Super Heroes never lead the good life, where are the super heroic press junkets, comped meals, and groupies? where? I ask you, how can anyone believe that a guy like batman would be that lonely?
There is one exception to that rule, Adrian Veidt from Watchmen (a.k.a. Ozymandias), he's as rich as he can only be, and has his own line of action figures and merchandising.
__________________
"That is not dead which can eternally lie
And with strange eons even death may die" - sang by Abdul Al Hazred as he left the nameless city
"Let us reinvent the gods, all the myths of the ages;
celebrate symbols from deep elder forests..."
"I am a guide to the labyrinth."
"I am the lizard king. I can do anything."
"There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors. " -Jim Morrison
DC: Earth is literally the metaphysical center of the universe.
Partly because, but for those geen-fucking white martians, all mankind was supposed to be superpowered, and partly becasue it simply is. There's a point just outside the moons orbit where massive energy use will let you end the universe.
Marvel: Cyclops is the metaphysical center of the universe. Whiny bastard.
In general, for a proper comic feel, it's worth having a few interstellar entities get stopped by lucky/skilled/powerful/driven earthers, then the Interstellar Community freaks out and tries to seal us off/wipe us out because we're clearly dangerous.
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++Only In Death Does Duty End++
There's a big difference in SCOPE between the two universes.
The DC USA have a bunch of extra large cities. DC history is mapped out a lot more, with 3 large heroic eras (40s, today, and 30th century). The DC Universe has a lot of planets, and lots of off-Earth supers (Darkstars, GL Corps, Omega Men, New Gods, etc.). The DC Multiverse has a lot of alternate Earths, Elseworlds and other dimensions (like Gemworld, the Dreaming, etc.). DC even has a lot of different histories (pre-Crisis, pre-Zero Hour, and various reboots).
Marvel, for the most part, puts the action in or around New York City. The heroes do go elsewhere, but they are often based in NYC. Consequently, most heroes are a lot more down-to-earth, everyman kind of things. There are invented places, planets, times and dimensions, but they don't usually get the same amount of development as you'd find in the DCU.
Not to say both universes don't have their share of invented COUNTRIES, including each a version of Atlantis.
That could make an interesting focus for a Supers campaign in either universe. For example, a Marvel Super Heroes game taking place in a less developped milieu (prehistory with the Deviants or in the Shi'ar Empire). Or a DCU series taking place in dullsville ol' Los Angeles.
__________________ Siskoid
GMing: GURPS Torg
Blogging: Siskoid's Blog of Geekery
Designing: Unauthorized Dr. Who CCG
The New Genesis/Apokolips stuff... I wouldn't say the New Genesis folks are particularly "good" as such, they're just not as twisted. The death character is the Black Racer, a guy on skis - does he have anything to do with NG/A? IIRC Rocket racer was a black guy on a skateboard who once fought Spider-Man.
I thought Metropolis etc replaced New York etc in DC. It certainly comes across that way in the recent JLA/Avengers crossover.
You are correct about Black Racer. I stand corrected.
I'm pretty sure all the real cities exist in DC, along with the fictional ones.
__________________
"Let me strive every moment of my life to make myself better and better, to the best of my ability, that all may profit by it."
I wrote a movie! “Family”, stars Renee Humphrey (Mallrats) and Boyd Kestner (Blackhawk Down, Hannibal), and written by yours truly. It airs periodically on Lifetime Movie Network (not Lifetime Channel, FYI).
It’s a psycho-thriller about an escaped convict who gets hitches a ride with a cop and his son. Throw in a trunk-full of money, some old accomplices, insanity and a body count. Mix. Add popcorn.
You are correct about Black Racer. I stand corrected.
I'm pretty sure all the real cities exist in DC, along with the fictional ones.
They do -- Hawkman was Chicago's superhero for a while, and Teen Titans HQ was on an island off Manhattan up until I stopped reading. Timber Wolf was based out of DC during his brief stay in the 20th century, and the LSH often listed real city names next to Gotham and Metropolis on computer screens.
--Eric
__________________ Ron Swanson: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Don't teach a man to fish, and you feed yourself. He's a grown man. Fishing's not that hard. - Parks and Recreation
I think that the most basic fundamental difference is that Marvel characters are, at their core, ordinary humans with extraordinary abilities. Their abilities have limits, have a price, and carry certain responsibilities.
DC characters (with the notable exception of Batman) are more like demigods.
MHO, of course.
May have been true once, but now I'd say that's more determined by individual writers. Also MHO:-)
Super Heroes never lead the good life, where are the super heroic press junkets, comped meals, and groupies? where? I ask you, how can anyone believe that a guy like batman would be that lonely?
The Earth is the greatest repository of Bad Luck in the Universe. Even if you've been around for billions of years this little planet will screw you up like nothing you've encountered before. Your aeons-old law enforcement orginization will fold. Your loyal scouts will suddenly start deserting you like there's no tomorrow. If you eat planets, you will not be able to digest this one. The queen of your vast empire will fall for a guy from this world.
They do -- Hawkman was Chicago's superhero for a while, and Teen Titans HQ was on an island off Manhattan up until I stopped reading. Timber Wolf was based out of DC during his brief stay in the 20th century, and the LSH often listed real city names next to Gotham and Metropolis on computer screens.
--Eric
Don't forget that the less liked Green Lantern from all the corps history (don't know why he's not liked), Kyle Rayner, is based in New York.
__________________
"That is not dead which can eternally lie
And with strange eons even death may die" - sang by Abdul Al Hazred as he left the nameless city
"Let us reinvent the gods, all the myths of the ages;
celebrate symbols from deep elder forests..."
"I am a guide to the labyrinth."
"I am the lizard king. I can do anything."
"There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors. " -Jim Morrison
Last edited by Jigoku_no_Shinigami; 08-14-2004 at 06:41 PM..
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