Marvel and DC are without a doubt the top dogs in the comic game and have been for sometime. Both were quick to dismantle any competitors following the golden age of comics. While Marvel Studios’ Kevin Feige has stated in regards to a modern DC Marvel rivalry, “There’s not really a rivalry…”the resulting similarities of some of the two’s biggest icons says otherwise

Character rip offs are nothing comic fans haven’t already dissected and quantified countless times, reflecting on some of the more similar Marvel and DC characters let’s strive to determine who did it better. Leave all deliberation regarding who beats who in a fight to the diligent comic battle vines.

Solomon Grundy is Technically the Original

Created by Alfred Bester, Grundy first appeared in All-American Comics #61 (October 1944). You could argue that at the time of his creation he was a far cry from the monster he is now but sometimes character evolution is unhurried.  

Cyrus Gold or better known as Solomon Grundy is the DC’s lumbering gray un dead “hulk” or vice versa, just keep reading. After refusing a blackmail from the pimp of a prostitute he had become romantically involved with, Cyrus was met with an unexpected shovel to the back of the head. Without remorse his body was tossed into the infamous Slaughter Swamp and left to stew in some primordial juices for the next five decades. Through yet unexplained means he emerged a zombie horror that would come to be known as Solomon Grundy. Depending on who is doing the writing Grundy is a nearly unstoppable un dead force that has contested power houses like Superman. Unlike the not so cheery associated nursery rhyme Grundy seems to have no plans on being buried Sunday or on any day of the week for that matter. Grundy can take an insane amount of damage, he has had Superman fly through the middle of his chest and been pretty much unaffected. Not just a punching bag by any means Grundy’s peak incarnations have shown him beating the likes of Wonder Woman in Injustice: Gods Among Us and even the Man of Steel himself in Superman 15 (1976).

Unique in his own right Grundy started off as a villain for the hero known as the Green Lantern Alan Scott but has since squared off with every member of the Justice League and countless others. At least at this point it would seem DC is content with using Grundy as a villainous brick that doesn’t quite go down. Be that as it may he has landed himself in over a dozen separate comic series, animated cartoons and even parts in some notable video games. You might be thinking Grundy takes the cake but when it comes down to selling comics but he is after all a villain and villains usually finish last in terms of popularity. Winning popular contests or not, nothing in the DC universe has put this lumbering monstrosity to rest yet.

“Solomon Grundy, Born on a Monday, Christened on a Tuesday, Wedded on a Wednesday, Took ill on a Thursday, Grew Worse on a Friday Died on a Saturday, Buried on Sunday, that was the end of Solomon Grundy…“

Hulk Came Second but Don’t Count Him Out

Created by the legend himself Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of The Incredible Hulk (May 1962)showing up to the big angry monster game a little he’s just in time to become one of the biggest reluctant heroes at Marvel Comics.

Hulk is everyone’s lovable green ball of infinite childhood induced rage, one of Stan Lee’s greats, joining the ranks of immortal characters thanks to Al Ewings awesome series Immortal Hulk. Hulks duality is what makes him stand out, think Dr Jekyll and Mr Hide; the Hulk is after all a manifestation from the scientist Bruce Banner. Banner meets his lifelong angry contemporary when exposed to an experimental gamma bomb saving the life of fellow scientist Rick Jones. Now whenever Banner is put under physical or emotional stress he is able to transform into the hulk with near limitless strength depending on his level of anger, super speed, durability and regeneration to name a few. Taking it with just a pinch of salt this is of course the classic take on the Hulk and just like Grundy it can vary from writer to writer. Now when it comes to tough, tough ain’t enough for the Hulk. Surviving some of the most awesome attacks in the Marvel universes:he reluctantly tanks some of the hardest blows the Skyfather Zeus had to offer, in one alternate timeline The Incredible Hulk: The End (Vol 11) Hulk lives in a post apocalyptic world where his flesh is devoured everyday by mutant cockroaches.

Apparently everyone  really likes to see the Hulk just going mental and just leveling things. There have been a few versions of the hulk that were not all about smashing like Joe Fix It but what sells is an angry Hulk. Permeating through nearly every nook and cranny of western culture you can hardly go to the store or turn on a TV without seeing some reference to the Hulk be it movies, toys, clothing, food, video games or comics the hulk is almost as synonymous with America as Captain America himself. If your thinking this sounds a lot like how popular Grundy is among the fans, sadly that thought might be stretching it at best. While Solomon Grundy has become a staple villain in the DC universe the hulk has since grown out of the comic and media scene and has become somewhat of an icon. Be honest you’ve put on a pair of Hulk hands and tried to smash a wall, but you haven’t done that with Grundy hands. Do they even make those?

““There ain’t many around who can describe what it feels like to get hit by the Hulk… Simple fact bein’ there ain’t many around who can survive to tell the tale. There ain’t no pain at first. It’s like he hits ya so damn hard ya actually leave yer own body. It’s when ya come back that ya feel the pain. An’ ya realize yer goin’ toe-to-toe with a walkin’ earthquake.” – Wolverine

The Outcome

If you stuck around from start to finish to see the results you’re amazing, if you just scrolled to the bottom to see the outcome you are my people and I don’t blame you. Crunching the numbers Grundy came first and the award for originality has to go to DC (Grundy), both characters are eerily similar but have some glaring difference making each unique. Switching gears and comparing the monster level of power they both possess this was a little bit harder to determine, both had astounding feats but the Hulk simply had more and has proven his strength is all but set. Hulk takes the round for Marvel toting a nearly limitless level of physical strength. Lastly who was more popular this is indeed a popularity contest, Hulk wins this one for marvel as well hands down. Both characters sell comics and have had significant character development but apples and oranges. Hulk has had several stand alone movies, animated series etc. proving he doesn’t need a team to garner loyal fans.

Final Results

Winner is the Hulk for his dominating level of power and a fan base that continues to grow, cementing a status as one of the most popular Marvel heroes of all time. Did you see it going differently, are you a DC hard fan that knows for a fact Grundy takes the cake and the Hulk is generic knock off let us know. If your a die hard DC fan or a hard core Marvel reader or if you just enjoyed the piece, post your comments below and shoot a suggestion of what characters are a mirror image of each other.