DC vs. Marvel, building an empire


It was a big week for DC Comics and its fans, at least if you watch the CW. In addition to the 2016 returns of "Flash" and "Arrow," the CW debuted its latest DC Comics collaboration -- "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" -- and celebrated the week with a look at the expanding DC cinematic universe.

Indeed, 2016 is shaping up to be a big year for DC as it tries to compete with the Marvel cinematic universe. It's been years in the making, but the big clashes are finally here, and each is jockeying for position.

It's a rich time to be a comic books fan. In 2016 we'll get "Deadpool," a wise-cracking, different kind of Marvel superhero in February. In March, DC will begin its attempts to build a super team with "Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice." That will feature the introductions of the cinematic version of Wonder Woman, Aquaman and The Flash, as well as Ben Affleck as the new Batman. Then in May we get "Captain America: Civil War," which begins a new phase of the Marvel universe, introducing more new characters, including the latest Spiderman.

But that's not all!

Also in May, we get "X-Men: Apocalypse." Then in August, it's time for "The Suicide Squad." And, finally, in November, we get Marvel's "Dr. Strange." That's a lot of big comic book epics for the big screen.

And that's only part of what's happening. There's still plenty going on in the TV realm. In addition to "Flash," "Arrow," and "DC's Legends of Tomorrow" on the CW, there's "Supergirl" on CBS, "Gotham" on FOX, the upcoming "Lucifer" on FOX, "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Agent Carter" on ABC and a slew of Netflix Marvel series, including the second season of "Daredevil."

It's a complete saturation as two comic book companies and three media entities -- 20th Century Fox still holds the rights to the X-Men and other Marvel properties -- vie for their piece of the market. The winner could be fans, but in a time when people are already starting to get burnt out on superhero fare we have even more being foisted upon us.

It's war between Captain America and Iron Man; between Batman and Superman; and really, between Marvel and DC. After the success of "The Avengers," and the multi-film, multi-platform world Marvel has built, it only makes sense DC would get into the game. But is it too much of a good thing?

We can't answer that for sure, but check back in January of 2017 to see if we've survived.

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