How to improve Marvel's DTVs...

[Sawyer]

So, IMO, Marvel has not reached, or even approached, its full potential in terms of their direct-to-video stuff. While DCs stuff may not have all been perfect, I think they are definately making progress. As for Marvel, Ultimate Avengers was decent, but the rest have consistently gone downhill. I mean, Next Avengers?! WTF is that?

So what I would like to ask you is... how can we bring the quality of the DTVs up to snuff?

Now, what I think Marvel needs to do is cut the BS with the origin stories and definately cut the BS with this kids stuff. They arent doin' very well with that. Leave the origins to the live-action movies. The way they are doing the DTVs, it seems more like a pilot for an animated series than a singular movie. What Marvel needs to do is adapt storylines from the comics. Give us The Days of Future Past. Give us Civil War. Give us Marvels. Give us Marvel Zombies.

What do you guys think. I'm open to suggestions.

 

[C. Lee]

Actually, I feel they should do several types of stories.

They should do the kiddie stuff....I have young kids.

They should do some actual straight adaptions of regular storylines or TPBs.

They should do some original stories....preferrably written by actual comic book writers.

And they should do more origin stories....spread the love around more.

 

[Spade]

I don't think the origin stories are an issue. It's that they keep on focusing on things I don't want to see. An example: Their Iron Man movie had Tony's father still walking around, and all that did was make Tony feel like some teenager throughout the entire movie. Next Avengers is another example: An entire film spent on a concept that hardly anyone finds appealing, with no attempt in it to dispel the issues we all knew it was going to have. Then you have films like Ultimate Avengers, that have no clue what it wants to be- Ultimate or traditional.

All in all, they need to make more films like Dr. Strange and Hulk vs. Wolverine- perhaps not high art 100% of the time, but at least be films with a good idea of what's going to be done sporting solid animation.

 

[Sawyer]

I guess I wouldnt mind kiddie stuff as long as it's well written (ie. not Next Avengers).

 

[deathshead2]

Hey I thought Next avengers was kind of good.

Alright I think Marvel should try alittle of everything, and copy what DC is doing. They've covered original stories(Gothem Knights), story lines from comics (Superman doomsday, NF) and now Origin with that new Wonder Women movie.

Another thing is a change in style of animation from time to time. I like that they are keeping same styles in each movie it's kind of cool, but they really need to try something new everynow and then.

But we really should give Mavel a bit of a break there new at this DTV movie stuff. DC and Timm have been doing this for years. Marvel is still a baby compared to the adult DC DTV team.

 

[C. Lee]

I guess I wouldnt mind kiddie stuff as long as it's well written (ie. not Next Avengers).

I haven't had a chance to see that one yet. I will wind up getting it (I accept that I am hopeless fanatic that winds up buying all comic related movies)....but I will wait to get it used.

 

[Sawyer]

Another thing I would like to see is effective creative teams. This actually applies to both Marvel and DC. I mean, DC has come closer to it than Marvel, but I think theres room for improvement for both. Mainly, I want to see actual comic writers (Marvel, I'm looking at you).

 

[chiefchirpa]

Next Avengers is actually good, do you watch it before you make the judgement?

 

[Sawyer]

Next Avengers is actually good, do you watch it before you make the judgement?

I didnt watch it at full length. I saw enough of it, as far as I'm concerned.

 

[chiefchirpa]

Reviews are saying it's actually good. Think of it as an alternate universe stories.

 

[Sawyer]

I dunno, the animation was actually decent, but the story... I didnt dig it.

 

[Spade]

I was thinking of it as an alternate universe story the entire time. That wasn't the issue. The issue was that it just wasn't good, in my opinion.

 

[chiefchirpa]

Well many guys like the Next Avengers overall, even with the off-base storyline.

What I think is needed in Marvel animation is establishing the basis first by introducing each character. If I were doing it I'm going to split the overall series like this:

a) Basic Avengers. Introduce Iron Man (done but the last doesn't feel right), Hulk, Thor, Ant man & the Wasp, Captain America each in single stories.
b) Marvel Knights. These are dudes like Daredevil, MK, Cage, Iron Fist, Shang Chi and can be interconnected with Spider-Man.
c) Cosmic. Expose Nova, Silver Surfer Guardians of Galaxy, Kree, Shiar and can be interconnected with Fantastic 4.
d) Dark Marvel. Continuing what's been set by Dr Strange, this is going to be about the underworld and supernatural. Put in Blade, Ghost Rider, Man Thing, and so on.
e) Marvel Espionage series. Starts with Nick Fury and SHIELD, Spider-Woman, Ms Marvel and so on.

