What you miss most about Spider Man

[Citizen_Kaine]

Alright post the one thing; whether it be a villian, a writer, a character, a costume or even something about the comic books itself that you miss and wish would return to the spider books today.


I miss the old fold out covers of the late nineties, that would give you a bio on all the characters in the issue and give you a rundown (In panal form) of what had happened in the previous issues.

[WOLVERINE25TH]

Ben Reilly and his world.

[Spidey-Jason]

I miss fun stories that could be told in one issue alone.That's spidey:spidey:

[MaraJanesSlave]

What you miss most about Spider Man.
the hyphen

[Spidey-Jason]

the hyphen

Well remembered.

[Demogoblin]

My first request: Shriek.

My second: the month and year of publication on the cover.

[Kraven]

Respect for continuity.

[Fathermithras]

Good writing!

[Spidey-Jason]

Respect for continuity.

Forgot to mention that...:spidey:

[Lt. Figgnuts]

A cool Goblin-themed villain. :(

[Cyclops]

The ONE thing I miss? I miss when they didn't feel the need to conform him to the films' standards. Y'know what I mean? He worked just fine the way he was for FORTY YEARS... and now two movies come along and they decide the way his powers have worked for FORTY YEARS suddenly need changing?

[SpideyInATree]

A single Peter Parker. :(

[imdaly]

A lot of what's been mentioned already.

- "Previously" fold-out covers
- Ben Reilly, the Daily Grind, etc.
- The lower prices.
- The footnotes that pointed you to a previous issue when the story references to it (see: continuity)
- John Romita, Jr.
- Spidey having multiple titles that were past 100 issues. No Vol.2 existing.
- Stan's Soapbox

And most of all...
The Letter's Page!

[venomous]

The black costume.

[Odin's Lapdog]

Ben Reilly and his world.
damn straight

[Oberon]

Web-shooter
MORE (much more) Spider-Sense
And all the rest mentioned above (except for the Reilly stuff...I hate clones :-)

[shinlyle]

Well, I damn sure miss NOTHING about the Clone Saga...

Here's my list:
-Norman being DEAD.
-Single issue Spidey tales
-Erik Larsen
-New Villians (well, Tracer seems kinda cool, but that's just one)
-Spidey's secret identity being an actual SECRET
-Spidey actually having super-strength, which he seems to be written without nowadays.
-respect for continuity
-Mechanical web-shooters.
-spider-tracers
-spider-signal
-sub-plots
-Spidey NOT being on a team
-the old Spidey/JJJ fued
-Black Cat (who seems to have been conveniently ignored since MKSM#12)
-Spider-Man being able to actually pummel any normal human being.
-Gigantic Spidey slug-fests where he is fighting multiple foes at once.
-Hobgoblin
-John Romita Jr. His artwork just comforst me at times. It makes a book feel like Spdiey, despite terrible writing.
-Peter Parker problems (money, job, etc.)

[Venom_uk]

- Short & to the point story arcs. All this padding out for the sake of a trade get's a bit much sometimes.
- We don't see enough of the 'classic' villains in ASM these days. We saw a load in MK:SM during Millar's run but most where just cameos. More full on classic villain arcs please.
- Shriek. I just love that crazy b*tch. Don't know why, just do & she's been stuck in 'villain limbo' for far to long IMO.
- Bagley on ASM. As much as I love what he's doing on USM, I'd really love it if he came back over to ASM. Once his USM run is done of course.
- The Bugle. We don't see nearly enough of this place or the people inside these days IMO.
- P-lease! Go back to using mechanical web-shooters. F**king organic crap!

[WOLVERINE25TH]

Ya know, some of what a lotta you have said goes back to what I've been sayin' about every Spidey evolution takin' 50 steps back into stagnation hell. Betcha if those things were STILL constant you'd all be *****in' they don't move Spidey forward enough.

Th' rest I can agree with.

[Captivated]

A supporting cast (Like Betty, Ned, Liz, Flash, Harry, Robbie, Glory, Pete's neighbors and landlords, Mary Jane's friends, Felicia, etc) and all the drama with their lives. Yea, the soap opera stuff neatly woven around the action. I love it.

Peter progressing through life stages and lessons... you know, like most of us do. (A caveat would be: Don't kill Aunt May) He would naturally stay married to MJ (he IS after all a responsible, decent guy, who was marriage-minded early on) but someday let them have kids.

A strong, smart Peter, whose Spider-sense actually works, unless there is a reason given... you know, like his has the flu, etc.

A Peter who wholeheartedly loves his wife, sans mental obsession with a long dead girlfriend. Peter went through the stages of grief. Even though Gwen will always be special to him, he really moved on. He's completely into MJ.

Art on the realistic side, as opposed to the cartoony... I hate the freaky, buggy, scrawny Spidey. (JR Sr. was closer to a Deodato in realism than to Jrs. And has anyone else thought that JR Sr.'s Peter had a sight resemblance to Elvis?)

A more secret secret-identity. Finding out who he is should be a bigger deal.

