Marvel may have ruled the multiverse, but with Gunn at the helm, DC’s next phase could flip the script, delivering grit, gods, and jaw-dropping storytelling.
For years, Marvel has strutted around like the prom king of superhero cinema. Suit perfectly ironed, quips locked and loaded, multiverse bursting at the seams like a teenager’s backpack. They’ve earned it. From Iron Man’s swagger to Avengers: Endgame’s “bring-the-tissues” finale, Marvel was unstoppable.
But lately? It feels like Marvel’s showing up to class without their homework. Too many movies, too many Disney+ shows, and a multiverse so overcrowded it’s starting to feel less like cosmic storytelling and more like a giant family reunion where half the cousins don’t even know why they’re there.
And while Marvel’s been spinning its wheels, DC has been sharpening its knives. Or, more accurately, it’s Batarangs. With James Gunn now at the helm, DC’s planning a full-blown universe reboot and not just the usual “let’s swap Batmen like trading cards.” Nope, this is the Gods and Monsters era, a line-up that promises to drag us into the weird, the gritty, and the gloriously unpolished.
Here’s the difference: Marvel’s multiverse requires a PhD in “previously on…” to keep up. To enjoy the latest film, you need to remember a random detail from six years ago when Doctor Strange sneezed in the background. DC, on the other hand, is aiming for bold, self-contained storytelling. Think: The Batman’s moody masterpiece or Joker’s cultural gut-punch. Add Gunn’s knack for making oddballs (Guardians of the Galaxy, anyone?) into household names, and suddenly characters like Swamp Thing and Booster Gold don’t sound so far-fetched. They sound exciting.
Casting-wise, Marvel’s Avengers are either retired, replaced, or stuck in multiverse purgatory. DC? They’re in full “clean slate” mode. A brand-new Superman. A Batman who doesn’t have to attend five different crossover events before breakfast. Even Green Lantern might finally get the justice he deserves (and no, not the Ryan Reynolds kind).
And let’s talk tone. Marvel loves its one-liners, sometimes too much. Nothing kills a death scene like a punchline about shawarma. DC, though, is leaning into myth, grit, and a touch of madness. These aren’t just superheroes. They’re messy gods trying not to trip over their own capes. And when handled right, that makes for storytelling that feels raw, urgent, and, let’s be honest, way cooler.
Marvel may always have Spider-Man to swing them out of trouble, but DC looks hungry. Hungry like Batman after a 72-hour stakeout. Hungry like Superman at an all-you-can-eat buffet. If Gunn delivers what’s promised, the next few years could see DC rise from the shadows and finally, finally, steal Marvel’s crown.
So grab your popcorn, folks. The cinematic multiverse war is far from over. But if you ask me, DC just might be ready to flip Marvel’s table, slam down a Royal Flush, and walk away with the crown jewels.
