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DC has Superman.

Image has Spawn.


Who is Marvel's main character/superhero? Who is the face of Marvel?

Spider-Man, I would wager.

Spidey.

Why?

Iron Man.

Ten years ago it'd have been Spider-Man, but the MCU has completely altered the way Marvel markets it's products. Iron Man is in, and a part of, every piece of merchandise you can think of nowadays. Spidey has more cultural relevance and nostalgia attached to him being the face of Marvel, but if it's a decision of putting Iron Man or Spiderman's image on something, Tony is going to get the nod these days.

Same reason I'd argue that Batman is the true face of DC, despite what DC actually says - they put more marketing behind Batman (more shows, more games, more movies, more products, more comics) than Superman.

Unless you're talking about in-universe relevance, in which case Superman is clearly the winner and Marvel has the Avengers as no single character really encompasses that position or merits that focus.

In every major multiversal storyline, it's always Superman that gets the job done.

We've seen him become DC's ultimate superhero (yes, arguably greater than Logoz/Mages-empowered Spectre.) He has the greatest story ever told amongst any superhero in the entire comicdom, bar none.

About merchandise, that's a different topic altogether. Batman captures the intrigue of both comic and non-comic fans due to him being a mere human with no supernatural enhancements. I see him as REALISTICALLY the ideal superhero in the eyes of most people. But Superman IS the ideal comic book superhero.

It's the same with Spider-Man. He arguably has the best story amongst all other Marvel superheroes. I can see the reason why he's been viewed this way. But the thing is, he's never been established as the character that finishes off the big bad in multiversal events. None of Marvel's superheroes have, imo. That's the problem.

Pete or Tony, as others have said. In a symbolic sense, Steve is their center. But in terms of widespread appeal, the other two.

Originally posted by AsbestosFlaygon
But the thing is, he's never been established as the character that finishes off the big bad in multiversal events. None of Marvel's superheroes have, imo. That's the problem.

That's a problem? I consider it a bigger problem that a company would have someone whose job it is to finish off every big threat. Superman is a great character when treated like the mythic symbol as well as the man. But overuse in-universe is a real issue with both companies and their biggest draws.

I mean, for all the attention its gotten, Secret Wars is a literal rehash of a story that's already been told, complete with the same big bads and heroes (give or take a couple on either side). Both are guilty of this idiocy.

Secret Wars 2015 was made to end the Ultimate universe.

Anyone but Wolverine

Hulk.

He gets the job done. Kids love him, writers love him, fans love him, he's a smashing hit in the movies etc... And the list goes on.

Marvel: Hulk
DC: Superman
Image: Spawn

No.

Originally posted by Digi
Pete or Tony, as others have said. In a symbolic sense, Steve is their center. But in terms of widespread appeal, the other two.



That's a problem? I consider it a bigger problem that a company would have someone whose job it is to finish off every big threat. Superman is a great character when treated like the mythic symbol as well as the man. But overuse in-universe is a real issue with both companies and their biggest draws.

I mean, for all the attention its gotten, Secret Wars is a literal rehash of a story that's already been told, complete with the same big bads and heroes (give or take a couple on either side). Both are guilty of this idiocy.

That hasn't been true for almost a decade, to be fair. In fact, the character has even been hurting of late.

Originally posted by Blair Wind
Iron Man.

Ten years ago it'd have been Spider-Man, but the MCU has completely altered the way Marvel markets it's products. Iron Man is in, and a part of, every piece of merchandise you can think of nowadays. Spidey has more cultural relevance and nostalgia attached to him being the face of Marvel, but if it's a decision of putting Iron Man or Spiderman's image on something, Tony is going to get the nod these days.

Same reason I'd argue that Batman is the true face of DC, despite what DC actually says - they put more marketing behind Batman (more shows, more games, more movies, more products, more comics) than Superman.

Unless you're talking about in-universe relevance, in which case Superman is clearly the winner and Marvel has the Avengers as no single character really encompasses that position or merits that focus.

Iron Man right now, sure, you could argue that, but I think Spidey will endure much more strongly.

The main guy for DC is Superman, the main guy for money and whoring is Batman.

Spidey I think is still number one in draw power, look at how many people in your movie theater ejaculated at the Spiderman teaser in Ant Man.

In universe though either Cap or Tony.

Originally posted by -Pr-
That hasn't been true for almost a decade, to be fair. In fact, the character has even been hurting of late.

Iron Man right now, sure, you could argue that, but I think Spidey will endure much more strongly.



Originally posted by Based
The main guy for DC is Superman, the main guy for money and whoring is Batman.

Spidey I think is still number one in draw power, look at how many people in your movie theater ejaculated at the Spiderman teaser in Ant Man.

In universe though either Cap or Tony.

Or, ya know, spoiler tags.

I want to tell you not to worry, but that in itself might be a spoiler, so I don't know how to phrase it.

The movies really boosted Iron Man.

Like before his movie he wasn't an unknown or anything be he was definitely one of those characters that the public only somewhat knew about and was under characters like Hulk or Captain america. Now he's being debated against Spidey in terms of being the face.

Originally posted by AsbestosFlaygon
Why?


Spider-man is easily their most popular individual hero and was the leader of Marvel's silver age- what made them as a company.


Iron Man is big of late, but people were unsure if an Iron Man movie would work before it did.

Spider-man, he's had 5 major movies and 9 TV shows. They're not going to stop making movies or TV series for him in the foreseeable future.

He crosses over with everyone in the comics. He's the hero everyone knows.


Originally posted by AsbestosFlaygon
In every major multiversal storyline, it's always Superman that gets the job done.

I consider that a bad habit. Just because someone's the big name, doesn't mean they have to be front and center at each major one.

I think Spidey or Hulk

I'd say Spider-man still.

I mean in terms of merchandise and stuff Spider-man sells miles and miles ahead of literally any other superhero (It was like 1.3 billion dollars in 2013, whereas the second highest was Batman at like $400 million or something), and that's without being front and centre in the MCU films which have caused the Avengers to become a huge thing.

In universe is obviously different, with Cap being the moral centre of the universe.

Spider-man might have the longest running series, the most games, the most movies and the most television shows; but Marrina is probably the main.

Spider-man, easily.

Any 5 year old child knows who Spidey is, just like Batman and Superman.

Spiderman, easily, no other Marvel Hero is as well known and well liked as the good ol spidey, second one would be Wolverine imo, more popular than Hulk and IronMan as far as I know.

Yeah, the Iron Man argument rests heavily with the current wave of new fans. If we go beyond that to, say, people who haven't seen the movies, Spider-Man crushes the next 5 combined at Marvel. My mom could probably tell you Spidey's name is Peter Parker. She'd struggle to remember who Iron Man is at all. SM is part of the culture in a way that's a bit hard to match in a decade, regardless of how big that decade has been.

And yeah, Wolverine hasn't been mentioned as much as I thought. Not long ago, he was in more books than anyone, even Pete, to the point where Deadpool was cracking jokes about it. He's still a top 3 draw at Marvel.

While Wolverine is still huge, I feel he has fallen some past 5-7 years.

^Disney's mandate to downplay X-men and FF.

Spider-man also has had a daily comic strip since forever, so that aids awareness as well.

http://i60.tinypic.com/a8qk3.jpg

Ah yes, a classic story