Webbing that doesn't break. It used to be such tough stuff... now everyone and their dog seems to be able to snap it.

Continuity. Even references to past issues, so we know they are paying attention.

Shorter stories, at least now and then. I don't mind the 6-parters, but how about a stand alone now and then, or a TPB with two 3-part stories? Of course, there should always be the relationship threads that are on-going.

The Letter's page. I love reading these in the old issues.

[Loveable Loser]

Like most of you, I really miss attention to continuity...
but most of all I just miss Peter being an average, ordinary guy in his personal life.

Peter's life used to be really mundane. He always had money problems, problems with his girl-friends, even problems finishing his school-work when he was at university. In addition to all these problems that most of us can relate to, he had his responsibilities as Spider-Man. His life wasn't better because he was Spidey. It took alot out of him. His responsibility as Spider-Man seemed to be a burden that he couldn't quite carry and give his personal life the attention it needed.

It's been a while since it seemed like his life sucked. He's got a supermodel wife, no money problems. Heck, he doesn't even need to keep his identity as Spidey from Aunt May. (Or anyone else, it seems lately.)

As for Spider-Man being a burden on his life, he now lives in Stark Tower rent-free because he's Spider-Man.
What problems does he have? Oh right, he's got a mystical curse/disease because of the whole Spider-Totem thing. Good old mundane, everyday guy problems.

Oh, I also miss a sweet, innocent Gwen Stacy who was devoted to Peter and would never, ever cheat on him. (Seriously, did JMS get some help on that story from Jerry Springer or what? -- Sorry, I know that's been discussed ad nauseum, but it still drives me nuts!)

[shinlyle]

A supporting cast (Like Betty, Ned, Liz, Flash, Harry, Robbie, Glory, Pete's neighbors and landlords, Mary Jane's friends, Felicia, etc) and all the drama with their lives. Yea, the soap opera stuff neatly woven around the action. I love it.

Peter progressing through life stages and lessons... you know, like most of us do. (A caveat would be: Don't kill Aunt May) He would naturally stay married to MJ (he IS after all a responsible, decent guy, who was marriage-minded early on) but someday let them have kids.

A strong, smart Peter, whose Spider-sense actually works, unless there is a reason given... you know, like his has the flu, etc.

A Peter who wholeheartedly loves his wife, sans mental obsession with a long dead girlfriend. Peter went through the stages of grief. Even though Gwen will always be special to him, he really moved on. He's completely into MJ.

Art on the realistic side, as opposed to the cartoony... I hate the freaky, buggy, scrawny Spidey. (JR Sr. was closer to a Deodato in realism than to Jrs. And has anyone else thought that JR Sr.'s Peter had a sight resemblance to Elvis?)

A more secret secret-identity. Finding out who he is should be a bigger deal.

Webbing that doesn't break. It used to be such tough stuff... now everyone and their dog seems to be able to snap it.

Continuity. Even references to past issues, so we know they are paying attention.

Shorter stories, at least now and then. I don't mind the 6-parters, but how about a stand alone now and then, or a TPB with two 3-part stories? Of course, there should always be the relationship threads that are on-going.

The Letter's page. I love reading these in the old issues.

Nice list, Captivated!

You pretty much nailed it.

The thing is, alot of people seem to be hung up on Peter being single again...why? If you want to read abotu young, single, inexperienced and occasionally stupid Peter, read Ultimate Spider-Man.

[KingOfDreams]

I miss fun stories that could be told in one issue alone.That's spidey:spidey:

Agreed. I'm hoping that Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man becomes the lighter, fun book after The Other ends. That kind of seems like the type of book it's going to be so far.

[Caliber]

Mysertio because he could be a great villian if given the chance.

[jaydawg]

Robbie Robertson.

[shinlyle]

Robbie Robertson.

:up: Amazing how he's been totally left out of the book, isn't it?

Love your sig, by the way, man!!

"What about the chick who played the sexy nurse?"

[Captivated]

Nice list, Captivated!

You pretty much nailed it.

The thing is, alot of people seem to be hung up on Peter being single again...why? If you want to read abotu young, single, inexperienced and occasionally stupid Peter, read Ultimate Spider-Man.
Exactly.

And don't forget, the Essentials and the first 2.25 decades of 616 titles has him single too... of course, even single he was always looking for a steady girl-friend... love and marriage was in his cards early on. Some guys are just that way. :)

[shinlyle]

Exactly.

And don't forget, the Essentials and the first 2.25 decades of 616 titles has him single too... of course, even single he was always looking for a steady girl-friend... love and marriage was in his cards early on. Some guys are just that way. :)

Precisely.

He was pursuing a relationship with Betty....then he moves on to Gwen....then he went onto MJ....then Felecia....

He was always a one-woman-man. People think that making him single again and having him being a dateless loser will make things better. He never had a problem getting a date, from what I've read....he just always had a problem keeping the date!

Every time he had a date, he seemed to get sidetracked into his Spidey buisness by some pesky arch-villian, and the girl gets mad at him.

