Untangling the Web, Part 2

By: Arnold T. Blumberg
Date: Saturday, April 20, 2002

So we've already talked about the confusion that might ensue when moviegoers head to their local comic shop seeking an arachnid fix. But one thing is certain - they won't find just a few Spider-titles on the stand. There will be a plethora of comics, one-shots, hardcover collections (like the BEST OF SPIDER-MAN VOL. 1 book now available in bookstores and comic shops everywhere) and trade paperbacks on the shelves. Does this mean Marvel learned from the mistakes surrounding the X-MEN film? That's right, back then, Marvel dropped the ball by not offering audience-friendly jumping-on issues of the regular X-titles for curious newcomers, but they're not making the same mistake again. After that whole mutant debacle, Marvel has learned its lesson.

"For the X-Men movie, we sold gazillions of the movie tie-in books, but the ongoing titles weren't ready for new readers," says Bill Rosemann, Marvel's Marketing Communications Manager. "This time we've got all our radioactive ducks in a row. [We have] great creative teams on the ongoing titles; [we have] cool one-shots to reach out to comic readers who wouldn't normally touch a Spidey comic; and [we have] a superior movie adaptation. The bottom line is, retailers are going to have a Spider-Man book for any type of reader that walks in the door."

Let's take a closer look at the tangled web of offerings. This month, we'll see the arrival of the 48-page movie adaptation by Stan Lee and Alan Davis, a powerhouse team if there ever was one. Editor Brian Smith thinks this one-shot will blow fans and casual readers away.

"It's one of the prettiest comic books I've ever worked on, and I think it's the prettiest movie adaptation since John Buscema did RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK," says Smith. "Stan was all too happy to be a part of it, and the script he laid on top of Alan's pencils is priceless."

Certainly one of the most unusual, and possibly one of the most hysterical, Spider-projects ever attempted is STARTLING STORIES: THE MEGALOMANIACAL SPIDER-MAN #1 (now on the stands), written and drawn by none other than HATE creator Peter Bagge (see our review for more info on this special event book)!

Over in the Ultimate line in May, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #22, by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley, will feature the return of that universe's Green Goblin (while the original rears his pointy head over in the pages of PETER PARKER: SPIDER-MAN #44 later in the month), a villain that moviegoers will instantly recognize. And over in the flagship title, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, which has almost tripled its readership, an upcoming blurb might read "My Aunt...My Agent?!" Well not quite, but series scribe J. Michael Straczynski does warn us that armed with her newfound knowledge of Peter's double identity, Aunt May will be trying to help her nephew by spreading the good word about the Spider. Quite a turnaround from the old days.


"In the past all she's been is an anchor," says Straczynski. "Even though she still has not fully reconciled this in her heart, she nonetheless loves her nephew and feels she has to do right for him. [She'll try] to get other people to change their opinion about him."

So why did it take so long for May to wake up?

"I think they were afraid of what to do with it afterwards," says Straczynski. "We begin to accept the cliché of an older person as senile, and they couldn't get past seeing her any other way. But if you look at all that she's done and all she's endured, that breeds a certain strength of character, and that's where [Peter] gets his character."

Straczynski is proud of what the title has accomplished so far, stripping Spider-Man down to the basics and revitalizing the character for a new generation of readers.

"The book has been very successful in getting a lot of the detritus that has built up around Peter Parker's life away for a bit so we can focus on who this person is, get a clearer look at his personality and why he does what he does," says Straczynski. "Gradually we'll begin to reintroduce some of the more familiar elements now that we have a firm notion of who our foundation is. Mary Jane will be making more appearances."

Besides his separated spouse and a newly committed aunt, Peter will have to contend with foes both old and new.

"What I liked when Spider-Man first came out was that every month there was some other bizarre villain," says Straczynski. "So I'm going to try making some new ones, but along the way, as I find interesting takes on them, I'll integrate a couple of the old guys as well."

Straczynski's first story arc introduced a new twist to the old Spider-origin, and that will also influence Peter's life for the foreseeable future.

"I do want to return to it from time to time as a touchstone," says Straczynski. For now, however, Straczynski intends to get Peter involved in more relevant social issues that require more than a swift right cross to resolve.

"He grew up a New York street kid," says Straczynski. "It makes you a little more aware of things. He is the perfect venue to approach some of these topics."

And what of the future Spider-Girl, still held somewhere by Norman Osborn and left to the cobwebbed corners of continuity? Will she return?

"Not yet, no."

While May may not be on the comeback trail just yet, Marvel expects that its sales figures will be, particularly when moviegoers pick up these comics and see just what the Spider (all of him) can do.

"Hopefully, coordinating efforts will bring in some new readers," says Smith. "When X-MEN was out, you'd pick up the comics and wouldn't see the same characters. This time around, across the board, we're making a concerted effort to make sure everything makes sense."

In addition to the events listed above, you can already find a hardcover collection of Frank Miller's Spider-Man work in stores. Then there's SPIDER-MAN: BLUE, a six issue Marvel Knights series from the creators of DAREDEVIL: YELLOW, Jeph Loeb and Tim Sale. Set during that golden age when Gwen Stacy and the Goblin constantly vied for Peter's attention, the series should be a nostalgic shot in the arm for old-timers.

But it doesn't stop there. The Lizard is back, thanks to Greg Rucka and Scott Sava, in the four-issue QUALITY OF LIFE. The wrestler that Peter first tussled with, Crusher Hogan, returns in TANGLED WEB #14 late in May in a story crafted by Brian Azzarello, Dave Johnson, Giuseppe Carmuncoli and WWF superstar Raven. And amongst the myriad movie tie-in storybooks, scrapbooks, novelizations and other odds and ends, there will still be room for the massive jam session that is the ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN SPECIAL, with stars both in the book's pages and behind the scenes as well.

So if those enthusiastic throngs storm comic shops in May searching for their favorite Spider, they certainly won't have any trouble spotting him. But then we're back to that same old question: which one of him will catch them in his web?