Meanwhile, there have been a number of Green Lanterns that have hailed from Earth. But as soon as they’re granted the Power Ring, they are given seemingly infinite powers.
Storm vs. Aquaman
Storm made her comic book debut back in 1975, where she quickly became a welcome member of the X-Men (Wikipedia). She is said to be one of the most powerful mutants thanks to her ability to manipulate weather patterns, both on a small and a vast scale. Meanwhile, Aquaman’s powers have largely fluctuated over the years. However, his most notable ability is to communicate telepathically with marine life. He is also known to be able to survive severe weather conditions, which might just give him a leg up over Storm. What do you think?
Bucky Barnes vs. Robin
In their respective franchises, both Bucky Barnes and Robin are largely seen as sidekicks. But that doesn’t mean they’re still not competent heroes in their own right. Of course, Bucky has undergone his fair share of brainwashing, which has found him working for the enemy on a number of occasions. Meanwhile, most incarnations of Robin always remain faithful to Batman. But considering how young some of the Robins actually are, this loyalty could also be considered to be a bit on he brainwashing side. After all, Batman is far from an emotionally stable hero.
Captain Marvel vs. Supergirl
Aside from a few trailers, we have yet to see what Captain Marvel is actually capable of up on the big screen. The movie is the next on the MCU docket, which is set to hit theaters on March 8th of 2019 (Wikipedia). From everything we’ve been told about the character, it looks like she is set to be the most powerful hero in the franchise to date. Meanwhile, DC’s Supergirl is also an extremely powerful hero. Much like Superman, here abilities are vast and seemingly infinite. But does that mean she’d automatically be able to take down Captain Marvel?
Groot vs. Martian Manhunter
Ever since the adult version of Groot was lost at the end of the first Guardians of the Galaxy, the alien’s abilities have not been back on full display in the franchise. Though that’s not to say that baby Groot and teenage Groot haven’t done their fair share of helping. Meanwhile, Martian Manhunter’s powers have fluctuated greatly throughout the characters time on the page and screen. Though he was once as powerful as Superman, the similarities between the two characters have grown apart over the years.
Ant-Man vs. the Atom
With powers that are largely the same, picking a winner in a fight between Ant-Man and the Atom is certainly no easy feat. Both characters made their comic book debuts around the same time. They’ve also both enjoyed a surge in popularity in the last few years, thanks to Ant-Man’s inclusion in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Atom’s appearance in the CW Arrowverse. While the ability to shrink might not seem like much of a superpower at first, these characters have proved that notion wrong countless times over.
Wolverine vs. Jonah Hex
Though Wolverine and Jonah Hex are ultimately heroes, they can often fall into the category of an antihero rather quickly. In other words, they often do the wrong things for the right reasons — which can make them a lot more interesting than other heroes who are seemingly one-sided. While Wolverine may be the far more popular character, Jonah Hex has also enjoyed a resurgence of popularity, which is largely thanks to Johnathon Schaech’s portrayal of the character in the CW Arrowverse from 2016 to 2018 (Wikipedia).
Blade vs. John Constantine
Much like Wolverine and Jonah Hex, Blade and John Constantine are two of the grittier comic book heroes in their respective franchises. Blade is a half human, half vampire who is largely tasked with taking out the vampires on Earth who wish to end the human race. Meanwhile, John Constantine wages his own battles against the supernatural, which usually involve him sending demons back to Hell after they try to wreak havoc against humanity. But which character do you think is more powerful?
Ghost Rider vs. Swamp Thing
Ghost Rider made his comic book debut back in 1972, and the character has seen many incarnations ever since (Wikipedia). However, most modern-day audiences probably knew him thanks to Nicholas Cage’s portrayal of Johnny Blaze in two Ghost Rider films, along with Robbie Reyes’s incarnation of the character in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Meanwhile, the popular DC antihero Swamp Thing is about to enjoy a series of his own thanks to the company’s new online streaming service (Wikipedia). So which cursed character has more impressive supernatural abilities?
Moon Knight vs. Nightwing
Moon Knight had long been regarded as Marvel answer to Batman — though the character has never been nearly as popular as the Caped Crusader. Moon Knight’s abilities are largely the same as Batman’s in that he is also a mortal man who uses gadgets — but certain versions of the character have been imbued with supernatural abilities. Meanwhile, Nightwing is the alter ego of Dick Grayson when he decides to move on from his role of Robin, though his abilities largely remain the same.
The Grandmaster vs. Ra’s al Ghul
In Marvel comics, the Grandmaster is one of the Elders of the Universe, which seemingly puts him above most other individuals in terms of his powers and abilities. But his exact powers remain a bit fuzzy in the MCU, as he seems to rely heavily on others to do his work. Meanwhile, Ra’s al Ghul has never been afraid to get into the fray. And while the character has appeared as nothing more than a mortal in Batman Begins, he actually has an extended life in the comics, which has allowed him to master almost every fighting style.
Green Goblin vs. Bane
When he made his comic debut, the Green Goblin was nothing more than a mortal man. But the villain has grown over the decades, eventually to the point of having a formula that grants him superhuman strength, putting him on a much more level playing field as Spider-Man. Similarly, Bane also has his own formula that grants him additional powers. He is one of Batman’s strongest adversaries, and the only one to be capable of breaking Bruce Wayne’s back. So who would come out on top in a fight between these two villains?
Quicksilver vs. Cheeta
The Quicksilver from the X-Men film series may be much faster than the one we got from the MCU. But there’s no denying that either of these characters are able to move far faster than any human should be capable of. Meanwhile, the Cheeta may be a character that not too many casual viewers are familiar with as of yet. That being said, the villain will make her big screen debut in the upcoming Wonder Woman 1984, where she will likely demonstrate supernatural abilities that allow her to run and jump faster than any fellow mortal.