Those MJ-haters would probably like Peter to go back to having bad acne, get glasses again, and then have a comatose Flash Thompson smack him around like a football.

Come on, people, he moved on in life, let's do the same!!

[Doc Destruction]

A supporting cast (Like Betty, Ned, Liz, Flash, Harry, Robbie, Glory, Pete's neighbors and landlords, Mary Jane's friends, Felicia, etc) and all the drama with their lives. Yea, the soap opera stuff neatly woven around the action. I love it.

Peter progressing through life stages and lessons... you know, like most of us do. (A caveat would be: Don't kill Aunt May) He would naturally stay married to MJ (he IS after all a responsible, decent guy, who was marriage-minded early on) but someday let them have kids.

A strong, smart Peter, whose Spider-sense actually works, unless there is a reason given... you know, like his has the flu, etc.

A Peter who wholeheartedly loves his wife, sans mental obsession with a long dead girlfriend. Peter went through the stages of grief. Even though Gwen will always be special to him, he really moved on. He's completely into MJ.

Art on the realistic side, as opposed to the cartoony... I hate the freaky, buggy, scrawny Spidey. (JR Sr. was closer to a Deodato in realism than to Jrs. And has anyone else thought that JR Sr.'s Peter had a sight resemblance to Elvis?)

A more secret secret-identity. Finding out who he is should be a bigger deal.

Webbing that doesn't break. It used to be such tough stuff... now everyone and their dog seems to be able to snap it.

Continuity. Even references to past issues, so we know they are paying attention.

Shorter stories, at least now and then. I don't mind the 6-parters, but how about a stand alone now and then, or a TPB with two 3-part stories? Of course, there should always be the relationship threads that are on-going.

The Letter's page. I love reading these in the old issues.

You just brought a tear to my eye. I would LOVE for these to happen.

[Silver Sable]

Cardiac
Bommerang a little
Doc Ock 2
Shriek
Alien Costume

[Popo 85]

Only one... geez. I guess if it had to be just one thing back to the way it was, no more padding for a TPB. I don't care if it's helping the industry to sell TPB. I buy single issues. And I don't like 6 issue story arcs. I don't like 4 issue story arcs. I'll be honest, I get a little annoyed at the idea of a set "arc" within a span of comics. An arc that has the ability for a person to go in, knowing nothing of the character, get the full story within the arc, and then the next arc assumes you know nothing again. I've been reading for 10 years now. I know the character.

J.M. Demateis(sp?) do you guys remember him on Spectacular back around 1996? He had that Chameleon story, that wove in the Legion of Losers, that led to Gibbon and Grizzley and White Rabbit, Slip in Kraven back from the Chameleon part, Jack O Lantern, Man Wolf without fur. He made so much stuff happen and I don't even think that covered a full year's worth. It was just a flow of, basically, sub and main plots, one turning into another, and it was awesome.

Now we get 4 issues of Spidey fighting someone who's NEVER going to return (because he sucks) just to have an excuse to burn down Aunt May's house.

Look at Paul Jenkins and how moving his Mindworm story was, how funny his poker story was,

"I miss fun stories that could be told in one issue alone.That's spidey"

That IS Spidey. Now look at all the issues the Digger arc was and by the end, Digger's dead, and nothing has been added to Spidey's continuity except for bits on Peter, MJ, and May... The only characters JMS will write.

Supporting Cast is second, but I'm going to leave it at the padding.

[Demogoblin]

J.M. Demateis(sp?) do you guys remember him on Spectacular back around 1996? He had that Chameleon story, that wove in the Legion of Losers, that led to Gibbon and Grizzley and White Rabbit, Slip in Kraven back from the Chameleon part, Jack O Lantern, Man Wolf without fur. He made so much stuff happen and I don't even think that covered a full year's worth. It was just a flow of, basically, sub and main plots, one turning into another, and it was awesome.


DeMatties's 1996-98 run on SSM was fantastic. The other titles at the time may have been crap, but I loved Spectacular. I couldnt beleive that it got cancelled and replaced with the reboot crap. :mad:

[hulkamania85]

I miss fun stories that could be told in one issue alone.That's spidey:spidey:

This and Robbie RObertson.

[Arkady Rossovich]

Respect for continuity.

...and webshooters.I hear he fires organic webbing now.:spidey:

[SpideyStu2]

The Daily Bugle

[TasDvl9]

Like most of you, I really miss attention to continuity...
but most of all I just miss Peter being an average, ordinary guy in his personal life.

Peter's life used to be really mundane. He always had money problems, problems with his girl-friends, even problems finishing his school-work when he was at university. In addition to all these problems that most of us can relate to, he had his responsibilities as Spider-Man. His life wasn't better because he was Spidey. It took alot out of him. His responsibility as Spider-Man seemed to be a burden that he couldn't quite carry and give his personal life the attention it needed.

