The Comeback of DC

Do you remember a time when Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy changed the face of superhero films through its gritty, realistic reboot? DC was at the top of its game, and many argued that it had the upper hand over Marvel. But then something miraculous happened: Marvel shot out exceptionally witty and adventurous films such as Iron Man, Thor, Captain America and the promise of an unbeatable team-up called The Avengers. On the other hand, DC rebutted with misfires like Green Latern–-jeez, does that film reveal DC’s nonexistent sense of humor. Even Man of Steel was too serious for its own good.

Many would argue that DC can no longer compete with the movie-making machine that is Marvel Studios. But I propose an alternative theory.

While Marvel has undoubtedly captured the cinematic universe, DC has slowly edged its way back onto the map through a different route: the small screen. For a while, live action superhero TV shows had been put on the back-burner. Sure, Smallville served as the exception, portraying the growth of a young Clark Kent before he took the mantle of Superman, but, otherwise, superheroes on television were seen only in animation.

This would all change in 2012 with the release of Arrow. A show doomed to fail from the start (an obscure hero on the CW, are you kidding me?), it nonetheless exceeded all expectations with its gritty, grounded tone, effective flashbacks and dynamic cast. All of a sudden, DC had its first surefire TV show that the public could root for. Week after week, viewers tuned in to watch Oliver Queen struggle with his newfound vigilante role in Starling City and became invested largely because of the casts’ outstanding chemistry.

Naturally, Marvel attempted to counter with Marvel’s Agents of SHIELD (in case we forgot that SHIELD is a property of Marvel). With mixed reviews and a wavering fan base, most would argue that Marvel, for once, failed in the superhero department. While this was all taking place, Arrow intelligently tested out Barry Allen (a.k.a. The Flash) in a few episodes of Season Two, which highlighted the leading man charisma of Grant Gustin. Similarly, production for a new take on Jim Gordon’s origins in Gotham city began to come under production.

In the past few weeks, Gotham and The Flash premiered to spectacular reviews, and Arrow, now in its third season, is as strong as ever. Even critics who considered Arrow too serious and gritty admit that The Flash provides a more lighthearted and witty superhero for the DC cannon. With future projects and crossovers still to come, DC has undeniably made a name for itself in the TV verse.

Look, don’t get me wrong, I love Marvel superhero movies and don’t mind waiting months after months before each is released. But, when it comes to weekly entertainment, DC is the one that has me begging for more. So, though it appears that, film-wise, DC has fallen from its Graceland, in reality, their comeback lies within one quality program at a time.