For those of you who haven’t been paying attention, DC Comics has been on an upswing recently. Shocking I know, but it’s true! Dawn of DC, their branding for this initiative, has been very good so far. It’s not a crossover, not really a relaunch per se, just a good jumping on point for those interested in seeing what Marvel’s distinguished competition are up to. Pick up Superman #1. You won’t regret it.
Anyway, speaking of Marvel, if you’ve been reading Amazing Spider-Man recently, you’ll no doubt be aware that their overall quality has been slipping as of late, at least in the opinion of this not particularly humble author. It’s so far not been a drastic reduction in quality, and there have still been strong titles (Venom and Fantastic Four spring to mind). However, it would be a lie to say there haven’t been some slip-ups as of late. Some due to circumstances, some due to incompetence, but all a natural part of a cycle.
“A cycle?” I imagine you asking. Yes indeed. I have a theory you see; a theory I think you will find most intriguing. I call it the Pendulum of Quality, swinging back and forth, back and forth, eternally onwards. If it helps, think of Marvel and DC as kids on a teeter totter. As one side goes up, the other invariably comes down.
You can see this pattern most clearly in recent years. Think back to 2014-2015. It was the last days of the New 52, quality titles seemed few and far between, and even the standard bearers seemed to have lost their luster. In contrast, 2014-2015 saw the Jonathan Hickman’s Avengers, Dan Slott’s Spider-Verse, Jason Aaron’s Thor (with Jane Foster), and so on. Go forward to 2016-2017, DC came roaring back to life with DC Rebirth under the direction of Geoff Johns, and Marvel… well, I don’t want to be mean, but I don’t think there are many that would say Civil War II, Secret Empire, or Marvel Legacy were highlights of their long and storied history.
Indeed, Marvel certainly wouldn’t and they fired their editor-in-chief over those shortcomings, bringing in the Fresh Start era which featured the redemption of Nick Spencer in Amazing Spider-Man, the meteoric rise of Donny Cates and the Venomverse, Aaron’s Avengers, and Al Ewing’s Immortal Hulk. What was DC doing around this time? Oh yeah. With Geoff Johns understandably hating his job and jumping ship and Dan Didio back in total control, we got Heroes in Crisis, Ric Grayson, Year of the Villain, and Death Metal all in short succession, among other dishonorable mentions.
Now that’s not to say any of these downturns didn’t have their hits as well as their misses, nor is it a condemnation of you if you liked any of the above stories. It’s just a noticeable critical and commercial pattern. It goes back further than the last decade too. Ever since the Bronze Age at least, the pendulum swings back and forth between them. One rises, one falls. Sometimes the rise and fall are minimal, sometimes they are precipitous, but they are always there.
With one exception.
From late 2003 to early 2011, both Marvel and DC’s stars burned bright. Again, not perfect, but pretty close. At DC, this would be the era of things like All-Star Superman, 52, Blackest Night, Batman Hush, Black Reign, Greg Rucka’s Wonder Woman, Ed Brubaker’s Gotham Central, Geoff Johns’s Green Lantern, Grant Morrison’s Batman, the various JLA’s, JSA’s and so on. At Marvel, Secret War, Civil War, Secret Invasion, Dark Reign, Siege, Mark Millar’s Wolverine, Ed Brubaker’s Captain America and X-Men, J. Michael Straczynski’s Thor, Brian Michael Bendis’ Daredevil, Jessica Jones, Avengers, New Avengers, Dark Avengers, … You get the idea. This was perhaps the only time where they both were extremely strong showings. Not all of them, but usually even the low-tiers had something worthwhile. Naturally, this is also the place where many of the movies draw inspiration.
Anyways, if you’re a DC fan, rejoice! The pendulum swings back in your favor. If you’re a Marvel fan, don’t despair. As I said, even the downturns have their bright spots, and with Phillip Kennedy Johnson’s Hulk on the horizon and Jed McKay’s Avengers, who knows? Maybe they’ll reach some kind of equilibrium once again.