Vote in our Bingewatch Award – Superhero Shootout: DC vs. Marvel!
The past decade has seen an explosion of superhero content with both the rise of streaming platforms and the massively expanding franchises of Marvel and DC Comics. From its humble beginnings in 2008 with Iron Man, the Marvel Cinematic Universe has propelled the industry into unpredictable and unprecedented success.
It’s no coincidence that fans are finding common ground in the beloved heroes of past and present. Superheroes are created out of an unhindered need for change, for growth, for acceptance. Just as comics emerged in the 19th century as patriotic stories of good triumphing over evil, today’s heroes help us grapple with the complications of modernity.
Contemporary superhero films and shows are waking up and challenging the fundamentally conservative status quo of the genre. They’re tackling issues of classicism, racism, and sexism, all while conflating justice with a challenging degree of subtext.
We’re ready to leave the 2010s in the dust. But before we do, we’re running the comic-book poll to end all comic-book polls. Who is the best TV and movie superhero content creator? Who better captured the ethos of the decade: Marvel or DC? It’s the Bingewatch Award for Superhero Shootout: DC vs. Marvel.
To help you decide, we’re providing a compilation of the most influential superhero flicks and small screen wonders of the past 10 years. Check out the nominees below and click to vote in our Bingewatch Award – Superhero Shootout: DC vs. Marvel!
Voting closes on December 31st, 2019 at 11:59 pm PST.
DC Universe
Joker (2019)
In this standalone fictional story not seen before on the silver screen, Joaquin Phoenix stuns as Arthur Fleck. Caught between a cyclical existence and his struggles in Gotham, the film’s eponymous character has amazed critics and audiences since its release.
Wonder Woman (2017)
Wonder Woman is the first major studio superhero film directed by a woman. It provides a welcome respite from DC’s signature grim darkness.
Aquaman (2018)
Another box office success for DC, Aquaman has proven quite lucrative for the DC universe with its flashy visuals and the fact that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.
The Flash (2014 – )
This CW series has a loyal following with praise given to the balance between comedy and serious elements while maintaining a fresh-faced quality.
Arrow (2012 – )
Arrow began the craze of the CW’s Arrowverse. Since 2012, the fandom has grown significantly, and crossovers have become significantly more complicated.
Titans (2018 – )
For fans who grew up watching Cartoon Network’s mid-2000s animated series Teen Titans, DC’s Titans offers a grittier, darker rendition while maintaining a sense of continuity to its source material.
Marvel Cinematic Universe
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)
A massive success for Marvel, this giant sci-fi space opera actually makes CGI look good.
Avengers: Endgame (2019)
A tour de force for the franchise, Avengers: Endgame provides a satisfying conclusion to the team’s story.
Thor: Ragnarok (2017)
A rousing success, Ragnarok is a comedic charmer. Jeff Goldblum’s turn as an ineffectual space dictator of an alien world isn’t so bad either.
Black Panther (2018)
A revolution for the genre, Black Panther envisions a world in which white colonialism never happened. The result is a complex vision of social existence.
Daredevil (2015 – 2018)
Daredevil is one of the first Marvel TV series to stream on Netflix. Received well by critics and fans alike, the series unexpectedly won the hearts of its viewers with its striking cinematography and dark tone.
Jessica Jones (2015 – 2019)
Following in the gritty footsteps of Daredevil, Netflix’s Jessica Jones deals with the heavy themes of sexual abuse and childhood trauma.
