Character Rip Off: Marvel VS DC

[SSJPhenom]

We all know about the two comic book juggernaut companies and their constant competition with one another. What a lot of people who aren't comic book fans don't know is that the two companies aren't above literally taking characters from one another, changing the name and origin, and passing them off as original works. In this thread, we're going to discuss several of those characters from each company. Some are obvious and some have even been admitted to. Others, though, are not as obvious and will never be admitted to. So if you have one of your own that I missed or one that you don't agree with, let me know.

Dr. Strange vs. Dr. Fate:

This one seemed like the logical one to start with since the Dr. Strange movie just came out. Marvel are the ones behind Dr. Strange, while DC came up with Dr. Fate. What a lot of the people going to see the newest Marvel movie don't know, though, is that Dr. Strange is a blatant rip off of Dr. Fate.

Dr. Fate made his debut in the 1940's while Strange didn't come around until the 60's. "Phenom", they said, "Just because they're both called Dr, use magic, and Fate came first doesn't mean that Marvel ripped DC off". That's true, but there's so much more. Does anyone know what Fate's moniker was? Earth's Sorcerer Supreme. Does that sound familiar? That's exactly what Strange is called. How about the fact that both characters have objects from dead sorcerers that greatly increase their abilities? Fate has the Helmet of Fate and Strange has the Eye of Agamatto. Not to mention that their abilities are basically identical to one another's.

This is my first entry into this new topic, but I have many many more to come. If anyone else has any or wants to comment on one that I've already done, feel free. I'd love to read other's points of view.

Until next time.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Aside from the fact that both characters happen to be sorcerers, they're pretty different.

For one thing, there have been about 8 different DC characters since 1940 who've been called Doctor Fate. The name "Doctor Fate" isn't so much a name as a mantle that's been chosen or bestowed upon someone by Nabu, the Babylonian god of wisdom. Doctor Strange isn't a mantle, it's the guy's name as Stephen Strange was a gifted surgeon until he suffered nerve damage to his hands. In the comics, Strange would eventually become what's called the "Sorcerer Supreme", the being that is generally viewed as the greatest mortal user of magic within the Marvel Universe. Rather than something bestowed upon someone by a god, it's ultimately achieved through mastery of mystic arts through years of study & training. For some reason, Fate has been consistently depicted as being able to undo or counteract magical spells that have already been cast and are in effect.

Magic itself is often depicted differently in DC & Marvel. In Marvel, the magic used by mortals isn't magic that's inherent within then, but is channeled through the universe, using mystical objects like Strange's Eye of Agamotto or by calling upon various completely original characters like the Vishanti, Cyttorak and numerous others.

Comparatively speaking, Doctor Fate is much more obscure than Strange. Over the years, Strange has been part of some big moments in Marvel Comics and has been featured fairly extensively in various animated series over the years. Truth be told, up until this thread, I'd forgotten all about the existence of Doctor Fate. Fate was one of the numerous characters that pretty much faded into obscurity after World War II and didn't really become relevant until after DC's reboot of their entire universe in the mid 80s with a woman named Linda Strauss and her stepson Eric merged into a single being by Nabu. It gets even more convoluted from there as they'd eventually die, as the original Fate, Kent Nelson, died and so on & so forth.

In all of comics, there are aspects of most characters that are similar, sometimes genuinely influenced, by characters who already exist. For instance, Superman was originally quite similar to and heavily influenced by the character Hugo Danner, who was the central character in the 1930 novel "Gladiator." Danner, in turn, was created with the influence of various science fiction characters created by the likes of H.G. Wells and Robert Louis Stevenson in that there were elements of some characters that influenced the overall conception of Danner.

 

[SSJPhenom]

Aside from the fact that both characters happen to be sorcerers, they're pretty different.

For one thing, there have been about 8 different DC characters since 1940 who've been called Doctor Fate. The name "Doctor Fate" isn't so much a name as a mantle that's been chosen or bestowed upon someone by Nabu, the Babylonian god of wisdom. Doctor Strange isn't a mantle, it's the guy's name as Stephen Strange was a gifted surgeon until he suffered nerve damage to his hands. In the comics, Strange would eventually become what's called the "Sorcerer Supreme", the being that is generally viewed as the greatest mortal user of magic within the Marvel Universe. Rather than something bestowed upon someone by a god, it's ultimately achieved through mastery of mystic arts through years of study & training. For some reason, Fate has been consistently depicted as being able to undo or counteract magical spells that have already been cast and are in effect.

Magic itself is often depicted differently in DC & Marvel. In Marvel, the magic used by mortals isn't magic that's inherent within then, but is channeled through the universe, using mystical objects like Strange's Eye of Agamotto or by calling upon various completely original characters like the Vishanti, Cyttorak and numerous others.

