DC Event Are Better Than Marvel Ones for This One Little Reason

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For over four decades, major events have been a staple of Marvel and DC Comics’ publishing plans. Like everything in comics, these events have evolved significantly. Originally happening about once a year, they now seem constant, with each new event promising huge changes to the comic universe. This frequency has led to ‘event fatigue,’ a common complaint among fans. While both companies do it, Marvel tends to overdo it more often. However, DC generally executes these large-scale stories much more effectively than Marvel.

It’s surprising because Marvel wasn’t always behind DC when it came to big comic book events. For a long time, Marvel actually did events better. But over the years, DC has consistently outshone Marvel, and the key difference is how they handle tie-in issues. While these extra chapters can be frustrating, both companies used to manage them well. Marvel lost its touch somewhere along the way, and DC has been dominating ever since, starting with the highly successful ‘Infinite Crisis’ event.

DC Has Found a Way To Keep Event Tie-Ins From Being Intrusive

I remember when DC first hinted at the ‘Infinite Crisis’ event 22 years ago, much like Rose in ‘Titanic’ recalling the ship’s sinking. The build-up really began after ‘Countdown to Infinite Crisis,’ but there were clues in many DC comics even before that. Eventually, it led to several miniseries and tie-in issues in the regular comics. What was great was that these comics felt like they were naturally contributing to the story, rather than forcing it in. Interestingly, Marvel was doing something similar at the same time and seeing success. They didn’t start using tie-in miniseries for different teams and characters until ‘Civil War,’ and even then, they made sure it didn’t disrupt the main storylines.

DC Comics has always excelled at making its event tie-in books feel like a natural part of the larger story. When a series connected to a big event, it didn’t disrupt the ongoing narrative, unlike what sometimes happens with Marvel events. This strength seems to date back to the original Crisis, and DC consistently manages to get its creative teams more fully invested in event storytelling. Even as tie-in miniseries became common for all major events, DC consistently did a better job. They simply produce fewer tie-ins per event than Marvel, and often feature work from their most talented creators, which elevates the quality. These DC tie-ins also feel more essential, expanding on important background details that aren’t required reading but enrich the overall experience.

DC Comics really hit its stride with Dark Knights: Metal. Writers like Scott Snyder and James Tynion IV created numerous connected stories, alongside acclaimed creators such as Jeff Lemire and Grant Morrison. These tie-in series were well-executed and didn’t overwhelm readers. Death Metal followed the same successful formula: a collection of miniseries by top writers – including the event’s lead architect – and a limited number of related stories within the main series. DC has continued this approach ever since, and it’s a key reason why I enjoy Dark Crisis. The tie-ins are fantastic and genuinely enhance the overall experience of the main storyline.

Marvel’s last truly successful large-scale event, in my opinion, was A.X.E.: Judgment Day. They achieved this by having Kieron Gillen write many of the connecting stories, making it feel cohesive and relevant to the existing comic books. It allowed creators to explore interesting new ideas. However, that was a rare occurrence for Marvel, and they haven’t replicated it since. DC, on the other hand, consistently delivers events with tie-ins written by top-tier creators, including the original authors. I’ve enjoyed all of the DC K.O. tie-ins so far – you can tell everyone involved is passionate about the story and they’re all incredibly talented, like Snyder, Williamson, and Waid. And based on upcoming announcements, it looks like the quality will continue to improve.

Marvel Puts Out More Events, but DC Is the Master of Them

As a big comic book fan, I’ve noticed Marvel’s been doing so many events lately, and honestly, it’s getting a little exhausting. They seem to launch mini-events constantly, which then lead to short-lived series by lesser-known creators, and even their regular titles sometimes fizzle out after being tied into these events. It’s become a real issue for Marvel, and I think it’s why so many people are experiencing ‘event fatigue.’ Meanwhile, since Dark Knights: Metal, DC has been doing things differently – their events actually get people excited, and they consistently deliver really strong books with top-tier creators involved.

While Marvel has a greater number of big events, DC consistently executes them more effectively. This is largely because DC excels at incorporating a wider range of talented creators into the overall story, resulting in stronger and more compelling tie-in series. For example, looking at DC’s Final Crisis and its related titles, you’ll find a wealth of fantastic stories from top creators. Marvel’s tie-ins often lack the same impact. DC simply understands how to make tie-in events work, and it’s made a significant difference in their success.

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2025-11-29 17:42