Can You Spot The Similarities?
For years, fans have speculated that DC and Marvel are copying each other's work! While it's only natural that two competing comic book brands would eventually broach similar subject matter, some characters just seem a little too on the nose. From powerful ocean rulers to unyielding juggernauts, let's take a look at 20 Marvel and DC characters who are too close for comfort.
1. Aquaman vs. Namor
Aquaman first made waves in DC's More Fun Comics #73 in 1941, brought to life by Mort Weisinger and Paul Norris. But before him, Marvel's Namor had already made a splash in 1939, created by Bill Everett. Both are kings of Atlantis with incredible strength and underwater powers. However, Namor's rebellious antihero persona contrasts with Aquaman's more conventional heroism.
2. Deathstroke vs. Deadpool
Is Deathstroke the serious counterpart to Deadpool? They share a talent for mercenary work and near-superhuman skills. Deathstroke, introduced by Marv Wolfman and George Pérez in 1980, is all about strategic menace. In contrast, Deadpool, brought to life by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Nicieza in 1991, thrives on chaos, healing, and endless jokes.
3. The Flash vs. Quicksilver
Are The Flash and Quicksilver just identical speedsters? Their lightning reflexes and reality-blurring velocity invite that question. Barry Allen channels the cosmic Speed Force, fueling his heroism, whereas Pietro Maximoff's mutant background shapes his attitude and alliances. The biggest difference is just their personalities.
4. Darkseid vs. Thanos
Darkseid stepped into DC lore in 1970 through Jack Kirby's celestial imagination. Three years later, Thanos emerged at Marvel under Jim Starlin's creative touch. Fans quickly noted their shared thirst for universal domination. Yet, Darkseid's obsession with the Anti-Life Equation diverges from Thanos's twisted love affair with Death—two cosmic paths, one inevitable clash.
5. Batman vs. Moon Knight
Batman soared into DC in 1939, employing wealth, training, and fear tactics against Gotham's criminals. Much later, Marvel's Moon Knight mixed vigilante methods with supernatural guidance from the moon god Khonshu. Though each of them thrives in the shadows, Marc Spector's mystical bent still separates him from Bruce Wayne's grounded vigilantism.
6. Lobo vs. Wolverine
Call them savage, indestructible, or just downright mean. Lobo and Wolverine have regeneration capabilities, unbeatable fighting instincts, and similar attitudes. Fans can't help but compare two antiheroes fueled by raw, unbridled ferocity. The only contrast is that Logan's sense of honor reigns him in, while Lobo revels in anarchic mayhem with zero rules.
7. Solomon Grundy vs. The Hulk
These are just two raging juggernauts smashing through city streets. Hulk's gamma-fueled fury is similar to Solomon Grundy's undead rampages. Fans see them as raw, primal threats with enormous strength and minimal restraint. From their oversized fists to their grunts of rage, these characters define brute force in the same way.
8. Ms. Marvel vs. Power Girl
When you look at Ms. Marvel, who debuted as Carol Danvers in 1977, and Power Girl, emerging just a year earlier, you see two powerhouses with incredible strength and determination. Despite their different backstories—one rooted in cosmic adventures and the other in Kryptonian heritage—they share many heroic qualities.
9. Terra vs. Avalanche
The search for earth-based powers gave rise to DC's Terra and Marvel's Avalanche. They are often pegged as identical threats. Yes, Terra's torn loyalties and infiltration contrast Avalanche's consistent devotion to villainy. However, it's their power to manipulate geological forces that create constant comparisons.
10. Shazam vs. Thor
Shazam and Thor both summon lightning and godlike strength, so people wonder if they're copied characters. Shazam's power, however, comes from a single magical word, whereas Thor's abilities are inherited from his Asgardian lineage. Only their unique sources of strength and origins set them apart.
11. Zatanna vs. Scarlet Witch
The arrival of Zatanna and Scarlet Witch in 1964 brought a new level of supernatural intrigue to DC and Marvel. Fans loved pitting their reality-altering abilities against each other to see who would come out on top. While Zatanna mesmerizes with her show-stopping incantations, Wanda's hex powers reveal a darker, more enigmatic side of magic.
12. Starfire vs. Firestar
Starfire ignited DC's universe in 1980, thanks to Marv Wolfman and George Pérez, shining with her alien solar energy. In 1981, Marvel's Firestar blazed onto the scene, originally from the "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends" cartoon. Could it be a mere coincidence that their names are mirror images of each other?
13. Guardian vs. Captain America
Do you ever wonder if DC's Guardian is just Captain America with a new paint job? Guardian's focus on Metropolis's street-level crime indeed differs from Cap's global, often wartime, battles, but they both rely on shields, stand for justice, and were forged by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby in the early 1940s.
14. Bumblebee vs. Wasp
Bumblebee and Wasp buzz with shrinking technology and winged suits. DC's Bumblebee appeared in 1976, and Marvel's Wasp dates back to 1963. You can only move on by acknowledging the fact that Bumblebee is a teenage inventor and Janet Van Dyne is a socialite member of the Avengers.
15. Red Hood vs. Winter Soldier
Once heroic sidekicks, they are now hardened antiheroes. Jason Todd's Red Hood and Bucky Barnes's Winter Soldier share a grim transformation spurred by tragedy and covert manipulation. They also have similar redemption arcs wrapped in moral ambiguity. Then, we have the same guns, gadgets, and lethal efficiency.
16. Vision vs. Red Tornado
It's Vision's evolving humanity that's different from Tornado's swirling might. Otherwise, they are just two robotic guardians born of brilliant minds who work to protect humanity. Vision channels synthetic empathy by wielding a solar gem and intangible powers. Red Tornado commands vortex winds fueled by elemental energy.
17. Catwoman vs. Black Cat
Even the name is similar. Slinking across rooftops in tight, cat-themed suits, these two burglars leave their love interests spellbound. Catwoman's whip and Black Cat's luck-based stunts make for thrilling chases. The characters blur the lines between right and wrong, stealing hearts and rare jewels alike.
18. Deadshot vs. Bullseye
Need a mission accomplished with pinpoint accuracy? You have Deadshot and Bullseye with their flawless aim, deadly calmness, and mercenary leanings. Their single-minded focus on the target borders on obsession. Readers can't resist comparing these lethal sharpshooters who rarely miss a shot.
19. Cyborg vs. Deathlok
The broader push toward cybernetics yielded DC's Cyborg and Marvel's Deathlok. Each fuses flesh with machinery in a battle for identity. The result? Fans think that their tech-based strength and moral conflicts are copied. However, Victor Stone's heroic alliances are quite different from Deathlok's recurring bouts of programming and forced loyalties.
20. Green Lantern vs. Nova
Take flight across the galaxy as either a Green Lantern or a Nova Corps member—each armed with authority. Their powers manifest from advanced interstellar forces, forming unstoppable beams and energy constructs. Hal Jordan and Richard Rider both represent universal law enforcement—spacefaring champions who are chosen to uphold cosmic justice.