It's been a while since it seemed like his life sucked. He's got a supermodel wife, no money problems. Heck, he doesn't even need to keep his identity as Spidey from Aunt May. (Or anyone else, it seems lately.)

As for Spider-Man being a burden on his life, he now lives in Stark Tower rent-free because he's Spider-Man.
What problems does he have? Oh right, he's got a mystical curse/disease because of the whole Spider-Totem thing. Good old mundane, everyday guy problems.

Oh, I also miss a sweet, innocent Gwen Stacy who was devoted to Peter and would never, ever cheat on him. (Seriously, did JMS get some help on that story from Jerry Springer or what? -- Sorry, I know that's been discussed ad nauseum, but it still drives me nuts!)

I agree wholeheartedly!

[Idio]

I'm just gonna list em off.

-Super Strength. Shinlyle mentioned this one and its totally true. Spiderman can lift 10 Tons, that's 20,000 pounds. He should be owning most heroes and villains considering how fast and agile he is. He shouldn't be getting his ass handed to him as much as he does.

-Old villains. Seriously, Spidey has one of the greatest rogues gallery in comics, and yet writers feel this need to keep creating new villains. How many new villains have stuck and haven't been god awful?

-The Daily Bugle.

-Webshooters that are mechanical.

-Less Avengers. I think the progression of Spidey to be a member of the Avengers was a great idea, except I just don't feel that these are the Avengers.

-Shorter stories.

[Gregatron]

I miss the Spidey books being fun and being written for fans of all-ages, instead of the (im)mature, "realistic", "relevant" garbage that's being published now.

I miss self-contained stories that actually told a complete story in every issue (even when part of a multi-parter).

I miss the supporting cast.

I miss the Daily Bugle.

I miss the days when every other issue DIDN'T have major retcons or events that will "change things forever".

I miss the days when the emphasis was NOT on violence, swearing, sex, and pain (emotional and physical).

I miss the days where there was the *illusion* of change--Spidey would deal with a major life crisis, learn a lesson, and then next issue, we'd be back to normal, ready for a new, fun adventure.

I miss the days when Peter Parker was the *teenage everyman* trying to make his way in the world, but constantly screwing up as teenagers do (instead of being a 30-year-old loser).

I miss the days when being Spider-Man was *escapism* for Peter (and the readers), not a curse.

I miss the days when Peter's secret identity was secret.

I miss the days when only *one* villain (the Green Goblin--and not the "resurrected" version from 1996-on) had a *personal vendetta* against Peter and his private life.

I miss the days when Peter was bitten by a radioactive spider by accident, and didn't have an origin tied-in to a bunch of pseudo-mystical crap.

I miss the days when the villains were colorful, sci-fi-based egomaniacs and petty thugs in costumes (instead of violent, mystical types or purely evil masterminds)

I miss the days when Spider-Man worked solo, and thought the whole world was out to get him.

I miss organic web-shooters and the classic set of super-powers.

I miss the days when Peter fought to help *others*, instead of constantly defending himself from threats to his own life.

I miss the days when Gwen Stacy was a girl who loved Peter and was faithful to him (and HE was the one who caused all their problems, because of his double life).

I miss the days when Norman Osborn was dead and buried, and didn't have incredible healing powers, and involvement in every stubbed toe in Peter's life.

I miss the days before the Clone Saga, the Reboot, Sins Past, and The Other.

I miss the days when--


P O S S I B L E S P O I L E R:












---- Peter had binocular vision.
















I miss the days of fun, love, and family, of comedy, drama, and pathos.


I miss the days of Great Power going hand-in-hand with Great Responsibility.


But most of all...I miss Spider-Man. I miss the friend I call Peter Parker.


That's what I miss.

[spideylover89]

I miss the respect for the characters and their history...'Nuff Said.

[spideylover89]

Exactly.

And don't forget, the Essentials and the first 2.25 decades of 616 titles has him single too... of course, even single he was always looking for a steady girl-friend... love and marriage was in his cards early on. Some guys are just that way. :)

Bingo. Pete was never the swinging type, he didn't date just to get around. Peter has always been the commitment freak and he has always become so attached to every girl he dated. Hell his relationship with Felicia is a great example. She was in it just for the excitement and sex appeal, but Pete fell in love with her and he was in it for the long run. So to keep a guy like Pete single for so long doesn't even make sense.

[jaydawg]

:up: Amazing how he's been totally left out of the book, isn't it?

Love your sig, by the way, man!!

"What about the chick who played the sexy nurse?"
Thanks, Harold and Kumar has to be my favorite mindless comedy. But yeah, its a shame about Robbie. The guy was basically Peter's third father and his best man to boot. If theres one thing I liked during the reboot was the frequent visits by Robbie.

[mre]

His left eye.

[Popo 85]

I have a friend in one of my classes who has a 7 year old son, so I was looking through my pile of comics I didn't want anymore to see if there were any I could give to her. But then I was always fearfull that there may be a curse word in there somewhere. So of all the one's in my "garage sale" pile, I could only give her two.

