The celestial question of all time, the Hatfield vs. McCoy feud of books, is J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings trilogy vs. J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series.

The Lord of the Rings would become the gold standard of fantasy books upon its release in the mid-1950s, according to Wired, in “The Great Geek Debates.” Its influence can be seen in every fantasy book released to date.

And one cannot discount Rowling’s Harry Potter series, with over 400 million copies sold and translation into 67 languages, and kids all around the world screaming, “EXPELLIARMUS!” Both series are clearly some of the most popular fantasy novels ever written, according to playbill.com.

So which is better? To tackle the subject, certain criteria must be considered, such as characters, influence, and the attachment that comes from reading a book. It is also important to keep in mind that while both series are distinctly different, in both style and mood, the comparison is still valid.

For many readers, comic relief is vital. Roland Berry, a Santa Fe High student who is very familiar with the Lord of the Rings film series but not so much with the books, said, “The Lord of the Rings movies are way too gloomy.” He added, “Who cares if it won an Academy Award?”

According to Rowling herself, “Tolkien created a whole new mythology, which I would never claim to have done. On the other hand, I think I have better jokes.” Take that, Tolkien! Your jokes suck.

But even if Tolkien didn’t write many jokes, he is the butt of some, such as the following from Entmoot, a board dedicated to his works:

Q: How many elves does it take to change a light bulb?
A: They don’t change it; they just sit around in the dark singing sad songs about the Glory of the Light That Was.

As you can see, Rowling’s claims are dismissed…. Not!

Rowling’s priceless charismatic characters, for example Ron Weasley, who may be described as unassertive yet courageous, add to the wit of the novels. An example is the time he attempted to curse Draco Malfoy with a charm but instead ended up with a mouth full of snails. In Lord of the Rings, this kind of humor isn’t as visible.

While both series have their own set of unique characters, the parallels between the two are the very heart of the argument. The more obvious ones include Gandalf, Dumbledore, Frodo, Harry, Sam, Ron, Sauron, and Voldemort, with the most popular among pop culture being Gandalf vs. Dumbledore. (Simply saying that gives me the chills.)

In The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf is the pure essence of power. As an Istari, he is almost a god, and more powerful than any human or mortal alive. Although he did die in one of the most epic battles in fantasy history, when Gandalf says something along the lines of “YOU SHALL NOT PASS” (which differs in the book), he comes back to life more powerful than ever so he can fulfill his mission as Gandalf the White.

In Harry Potter, Dumbledore’s magical abilities are unrivaled by any other wizard in his world. He’s not only a wizard, but is also a master alchemist and the very person who discovered 12 ways that dragon’s blood can be used. With his great wisdom, he has become the embodiment of all that is good and true in the Harry Potter series. “Do not pity the dead, Harry,” Dumbledore says. “Pity the living and above all, those who live without love.”

So who is truly the better wizard? The truth is, there is no “best,” with opinions varying significantly from person to person. But one thing is for sure: They are both vital characters who are crucial to the overall meaning of their stories.

Lastly, many readers, including Emily Hilla, feel a more “emotional attachment” to the characters of Harry Potter. This is because as much as Lord of the Rings is about Middle-earth, the Harry Potter books are about the characters, which is why the book is named after the main hero, as opposed to being named after the main villain. Nonetheless, readers praise Tolkien for creating a whole new world where readers can place themselves.

It is undeniable that there is great number of people whose only interaction with either The Lord of the Rings or the Harry Potter series will be with the movies, instead of the books, creating a whole new distinction between the two.

The Lord of the Rings was promoted as a film series consisting of three fantasy adventure films directed by Peter Jackson, whose other works include King Kong (2005) and The Hobbit trilogy. His most successful movie, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the Kings, would rake in a staggering profit of over $1 billion. The movie also won Academy awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Visual Effects and seven other awards, making the movie a hard one to compete with. (Not to mention the wonderful hairy Hobbits, which make it so lovable.)

The Harry Potter series would take eight films, with the first one, Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone, released in 2001, and The Deathly Hallows Part 2 released in 2011. The main cast of the film includes Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter and Emma Watson as Hermione Granger. Although the franchise never received an Academy award, Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows would rake in an amazing $1.3 billion worldwide, making it the eighth highest grossing film ever. The stellar cast added to the wizardly world of Harry Potter, making the films an instant favorite. And the English accents! Bloody Hell, Ron — your movies are brilliant!

What happens when students are asked to pick between the two? Sophomore Ben Marino said, “Harry Potter shall not pass” and “Harry Potter can turn invisible with his cloak. Way cool.” This means this person obviously does not know about The Lord of the Rings, considering the ring does exactly that.

Unfortunately, I was unable to get an answer supporting both stories, leaving me with a void of which is better. Why can’t people just love both? Or maybe it’s that they do, but when it comes to choosing between the two, they must battle till the death, saying whatever it takes to make their favorite one come out victorious.

Whatever the reason, one thing we can all agree on is the rightful place each one has in its own sense — as great novels — and that sometimes some questions are better left unanswered.