Marvel and DC have created so many different superheroes, respectively, that it would have been almost impossible for similarities between some of their superheroes to not exist. The question then becomes, did one company copy the other, or are some similarities there by chance? This will not be an exhaustive list by any means, and it will not include superheroes that solely have a superpower that is so common that there are many superheroes with it (eg, super-strength).
Supergirl vs. Rogue - Not everything is identical between these superheroines, but a fight between the two would be very close. Supergirl has laser vision and speed, while Rogue can steal powers from another person. So maybe the winner would be whoever could use their exclusive power(s) first. Supergirl definitely came before Rogue, so we have to give a strike to Marvel for being about 20 years late on this combination of superpowers.
Banshee vs. Black Canary - Both characters have a notable "sonic cry" that can damage enemies' hearing, and Banshee's can move physical objects. Banshee is probably the cooler of the two, since he can also fly, but Black Canary is more well-known (especially because of her appearance in the show Smallville) and has an appearance in comics 20 years earlier than Banshee. Once again, DC has Marvel beat.
Dr. Fate vs. Spider-Man - Wait a minute -- what do these two have in common? OK, so it's a minor component of each of their arsenal of superpowers, but they both have precognition. Spider-Man's is much less specific, only alerting him to danger. But Dr. Fate's is much more thorough and much further into the future than Spider-Man's. DC: 3; Marvel: 0.
Kitty Pryde vs. Martian Manhunter - A fight between the two wouldn't be a competition, but it's still an interesting comparison. Martian Manhunter has so many superpowers that it's hard to keep track of them, while Kitty only has the power that the two hold in common: the ability to go through solid matter. And yet Kitty still retains a somewhat prominent place on the world's most well-known
superhero team. Kudos to Marvel for making her a key character despite a relatively late appearance (1980), but it's the DC representative in this comparison that's been around longer.
Iceman vs. Mr. Freeze - There are many characters in the superheroes universe with the ability to manipulate ice, but these are the most well-known in Marvel and DC, respectively. Bottom line: Iceman can go without having an ice-gun and ice-suit. Iceman wins, preventing a shut-out by DC.
Even though I myself am more of a Marvel fan than DC, in most of these comparisons it's the DC superhero with the advantage. Feel free to comment on other comparisons that aren't included in this article.
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