Maybe this is just me, but I think that at the very least, Spidey's main book, ASM, should be cuss-word-free. I should be at least a bit more "all-ages" but I'd settle for no cussing. Especially having Peter cuss. I mean, it doesn't bother me, but I could never hand an issue to my nephew, ya know? Anyone else?

I also miss Jenkins, and Zeb Wells, and any writer that would write a SHORT fun story. I tired of serious stories that last 6 issues. Then don't lead to anything. Okay, he killed Digger, what does that mean now? Honestly, I had fun reading the Digger arc, but everything else by JMS was just kind of there. It didn't move me at all. And at the end, nothing really mattered. The totem thing was just left to question anyway, and all original villains that he made died (Digger, Shathra, Zeke) or were rip-offs that we KNOW we won't ever see again (Shaker, Killshot, Charlie, Ock III, GG 87, GG 88) ...wait. I don't want to go into a JMS rant so I'll cut it here. But basically I miss writers that I found fun.

The supporting cast is completely gone. Mackie used so many supporting cast members, as did Jenkins. How hard is it? JMS uses Peter, MJ and May. Sometimes that cop. He has one central villain and idea. Hardly any sub-stories going on (they're there, but not much.) So how do his stories always end up so long?! ...ranting again, sorry. I want Jonah mostly. And Betty, Randy, Flash. And I don't want these characters as cameos. Jonah's shown up, I think twice, in ASM as a cameo joke. I'm sick of it.

I miss the old villains. Millar used a lot of them very well, I thought, in MKSM. I really liked how he used Electro in that. Bendis made him, one of Spidey's most powerful, if not the Most powerful, villain get trapped in a bubble then ... faint at the sight of Luke Cage. I guess what I really want is a writer that respects the villains as much as the heroes. I don't think the Marvel Universe should be looked at as the home of all these powerful "heroes," but the home of many super "characters."

I may have slipped into more rants. If so, I'm sorry. I'm very tired.

I also miss the letter's page.

[imdaly]

Popo: as much as I still enjoy my Spidey comics very much and continue to look forward to each coming comic, I have to agree with every single point you've made there. Maybe I've just gotten used to the ways things have "evolved" into, but I read your post there, I can't help but think "yeah, that WAS something I always loved about the Spidey comics...what happened to it?"



I think the biggest thing I really miss about Spidey and his world is something that couldn't have been avoided. I miss discovering his world and his history.

When I first got into comics, I started out with Spider-Man Classics #1, a reprint of Amazing Fantasy #15. I was immediately sucked into his world. It was much like the perfect pilot episode for a TV series. It gave you the base of the series and left you knowing that you're about to jump into a whole new world. One that is full of great stories that build to a great history for this character.

My second comic was Amazing Spider-Man #377, I believe. It was part two of a 2-part Styx and Stone storyline. So now I was smack-dab in the middle of Spider-Man's life. I had no idea who Styx and Stone were. I had no idea what had happened between his origin and that issue. It was almost like reading another language.

But rather than seeing it as "oh there's no way I'll ever understand this", I saw it as a reason to start searching the older issues. I wanted to find out when and how Peter became married to Mary Jane...whoever that was. I wanted to find out when the last time Spidey had faced the villains were and what history he had with them. I wanted to find out what was up with that guy that seemed to be made of gold (unless my copies were just somehow colored wrong when it came to him).

I had a fresh plate.

Helping me out so wonderfully were the footnotes that were strung all through the issues, referring me to exactly what issue to check up on to find out about what was just referenced to. Spidey mentions his parents being kidnapped by some dude named Venom? Well according to the footnote, I should check out Amazing Spider-Man #375 to find out more. I had a mission now! I must get that issue!

Before I babble on to much, I'm gonna try to stop. But you get the point. The thing I miss most about Spidey and his world...is discovering it. Meeting and getting to know the cast. Finding out what happened that allowed the story to get to the point it was now at. And getting excited about learning more about the characters in the next issue.

Now, 12 years later, and 1200 collected issues later, I'm pretty darn schooled in all things Spidey. Now I admit that I still don't know EVERYTHING there is about him, but anything I don't know is nitpicky details. The thrill of the hunt for discovery is gone. I guess that's why I didn't really mind it when some points in the history are modified or expanded on, because it just feels like I'm getting to read a past story that I haven't gotten a hold of yet. I get just that little bit more of discovery rush back again.

[LarryLegend]

I miss good writing.

[The Joker™]

The Amazing Bag-Man

[rscal]

[the supporting characters: Flash. harry(oops he died), Betty, JJJ, Robbie, and the likes. making him an avenger took out the average guy aspect. now just hangs out with superheroes all the time.

oh and actually drama where things actually mattered not something that will just be explained away in an issue( death of characters and such). Changes in situation instead of changing the history of the character. the totem stuff didn't really bother me since it just added to something it didn't take away or change the history. the gwen thing was stupid. norman coming back was really stupid, i mean that was part of that great story which now is soften because he is back. parents coming back, then being clones or robots that look like them stupid.