Also the usual suspects:
f) X-Men & Wolverine (not the other way around)
g) Spider-Man & friends.

 

[Sawyer]

They just need to expand their writing staff. They keep using the same guys on every movie. Throw in a few comic writers.

 

[Spade]

They don't need comic book writers, just good ones. We call it the Timmverse because Bruce Timm left such a lasting impression on DC's animated cartoons. Marvel needs the equivalent working for their Lionsgate pictures.

 

[Silvermoth]

I wouldn't mind it a bit if more anime-esque techniques were used.

But to be honest, not all of Marvel's animated shows are bad!

 

[Rich Santoro]

A great idea of DTV stuff would be something similar to the older Clone Wars animated stuff (not the CGI... the cartoon ones...but not the actual animation, just the quality of those stories).

Those videos served to fill in some gaps on the film continuity, give some backstory on characters, and flesh out plot lines... I could dig some Marvel DTV stuff along these lines...

 

[Sawyer]

I wouldn't mind it a bit if more anime-esque techniques were used.

But to be honest, not all of Marvel's animated shows are bad!

Well, as long as it's actual anime and not the piss-poor excuse for anime used in Teen Titans or the new Fantastic Four show.

 

[broblacksteel]

Besides the anime, i think marvel should dig into their library and make live action straight to video movies. I mean there are a few characters i think could live off of $10-15mill or less type of movies.

 

[Sawyer]

Besides the anime, i think marvel should dig into their library and make live action straight to video movies. I mean there are a few characters i think could live off of $10-15mill or less type of movies.

I think that the live-action DTVs should first be Tv movies that can be used as backdoor pilots for a possible series. I think both DC and Marvel should think about that.

 

[broblacksteel]

I think marvel should get 2 t.v. series going....moonknight and cloak and dagger...these characters will NEVER make it to the bigscreen so let them breathe slowly on t.v.

BUT straight to video, i can see marvel pumping 2 out a year... Bishop, Cable, Iron-Fist all sound like they would have potential...

 

[Sawyer]

I think marvel should get 2 t.v. series going....moonknight and cloak and dagger...these characters will NEVER make it to the bigscreen so let them breathe slowly on t.v.

BUT straight to video, i can see marvel pumping 2 out a year... Bishop, Cable, Iron-Fist all sound like they would have potential...

Never say never. Who would've thought that Ghost Rider would get made, or that Iron Man would be as popular as it was or that The Dark Knight would be as record-breaking as it was? These movies are full of surprises.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Actually, I feel they should do several types of stories.

They should do the kiddie stuff....I have young kids.

They should do some actual straight adaptions of regular storylines or TPBs.

They should do some original stories....preferrably written by actual comic book writers.

And they should do more origin stories....spread the love around more.

Agreed.

 

[Kirk Langstrom]

Although it's a planned series instead of a DTV. im still surprised not more people are discussing this:

THE AVENGERS: EARTH'S MIGHTIEST HEROES

Marvel Animation on Wednesday announced the production of aa new animated, The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes. Production on 26 half-hour episodes is already underway using the production services of Film Roman.

The new series, expected to be available for broadcast in 2011, continues Marvel's television line-up, which includes Nicktoons' upcoming Wolverine and the X-Men and Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Marvel Animation will also debut Marvel Super Hero Squad and The Black Panther next year.

Here's how Marvel describes the series:

"The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes is an all-new property featuring some of Marvel's all-time favorite characters including Iron Man, Hulk, Captain America, Thor, Giant Man and Wasp. When the planet is threatened by Super Villains, time traveling conquerors, alien invaders, mythical monsters and mad robots bent on the total destruction of humanity, when forces of evil are so overwhelming that no single hero has the power to save the world, when there is no hope left...the Avengers assemble!

"The Avengers are the best of the best in the Marvel Universe and the greatest heroes who take on the most unbeatable foes. These are the heroes who hold back the storm, and the fate of the world rests on their shoulders."

"The addition of The Avnegers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes to our quickly expanding animation slate continues our plan to complement each of our tentpole live action features with an animated series," said Eric Rollman, President of Animation. "This new ensemble series tracks perfectly with our highly anticipated 'road to the Avengers' strategy which includes some of Marvel's biggest and most beloved characters, and which kicks off with two Avengers' themed feature films in summer 2011."

 

[Sawyer]

I'm actually looking forward to that. Marvel seems to do much better on their animated series' than on the DTVs.