Why can’t Marvel and Capcom just get along?

They just can’t.  That’s why.

Capcom just announced that the awesome arcade fighter Capcom vs. Marvel 2 is headed to XBOX 360 and PS3 (but not to WiiWare, boo…), which made me to wonder who I support in this great battle of the franchises.  It’s a tough one, because I truly love them both.  Here’s my thought process:

Marvel

Pros:  They’ve got a long history of kick ass storytelling, and some of the best known, most beloved characters in the world on their side, like Spider-Man, Hulk and Wolverine (coming to theaters wherever swine flu is not).  These were the characters you grew up with, unless you were into DC, and in that case, we had very little to talk about.

Cons:  The properties might be getting overexposed with about 80 movies per year based on Marvel characters.  Also, it’s often hard to follow a Marvel series by picking up the recent issue, whereas it’s easy to get into a Capcom game just by sitting down and playing.

Capcom

Pros:  Street Fighter and Mega Man are two of the best loved game series on the market.  When it comes to game play, few do it better than Capcom, from DuckTales to Super Puzzle Fighter — their games are consistantly fun.   Of course, Mega Man 9 made me want to kill myself, but in a good way.

Cons:  Capcom’s transition to TV and movies has been a mixed bag.  The animated Street Fighter movie is fantastic, and Resident Evil was a box office success, but Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun-Li?  *Tugs at collar*  Also, does any one character in the Capcom universe have as much personality as, say, Spider-Man?

The Conclusion

This is the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life.  It’s difficult to compare comics and video games, because they offer so much joy in very different ways.  However, in a battle of the franchises, I’ll have to go with Marvel, because their characters and stories are more expertly developed.  That being said, Marvel has been working on their roster about 50 years longer than Capcom, so ask me in another 20-30 years and it may be a different story.

Marvel vs. Capcom: Who you with?