[Spider-Kurt]

The power that ASM 121 and 122 once had in my eyes :-(

[LarryLegend]

The power that ASM 121 and 122 once had in my eyes :-(

Good one.

I'll add in respect for Spidey's history by current writers and editors.

[Xofenroht]

Mechanical webshooters and supporting characters.

[ragingdemon155]

I just miss opening a 616 Spider-man comic and having fun. Nothing deep or mystical or dramatic or anything of the sought. Just a fun read with some great Peter/MJ moments. Storylines stop being dramatic when EVERY SINGLE storyline starts off with "in this storyline, Spidey's life will be changed forever". Its annoying now.

Also, let the character mature and grow already...like his readers have over the years. Let Peter stay married with MJ, have kids, move into there own place.....just let Peter Parker get older.

[spider greg]

Like most of you, I really miss attention to continuity...
but most of all I just miss Peter being an average, ordinary guy in his personal life.

Peter's life used to be really mundane. He always had money problems, problems with his girl-friends, even problems finishing his school-work when he was at university. In addition to all these problems that most of us can relate to, he had his responsibilities as Spider-Man. His life wasn't better because he was Spidey. It took alot out of him. His responsibility as Spider-Man seemed to be a burden that he couldn't quite carry and give his personal life the attention it needed.

It's been a while since it seemed like his life sucked. He's got a supermodel wife, no money problems. Heck, he doesn't even need to keep his identity as Spidey from Aunt May. (Or anyone else, it seems lately.)

As for Spider-Man being a burden on his life, he now lives in Stark Tower rent-free because he's Spider-Man.
What problems does he have? Oh right, he's got a mystical curse/disease because of the whole Spider-Totem thing. Good old mundane, everyday guy problems.

Oh, I also miss a sweet, innocent Gwen Stacy who was devoted to Peter and would never, ever cheat on him. (Seriously, did JMS get some help on that story from Jerry Springer or what? -- Sorry, I know that's been discussed ad nauseum, but it still drives me nuts!)

I agree 100%

[Flash Fearless]

The Daily Bugle

Ditto.

[shinlyle]

I just miss opening a 616 Spider-man comic and having fun. Nothing deep or mystical or dramatic or anything of the sought. Just a fun read with some great Peter/MJ moments. Storylines stop being dramatic when EVERY SINGLE storyline starts off with "in this storyline, Spidey's life will be changed forever". Its annoying now.

Also, let the character mature and grow already...like his readers have over the years. Let Peter stay married with MJ, have kids, move into there own place.....just let Peter Parker get older.

Preach on, brother.

[Shadowknight]

1. Peter and MJ to break up - Never liked the character. Besides, it's nice to have the option for a new leading lady in the title if fans don't like the current one, or they back her into a box with bad characterization
2. Return of Hobgoblin
3. The return of the real Kraven the Hunter, not any of his knock-off sons. Yes, I'm one of those readers who hated Kraven's Last Hunt. Reading the old Stan Lee issues? He was a good, fun villian
4. Mac Gargan being the Scorpian, not Venom. This reduces Spidey's rogues gallery by one, and makes the history/status quo of Venom even more convoluted.
5. No more Spider-totem.
6. The return of Spider-tracers and Peter cobbling up gear, or specialty webbing, in particular situations
7. Make lesser Spider-man villians like Mysterio, Shocker, Rhino more of a threat, and use them more often
8. Give Normal a break for 3 years, minimum.

[Dangerous]

A decent writer

[Dangerous]

Also the Hobgoblin

[Zenien]

The ASM current writer is amazingly talented, it's his storylines that you should take issue with, he's a bit better than just decent imo.

1. Peter and MJ to break up - Never liked the character. Besides, it's nice to have the option for a new leading lady in the title if fans don't like the current one, or they back her into a box with bad characterization Fans do overwhelmingly like the character and the marriage though
2. Return of Hobgoblin Agreed
4. Mac Gargan being the Scorpian, not Venom. This reduces Spidey's rogues gallery by one, and makes the history/status quo of Venom even more convoluted. Agreed
5. No more Spider-totem. That honestly depends on how this whole OTHER thing works out impo
7. Make lesser Spider-man villians like Mysterio, Shocker, Rhino more of a threat, and use them more often without a doubt

One thing I do miss with Spidr-Man is the celebration it use to have. It seems liek Spider-Man books now days are less about telling an ultimately uplifting story and more about showing characters survive, not overcome, but typically survive, strife. I dunno, I'd like to see a few issues or so that just remind us how FUN Spider-Man can be and how much fun Peter has admittedly had (despite the ups and downs) being Spider-Man.

Also, for the love of god, Gwen Stacy is dead, let her go, everytime a writter tries to do the horrible "Peter loved Gwen more" crap it hurts the character and the integrity of the character and the book in general, and frankly makes Peter less enjoyable to read. Gwen is dead, stop using her ghost as an excuse for even more angst. This trend is something that's only done by a few writters, but it drives me insane. Gwen died for a reason in the comics people, she was boring and flat, let her die, move on, accept it!

