Home
Superhero Store
Members Area
Learn How
Media
Community
Classifieds
CBM Master List
GraphicCity Home : News : Videos : Pictures : Polls : Contact

Marvel Co-President Talks MARVEL Vs. DC

Both companies have been around for decades and the popularity pendulum has swung back and forth throughout the many years. Louis D'Esposito (Item 47) talks about why Marvel Studios is currently riding high.

Follow Mark:
View CBM Profile Follow on Facebook Follow on Twitter Follow on Google
By Mark Julian - 8/13/2012


Louis D'Esposito, producer on a number of Marvel films and director of Avengers DVD/Blu-ray short, ITEM 47, spoke to MTV about what 'Marvel is getting right, that DC just hasn't done.'

D'Esposito: "Somebody once told me, '[Marvel has] epic storytelling with a human spirit.' I think that's very true. Our characters are flawed. They're not perfect characters. They're very relatable. They're interesting without their superpowers. People, when they walk into the movie theater, they come from all walks of life. They can have that relatability. You put yourself in their shoes. You live vicariously through them.

I'm a movie going fan so I like seeing 'ALL' movies. I'm very excited about Batman.

D'Espostio also tried to solve the equation which is the success of Marvel's The Avengers.

D'Esposito: "That's the thing that's so elusive that you're always chasing. What's going to resonate with the audience? It had a lot of heart and soul. It had a lot of humor. It was about a group of disparate people coming together and creating a team. I think all of that. Also, too, it was for all ages, from young to old. Put all of those great assets together and you have one hell of a film."

RELATED CONTENT:
Marvel Studios Has Finished A Secret Project That Will Be Revealed In The Coming Months!
Joss Whedon Already Talking AVENGERS 2
Curious As To What Happened To The Leader And The Destroyer Armor? Find Out Here.

Source: MTV
DISCLAIMER: This article was submitted by a volunteer contributor who has agreed to our code of conduct. ComicBookMovie.com is protected from liability under "safe harbor" provisions and will disable users who knowingly commit plagiarism, piracy, trademark or copyright infringement. For expeditious removal, contact us HERE.
5
LIKE!
85 Comments
1 2
fettastic - 8/13/2012, 10:49 AM
"Also, too"

I had a Sarah Palin flashback there. I wonder if he's from Minnesota "also, too".
Spidey31 - 8/13/2012, 10:50 AM
We'll see if MOS pulls it off, if it does then the DCU will be well insight.
fettastic - 8/13/2012, 10:57 AM
I agree Warner can't seem to figure out what to do with DC in films. Christopher Nolan was zany luck, but now that he's gone what do they do? Keep on keepin' on with JGL? I had a thought that JGL fails spectacularly, Wayne sees this in the news and decides to come back to help. Might be a good way to transition to Batman Beyond actually, but that world is so hyper futuristic I don't see how they can actually accomplish this in an acceptible time frame.

My guess is that they reboot Batman and hopefully their new Superman will somehow fit in, but it sure doesn't look like it so far. The Marvel films all have a gung-ho goofy spirit that's totally in line with the comics. When Warner tried that with the Schumakker films, it fell on its face. Of course they went WAY over the top. They've got to find a balance.
JokerFanHAhaHA - 8/13/2012, 10:58 AM
@Fettastic- I know some Minnesotans, not all of em talk like her.
Anthrax - 8/13/2012, 11:01 AM
@yoss lol
GoILL - 8/13/2012, 11:02 AM
Archie Comics is better than both.
DrRockit13 - 8/13/2012, 11:02 AM
DC hasn't put a filmmaker in charge that really loves the characters and want to do it right, with the exception of Nolan and bale and the rest of the dark knight gang. Everything else they just get some hired gun and rush out a movie that is not at all what it could be if they just took the time.
Angelus - 8/13/2012, 11:03 AM
WB needs to get Bruce Timm in charge of their comicbookmovies on screen. Both Marvel and DC have characters that are very relatable, and interesting outside their super-life. I just hope Man of Steel will show that DC has some tricks up their sleeves.
DanteSparda - 8/13/2012, 11:03 AM
@batz11

So right, talking about movies, that's why I love Marvel so much and hate Warner Bros. because Marvel just opened their own studio with the help of Disney, they just got back the rights of the Hulk and launched the Iron Man movie back in 2008, it was insanely succesful and it began the Avengers initiative, with each movie following being great hits and culminating with the Avengers, one of the best CBM and action movies of all time, also full of promises of greatness for future Marvel projects.

