DC and Marvel Comics are the two biggest names in superhero comics, each with an extensive pantheon of super powered, costumed do-gooders. However, behind the scenes is a constant input of fresh creative talent that’s allowed these characters and their stories to endure for close to a century, and will hopefully endure for centuries to come.
Although there was a time writers and artists remained loyal to one company, that phenomenon is far less common in today’s society. Still, there are a few writer and artist teams that have mostly stuck to DC Comics so far, despite there being several Marvel projects they’d be perfectly suited to take over.
10 Spider-Man by Geoff Johns & Francis Manapaul
Since his introduction in the 1960s, Spider-Man has been the most popular Marvel Comics character. However, when faced with a character who’s been written and illustrated by some of the greatest creative talents in comics, perhaps the easiest way to do something new with him is to put him in the hands of the most definitive voice in DC of the last two decades, Geoff Johns. He’s the man who’s made a career out of making big, long-lasting additions to the mythologies of characters like Green Lantern, Flash and Batman. Adding Francis Manapaul’s art style to the comics would guarantee a Spider-Man that looked totally different to the versions that have come before him.
9 Hulk by Scott Snyder & Greg Capullo
Scott Snyder first made his mark in fiction as a horror writer, from the critically acclaimed American Vampire series to Wytches and even Swamp Thing. His New 52 Batman collaborator Greg Capullo certainly has a knack for drawing monsters, as exhibited during his lengthy tenure on Spawn.
Consequently, the duo could create a new take on the modern monster myth of the Hulk, especially if they leaned into his horror roots and the groundwork laid by Al Ewing and Joe Bennett in their recent run. Additionally, Snyder’s tenure at DC was marked by fantastical explorations of their superheroes’ internal demons, and no one has a bigger internal struggle than Bruce Banner.
8 X-Men by Gene Luen Yang & Jorge Jiminez
Gene Luen Yang is an Eisner Award Winning writer-artist behind landmark works like Boxers and Saints and American Born Chinese. Also, his lengthy associations with the man of steel produced the acclaimed Superman vs. The Ku Klux Klan. Alongside a lighthearted sense of humor and innovative story structures, Yang is well known for exploring issues of identity.
No comic book characters better represent questions of alienation and identity than the X-Men. Jorge Jiminez, who’s fluid kinetic style was on full display in books like Justice League and Super-Sons, is perfectly adept at balancing a large cast of characters to create a variety of character designs and epic action sequences.
7 Daredevil by Brian Azzarello & Eduardo Risso
Daredevil is often considered Marvel’s answer to Batman, and while there are several iconic Batman creative teams to choose from, the freshest choice might be Brian Azzarello and Eduardo Risso, who collaborated on a hundred plus issues of the critically acclaimed Vertigo title 100 Bullets, as well as the six issue story arc, Batman: Broken City. Azzarello’s writing is notable for its bleak nature. Some might argue he’s too cynical, even for Batman. Meanwhile, Risso’s art is notable for its expressive use of shadows. As a result, the pair are perfected suited to tap into Daredevil’s potential as a noir superhero.
6 Doctor Strange by Grant Morrison & Liam Sharp
Morrison and Sharp were the creative team on the recent, Hal Jordan: Green Lantern series. As a creative team, they bounced around between parallel earths, strange new dimensions, bizarre non-human creatures, and a variety of art styles. Sharp’s art stems from the 2000 AD tradition, and his playfulness with style would certainly fit Doctor Strange’s reality bending adventures.
As for Grant Morrison, who better than an actual (chaos) magician to write the adventures of Marvel’s most prominent sorcerer? And if one wishes to tie into the Multiverse concept, Grant Morrison can do mind-blowing multiversal shenanigans in his sleep.
5 Captain America by Tom King & Mikel Janin
Espionage is a big part of Captain America comics, especially after he was resurrected in the ’60s, as evidenced during Ed Brubaker’s defining modern run on the character. Who better to tell tales of spy-craft than a former CIA officer, the Eisner-Award winning Tom King? Captain America is also about American identity and the conflict between progressive principles and cynicism. It takes a subtle hand to write themes of justice, and comics like Sherriff of Babylon and Strange Adventures suggest King is fit for duty. His Grayson: Agent of S.P.Y.R.A.L collaborator, Mikel Janin, would be able to tap into that Jim Steranko style espionage feeling while giving Cap a dynamic cinematic style.
4 Wolverine by Mariko Tamaki & Andrea Sorrentino
Alongside Daredevil and Moon Knight, Wolverine is also seen as Marvel’s Batman. Mariko Tamaki made a name for herself telling stories of alienation, which she brought to acclaimed books like Supergirl: Being Super and I Am Not Starfire. After Tamaki’s successful run on Detective Comics, she could continue telling darker, more grounded superhero stories with Wolverine. Perhaps her Japanese roots could further explore Logan’s connections with Japan. Meanwhile, Andrea Sorrentino’s cinematic art style and extensive use of shadows would look great on a dark ninja story for Wolverine.
3 Captain Marvel by Joelle Jones & Shea Fontana
Writer Shea Fontana has an extensive track record with DC super-heroines in a variety of all-ages titles, as well as a criminally short run on Wonder Woman. She’d certainly bring a sense of humor and inventiveness to the adventures of Kara Danvers.
Joelle Jones is an accomplished writer/artist who recently created DC’s new Wonder-girl and relaunched the Catwoman comics. Her variety in design would be an asset to a book like Captain Marvel, which constantly calls for all sorts of alien and other costume designs. Her depictions of people flying also capture the sense of motion and gravity like no other artist.
2 Iron Man by Mark Russell & Bernard Chang
Mark Russel made a name for himself as one of DC Comics’ most talented satirists, from books like The Flintstones, Snugglepaus (no really) and Prez. An arrogant capitalist like Tony Stark would be a great outlet for Russell’s thematic preoccupations, especially given the timely nature of questions surrounding technological innovation, uber wealthy private individuals, and monolithic multinational corporations. Bernard Chang, who had a fresh new take on the Teen Titans and Demon Knights, proved he had the chops to handle armored superheros during his lengthy tenure on the Batman Beyond comics.
1 Fantastic Four by Gail Simone & Dan Mora
Gail Simone, no relation to Jon Kent’s friend the polar bear, is great at big team books. Consider her now classic runs on Birds of Prey and The Secret Six. She’s great at handling character interactions, which is very important in a book like FF. It’s all about interpersonal dynamics as much as it’s about exploring life, the universe, and everything. But Simone’s also managed high concept comics like Red Sonja and The Atom. Meanwhile, Dan Mora is a rising star over at DC Comics. His clean art style evokes the silver age while effortlessly employing modern sensibilities, which is a valuable combination for characters as prestigious as Marvel’s first family. The shadow of Jack Kirby and Stan Lee looms large over The Fantastic Four, but Simone and Mora might have what it takes to shine.