Comparatively speaking, Doctor Fate is much more obscure than Strange. Over the years, Strange has been part of some big moments in Marvel Comics and has been featured fairly extensively in various animated series over the years. Truth be told, up until this thread, I'd forgotten all about the existence of Doctor Fate. Fate was one of the numerous characters that pretty much faded into obscurity after World War II and didn't really become relevant until after DC's reboot of their entire universe in the mid 80s with a woman named Linda Strauss and her stepson Eric merged into a single being by Nabu. It gets even more convoluted from there as they'd eventually die, as the original Fate, Kent Nelson, died and so on & so forth.

In all of comics, there are aspects of most characters that are similar, sometimes genuinely influenced, by characters who already exist. For instance, Superman was originally quite similar to and heavily influenced by the character Hugo Danner, who was the central character in the 1930 novel "Gladiator." Danner, in turn, was created with the influence of various science fiction characters created by the likes of H.G. Wells and Robert Louis Stevenson in that there were elements of some characters that influenced the overall conception of Danner.

You're right and you're wrong. That's hard to do.

While you're right in some of the subtle differences you mentioned, you're wrong in a few things. In DC, magic is also something that can be learned and honed over time. Yes DC magic users seem to be more of a race than people who learn it, as Nabu usually only will take people who have an affinity for the mystical arts, but several characters in DC have learned to use magic as well. Kent Nelson, the first Dr. Fate, was an adept Sorcerer even without the helmet of Fate. Much like how the Eye of Agamatto increases Strange's power, the Helmet of Fate increased Nelson's power. Others in DC like Zatara and Zatana are learned magic users. Also, Fate has appeared in numerous DC media as well throughout the years. He was featured prominently in Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. As well as Young Justice, Smallville, Batman: the Brave and the Bold, and other things. Also, much like Strange's Sanctum Sanctorum, which is invisible to regular people. Fate's hideout is also invisible to regular people.

While there are differences, there are more than enough similarities to suggest that Dr. Fate had a lot to do with Dr. Strange.

 

[SSJPhenom]

The Incredible Hulk

VS

Solomon Grundy and Doomsday

This time we run into an occasion where DC took from Marvel. Solomon Grundy's and Doomsday's origins are vastly different from the Hulk's, however, that's about all that's different. In all actuality, Grundy showed up in comics way before the Hulk did. Grundy first appeared in 1944 as an enemy of the original Green Lantern. After that, though, he wouldn't be seen again until the 1980's. Grundy's origin is that he was once a mob boss who was killed and his body was dumped in a Louisiana swamp. Well the swamp had magical and voodoo properties and after years and years, he was reanimated as a zombie. He couldn't remember his name so he went by the name of Solomon Grundy. Which was from an old children's nursery rhyme. I know that sounds vastly different than the Hulk's origins and it is, but I'm not finished.

When he reappeared in the 1980's, all of a sudden, Grundy is huge and muscular, has vast superhuman strength, and he only speaks in broken sentences. His favorite thing to say to his enemies is, "Grundy crush!!!!". He uses the Thunder Clap that Hulk made famous and he goes on wild rampages through cities and what not.

Doomsday didn't show up until the 90's. Doomsday was created by an alien who repeatedly sent a child to his death on ancient Krypton and every time the child was killed by something, the alien would clone the child and make him invulnerable to the thing that killed it the last time. After decades of this process, the child finally stopped dying and killed every last thing on Krypton. The process of this rapid evolution gave the child super strength, speed, durability, senses, etc. After he killed everything on ancient Krypton, he turned his attention to his creator and stowed away on his creator's spaceship after he killed his creator. Doomsday would then wreak havoc all across the galaxy until he was eventually subdued and sent to Earth where he would stay deep underground for thousands of years until he was finally able to escape. On the day that he did escape, he single handedly defeated the Justice League and "killed" Superman.

Doomsday, much like the Hulk, is a huge hulking individual with vast strength, speed, invulnerability, and a healing factor. He's damn near mindless and goes on monstrous rampages.

What do you guys think? Are Grundy and Doomsday DC's rip off of the Hulk or no? Let me know your opinions.

 

[SSJPhenom]

The Green Lantern Corps

V.S.

The Nova Corps

The Green Lantern Corps, as we know it, was created in 1959, during a revival of the popularity of superhero comics in America. DC Comics editor Julius Schwartz decided to reinvent the 1940s superhero character Green Lantern as a science fiction hero. Schwartz's new conception of Green Lantern had a different name (Hal Jordan), costume, and origin story, and no connection to the original Green Lantern. Whereas the Green Lantern of the 1940s was a lone vigilante who only had adventures on Earth, the new Green Lantern was but one of a group of interstellar lawmen who all called themselves Green Lanterns. The group is first mentioned in Showcase #22 (1960) when a dying Green Lantern passes on his ring to Hal Jordan. Over the years, writers have introduced a large cast of Green Lanterns in both supporting and starring roles.