That Michael Buble Spider-Man remix is a celebration of Spider-Man, I hope we can at least get a few issues a year that cna capture that spirit of celebration of energy.

[wes1406]

What do I miss about Spider-Man?

I miss fans who stand behind the character regardless of how much they dislike the story, or the writer, or the art, and stand by the book no matter what.

[Superman \S/]

I miss the Chameleon IMO i would like to see him again soon.

[Popo 85]

"I miss fans who stand behind the character regardless of how much they dislike the story, or the writer, or the art, and stand by the book no matter what."

...? We all DO love the character, otherwise we wouldn't spend a few hours a week reading over Spider-Man message boards. Regardless, a lot of us are also fed up with the current writers, and shock values, and out-of-character-characterization. How can somebody stand by a comic book that they think sucks? Just because they like the title's main character? It can't work like that. Otherwise, you're just telling the writer and Marvel that you like the current writer.

I LOVE Spider-Man, but I'm not going to read ASM for a LONG time.

Sorry. It just kind of grinds my gears that someone would say I don't like my favorite character just because I hate his main writer.

[stillanerd]

Much of what of what I miss from Spider-Man comics has already been said by others: The lack of his classic supporting cast like J. Jonah Jameson, Flash Thompson, "Robbie" Robertson, Betty Brant, Liz Allen, etc; the fact that he seems less of an ordinary guy with superpowers vs. a full-blown superhero; and the fact that, for some inexplicible reason, Marvel seem paranoid that if he's married or has a kid (which ordinary guys do) then no one will relate to him.

However, two things I see that are really lacking in Spidey today are even more glaring when I look back through the Essential Volumes. First of all, I miss Peter being able to use his scientific talents to invent something to aid him as Spider-Man. I mean the last guy who actually seemed to improve upon the webbing was Ben Reilly, and he wasn't even the real deal. And the second is the humor. I mean, I now Peter has angst, but he was the Rodney Dangerfield of comics: he got no respect from anybody, but for some reason, we couldn't help but laugh along because we knew exactly how he felt--because we went through the same thing (absent fighting super-villains, of course).

[Toren]

I mean, I now Peter has angst, but he was the Rodney Dangerfield of comics: he got no respect from anybody, but for some reason, we couldn't help but laugh along because we knew exactly how he felt--because we went through the same thing (absent fighting super-villains, of course).
You mean you didn't have to fight super-villains growing up?

Lucky...

[ragingdemon155]

What do I miss about Spider-Man?

I miss fans who stand behind the character regardless of how much they dislike the story, or the writer, or the art, and stand by the book no matter what.

I think you have "not liking the story" and "not liking character" mixed up. The fans have stood behind Spider-man regardless of how bad its gotten at times. Hell most fans stood by the character through out the Clone Saga (I wasn't one of them). I dropped the comics during that period cause I wasn't going to shell out money REGARDLESS of how much I love the character if I wasn't enjoying the story.

You say, you "miss" fans that stand behind the character? Where did these fans go? They're all still here collecting the comic regardless of how bad it might get at times.

Like I said, don't confuse hating the story with hating the character.

[stillanerd]

You mean you didn't have to fight super-villains growing up?

Lucky...

Hey, I grew up in a small town. Not much to do. Besides, I let my older sister fight them for me.:D

[Shadowknight]

Hey, I grew up in a small town. Not much to do. Besides, I let my older sister fight them for me.:D
Well, the GLA are in a relatively small town, and they got to fight Malestrom and Batrocs Brigade. Squirrel Girl took down Thanos and Modok (with AIM soldiers).

[wes1406]

Hrm, there just seems to be a lot of animosity towards the comic because of JMS. Personally, I like the story. It's out of the norm. It's different.

I just hate to see " OMG!!1 JMS Suxxors! i will never r34d spidermann again! "

And there just seems to be a lot of that going on around here.

Jesus Christ, it's a good story. Granted, you have your opinions, but don't take it out on the book.

[ragingdemon155]

Hrm, there just seems to be a lot of animosity towards the comic because of JMS. Personally, I like the story. It's out of the norm. It's different.

I just hate to see " OMG!!1 JMS Suxxors! i will never r34d spidermann again! "

And there just seems to be a lot of that going on around here.

Jesus Christ, it's a good story. Granted, you have your opinions, but don't take it out on the book.

Thats because alot of people don't like JMS and the approach he is taking on Spider-man at the moment. "It's a good story" is your "opinion" and your entitled to it, good for you. Why not take your fustration out on the book? If us readers don't like it, of coarse we're going to take it out on the book that we're spending our money on.

[LarryLegend]

Hrm, there just seems to be a lot of animosity towards the comic because of JMS. Personally, I like the story. It's out of the norm. It's different.

I just hate to see " OMG!!1 JMS Suxxors! i will never r34d spidermann again! "

And there just seems to be a lot of that going on around here.