Then we have WB, they have had the rights of ALL DC characters for decades, but they can't launch good DC movies outside from the Batman and Superman movies, hell even those movies have had their black sheeps (Superman 3 and 4, Batman 3 and 4, also Catwoman), also most of their recent movies have been bad (Superman Returns, Green Lantern, Green Hornet, again Catwoman, Watchmen kind of). The difference is that WB don't take the time nor the attention to do justice to those movies, hell I whish the DC Universe rights belonged to other studio, but now that the cash cow that were Harry Potter and the Dark Knight trilogy are done for perhaps they are going to try and make DC movies of quality to compensate.
Giznad - 8/13/2012, 11:04 AM
the difference is mainly in the settings and the contrast with colors. DC has mythical settings with Gotham, Metropolis, and Themyscira. Marvel has New York, Asgard, and Atlantis (taken literally from this world, with the small exceptions of Wakanda and Latveria, respectively). It seems DC is more defined in its contrasts of character and color while Marvel is more flimsy and flawed(on purpose). Batman: dark. Superman: rainbow/ Iron Man: hot rod red. Thor: rainbow bridge. It just goes back and forth, but when it comes down to it, Marvel is more exploitative. The difference is also in between the Daily Planet and the Daily Bugle. Daily Bugle is more realistic and relatable (because it's full of crap sometimes) and Daily Planet is too honorable to exist. DC Comics isn't doing that great when it comes to putting its universe together in the movies right now, but they have Jim Lee with the comics. That's a win.
inky - 8/13/2012, 11:04 AM
rivalry aside both have good and bad, both produce good and bad, the secret of marvel is diversity and evolution where DC sticks to its main lines.
as always its personal as to what the public preffer one can only hope there is balance in the comic book world.
Angelus - 8/13/2012, 11:05 AM
@Dantesparda - Green Hornet is not a DC/WB property though.
DanteSparda - 8/13/2012, 11:07 AM
@batz11

sorry just edited my comment, but yeah.

@yossarian

HAHaHahaAHahaHA, so right dude!! It just lacks one hot chick in the bottom pic representing Batman.
ralfinader - 8/13/2012, 11:07 AM
"...because Marvel just opened their own studio with the help of Disney, they just got back the rights of the Hulk and launched the Iron Man movie,.."

Actually, Marvel Studios did IM and IH (possibly IM2) without Disney, all on a massive loan from Merril-Lynch. It was that success that prompted Disney to get involved.
NovemberGrey - 8/13/2012, 11:07 AM
Cue the inevitable Marvel vs DC fanboy fight...

Seriously though Marvel makes great comic films, they are if not anything else, very entertaining. The only complaint I would have is they are kind of a one trick pony as every film since Iron Man is really just the same formula. Bringing Whedon on board was the smartest decision they could make.

DC, Green Lantern aside, tends to make darker, more serious movies and I for one digg it. I hope they will keep that "Nolan-esque" tone, and moving forward with Man of Steel, create their own version of a cinematic universe, and not go the Green Lantern route and try and (horribly) mimic Marvel.
marvel72 - 8/13/2012, 11:08 AM
warner/dc should of blown marvel out of the water,they've got all their characters under one roof & they do nothing with them.

marvel have got all their characters all over the place with other studio's & they're still pulling off something that comic book fans have wanted to see for years.

one shared universe,awesome keep up the good work marvel.
CaptainObvious - 8/13/2012, 11:12 AM
To be fair to DC, it's a good thing their characters are nothing like Marvel's characters. At Marvel, the characters are imperfect beings. They have struggles and make life altering mistakes. Just like people in the real world. Marvel cracked the code of these powerful people being relatable to us, which is why most of them have endured over the decades.

As for DC, their characters are like gods amongst men. Yes, most of them are still human, but they were bestowed with god-like abilities. This is the reason why DC characters endure. They are people we can aspire to be like. We want to better ourselves and make sure good always wins. These characters give us hope that we can be the heroes of our own stories.

In the end, the Marvel characters are a connection and the DC characters are an example.
DanteSparda - 8/13/2012, 11:14 AM
@Angelus & @ralfinader

LOL yeah, my bad, I was misinformed, though Disney not owning Marvel only after their second/third movie speaks a lot of Marvel.
fettastic - 8/13/2012, 11:20 AM
@batz11, nobody in Alaska talks like that. Sarah Palin got her accent growing up in Minnesota.

