I've always loved DC's titles the best. Mostly because I like that DC is less contained in a single "universe", and instead its titles have a variety of largely self-contained worlds. In that respect, I think DC has more variety in its line. Less so after CRISIS, but still.
My favorite era is from about 1965-1995 at DC, and more so the 1965-1980 period. Particularly for the Batman titles, and the DC Mystery titles, and Kirby's 1970-1975 DC work.
I also think work by Neal Adams, Wrightson, Kaluta and a few others gave a greater sophistication to DC's line in those years, particularly their covers.
DC also had a quieter and more understated storytelling approach that appealed to me. Writers like Dennis O'Neil, Frank Robbins, Len Wein, and later Archie Goodwin. Even Marvel guys like Steve Englehart (DETECTIVE 471-476) had a more sophisticated approach when they crossed over and did work for DC.
Marvel was more "cosmic" with these huge epics, on which hung the fate of the entire universe, with more deadpan melodrama, and stilted overplayed pseudo-Shakespearian dialogue.
I had the pleasure of telling Carmine Infantino at a July 2012 convention how much I enjoyed the titles from the era he was managing the DC line, the variety of stories and art, and how often I've re-read them over the years.
I told him "I read them like they're still current."
"A lot of people tell me that," he told me with some satisfaction.
He died about 8 months later, I'm glad I got to share with him my deep appreciation for the titles he oversaw, before he died.
And that era lives on in back issues, and collected trades and hardcovers.
