No one could have predicted the success of the Marvel cinematic universe, but since Iron Man's release in 2008 the franchise has consistently dominated multiplexes worldwide. As more and more films are released by Marvel Studios, the box office intake keeps racking up and with Guardians of the Galaxy on the horizon, the company shows no sign of slowing down. Despite not owning the movie rights to their big guns - Spider-Man and the X-Men - Marvel Studios have successfully managed to create a business model that uniquely appeals to both hardcore fans and casual audiences in equal measure. Pretty impressive, right? While the rest of Hollywood have watched from the sidelines in envy, one particular company have been making small steps in the same direction, slowly planning their own bid for world dominance. It's been a long time coming, but DC Comics have finally unveiled plans to build a cinematic universe based on their iconic characters and the comic book world is very excited indeed. Copying Marvel's business model makes sense logistically and it could give DC the boost they need to match their greatest rivals, but if that's the case, then the company have a lot of catching up to do. Marvel currently has the third and sixth most successful movies of all time in their back catalog (Avengers Assemble and Iron Man 3 respectively) and with a release schedule planned all the way up to 2028, Marvel is certainly prepared to maintain their market dominance. Despite this though, a DC Cinematic Universe has huge potential and could even surpass the success of Marvel if handled right. Read on to discover 10 ways the DC Cinematic Universe could draw upon seventy-five years of classic storytelling to eclipse Marvel. Remember to let us know what you think in the comments section below!