One of the most well-known and enduring rivalries in the entertainment business is that between DC Comics and Marvel. Both businesses have created recognizable superheroes and villains that have won over fans all over the world. Who, though, is larger: Marvel or DC?
Marvel presently has the advantage in terms of financial performance. The Walt Disney Company, which owns Marvel Entertainment, announced revenue of $69.6 billion for the year 2019, with Marvel accounting for a sizeable portion of that total. Warner Bros., which owns DC Comics, reported $35 billion in revenue. However, it is important to note that Marvel has only been a division of Disney since 2009, while DC Comics has been a Warner Bros. subsidiary since 1969.
The scale of a corporation is not only based on its ability to make money, though. Their characters’ notoriety and cultural impact are also very important. Although both corporations have produced iconic superheroes, it may be argued that Marvel’s filmography has elevated its characters’ notoriety in recent years. The Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) is the highest-grossing movie franchise of all time with over $22 billion in global box office revenue. Marvel’s comic books are now more popular as a result of the MCU’s popularity.
That being said, DC Comics is still a force to be reckoned with. The Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy and the most recent Joker movie are just two examples of how well DC has had live-action versions of its characters. Fans and critics alike have praised and adored DC’s animated movies and television shows. Additionally, Superman and Batman made their debuts in 1938 and 1939, respectively, making DC figures older than Marvel characters.
In conclusion, both businesses have significantly influenced the comic book industry and have produced characters who have become cherished cultural icons, while Marvel currently enjoys greater financial success and fame.
Regarding a separate matter, Athena Finger, the granddaughter of Bill Finger, the co-creator of Batman, has been engaged in legal conflict with DC Comics and Warner Bros. regarding her grandfather’s contributions to the development of Batman. It is unknown if she has received any compensation as a result of this disagreement.
Even though actual comic book sales have decreased recently, there is still a sizable market for comic books and graphic novels. With websites like Comixology offering a wide variety of comics online, digital sales have also grown in popularity.
Unsold comics are then often sent back to the publisher, who has the option of destroying them or selling them to additional shops or distributors. The publisher’s choice ultimately determines what happens to unsold comics.