Unlike Marvel Cinematic Universe, DC has a loyal and concrete reputation amongst comic fans. And, 2023 seems like a great year for DC with the exciting release of ‘The Flash’, ‘Blue Beetle’, ‘Shazam: Fury of Gods’, and ‘Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom’. With the increasing demand for Superhero fiction, MCU and DC are the only two franchises always in constant competition.
DCU has had always a massive comic fan following but sadly the movies could not get a similar fan base as Marvel. Despite delivering box office hits, DCU has always been behind MCU. Here are the few opportunities that would have made DCU beat Marvel to emerge as the best superhero franchise.
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5. DCEU Suffers From Poor Visual Effect
The primary element of any superhero film is its visual effect. From the superhero flying to action sequences highly depend on aesthetically pleasing visuals that attract the fans. Meanwhile, MCU has mastered its films with convincing CGI and great visual effects, unlike DC’s films.
CGI has played a massive role in the DCEU over the last eight years, whether it is underwater palaces, cities to be destroyed, or enormous villains. DC and Warner Bros have invested heavily in visual effects. And yet it is behind Marvel. Like the antagonist of the film ‘Wonder Woman‘, Ares was altered with way too much CGI to try and make him a more intimidating foe. And also Henry Cavill’s infamous CGI upper lip.
4. DCEU Needs To Expand And Branch Out Through Series
During the lockdown, MCU started expanding its content through series on OTT platforms which helped them maintain a loyal and engaged fanbase. A huge difference between the two universes is that MCU released a number of TV shows with intertwined stories and crossover of different characters.
DC tends to focus on larger-than-life stories, while Marvel’s TV shows often revolve around the character’s personal struggles which are often relatable. While DC has had success with its standalone shows like ‘The Flash’ and ‘Arrow’, they have failed to create a cohesive universe like MCU. And also by linking their shows together and having characters crossover, DC can build excitement and anticipation among fans.
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3. DCEU Failed To Connect Its Stories
For a thriving crossover, it is immensely necessary to connect the stories of the character and to make sure it fits in the crossover. While DCU struggles with connecting its stories, MCU has a way of connecting stories that also pays attention to details. Meanwhile, DCU treats the shared universe differently.
Although this isn’t a huge deal, it gets disorganized and complicated when characters crossover into a different narrative. The outcome is frustrating and the relevance of the particular character in the story is never explained.
2. DCEU Needs To Prioritize New Characters
When DCU is mentioned the only two characters that come to mind are Batman and Superman. Both heroes are popular and have huge fandoms, which has made them perfect candidates for superhero films. The origin stories of these characters are often reprised or reimagined to the point where it seems like DC movies only ever focus on those two heroes.
With numerous stories about other superheroes in the comics, the DCU is expected to have more content to deliver. Instead, they seem to adhere to what is profitable. The MCU, on the other hand, has multiple heroes appearing in its movies and TV shows.
1. DCEU And Its Obsession With Dark Themes
It is high time DCU needs to get over its darker tones. Unlike DCU’s darker and gritter tone, MCU is known to add a comic tone. After the success of the ‘Dark Knight‘ trilogy, the subsequent films followed had a very dark tone, despite the comics’ lighter atmosphere, which also included the storyline of ‘Wonder Woman’ and ‘The Flash’.
The superheroes of DCU are flawed and scarred and possess powerful abilities. With their often troubled backstories, it is inevitable that the stories don’t have a darker tone.
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