10 Marvel Characters Shamelessly Ripped Off From DC Comics
4. Justice League Was Assembled Before The Avengers
DC Comics precursor National Periodical Publications popularised the concept of superhero team-ups in 1960 when it assembled the Justice League on the pages of The Brave and the Bold #28.
The success of the union forced Marvel to come up with a rival title, with the company's owner Martin Goodman asking then-editor Stan Lee to assemble a league of their own. Lee has recounted what came next in his autobiography...
"Martin mentioned that he had noticed one of the titles published by National Comics seemed to be selling better than most. It was a book called The Justice League of America and it was composed of a team of superheroes. 'If the Justice League is selling ', spoke he, 'why don't we put out a comic book that features a team of superheroes?'"
Marvel's initial weapon in the battle against the Justice League was the Fantastic Four, but it wasn't until 1963 that the firm took the fight to its rival by forming The Avengers.
It's funny how the companies' cinematic universes have mirrored their strategies in the comic book sector, except in reverse. Marvel brought the Avengers to the big screen long before DC got a Justice League movie off the ground, and its competitor has been playing catch-up on this front ever since.