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He might be one of the greatest heroes in the Marvel Universe, but let’s be real, Spider-Man would feel right at home in the DC Universe. Yes, Peter Parker is the quintessential Marvel hero, but there are elements of him that just fit better in the other half of the Big Two.
For over half a century, Spider-Man has delighted readers all across the world. The wall-crawler has faced some of the greatest challenges any hero could face, but he’s always come out on the other side. While it’s hard to deny that Spider-Man is intrinsically tied to the Marvel Universe, there’s one part of the icon that shows he’d thrive in the DC Universe.
Spider-Man Has Grown One of Marvel’s Best Families
Peter Parker Set Himself Apart from His Marvel Peers
The Marvel Universe shares a lot of similarities with its biggest rival such as rich landscapes full of colorful and creative heroes and villains. But one of the biggest differences is the number of defined ‘superhero families’. Now, that’s not to say that the Marvel Universe doesn’t have any, because hell, the Fantastic Four is pretty much the quintessential superhero family. But when fans refer to a superhero family, they generally mean larger teams that are full of sidekicks and allies who usually take direction from an iconic and well-known hero.
…in the post-Spider-Verse years, Peter Parker has been joined by additional heroes inspired by him.
And yes, the Marvel Universe does have a lot of heroes who have families, both ones that are bound by bold and others that are forged by working together. Wolverine has several offspring, such as Daken and Laura. Iron Man has allies like War Machine and Ironheart who have adopted his armored motif. And even the Hulk and his various gamma-powered compatriots like She-Hulk, Harpy, Amadeus Cho, and Skaar have teamed up to smash the evils of the world. But these groups rarely work together cohesively for any extended amount of time.
One of the biggest exceptions to the rule, however, is Spider-Man. In the last several years, especially in the post-Spider-Verse years, Peter Parker has been joined by additional heroes inspired by him. Just look at how big characters like Miles Morales and Spider-Gwen have gotten in the last decade or so. Not to mention other allies of Peter’s, like Silk, Kaine, Miguel O’Hara, and others. Granted, they’re not as cohesive a unit as say, the Bat-Family, but it’s hard to argue that Spider-Man doesn’t have one of the biggest ‘superhero families’ in the Marvel Universe.
The DC Universe is The Place for Superhero Families
Almost All the Big Heroes Have One
If there’s one thing the DC Universe has over its number one rival, it’s that it acts as a home for some of the biggest and best superhero families in comic books. ‘Legacy’ is a word that resonates all throughout the DCU and several heroes have built up some of the most well-known superhero families around. Just look at Batman. What began as a one-man war on crime blossomed into the Bat-Family, consisting of Batman’s sidekicks, family members, and allies to help him keep Gotham safe.
But the Bat-Family is just scratching the surface of the numerous families in the DC Universe. Superman leads his own Super-Family with fellow heroes Supergirl, Superboy, and Steel (and it’s only getting bigger). Wonder Woman has several generations of Wonder Girls that always fight by her side. And the Flash Family is rapidly expanding as more and more speedsters enter the scene. Not to mention the Green Lantern Corps which, while not strictly a ‘family’, is one of the largest and most powerful organized crews.
…the concept of the superhero family is one better suited to the DCU
To the outside observer, it might seem like splitting hairs between the Marvel and DC Universes. Both have teams or families that are modeled off of some of the more iconic characters. But when it comes down to it, the concept of the superhero family is one better suited to the DCU. Its heroes have just naturally lent to building large, focused teams like the Bat-Family or the Green Lantern Corps. And while a cross-company trade is off the table, Spider-Man and his extended family would be better suited if they were all in the DCU instead of Marvel.
Spider-Man and His Allies Would Be Perfect for the DCU
Maybe a Pipe Dream But Peter and His Crew Could Thrive
Few Spider-Man fans would deny that things would almost certainly be better for Peter if he lived in the DC Universe (he’d undoubtedly get more respect from the general public, at least). But aside from fitting in on his own, Spider-Man would work great in the DC Universe because of how strongly it emphasizes legacy and family. Let’s face it: There’s nothing more important to Peter than family and in the Marvel Universe, that’s a concept that doesn’t ring with every hero. But in the DC Universe, almost every big hero is building up a family of their own.
Spider-Man and his allies could really thrive in the DCU.
Sure, maybe Spider-Man’s family isn’t as big or as focused as Batman’s, but really, whose would be? But in the DC Universe, one that prides itself more on legacy characters by lifting them and finding new and exciting places for them, Spider-Man and his allies could really thrive in the DCU. Peter, Miles, Gwen, and even some of the more extended Spider-Family members (hell, throw Eddie Brock into the mix), could have a better chance of working together as a tighter unit. The DC Universe likes superhero families and Spider-Man’s crew would get along just fine if they lived there.
Marvel’s never going to let Spider-Man go obviously, and yeah, he definitely belongs in his home universe. But as Peter’s family continues to develop, the Spider-Family becomes more and more of an outlier in the Marvel Universe and one that would simply work better in the DCU. It’s nice to imagine how Peter and his allies could grow as a family if they lived in a world more geared towards superhero families. Unfortunately, despite being a great fit for the DC Universe, the extended Spider-Man family are just going to have to make do in the Marvel Universe.
“}]] Marvel’s wall-crawler is a natural fit for DC. Read More