It's time for part II on my discussion about the endless battle (at least in the mind of fans) against Marvel and DC. Before I go any further, let's check in on a few e-mails and forum posts.

ACT I ? And the audience says ...

I get lots of great e-mails from readers with each column and I sometimes decide to highlight the best ones and put my responses here. I picked three favorites that bring up good points: one an e-mail and the other two from the Airlock Alpha forum. Here are excerpts:

Just wanted to let you know that I enjoyed your recent article, but I was a little surprised that you mentioned the comics and books from both Marvel and DC, but didn't mention the cartoons of DC's Justice League. In my opinion, if a movie were done, the powers that be should look in their own backyard and use as a benchmark, the cartoon series.

I've been watching it on Boomerang (courtesy of the grand kids) and find the story lines very adult and entertaining. The characters aren't without flaws, which make them more 'human.'

It may not be enough to overcome the power of Marvel, but it might help them score some points.

-- Nessapat

You are absolutely correct, Nessapat. You and many other readers told me that I should talk about the great animated cartoons from DC. Which is the topic for today.

I'm not as knowledgeable in all of the animated projects, but I'm going to take a stab at it.

I'm glad you're enjoying "Justice League." I personally feel that it was the best superhero animated series to date and was sorry to see it end.

All is not as bleak for DC as the article would seem to indicate.

Final Crisis No. 2 has been met with almost universal praise. Morrison has ramped up the story, and the art by J. G. Jones is top rank. Also DC's latest weekly, Trinity, seems to be in the same league as 52. Also, DC has managed to do something for three years running that Marvel has yet to do, publish a weekly book without missing a street date.

"The Dark Knight," from all early reviews, is going to be a smash. Heath Ledger is getting great buzz for an Oscar. All the reviews I have read say it is the superhero film.

-- Jdurdan

I hope I didn't make it sound like DC was doomed. I'm just trying to point out that DC has made some big mistakes. It happens and should be recognized, then corrections should be made. I read and watch both Marvel and DC, so I'm honestly not rooting more for one or the other. I just want them to make good quality stories.

"Final Crisis" No. 2 didn't meet universal praise. I would say more like optimistic praise that the story is improving. Reviewers still have mixed feelings. Some feel it is too cryptic and slow moving.

Others feel that DC did a terrible job leading up to it, which I agree. Many feel that it doesn't feel epic enough to be a Crisis, which I can understand since few of the other DC books have tied in with it (so far).

My biggest point is that sales have been disappointing compared to Marvel's big event. I like Morrison and honestly really like this book, but DC has done multiple things to mess it up.

And yes, kudos to DC for having a monthly book, but "Countdown" was a disappointment. I like "Trinity" so far, as do most readers, but I'm worried that when all is said and done that readers will be disappointed if it doesn't have any real lasting effect on the DC universe. Honestly, I feel if someone is going to ask me to buy 52 books (and sneaky tie-ins) in one year, then they had better blow me away.

As for "Dark Knight," I already said it was going to be a big hit. I'm sure it will be one of, if not the, big hit this summer. But the problem is that it is the only big hit for DC in the theaters.

The biggest thing not included in the article is that Marvel works very hard to feed speculation by collectors. (Just check out current oil prices to know how much influence that can have.) I know a good number of Marvel fans who buy multiple copies of each issue, take them home, then bag and board every one of them without ever reading a word inside.

-- Wayne

I'm not sure if I agree with your point here, Wayne. Although Marvel does help build speculation by collectors, I'm not sure if DC isn't guilty of the same thing.

Look at events like when Superman died, Batman was broken, or when Gotham City was a No Man's Land. DC has been very bad about senseless deaths (and resurrections) for sales lately and they tied all the books so closely together in "Infinite Crisis" and beyond that you would go broke trying to keep up with it all. Actually Marvel can be read much easier. They usually segment them in groups like: Spider-Man books, X-Men books, Avenger books, and the other stuff.

Major crossovers like "Secret Invasion" read much better by reading tie-ins, but many of them are just filling in the blanks on how different characters were replaced.

