Superhero Icons:

Why have some comic book characters remained more durable than others? For seven decades DC comics has sustained the market for their characters, reinventing them for modern times, while their biggest competitor, Marvel, has been bringing gritty realism for fifty years in its modern incarnation. The Big Two have survived imitators, financial battles, market slumps, and creative differences, and are now thriving in their industries in print, celluloid and digital forms, not to mention merchandising. Even with the best writers, artists, management, and legions of fans there seems to be some underlying reason why these characters have emerged as global icons. Below is a generalised view of the DC and Marvel universes, there are exceptions and other heroes to consider, but I believe that this overview is enough for the space provided.

In the DC universe you have the big seven: Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Martian Manhunter, Aquaman, The Flash and Green Lantern. They are regarded as god-like figures and even convene on the moon, or satellites, or remote locations akin to Mount Olympus. They are remote figures, a rarefied breed; they are the modern day archetypes of ancient Gods:

Superman is the sun God; man of strength, speed, intelligence and compassion. Wonder Woman is the embodiment of the female warrior and mother earth goddess. Batman is the philosopher/soldier; an Ares, or mortal Achilles, warrior, leader, and tyrannical. The Flash is the messenger of the Gods and Aquaman king of the seas. Martian Manhunter is the shape shifter; the Coyote or Loki; wise, enigmatic, an outsider. Green Lantern is Odysseus; loyal warrior, thinker and daring wanderer.

The popularity of the DC characters could be explained by their timeless qualities. They could be any of the various mythical Gods and heroes found around the world from the beginning of time. Even the DC world is more unreal and weird compared to ours with the main threats to Earth being from outer space, yet the heroes try not intercede within national or international affairs, if they do not involve super-powered beings, wanting humans' to run their own affairs instead. The nature of the characters' powers is also different. They are metahumans, intentionally created or enhanced, or have alien heritages or alien-endowed powers. Their secret identities are usually high-profile jobs or they are billionaires or bankrolled by them. They seemed to be compelled to be heroes out of

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