If you’re a fan of Marvel Comics, or the movies made from them, you won’t want to miss “Slugfest,” a new 10-part docuseries that aims to untangle the untold history behind the rivalry between Marvel Comics and DC Comics.
The 10-episode “Slugfest” explores how the decades-long relationship and rivalry between creative powerhouses Marvel and DC Comics pushed both companies to innovate and develop the stories that continue to captivate millions of fans around the world today.
The docuseries is inspired by Reed Tucker’s book “Slugfest: Inside the Epic, 50-year Battle Between Marvel and DC.” It was originally produced for Quibi, but when the streamer shuttered, Roku acquired the title.
Director/actor/comic store owner Kevin Smith will narrate each episode of the series, which was directed by Don Argott and Sheena M. Joyce.
“I was honored,” Smith said when he was announced with the project at New York Comic-Con. “I’ll tell you when I sat in with Don [Argott] and Sheena [M. Joyce], and we did the voiceover, I got to do the narration like I got to watch the episodes and I told them when I was doing the voiceover, I am so glad that I got to be involved cause if I watch this show and I wasn’t involved, I would’ve been so angry.”
“Slugfest” will also feature archival footage of Marvel’s Stan Lee, who was honored with becoming a Disney Legend at 2017’s D23 Expo in Anaheim, CA.
Here is the video of that event:
“Slugfest” is created and executive produced by Joseph Russo and Anthony Russo, who are best known for their contributions to the Marvel Cinematic Universe from “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” to “Avengers: Endgame.”
“Audiences will leave ’Slugfest’ with a whole new understanding of how the rivalry between two creative powerhouses shaped the iconic storylines and characters that fans around the world have come to know and love,” Joe and Anthony Russo said in a statement. ”We’re thrilled to partner with The Roku Channel to unpack the fascinating, but untold, history behind the most well-known competition in comics.”
Roku’s Head of Alternative Originals, Brian Tannenbaum, said in the same press release, “After watching ‘Slugfest,’ even the most die-hard superhero fans will gain a newfound perspective on how one competitive relationship shaped fandom culture into what it is today.”
“Slugfest” will air for free on Roku on December 24, 2021. If you don’t have a Roku device, there is an app for Amazon Firestick (which I use often), or you can watch it at Roku.com.
Watch the official trailer for “Slugfest” here: