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Marvel transformed the X-Men into horrifying demons — a tactic DC also utilized. But the different endings highlight DC and Marvel’s differences.
WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Death of Doctor Strange: X-Men/Black Knight #1 by Si Spurrier, bob Quinn, Israel Silva, and VC’s Cory Petit, on sale now
The superhero genre is a varied one, full of unique permutations but with recognizable tropes. The two most mainstream worlds — the DC and Marvel Universes — tend to have their share of similar stories and worlds. But sometimes, the way they solve these similar concepts highlights what really makes them different.
Both DC and Marvel have revealed demonically corrupted versions of some of their biggest heroes, corrupting a variant of the Justice League and the Earth-616 X-Men. But the major difference between their fates hints at one of the principal differences between Marvel and DC.
In Tales from the Dark Multiverse: Dark Nights Metal, a reality is introduced where the Justice League lost to Barbatos. Specifically, the Tenth Metal used by the heroes in the core-DC Universe to win the day was really a trap. Instead of empowering the heroes, it corrupted the League into monstrous new forms. These “dragons” became the chief weapons of Barbatos, who used them to doom an entire multiverse. In Death of Doctor Strange: X-Men/Black Knight, the X-Men are in London when it’s briefly corrupted by the Netherking. Each member of the team is transformed into a giant demonic version of themselves.
Although the monstrous versions of the superheroes are similar in theory, their fates are actually radically different. The X-Men are quickly confronted by MU mainstays Excalibur and Black Knight, who find a way to dispel the corruption. They quickly save the day and rescue the X-Men, who help protect London. The demented Justice League are not so lucky. With so little of their reality left, the remnants of the Justice League sacrifice themselves to destroy the dragons. The only one who ever regains even a sense of himself is Superman — who has time to thank Nightwing for killing him. The X-Men got the chance to help save the day, while the Justice League was wiped out in short order.
This is indicative of the intent behind both universes. The Marvel Universe is often an unending adventure. Despite the growth and potential closure characters might find, the core Marvel characters must always have the ability to continue on into future stories. That even applies to alternate reality characters, who often come back after their own stories have logically ended (such as with Old Man Logan or the Days of Future Past Wolverine). DC on the other hand — with its more varied history of reboots, Elseworlds, and unique stories — is more at peace introducing (and destroying) variants of its characters. This means there’s an inherent habit for finality in their stories. The Justice League in Tales from the Dark Multiverse is just one of countless Justice Leagues — and can suffer a tragic fate with no overall repercussion.
This speaks to one of the overall differences between the DC and Marvel characters. Marvel characters always need to continue changing, preventing them from ever being fully transformed or destroyed. Almost every major Marvel hero has been killed or retired, only to end up back in the line of duty. DC characters have a history of existing in different iterations, giving them the chance to change and end with a sense of finality. While the X-Men’s transformation is interesting, it doesn’t even last the entire issue before it’s undone. Meanwhile, DC’s demented dragons are a truly terrifying fate for the Justice League, with their deaths causing the explosive ends of their last remaining allies. In that sense, they really are creepier than Marvel’s corrupted X-Men, as they inherently don’t get the chance to be restored.
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