I live in Wisconsin so I'm not that far removed. Wisconsinites, particularly those in rural areas have a definite accent that's similar, but not nearly that pronounced (or screechy heh heh).
Maxi91291 - 8/13/2012, 11:23 AM
Thor was awesome ...
fettastic - 8/13/2012, 11:24 AM
AS for Bruce Timm taking over as head of CMB film production at Warner, I'm for that. My one fear is that he's getting sick of superheroes after all these decades, day in and day out. It's hard to tell what his enthusiasm level is because he's so laid back and nonchalant in interviews. You could easily mistake his demeanor for being bored or disinterested.
SkateandDestroy88 - 8/13/2012, 11:25 AM
Marvel = winning

DC needs to step it up. Man of Steel has got a lot riding on it. DC/WB at least has another studio to show them how it's done.

That'd be funny if this dude busted out a Marvelite shirt or DC shirt with red circle and line going through it.

fettastic - 8/13/2012, 11:28 AM
@Nomis, I mostly agree with that. Both Hulk films were good, not great. Both had elements that worked great, but others that didn't.

Cap was better than it had any right to be though. Although I wish it had a bit more action, it came off pretty well.

Nolan's Batman, V for Vendetta and Watchmen are all masterworks though.
SkateandDestroy88 - 8/13/2012, 11:30 AM
Maybe if we keep rooting for Bruce T. he'll get so stoked out from reading our comments and be like heh f*ck it. I'm in. And then DC/WB give him some serious weight. word.

Winning comic book movie formula-
Heart and Balls > anything else.

jazzman - 8/13/2012, 11:32 AM
sorry to say this but f**k Louis D'Esposito opinion about comic book movies. what he said about a Black Panther movie shows he dont know nothing.
siggisuperman - 8/13/2012, 11:34 AM
Just make Bruce Timm president of DC movies, and get some DC loving directors. Kevin Smith, and more guys like that. Young aspiring directors as well. See how well ARROW goes and maybe get someone from there who knows the comics inside out.
DanteSparda - 8/13/2012, 11:34 AM
@CaptainObvious

I think it isn't good that the DC super heroes are perfect examples of human beings, then it would render the character growth process null, or at least less interesting, if you take in mind the 3 Nolan's Batman movies they depict a much more human Bruce Wayne/Batman than in comics, and that works better in my opinion, I think they should make DC heroes more relatable, honestly some of my favorite DC characters are villains, and I like most of them because of their human factor, like Lex Luthor for example.
angus666 - 8/13/2012, 11:34 AM
Well this isn't going to erupt any flame wars... Can't we all just get along?
CaptainObvious - 8/13/2012, 11:36 AM
@DanteSparda- The DC characters had to go through challenges to be the people they are now. I don't see how that's not character development. Besides, if they make them too relatable, they will lose their identity and become no more than just Marvel characters that happened to end up at DC.
Kingdork - 8/13/2012, 11:36 AM
Marvel Studio has yet to release a real stinker the likes of Jonah Hex, Elektra or Ghost Rider. Sure all their movies aren't that special, but they're at least ok. I mean I didn't like Thor but it wasn't Fantastic Four BAD. I just personally didn't care for it. Iron Man 2 was a disappointment but in no way it was a terrible movie. Just a letdown and bit cluster[frick]-ish. Hulk was alright, fine, didn't feel the need to see it again though. But I thoroughly enjoyed Iron Man, Captain America and of course The Avengers which blew my little mind with sheer geeky awesomeness.
SkateandDestroy88 - 8/13/2012, 11:36 AM
I was most impressed with Thor and Captain America from Marvel studios. Damn impressed.

Captain America uses sacred geometry. Thor . . all I can say about these films is I will admit I enjoyed them immensely more so when under the influence of mushrooms or lsd all I can say about Thor and Cap. is Dizammmm F*cking extraordinary films to me Thank You. Thank You so much Marvel.
Life equals kicks ass cause of hope for better tommorow and Marvel Studios is gonna be there making kick ass movies as humanity steps it up and finally strikes the right tune and rythm and people live as one
HarrisonBergeron - 8/13/2012, 11:38 AM
Does anyone else think that The New 52 and Marvel NOW might be leading to a new crossover? I don't know what the Marvel/DC relationship was like leading up to the last two crossovers, but I have this feeling that it seems plausible.

Add my vote on to the Bruce Timm petition.
Matador - 8/13/2012, 11:39 AM
As much as the x-men films seem to be lost in continuity that's what all of DC films seems to be.
fettastic - 8/13/2012, 11:40 AM
I think what this last round of superhero films have really excelled at (and by "last round", I mean the recent wave of interest in them beginning with Blade) is finding the emotional core of the character and making us care about them. This is usually done through a loss that we can relate to. The HEROIC element of the character then overcomes this loss and triumphs in teh end. That is what is so appealing about superheroes, because they overcome issues we all struggle with. We want to have that same strength.

