It’s time for another DC vs. Marvel post. Taking the stage today, we have storylines, aka what happens and why it’s entertaining.

But first, let us have a moment of deep reflection as we remember that tomorrow marks a fateful day in the history of Geekville.

CIVIL WAR IS OPENING! CIVIL WAR IS OPENING!

Ahem…sorry. In case you couldn’t tell, I’m super stoked for this movie. Tomorrow, 1 pm. AHHHHH!!! 😀

Coming back to reality—as real as fictional stories can be, that is—let’s look at three storylines each from DC and Marvel to see how they measure up against each other.

DC

The Flash

When I first started watching the Flash, I was less than impressed, and even skipped a few of the earliest episodes. Another show about someone with superpowers. Big deal. However, after watching it a few more times, I got hooked.

It was unique, fun, entertaining. And the icing on the cake—it had time travel. The first season ended with much more than a proverbial bang, including a devastatingly unexpected twist and a cliffhanger that guaranteed more crazy adventures in season two.

Speaking of season two…wow. It’s been incredible so far. Varied, mysterious, expansive. Bringing the two earths into contact was one of the best things the show has done so far, and Zoom’s presence makes every facet of the plot more interesting.

At times the individual episodes felt disjointed or didn’t seem to have any bearing on the overall season plot. Characters fell flat or made us scratch our heads wondering what they added to the story.

But overall, the Flash has sped to success.

See what I did there? 😉

Batman v Superman

From what I’ve seen, people are divided on the success of BvS. Yes, it seemed to take an unnecessary risk, throwing a bunch of major characters into a single film, instead of letting them develop in the spotlight first, then bringing them together, as in The Avengers model.

However, I recently saw an excellent point about BvS on Facebook post. It’s not meant to be the pinnacle but rather the bridge, the crossing point between older DC offerings and the upcoming cycle of films.

And it still made for a fun watch. The story was predictable at times, but entertaining enough to hold attention. Not perfect by any means, but it headed DC’s ship in the right direction.

The Dark Knight

Unlike some superhero movies, the plot in The Dark Knight is driven by the actions of the characters, mainly the Joker. The storyline wouldn’t exist apart from him. That makes the story different and, since the Joker is such a fascinating character, riveting.

The conflict centers around Batman’s attempts to stop the Joker, but the deeper theme at play is that of corruption. The Joker sought to corrupt Harvey Dent, the best of Gotham. Add this to a plot already sparking with conflict and brimming with tension, and you have an unforgettable ride.

Marvel

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

Parts of S.H.I.E.L.D. have been mind-blowing and awesome. Parts have preferred to wallow in mediocrity. Most of the time, however, the story has blended cool powers, sweet tech, fun banter, formidable enemies, secrets upon secrets, and a diverse set of personalities into a sumptuous stew of entertainment.

Each season has done a solid job of building on the last, and it’s always fun when the shows incorporate elements of the larger MCU.

The Avengers

This is one of the best movies Marvel has produced. A dastardly villain bent on ruling the world with an army of aliens at his beck and call. A team of superheroes whose interactions at times seem to be a window into the antics and arguments of a family. A sweeping story of protection, sacrifice, courage, and camaraderie.

What’s not to love?

The plot’s flavor is as regular as a Starbucks vanilla latte—with a couple shots of espresso and a dollop of whipped cream. Yes, it’s a take on the overdone conquer the world scheme, but like that latte, it had enough zing to grab attention and hold it from the opening frame to the final scene.

Guardians of the Galaxy

What makes Guardians of the Galaxy memorable is the fact that in a world of plots cut from the same cloth, it stands out in almost every significant way. The characters aren’t heroes as much as rogues who happen to wander into the “do good” camp now and again.

Most importantly, the plot brings a fresh perspective to the oftentimes clichéd superhero movie scene. It’s about saving the world, but not our world, and the plot of the big bad dude, though veiled, points to a massive domination scheme in the works.

It runs more like a wild adventure with heist elements and good old space opera action thrown in. Guardians provides to burst of color on what generally is a one-tone canvas.

The Verdict

Again, it’s close. However, Marvel has a more fully developed universe and because of that, its movies can explore more areas and exercise more creativity in how the stories are told. And the fact so many of those stories are building toward Infinity War lends an extra aspect of unity so far lacking in the DC-verse.

Sorry DC fans, but Marvel takes the victory today.

Who do you think has better storylines? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

P. S. Enjoy Civil War! 😀