They have actually been keeping this crossover fairly affordable, while DC is about to hit people with a gazillion tie-ins and miniseries for "Final Crisis." Also, they want readers to buy a monthly book on top of that. Yikes!

Thanks to everyone who e-mailed me or posted in the forum, especially those that I didn't get a chance to post. Keep the e-mails coming, folks and I'll be sure to post the best ones up here (unless, of course, you don't want me to post yours). You can send them to: mpyle@airlockalpha.com.

ACT II ? The Follow-up

I'm not making up all this talk about Marvel making DC look bad in the theaters. Honest .... See ...

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a big shake-up may be in the works at Warner Bros. for how it handles its DC comics films.

In the past few weeks, Warner Bros. Pictures Group president Jeff Robinov and Warner president Kevin McCormick have been talking to DC executives and DC talent about a new direction for their film adaptations.

Now into the animated world, which honestly DC has dominated in the past. However, Warner Bros. has always been strong in this area.

One of the best-known classic examples is "Super Friends."

But I think the best example is the Timmverse: "Batman: The Animated Series," "Superman: The Animated Series," "Batman Beyond" and "Justice League." Timm managed to link these all up into probably the most complicated animated mythos to date. So far, Marvel hasn't reached that standard in animation. But, I wouldn't be surprised if that starts to change in the future.

"Justice League" ended too soon, in my humble opinion. Replaced by "The Batman," "Teen Titans," "Krypto the Superdog," "Legion of Super Heroes" and "Brave and the Bold." I found "Teen Titans" to be a fun little diversion and "The Batman" had some interesting re-imaginings of the villains. But, there was some hint of WB's thinking process even here. The best example being the infamous 'Batman Embargo,' where "Justice League" was not allowed to use Batman villains. They were off limits, set aside for "The Batman." Huh? Did they think viewers would get confused? This was very inside-the-box thinking that has been plaguing the DC/WB movies for far too long.

OK, not animated, but another type of embargo example is not allowing "Smallville" to use Batman or Wonder Woman.

But it isn't fair to say that Marvel isn't doing things in the animated field either. Let's not forget "X-Men: The Animated Series," which was one of my favorites in the '90s. And of course the classic "Spider-Man and His Amazing Friends."

Other examples (of varying success) are "X-Men: Evolution," multiple "Spider-Man," "The Avengers," multiple "Fantastic Four" cartoons, "The Incredible Hulk," "Iron Man," and "Marvel Superheroes." Coming up in the near future is "Wolverine and the X-Men." You can check out the trailer by clicking here. Plus, they have an animated "Hulk vs. Wolverine" feature in the works.

While I'm talking about it, I should point out three other fantastic cartoons that are not Big Two: "The Tick," Emmy winning "Spawn" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles."

Overall DC is winning on the animated front, but Marvel could quickly gain ground. I'm not really excited about any of DC's new animated stuff. The animated movies have been a mixed bag. The only good one (and it was very good) was "Justice League: Final Frontier." But honestly I would rather like to see more animated series like "Justice League Unlimited."

Marvel needs to use a similar approach for their animated properties and DC needs to look at the Timmverse as a good example of what it should be doing for its live-action films and TV shows.

ACT III ? FADE TO BLACK

In the end, talk like this isn't meant to pick an actual winner. I just want to point out the good and bad decisions that the Big Two have been making. I want a good Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash or Justice League movie. I know they can be done, but DC needs to think outside of the box, honor the original content and update the characters so they resonate more if modern times.

Well, that is it for now. Please feel free to e-mail me your comments or post them on the forum.

Also, I will be on SyFy Radio this Wednesday beginning at 10 p.m. ET. I'm always the producer behind the virtual curtain, but this week I'm actually going to poke my head out and talk a little.

Until next time ? Marx out.

Marx Pyle is a staff writer for Airlock Alpha and a producer for the online radio show that some call SyFy Radio (check it out). He is not a shape shifting alien sleeper agent. Honest. He can be reached at mpyle@airlockalpha.com.