Marvel Comics has often been accused of mimicking DC's characters, with examples like Deadpool, who parodies Deathstroke, or the Nova Corps, which many see as a nod to the Green Lantern Corps. However, there are instances where DC Comics has turned the tables and drawn inspiration from Marvel.
To kick off this conversation, we look at Rocket Red, known as the Soviet analogue of Iron Man. Rocket Red, or Dmitri Pushkin, is an ordinary man turned superhero through the use of weaponized armor. While Tony Stark, Iron Man, is an American industrialist, Dmitri is portrayed as a committed Russian patriot. Despite these cultural differences, the core idea behind their powers is strikingly similar. Additionally, Rocket Red forms a collective of armored droids called the Rocket Red Brigade, reminiscent of Stark's Iron Legion.
Aquaman, a staple of the DC superhero lineup today, appears to have been inspired by Marvel's Namor, the Sub-Mariner. Namor, introduced in 1939, was an underwater monarch who predated Aquaman's debut by two years. Both characters share the backstory of ruling Atlantis and battling Nazis in their early storylines. Despite his initial success, Namor became more of a niche character and occasional villain compared to the mainstream popularity Aquaman achieved over time.
Jason Todd's transformation into the Red Hood might not seem directly linked to Bucky Barnes, but timing hints otherwise. Bucky was brought back as the Winter Soldier in January 2005, shortly before Jason Todd's revival as Red Hood in February of the same year. Initially sidekicks—Robin to Batman and Bucky to Captain America—both underwent transformations into brainwashed adversaries who later renounced villainy to adopt their own versions of vigilante justice.
In a more modern parallel, the 2018 DC hero Sideways seems to echo Spider-Man, with elements of his costume and personal life resembling the latter's, particularly the 2000 Ultimate Spider-Man storyline. Sideways, real name Derek James, is a promising student living with his adoptive parents, mirroring Peter Parker's background.
Finally, Deadpool, a wildly successful Marvel character, was initially a parody of DC's Deathstroke. DC mirrored this by creating Red Tool, a comedic take on Deadpool. With the character Wayne Wilkins echoing traits of Wade Wilson, and even having a similar red and black outfit, the influence is evident.
From armored avengers to intentional parodies, these elements illustrate how DC Comics has borrowed and reimagined elements from Marvel's library, demonstrating that the inspiration between these two giants is mutual.