Marvel and DC Comics have been battling it out for years, and one of the greatest parts of their long-standing rivalry is the amount of cross-inspiration. But recently, Marvel made a huge move!
Marvel Introduces Gotham City
Yep, you read that right. In the comic Venomverse Reborn #4, which came out in 2024, Marvel gives a whole new spin by creating its own Gotham City! We're talking a full cast of characters, making these iconic villains super interesting. It’s like a “what if?” moment that creates something totally new and shows what can happen when two of the biggest creative powers challenge each other and are constantly re-imagined.
The New Villains
The story dives into this strange, alternate reality. A world dominated by Venom, the main character Nighthawk is not just some guy. He's basically the Marvel version of Batman. The story was written by Dan Slott and illustrated by Stephen Byrne! You are going to see some totally crazy villains! We’re talking:
- Laughing Cat (like Joker)
- Gigglepus (who is obviously Harley Quinn)
- Agent Orange (this may just be Poison Ivy)
- The Exclaimer (who's clearly Riddler)
- Rockface (this one reminds us of Clayface)
All these characters live in a world very much like Gotham and Blüdhaven but with an intriguing twist! It’s called Grey Haven. They take all these characters and make a mashup of villains!
Marvel Taking Inspiration From DC
There is this neverending creative dance and flow that both companies are known for! You might recall the Squadron Supreme in the world of Marvel, which looks a lot like DC's Justice League. Some speculate, this was due to Marvel being thwarted when they wanted a huge crossover, and made their own Justice League!
But it’s not just these characters. Let's look back!
- Deadpool is based on Deathstroke
- Hawkeye came from the spirit of Green Arrow
- Thanos had inspiration from Darkseid
- The Thunderbolts (a big upcoming movie!) are a lot like DC's Suicide Squad
They also came up with the speedster, Buried Alien when The Flash was out of the picture!
DC Taking Inspiration From Marvel
It’s a two-way street. DC borrowed ideas too. We’re talking major characters here!
- Black Racer and Silver Surfer
- Commander Steel and Captain America
- Red Lion and Black Panther
And let’s not forget Aquaman who may be totally based off Namor!
They’ve even crossed over sometimes! Major crossover events have included Justice League/Avengers and even the Amalgam Universe!
A New Era Of Superhero Creativity
While the direct crossovers may be fewer and farther between nowadays, it’s obvious Marvel and DC both admire the others creativity and there will be times that what appears in one universe might eventually wind up somewhere else!
If you are into Venomverse Reborn make sure to check out Venomverse Reborn #4! It's a cool, creative re-imagining of the most iconic villains!