With Blade it was the shame he felt in having to take serum (among other things). The X-Men was fantastic at conveying all the problems the mutants dealt with. Spider-Man couldn't talk to girls and was bullied at school. Batman's parents were killed in front of him in a way that made him feel guilty for it and he had to find a way out of his father's shadow and make a life that had meaning. And on and on. Those are very compelling traits that we can all apply to our own lives.

When we see Batman for example scratch and claw his way to a new life that not only answers his parent's death, but actually accomplishes their cause, it is a stirring feat. When we see Wolverine, whom has always felt alone, become part of a family that cares for him, it gives us hope we can have the same.

So finally these iconic literary figures have gotten the respect they always deserved. These characters we were almost made to feel embarrassed for loving are now the center of pop culture.

Just 15 years ago who could have guessed that Spider-Man and Batman would become the most recognizable and beloved characters of all time!?

Amzaing times we're living in folks! May they never end. CHEERS!
WOTAN - 8/13/2012, 11:41 AM
He's trying to show charity and speak politely about dc but we all know he wanted to say * we're more successful because we're better than those f*cktards at dc*
fettastic - 8/13/2012, 11:42 AM
I think even Kevin Smith would admit he's not qualified to do a superhero film, unless it was some sort of satire.
fettastic - 8/13/2012, 11:44 AM
@Kingdork, are we forgetting the stained underwear that was Blade III? RANCID film!
spidey1994 - 8/13/2012, 11:44 AM
For a second there, I thought the headline meant a Marvel vs DC fighting game.
Maxi91291 - 8/13/2012, 11:50 AM
Very cool froggy

Im so glad Supes doesnt have those red underpants on the outside
Maxi91291 - 8/13/2012, 11:50 AM
spidey1994

actually there is one
Kingdork - 8/13/2012, 11:55 AM
@ fettastic : I never saw Blade 3 actually ^^ But that was prior to Marvel Studio anyway.
Minotauro - 8/13/2012, 11:55 AM
@Nomis - "Outside of the First Iron Man and the Avengers, Marvels movies are about so-so (Hulk, Cap America, nor Thor was neither special or even memorable).

I'm not going to count the movie that's not mad e by their studios cause those are HORRIBLE (Ghost Rider, F.F. , electka, X-Men Origns: Wolverine, etc.)"

Agreed. I seen nothing special about those films other than that they lead up to the Avengers and served their purpose. More like one viewing type of movies.

All I can say is that, DC is winning in the Animation and Games department. WB needs to just let the heads of DC do the creative thinking.

SkateandDestroy88 - 8/13/2012, 11:58 AM
A Marvel vs DC fighting game. Heh heh. That would be awesome if it was online and then Marvelites could duke it out w the DC fans. haha

Or Marvel vs DC fighting game.. .why bother when you can always tune into typical CBM comment post(especially one dealing with Batman and Avengers box office numbers) and watch the tasteful DC vs Marvel action/comments unfold !!!

Maxi91291 - 8/13/2012, 12:04 PM
Marvel vs DC MUGEN ... look it up .. its fun
SageMode - 8/13/2012, 12:08 PM
Make mine MARVEL. that is all
DanteSparda - 8/13/2012, 12:12 PM
@SkateandDestroy88

I would love to see that fighting game! But only if it's developed by Capcom, or Arc Systems even, but please not by NetherRealm Studios.

@Captain Obvious: "The DC characters had to go through challenges to be the people they are now. I don't see how that's not character development. Besides, if they make them too relatable, they will lose their identity and become no more than just Marvel characters that happened to end up at DC."

My point is that I would like to see stories of those super heroes going through those challenges that define them, not a story about them after they maduration, and making them more relatable doesn't make them Marvel characters, they doesn't lose their identity neither, I mean (I'm puting the TDK trilogy again as an example) it would be like saying Bruce Wayne/Batman is more a Marvel character in Batman Begins, and I'm sure you don't see Batman Begins that way.
BackwardGalaxy - 8/13/2012, 12:13 PM
I love superheroes. I love movies. I'd be perfectly happy with Marvel and DC both making great movies. But only one studio has Feige right now.
thunderforce - 8/13/2012, 12:17 PM
Warner should let DC start their own movie studio and see what it can do .
GuardianAngel - 8/13/2012, 12:22 PM
I think the only relatable chacter is Spider-Man. And I'd love to see DC continue with JGL as Batman, but that would set the purists on FIRE. I just don't want a reboot this early or a 40+ Bruce Wayne in the midst of a 20-early 30's JLA.
GoILL - 8/13/2012, 12:22 PM
@Froggy that's [frick]ing awesome.
1 2

Please log in to post comments.

Don't have an account?
Please Register.

.