How DC Is Going To Claim Its Rightful Place In 2016

Although Marvel has dominated the box office and our DVRs since the release of Iron Man, DC has begun to dish out some new sci-fi thrillers that you should be anticipating.

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In 2008, the superhero and comic-book fan base got a taste of a new era with the release of Iron Man starring the ever-loving Robert Downy Jr. Since then, Marvel has not let their loyal community down with new films in their cinematic universe releasing every year (with the exception of 2009), allowing us to fall more in love with the characters, the actors, and the universe.

While Marvel is entering a new era in the box office, the so-called “phase three”, there’s another phase you should be anticipating this year. The Marvel vs. DC battle has been ongoing for years, but this year DC may be giving Marvel a run for it’s money.

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Don’t get me wrong, I’m a tried-and-true Marvel fan, having read the original Amazing Spider-Man comics by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko since I was five years old. For years, my birthday cake had Spider-Man action figures on it. I’m just as “Marvel” as they come. It wasn’t until the announcement of the Suicide Squad, starring a cast that will make you cry, that I started to think about how DC might start to squeeze their way into a Marvel-driven community.

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DC wasn’t always in the background the way it has been these past few years. In fact, DC has won over the hearts of fans dating back to the 1960s with the classic Batman television show starring Adam West and Burt Ward. Lynda Carter’s Wonder Woman in the 1970s is not to be missed. Christopher Reeve is the Superman I grew up with (being that my dad is a baby-boomer and I’m a millennial). And Christian Bale took over the 2000s as the deep-voiced vigilante, as well as the hearts of many, my at-the-time six year old heart included. So when did DC die out and Marvel takeover?

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Like I mentioned before, it was the rise of Iron Man in 2008 that caught viewers attention. But DC seemed to fall into the shadows after that. Of course a factor could be that Marvel just came in at the right time, bringing many over to the "dark side", or whatever. It wasn't quite in 2008 when DC sort of fell out of the spotlight. That same year, Heath Ledger wowed audiences with his performance as the Joker in The Dark Knight. But after that, DC seemed to disappear from the media. Die-hard DC fans may agree with me, but if you take a look at this article on Business2Community about Marvel and DC's social media rank, you'll see what I mean.

My own personal theory, take it or leave it, DC's popularity began to decline after the tragedy that hung over many Batman fans in the Colorado area in the year 2012. You may remember at the midnight premiere of The Dark Night Rises in a theatre in Aurora, Colorado, a young man with orange-dyed hair shot and killed 12 people, and injuring 60 others. It was a tragedy that affected all of Colorado for years (literally, look it up). But I'm not here to put a damper on DC, and I won't lecture you on the implications this sadness may or may not have caused.

After that, DC seemed to fall back into the shadows. Maybe it was the lack of continuous Superman movies. Maybe Marvel was just doing so well kicking ass in, first, the theatres and then eventually the television with Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. in 2013. Whatever the reason, DC has decided it's done being second-best among the box-office; however, it didn't quite get up after falling down with such vigor as it had in past years. In 2011, Green Lantern received on average negative reviews, so much that Ryan Reynolds decided to fraternize with the enemy thus becoming Deadpool. The CW Network picked up Arrow in 2013, but it didn't quite make viewers gravitate over to the other side quite yet. And even Man of Steel didn't get the reception that everyone was hoping for.

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It wasn’t until October 7th, 2014 when DC finally caught viewers attention with the pilot of The Flash on the CW Network, catching everyone off guard, myself included. After that, DC began to gain the leverage they needed to start dishing out their own secrets from up their sleeves. Since then, movies like The Suicide Squad and Batman vs. Superman have gained several yards in the race in the comic-book universe with just the trailers themselves (that might be a football reference, maybe? Oh well, can’t blame me for trying, I watch men in tights run around on screen in my free time, instead of-oh wait, never mind). And DC also managed to gain more popularity with 2015’s Supergirl on CBS, which I hear is pretty good but I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet (don’t look at me like that, I just barely got caught up on The Flash before season 2 returns, I’m busy okay?). With 14 million views on pilot night, Supergirl did indeed swoop in and help DC’s case even more. Maybe because she drew in almost as many female viewers as male viewers.

Despite Marvel’s consistent rise in popularity, the Disney owned company may potentially witness a decline in viewers (though the likelihood of many is slim) since they are entering this “phase three.” With Phase Two, fans got introduced to new heroes and villains, the impending death of our favourites wasn’t looming in the future as it is with Phase Three. With the probable deaths of Thor and Loki (poor Tom Hiddleston), the definitely probable death of Chris Evans’ Captain America (my heart hurts just thinking about it), and the introduction of the “new Avengers” soon to come, Marvel will enter almost a new generation no doubt leaving some of its loyal passengers at the last station. Not to mention another goddamn reboot of Spider-Man (as a classic Peter Parker/Spider-Man fan, all I can say is CHILL, we literally know what the hell is up with Peter Parker, I was excited for a sinister six film but since it looks like DC beat Marvel to that and Marvel ditched Garfield we won’t be getting one will we.) But don’t fret, Benedict Cumberbatch is the next vigilante to win our hearts over (what is it about the English? i guess the British invasion never really ended).

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So while Marvel still may be ruling the box-office and our DVR’s for a while with “Phase Three” of the cinematic universe and two more Netflix Original series coming soon, DC is rising from the depths in 2016. The Flash and Arrow are returning along with Supergirl pretty soon here (thank god). DC is introduced the Legends of Tomorrow on January 21st, a much teased series via The Flash and Arrow. And if you’ve been paying attention, which it’s hard not to, The Flash has been teasing an Aquaman literally since the pilot. Batman vs. Superman feat. Wonder Woman will no doubt blow out ticket sales on March 25th. Suicide Squad rolls into theatres August 5th. And soon to come are Wonder Woman (my personal favourite of the DC ladies), Justice League (part 1 i guess?), and a movie version of The Flash (although as the most adorable child on the planet said at PaleyFest 2015, “Grant, you’ll always be my Flash.”)

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Before I sign off, I leave you with one more thought: think about this Marvel vs. DC battle and how everyday, the line between the two becomes more and more faded. Or maybe it’s becoming more and more defined. What side are you on? I thought for years I was a 100% Marvel Girl, they do have better looking guys right? (WRONG as proved by my singing angel Grant Gustin and mystery solving Robbie Amell, 5000 bonus points for you if you understand my sad lonely references). But in the past year, DC has had me questioning my own comic book universe loyalty, that is Marvel or DC, and if you’ve been paying attention, they’ve had you questioning yours too.

The moral of this: never combine a film geek and comic book fan, seriously.