Here are some reasons why I believe Marvel is better than DC. I know mostly silver age, and selectively comic events.
- Marvel Comics have a more complex, round, and dynamic villain characters. My example being for DC, Catwoman will always steal something that has to do with a cat. Where as Green Goblin is unpredictable, although he does have a slight theme of Halloween; he won't go stealing ghost painting. The same is for Two-face, and Penguin in DC; and Magneto and Kang in Marvel.
- Overall, DC's characters are too powerful; meaning they don't NEED to work as a team. Superman doesn't need the Justice League with all of his powers and being smart. Whereas Hulk IS powerful, but not smart. Meaning he needs the team to tell him what to smash. Other examples are Wonder Woman and Martian Manhunter in DC; and Thor and Human Torch in Marvel. Although these characters have their own comicbooks, they are more efficient as a team.
- A major difference between the two Universes is, do citizens like the heroes. In DC the citizens like Flash, plain and simple. On the Marvel side you have mutant registration for the X-men. Examples being DC characters of Green Lantern, and Teens Titans; and Marvel characters of Spider-man and Hulk.
- DC loves doing 'family franchises' example of the 'Super Family': Superman, Supergirl, Krypo, Supercat, Supermonkey, Superboy, and Superhorse. Marvel had a different approach of having Spider-man just have many different comicbook covers of Amazing Spider-man, Spectacular Spider-man, and Spider-man team up. Other examples: Batman Family, and Flash Family in DC; and in Marvel Captain America titles and Iron Man titles.
- Having appliances named after the hero, Batcar, Bat-rang, Batcomputer in DC. Whereas in Marvel there is no 'Cap Car', only the quinjet. Another example for DC is 'Super-Sunscreen' and The Arrow-Cave; There is no Spider-base but Peter's bedroom or X-computer, but rather Cerebro.
- The big issue of Sidekicks! Just stating their names is enough point in it's self: Pie Face, Robin, and Jimmy Olsen in DC. Then in Marvel, War Machine, and Rick Jones was not just a sidekick to Hulk, but other heroes too. And Spider-Man, the sidekick became his own hero.
AAHHHH, the wonderful subject of time travel in comicbooks! Now I believe there is a time and a place for time travel, but that doesn't happen often. That being said, Superman flying so fast, he reverses time to save Lois, ... AGAIN! The Fantastic Four go back in the name of science, so a little better. I'm not going to give too many examples, because both do a 'great' job in this area.
- Push-over girls exist EVERYWHERE in the DC universe, examples of Lois Lane and Lana Lang, Iris Allen, and Carrol Ferris. In Marvel, you have girls like Mary Jane, Pepper Potts, and Sharon Carter, all in the same position as the DC characters.
- The 'cheesy factor' of comicbooks. DC show this in: Riddler on the Move- Hid in Giraffes cage, and The Space-Boomerang Trap- Boomerang flies through dimension aliens go to war, and also Peril of the Planet Smashers - allergy problem and don't care alien mind whispered that the planet was doomed. And for the deeper plot stories in Marvel: Wolf at Bay- kill girlfriend thinking of suicide, and also shown in Demon in a Bottle- drinking problem, and finally Dark Phoenix Saga- Genocide.
- Costumes or Uniforms? Either way it's the outfit our heroes and villains put on. Superman's Underwear verses Hulk's purple pants. Basically anyone's cape to Spidey's get-up. Robin's bare legs to Spider-woman's garb.
- Don't you just LOVE editors little cheesy side comments! An example of DC: Captives of the Cosmic Ray- in order to stand in Green Latern's bubble Flash has removed his yellow boots. An example of Marvel: Mr. Parker goes to Washington 2:3 - two editors debating about the comicbook. The list can go on and on and on if you would like! I think you get the gist.
Now, I will say DC does better in the Television, than Marvel does. DC has shows in the past five years like Smalliville, Arrow, Flash, and on Fox Gotham. Whereas Marvel only has Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and now Agent Carter. DC also does better with the short animation movies, example being Under the Red Hood, (which was awesome!). But there is no comparison to what Marvel has going on in the live action area.