The Guardians of the Universe are one of several races that originated on the planet Maltus and were among the first intelligent life forms in the universe. They became scientists and thinkers, experimenting on the worlds around them. In a pivotal moment billions of years ago, a Maltusian named Krona used time-bending technology to observe the beginning of the universe. However, this experiment unleashed disaster upon all existence. In their first attempt to enforce their will and guard against all menaces, about 3.5 billion years ago the Guardians of the universe created a legion of robotic sentinels called the Manhunters. At first serving faithfully to enforce order, in time the Manhunters came to resent their servitude and the moral restrictions the Guardians decreed of them. They were also found to be inherently flawed due to their inability to recognize or feel emotions. They rebelled against the Guardians and fought a millennia-long war that culminated with an attack on the planet Oa. Chastened by the failure of the Manhunters, the Guardians decided that their newest force of soldiers for good would consist of living beings, ones who had free will and strong moral character. To arm this new legion of celestial knights, the Guardians created the Power Rings, rings of inconceivably-advanced technology that allowed their wearers to project green beams of energy with which the bearer could conjure objects of any size or shape, limited only by their imagination and willpower.

The concept of the Nova Corps was created by writer Marv Wolfman. The first member appeared in Nova #1 in September 1976. The Corps first appeared in a cameo in Fantastic Four #204 and had their 1st full appearance in Fantastic Four #205 in 1979. The Nova Corps was originally a space militia and exploration group for the planet Xandar. It consisted of 500 soldiers ranging in rank from Corpsman up to Centurion and its leader Centurion Nova Prime. The source of the Nova Corps power is called the Nova Force which is an unlimited energy generated by a living computer called the Xandarian Worldmind. The Nova Corps police the known universe.

Similarities:

The Nova Corps is an intergalactic military police force whose mission is to patrol the cosmos and tackle any space fairing baddie who threatens the safety of their jurisdiction. Gaining their powers of super speed, strength, flight and the ability to survive in the cold void of space for interstellar travel from a mysterious Nova Force, members of the core have similar costume design with the exception of a few design differences to signify their rank. Now replace the word Nova with Green Lantern and you will get the exact same result. The Green Lanterns weapon of choice, instead of a cool looking helmet, is their power rings. A Green Lantern can tap into the enormous resource of the power battery which gives them the ability to project hard light constructs to be used offensively or defensively. This power is only limited by their will. The Nova Force, generated and controlled by the living computers of Xandar, is the source of power for the Nova and the entire Nova Corps. The amount of Nova Force a core member can access is determined by their rank. Both teams have a world as their home base: Green Lanterns enjoy the high tech green themed world of OA whereas the Novas call Xandar, the equally high tech world filled with big blue oceans, as their home. Both teams have experienced devastation in their world and had to relocate elsewhere. The Novas, at one time, had Ego, a planet sized corpsmen, as a new home. The Green Lanterns have utilized MOGO the living planet, as a home after the destruction of OA. Both sides have an army to back them up, but the Green Lanterns outnumber the Novas 3600 to 500 members. Continuing the trend of similarities, the Lanterns have a history they would want to forget. Their predecessor, the Manhunters, instead of protecting the peace, attempted to destroy all beings with emotions. And we got the Novas dark dark secret: during the original sin event, we discover that the Novas were originally formed by thieves and killers.

Now lets take a look at the first human corpsmen. Richard Rider was selected to join up when a dying member of the core crash landed on earth and the youngster happens to come across him, inheriting the mantle and power of Nova Prime. Oops, looks like that’s the same origins of Hal Jordan, but Jordan beats Rider by 17 years making his debut in 1959.

So what do you guys think? Did Marvel rip off the Green Lantern Corps? Let me know your opinions.

 

[Jack-Hammer]

Generally speaking, as far as Grundy & Doomsday go, both are well known to have been heavily, heavily influenced by the Hulk. In the various DC animated series that've featured Grundy, the guy is basically the Hulk with chalky white skin. As far as Doomsday goes, I remember reading years back that the creators of the character wanted someone that could "realistically" kill Superman so they basically ripped off the Hulk while altering just enough to not making so glaringly obvious. More differences were added as the character was used later on after the "death" of Superman but what Doomsday is best remembered for is what he was during his first appearance: as a hulking, impossibly muscular, bestial, nigh invulnerable, fast healing powerhouse who went from place to place by leaping miles in a single bound.

The Nova Corps is basically Marvel's Green Lantern Corps: an intergalactic police force whose job is to help keep peace in the universe.

Comic companies "steal" ideas from each other all the time. Lobo was mostly an over the top version of Wolverine while a minor Marvel character, Lunatik, was an over the top version of Lobo. Deadpool is sort of an amalgam of Deathstroke, Wolverine and Spider-Man, pretty much every super strong woman in comics today is influenced by Wonder Woman.