Comic book publishers have been borrowing ideas from each other since the dawn of newsprint -- from the characters themselves down to the weapons of war they wield in pursuit of justice. Sometimes these similarities happen merely by coincidence; after all, there's nothing new under the sun. Other times, however, these resemblances are nothing short of uncanny, feeling like straight-up rip-offs.
Since imitation characters have been discussed at length already, let's take a look at another category frequently "doppelganged" by the Big Two: weaponry. Here are five weapons DC ripped off from Marvel, and five Marvel took from DC.
10 DC: Red Rocket Suit
Rocket Red, the one-man war machine hailing from the nation of Russia, first appeared in Green Lantern #209, manned by OG pilot Dmitry Pushkin. The suit is comprised of full-body armor and stocked with an entire armory of weapons, including a palm-fired energy blaster. Sound familiar?
That's because Rocket Red draws his inspiration from Marvel’s lovable billionaire/playboy/philanthropist Tony Stark, AKA Iron Man. While Iron Man's suit might be higher-tech, Rocket Red is still no slouch, possessing an arsenal of devastating weapons and a sophisticated guidance system. Currently, Rocket Red serves as a member of the Justice League International.
9 Marvel: The Freedom Ring
Green Lantern is one of the most famous characters in comic book history. As a longtime member of the Justice League, Hal Jordan is a staple of DC's universe, using his lantern ring to shape green energy fields into whatever he can imagine.
Much lesser known is Marvel's Freedom Ring, a hero who possesses a ring of power similar to his DC Comics counterpart. Created by Robert Kirkman and Andy Kuhn, Freedom Ring tells the story of Curtis Doyle, an everyday schmo who stumbles upon a magic ring that transforms him into a superhero. With the ring, Doyle is able to bend reality and shape matter to his every thought.
8 DC: The Trident
It's no secret that DC's Aquaman is clearly a rip-off of Marvel's Namor the Submariner. Both men inhabit the underwater city of Atlantis, were born into royalty, and hold positions of rulership over their respective kingdoms. They also share similar powers, which they command with a magical weapon that is literally called by the same name: the Trident of Neptune.
However, considering Marvel published Namor two years before Aquaman's debut in 1949, the jig is up for DC on this one. Both tridents give their master's similar abilities, some of which include commanding the seas, communing with sea creatures, and bestowing the divine right to rule the ocean.
7 Marvel: Eye Of Agamotto
The Eye of Agamotto is a powerful pendant created by Agamotto, a mystical being born from the tear ducts of a god. The medallion is only granted to a Sorcerer Supreme, and houses a bevy of weird abilities. The Eye debuts in Marvel Premiere #5 (1972), imbuing its wearer, Doctor Strange, with powers such as telepathy and the ability to view time.
This is not unlike a relic found within DC's own universe, which not only enhances its wearer's magical abilities but also allows them to view the past. That item? The Helmet of Fate, worn by the powerful mage known as Doctor Fate.
6 DC: Fear Agent
Popularized by the animated series in the 1990s and reinvigorated by Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, Scarecrow started off as a B-list villain until being catapulted onto the front lines of pop culture. That being said, Dr. Jonathan Crane's infamous fear toxin didn't actually originate with the psychopathic psychologist. Instead, the gas was first birthed in the Marvel Universe by a similar evil archetype: Mister Fear.
This is another example of one publisher borrowing concepts from another publisher and doing it better. While prudent fans might recognize Mister Fear anywhere, only Scarecrow went on to become a household name.
5 Marvel: The Living Weapon
While this one might seem like more of a character rip off, the principle is still the same. Deadpool is Marvel’s Deathstroke, a warrior so deadly that his own body should be considered a weapon of mass destruction. Created by Rob Liefeld and Fabian Niciez, Deadpool is a wise-cracking, fourth-wall-breaking antihero who shoots first and jokes about it later. However, despite the personality differences, the lethality is exact.
Both characters carry dual swords, are masters of numerous martial arts, and are natural-born killers. The two are no doubt doppelgangers of each other. The only question is, who wins in a fight?
4 DC: Miracle Machine
Created in the late 1960s and then resurrected in the mid-2000s, the Miracle Machine is a device that takes a person’s thoughts and brings them into existence. Unfortunately, the machine is considered dangerous as even the most well-intentioned wishes could have devastating effects on reality. As a result, the device is locked away lest in fall into the possession of supervillains.
Marvel’s Cosmic Cube is similar in this regard, a magical object that also alters reality at the speed thought. The cube debuted in Tales of Suspense #79, and has returned more frequently than it's DC counterpart over the years.
3 Marvel: Murasama Sword
Like Aquaman and Namor's Trident of Neptune, the Blade of Murasama appears in both the DC and Marvel universes. In the case of DC, the blade is forged by fourteenth-century sword smith Murasama, and traps the souls of its victims after every kill (souls the wielder can communicate with telepathically).
Marvel’s version of this, however, which debuts in Wolverine #2 (1988), takes the sword in a slightly different direction. In this iteration, Mursama’s blade not only contains magical properties such as super strength but also houses the soul of Murasama himself, influencing its user to commit dark and terrible deeds.
2 DC: Justice Buster Suit
Going back to Iron Man for a second, let's talk about the Justice Buster. The Justice Buster makes its sole appearance in Batman: Endgame, and is built to defeat members of the Justice League in the event said members go rogue.
This is literally the same concept behind Iron Man’s Hulk Buster armor which was also designed to defeat heroes with serious power. Namely, the Hulk. However, the original armor is not a full suit like the dark knight's, but a series of attachments to Iron Man's exoskeleton that clip together via a series of intricate plugs.
1 Marvel: Staff of One
Marvel’s Staff of One is an artifact of immense power. Debuting in Runaways #4, the staff allows its user to execute highly advanced spells with a single utterance. This is suspiciously like an earlier all-powerful staff created by DC years ago. That staff? The Cosmic Staff wielded by Starman, which was originally based on the Gravity Rod that first appeared in 1941.
In DC’s version, however, the staff siphons star power and repurposes it into a plethora of different abilities. Currently, the staff is primarily used by Jack Knight and Stargirl.