Veshark

I used to prefer Marvel a couple years ago but recently I've been leaning more towards DC. I love both about equally overall, I think I even own roughly the same number of trades for both publishers.

@supermanthor: Yeah, Kirby definitely got lazy the second time around. I have heard good things about Gaiman’s miniseries so I’ll probably check it out at some point.

Like you said, at least the Eternals gave us the Celestials, which I think is one of the coolest ideas in the Marvel cosmicverse.

I do agree with the sentiment though, even characters who seem like generic copies can be compelling with a good writer. Just look at Nova for instance.

@supermanthor: I don’t know if any of the examples you listed are prominent superteams that specialize in magic though (which is what the JLD and Shadowpact do for DC). Excalibur and the Captain Britain Corps aren’t really magic teams, while the Redeemers are not really noteworthy.

As for Strange, he might be the only major magic character in Marvel. Compare that to DC with popular characters like Constantine, Zatanna, Raven, Etrigan etc.

Yeah I’m aware of the Eternals. Personally I think they’re meh copies of the New Gods, the little I’ve read of the Eternals never impressed me as much as characters like Orion, Darkseid, Mister Miracle etc.

DC Cosmic has the New Gods, which alone makes me think that corner of the DCU deserves more shine. I don't know if Marvel even has a notable magic side. You have heroes like Strange and Magik and Ghost Rider, but beyond that, most other characters who use magic don't really have it as a focal point of their stories (Doom, Moon Knight, Thor, Hercules etc). You don't really see that many "magic superhero" team-ups in Marvel the way you would with say, the Shadowpact or JLD in DC. What does Marvel really have, the Midnight Sons?

Darkseid is supposed to be the living embodiment of the very concept of evil...but him having physical/sexual needs that he wants to satisfy seems oddly...beneath a God of his stature. I was actually interested in the idea of a Female Furies book (any more Fourth World material is a plus, in my opinion) but this just seems to be a weird case of writing an OOC Darkseid in order to somehow make Granny sympathetic/more of a protagonist to the reader. Which seems counterproductive considering Granny has historically been portrayed as one of the most terrifying and wicked members of Darkseid's inner circle.....

Assuming Kendra Saunders, all I can think of was that time Bruce embarrassed her in Outsiders. Pretty sure Zealot takes this.

@aros001

Eh, Linkara's a little too permanently enraged for me, especially when it comes to subpar comics. I appreciate his enthusiasm and passion for the material, though.

Countdown does indeed have an atrocious reputation. I'm honestly surprised that 52 turned out as well as it did. Considering it had four writers in the kitchen, it was a largely untested idea, and the fact that they had to explain all the subplots of the missing year for the One Year Later books? It's incredible it all worked out, while also giving much needed development to B and C-listers like the Question and Black Adam.

I really wanted to check out Batman Eternal because I enjoy Snyder's run, and the idea of a giant Bat-Family Gotham story sounds like good fun. Reminds me of the old Bat crossovers like No Man's Land. I heard Batman and Robin Eternal was even worse, though.

I feel like the flashforwards are honestly the weakest part of this season. I don't particularly care for Fat Roy and William trying to figure out why Felicity went "evil", none of it has really caught my attention so far. I will say that this season definitely seems like it doesn't have a longterm game plan. We've jumped from Slabside to the weird Dante painting subplot to Emiko Queen and Ollie going public. Me personally, I'm just waiting for Dover to return as the Star City Slayer.

On the topic of the Arrowverse though, I think Supergirl has definitely been the strongest this year so far. Shame it's on hiatus for a bit.

5? A little plain for my tastes.

Said it before and I'll say it again, I had the most fun with Arkham Knight and I think it's the best Batman game.

I honestly think City is retrospectively overrated. While I acknowledge the quantum leap in gameplay that it introduced, and it singlehandedly established the template for every Arkham game to come after, it's the game that I replay the least because I really don't enjoy the story. If they had just focused on the hook of a city-wide prison and Joker dying, I would have been fine. But the weird Protocol 10 subplot with Ra's and the underground Wonder City really detracts from the whole game, in my opinion. I will give City credit for having the best boss fight with Mr. Freeze and a memorable level with the Iceberg Lounge, though.