A new study conducted by GAME reveals the most popular superhero franchise by country.
The study reveals the world’s favorite superhero and supervillain by mapping out each country’s favorite, with Batman, Spider-Man, Thanos, and The Joker battling it out to be the fan favorite.
Marvel and DC have battled for the title of superhero for decades, and new research has analyzed Google search volumes to decide once and for all who comes out on top.
Each country’s favorite superhero
| Rank | Superhero | Number of Countries | % Share in Study |
| 1 | Spider-man | 57 | 48.7% |
| 2 | Wonder Woman | 15 | 12.8% |
| 3 | Batman | 11 | 9.2% |
| 4 | Iron Man | 10 | 8.5% |
| 5 | Superman | 6 | 5.1% |
| 6 | Captain America | 4 | 3.4% |
| 7 | Aquaman | 4 | 3.4% |
| 8 | Hulk | 3 | 2.5% |
| 9 | Wanda Maximoff | 2 | 1.7% |
| 10 | Groot | 1 | 0.8% |
The GAME names Spider-Man the world’s most popular superhero. Created by Stan Lee, Spider-Man is the superhero alter ego of Peter Parker and comes out on top in 57 countries.
Wonder Woman is the second-highest-ranking DC superhero, with 15 countries searching for her the most. Since 2017, the heroine has been the focus of two Hollywood movies, which have undoubtedly increased her international popularity.
Batman rounds off the top three, being the most searched-for hero in 11 countries and claiming a 9.2% share in the study.
Each country’s favorite supervillain
| Rank | Supervillain | Number of Countries | % Share in Study |
| 1 | Thanos | 66 | 56.4% |
| 2 | Joker | 21 | 17.9% |
| 3 | Venom | 16 | 13.6% |
| 4 | Emplate | 11 | 9.6% |
| 5 | Ultron | 2 | 1.7% |
| 6 | Catwoman | 2 | 1.7% |
| 7 | Daken | 1 | 0.8% |
Thanos is the standout favorite. He is the most searched-for villain in 66 countries, including Canada, Australia, Ireland, and South Africa, and he is known as one of the most powerful in the Marvel universe.
Coming in second place is the Joker. Famous for being a rival to Batman, the Joker was the most searched for in 21 countries. The iconic clown-faced character has been portrayed by Hollywood legends Heath Ledger, Jack Nicholson, and most recently, Joaquin Phoenix on the big screen, making him one of the world’s most well-known supervillains.
Rounding off our top three is Venom, which is favored by fans in 16 countries. The Marvel villain increased in popularity upon the release of the 2018 live-action blockbuster, which focused on the character.
Marvel is the world’s favorite superhero franchise
The data names Marvel the world’s favorite superhero franchise; with their new launch on Disney+ releasing exclusive series Wandavision, The Falcon, and The Winter Soldier, it’s no surprise that this franchise is the favorite.
Marvel is the favorite in 51 countries, taking an 85% share of the results. DC falls behind, being the favorite in just 9 countries, with only a 15% share of the results.
The Biggest Marvel Fans
| Rank | Country | Monthly Searches |
| 1 | USA | 301,000 |
| 2 | India | 110,000 |
| 3 | Brazil | 110,000 |
| 4 | UK | 90,500 |
| 5 | France | 90,500 |
The USA had the most searches for Marvel, with over 301,000 searches a month coming from the United States. With 110,000 in Brazil and India, the two countries are the second-biggest fans of the franchise.
The Biggest DC Fans
| Rank | Country | Monthly Searches |
| 1 | South Korea | 201,000 |
| 2 | USA | 165,000 |
| 3 | India | 110,000 |
| 4 | Brazil | 60,500 |
| 5 | Turkey | 60,500 |
South Korea has the most searches for DC, with over 201,000 each month. The second biggest fans of DC are in the US, with 165,000 searches a month, followed by India, with 110,000.
Marvel vs DC: Which universe is the most popular in each state?
Marvel is the clear favorite in the US, being the most searched-for franchise in 28 states, while DC wins in just 22.
Californians are the biggest Marvel fans, with over 52,000 searches a year, while Texans are the biggest fans of DC, with over 40,000 searches for the superhero universe.
