Top 5: Marvel Heroes That Could Easily Live In The DC Universe

Yes you read the title right, today I'll present my case for 5, count 'em, 5 Marvel Comics characters that I personally feel would fit in right at home in the DCU.

Now we all know the main difference between Marvel and DC, at least initially, was that the DC heroes were pretty much a collection of super powered individuals with little to no personality. They all acted the same like they all came out of the same homogenized mix, despite their different origins.

That all changed once Marvel beat them in the sales department, because Stan Lee wanted his heroes to be more like you and me; heroes that make mistakes and have soul and depth with a lot of layers.
Don't believe me? Compare a hero like Green Arrow from his early 60's incarnations to the late 60's. He was bland and boring, and very much sounding and looking like a Batman knock-off with the cave and car and sidekick and all. Compare that with how Green Arrow later develops into more a left-wing liberal who's steadfastly anti-authority. Big difference huh?

Because of the new approach both companies came out the better for giving the readers something new and diverse to read about.

So today I'm picking 5 heroes from the Marvel Universe that could exist in the DCU if they were to be dropped over there or traded out.

Let's get to it shall we?


5). Nick Fury:

Ok, I know what you're probably thinking; "Nick Fury!? Really?"
But hear me out. Even if he were to have debuted in the DCU, I think he'd be alright alongside the likes of Sgt. Rock and the Unknown Soldier. Imagine those stories!

Sure he may have to compete with Sgt. Rock for face time, but he'd have been a natural for all those war comics DC put out back in the day,

His later role as head of SHIELD and master spy would still work, he just wouldn't be working for SHIELD(obviously) but instead for another spy organization, or something like the DEO or the GPA, Global Peace Agency that existed in the pages of Jack Kirby's Kamandi. Whatever it was he worked for, I imagine he could still be the cold and calculating, manipulative bastard he played to perfection in the MU, doing the same in the DCU instead. Could you imagine the confrontations he could have with the likes of Batman, Superman, Lex Luthor, and his DC counterpart soulmate, the wall, Amanda Waller? HOT DAMN.

4). Dr. Strange:

I honestly think the good doctor could work in the DCU. Sure he'd have to compete with the likes of Dr. Fate and Zatanna as resident sorcerer Supreme, but it could work.
Hell, maybe the Ancient One could still exist, or maybe Rama Kushna is the person he goes and sees to fix his hands, and instead gives him a holy mission as a crusading sorcerer Supreme against all the evils and demons in the world, maybe to even act as an agent of order perhaps? That'd link him to Deadman and even perhaps Dr. Fate.

Plus how about those potential team ups with all the mystics and magic-powered heroes of the DCU like Zatanna, Captain Marvel, the Golden Age Green Lantern, and of course John Constantine.

And I really don't think you'd have to change up his personality all that much, if at all, It'd still work in DC Land, but the origin, if that's where he'd be debuting, would be a bit different, as probably would be his look, unless Ditko still creates him when he goes to DC in '67.


3). Captain America:


"Captain America!? Really!?

Of course. Except this time the JLA or Superman fishes him out of the Atlantic instead of the Avengers.
Bucky could still exist, with both serving with either the JSA or the All-American Squadron, or both.
The whole man out of time angle could still work in the DCU as well, since that's more of a universal theme that could apply anywhere, rather being synonymous any one particular company.

Just imagine the team-ups! Especially Cap recounting his WW2 adventures with the JSA and Sgt. Rock. Sounds like a no-brainer right?
Sure Cap no longer shouting "Avengers Assemble" does take a good bit away from Cap, but imagine the war-cry he could invent as a member of the JLA.


2). Thor/Hercules:

I had to include Hercules because, c'mon, they're gods. Plus the Marvel versions are waaaaaaaaaayyyyyy cooler than their DC counterparts. By a lot.

Now of course these versions were created and immortalized by Lee and Kirby, so I'd probably prefer they transplant themselves after being established. Blame it on Loki or Odin, or say Thor used his hammer to cross dimensions and ended up in DC Land.

Myself? I'd have Thor and Hercules show up on Apokolips and interact with Darkseid and the New Gods. The alpha male clash between Thor and Orion(and Hercules) would be worth the price of admission alone.

1). Silver Surfer:

Sure he's mostly associated with the Fantastic Four, especially in large part because of his former boss Galactus.
Because of his unique origin and former status as Galactus's herald/slave, that pathos can still be mined, especially with other popular aliens who are also estranged from their home planets like Superman and the Martian Manhunter, Surfer would find a good number of kindred spirits, especially with the Green Lantern Corps eh?
It could work.

I'm throwing in one more. Spider-Man.

Here's why I'm iffy on the web-head being successful in DC Land:
If DC were to play to his strengths as an everyman, a pure-hearted hero who never gives up, and a scientist, he may have a place there. Just imagining him rubbing elbows with the DC pantheon of heroes is just too cool to pass up on. Hell imagine Keith Giffen writing him. The jokes man, the jokes! Especially if Spidey had been a member of the Justice League during his famous run in the 80's.
You can't tell me Ted Kord and Peter Parker wouldn't be instant BFFS, since they have more in common than Ted does with Booster. And then throw in the Creeper, and yeah, Spidey could hang.

So those are my pics. Could I include more? Sure, there's lots more I'm not thinking of, but the sake of this article, I wanted to keep it short and simple.

Tomorrow, it's DC's turn, as I look at DC heroes that could easily live in the Marvel Universe if they had to.