The era of the comic nerd has arrived upon us. The once social outsiders have now become the moneymakers at the box office and TV series. Comic book fans have totally transformed the pop culture zeitgeist of the new millennia, especially with the popularity of comic book superheroes coming to the big screen. With the formation of Marvel Cinematic Universe and DC Extended Universe, pop culture has already seen the never ending popularity of the superhero. Since MCU and DCEU produce films from the same genre, it’s only likely for the competition to escalate. Maybe even a rivalry between the two power players.
MCU has produced over thirteen feature films that have included Iron Man, Guardians Of The Galaxy, Captain America: Civil War, The Avengers etc crossing $10 billion at the box office. DCEU was only started five years back and is only three films having been released so far. They are not in the billion dollar game yet, but their movies have done quite well at the box office as well. Both studios have denied of such rivalry ever actually happening but comic book /movie fans have perpetually escalated the supposed rivalry.
Guardians Of the Galaxy:Vol 2 director James Gunn recently opinion on the topic recently. Gunn was in promotions for his new film The Belko Experiment when he was asked by Variety what he thought about the Marvel vs. DC debate that so many people are interested in.
“I just don’t find any room in my headspace for thinking my movies are superior or inferior to someone else’s. I really just think about how can I make, for instance right now, how can I make ‘Guardians Vol. 2’ the greatest spectacle film of all time? That’s all I care about so that’s what I concentrate on. I don’t really think about Marvel versus DC. And also any time a Marvel movie comes out that isn’t as good as I wished it was or anytime a DC movie comes out that isn’t as I wished it was, I’m disappointed because I love these characters. I grew up reading Marvel and DC comics. I want them all to be good.”
Gunn’s diplomatic answer may go a long way when it comes to the dedicated fans. A this is the golden era of superhero movies and supposed loyalties should not get in the way of enjoying movies that are catered to the entire superhero movie fandom.
