16 Years Ago, Marvel and DC Resurrected Their Two Biggest Heroes (and It Will Always Be Weird)

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As a lifelong comic book fan, I’ve always seen Marvel and DC as the two giants of the industry, but they’ve approached superheroes in really different ways. DC tends to focus on these almost god-like heroes, while Marvel’s always felt a little more… real, a little more flawed and relatable. But honestly, the line between them is blurrier than people think! They’ve been borrowing – or maybe copying – each other’s ideas for decades. You see Marvel trying to create their version of Superman all the time, and DC’s definitely taken a swing at making their own Spider-Man or Wolverine. Sometimes it’s intentional, but other times it’s just… weird coincidence. They’ll end up with strikingly similar characters – like Man-Thing and Swamp Thing, which were both being developed around the same time – or their storylines will just start to mirror each other. There was one instance of this about 16 years ago that always stuck with me as one of the strangest little overlaps in comic book history.

2010 was a great year for comics, with both Marvel and DC delivering fantastic stories. However, two major heroes, Batman and Captain America, were unexpectedly absent. Captain America had been presumed dead since 2007, following the events of Civil War, and Bucky Barnes had taken on the mantle. Similarly, Batman was believed to be killed by Darkseid and Dick Grayson had become the new Dark Knight. Surprisingly, fans had adjusted to these changes and it seemed like they would be permanent. But before the year ended, both heroes unexpectedly returned, in what felt like a coincidental move by the companies.

Batman and Captain America’s Returns Were Strangely Similar

From the start, the deaths of Captain America and Batman felt connected. Captain America’s death significantly impacted the superhero world after Civil War, and Batman’s was a key event in Final Crisis. However, it doesn’t seem like one death caused the other. While you could argue Captain America’s death influenced Batman’s, it feels like Batman’s death was always planned as part of Grant Morrison’s Batman storyline. Although the deaths appeared related, they were likely coincidental.

It was a strange moment, but the deaths of these characters felt surprisingly permanent. While everyone knew Batman wasn’t truly gone, the new Batman and Robin duo – Dick and Damian Wayne – was really resonating with fans. At Marvel, writer Ed Brubaker had spent years crafting a storyline where Bucky Barnes would become the new Captain America, and the resulting stories were fantastic. Both of these replacements felt natural, and some fans even wondered if Steve Rogers might not return. However, the launch of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in 2008, with Captain America planned as a movie, made it clear Steve Rogers wouldn’t stay dead for long.

The six-issue series Captain America: Reborn (2009-2010) revealed a long-term scheme by Red Skull, starting with his reappearance in Captain America (Vol. 5). It explained that Captain America hadn’t actually died from being shot, but was instead sent through time for Red Skull to exploit. Around the same time, in May, Batman: The Return of Bruce Wayne was released, detailing Darkseid’s plan to turn Batman into a weapon capable of destroying the entire multiverse by manipulating his journey through time.

It’s really strange how much these two stories have in common. Both feature a hero dealing with time in a unique way – Batman travels to the future, while Captain America reflects on his past. Both heroes also relied on their supporting characters and families to succeed. Although one story ended with a large battle and the other didn’t, the parallels between them are striking. Importantly, both characters were already involved in long-term storylines planned by their creators, meaning the similarities weren’t the result of copying. It was simply a coincidence, even though it didn’t feel like one.

Coincidence Is the Spice of Life

Batman and Captain America are both highly intelligent and skilled fighters who consistently overcome stronger opponents, and they’re known for their signature gadgets. Because of these similarities, it’s not surprising that their storylines sometimes mirror each other. While their personalities often lead them down different paths, the ways they’ve faced death and been resurrected have a strange parallel.

With the release of Captain America: The First Avenger approaching in 2010, Marvel wanted to ensure new comic readers would easily identify Steve Rogers as Captain America. At the same time, DC Comics had been hinting at the true fate of Bruce Wayne for two years and needed to reveal it. The timing worked out perfectly, giving comic fans two incredible character returns in a single year—a slightly unusual coincidence that ultimately benefited everyone.

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2026-05-31 16:50