Jesus Christ, it's a good story. Granted, you have your opinions, but don't take it out on the book.

See thing is alot of us don't think its a good story nor do we think JMS has written a good story for a long time. Quite the opposite in fact.

[Bullseye]

I can not think of a writer who stands out in the last few years. I have been very happy with JMS run on ASM.

[deemar325]

A single Peter Parker. :(


I hear ya!:up: :(

[Ultimate Doom]

I miss the GOOD villains

[Shadowknight]

Single issues stories, because dude? I'm sick of the Marvel way of stretching out stories for the trade. Old school stuff like the early Hobgoblin, or even Stan Lee, issues stood on their own as a single issue, while still tying together a long term story arc. Whatever you think of "The Other" you're going to be missing bits by not buying the whole bloody 12 parts over what, 3 titles?

[SpideyInATree]

Single issues stories, because dude? I'm sick of the Marvel way of stretching out stories for the trade. Old school stuff like the early Hobgoblin, or even Stan Lee, issues stood on their own as a single issue, while still tying together a long term story arc. Whatever you think of "The Other" you're going to be missing bits by not buying the whole bloody 12 parts over what, 3 titles?

Then you should check out some issues from Spectacular Spider-Man Volume 2. Especially issues # 14 and # 27. Pretty good stand alone stories by Paul Jenkins. :up:

[Shadowknight]

I'm not a fan of Paul Jenkins. But how about this; I FINALLY tracked down a copy of the "Origin of the Hobgoblin" trade which has been out of print since 1991, collecting the first year of Hobgoblin stories. It's one of those things which is almost impossible to find at any price, but I finally did so. It's much easier to find, say, Miracleman trades, but sellers usually want over $100 for the trades.

[Citizen_Kaine]

I miss the GOOD villains

Agreed, when you have a rouges gallery like Spidey you should send them out every now and then, and show them off, And when you create a new villian, you make them good and intresting, and not dull, repetative and have them die in their origin arc
Ex.

Red Hood aka Jason Todd

Whooping Batman's ass on a regular basies, beating up the guy who replaced him, killing criminals and making fun of Batman while doing it. This is how to take a new villian and building him up to the point where he doesn't even look outta place among Bats many A list foes.

http://robin.oscillating.net/redhood/batman646.jpg

Vibranium Man = Little ***** Boy

Not even cool enough to have a real super villian name and not even being intresting and unique enough for me to remember his real name. Small in pants Super Villian who has the same, "Great power without responsibility" backstory we've seen since Doc Ock deputed.

http://www.samruby.com/AmazingSpider-ManU/Large/AmazingSpider-Man516.jpg

[Popo 85]

"And when you create a new villian, you make them good and intresting, and not dull, repetative and have them die in their origin arc."

The only ones that come to mind in Spidey are the Murderous Mimes, Fusion and Tracer. Or at least, Tracer said he wasn't dieing, or that he was going away for a bit. Something like that. Everyone else in the last few years are either dead or a rip-off. Personal favorite goes to the Mime Gang. Did I miss anyone?

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

I miss everything about Spidey... he's been dead & gone for quite some time now.

[Vile]

A return to Spidey's original origin.
No Avengers crap.
No Totem ****...save the mystical stuff for Doc Strange.
Have him and MJ evolve a little, have some kids or whatnot.
KILL FREAKIN' AUNT MAY. She's OLD, she serves no purpose anymore! The guy is going to be 60 and STILL living with his freakin' aunt.
Instead of making **** villains....here's an idea, EVOLVE his current villains! And NO, I dont mean giving them a new look...Good God, Ramos actually made the Green Goblin cool, he gave Dr Octopus a great new edge and feel...come on now, Marvel! Work with it!

Oh yeah...BRING BACK THE HOBGOBLIN.

Until then...A spider-fan, I am not.

[Zev]

The supporting cast. A thousand times the supporting cast. One of the best supporting cast in comics and nobody uses them anymore. Recently JMS did a storyline where a tabloid published a story claiming that Mary-Jane was cheating on Peter with Tony Stark. Now can you imagine how much more impact that would have if Peter were still at the Bugle? Everyone trying to glad-hand him and offer condolences over being married to such a vile shrew, all while he protested that it was all a big misunderstanding? Imagine Jameson's reaction to the whole thing. Comedic tour-de-force.

Now the only people Peter seems to interact with are his wife and aunt. Does he have some kind of phobia or something? Is he carrying the Plague? Is it too much to ask that Felicia or Flash pop up once in a while WITHOUT immediately being raped or put in a coma or whatever foul fate gives Peter something new to anguish about?

[Punisher RULES]

-Classic Villains
-Venom being used right
-Single Storys
-Todd McFarlane
-John Romita jr.
-a Happy Peter
-no Ultimates

[thegame_45]

I never liked Todd McFarlane's art. I know that really brought in a new era for him, but I never got into it. The stories were good though.

[Punisher RULES]

I never liked Todd McFarlane's art. I know that really brought in a new era for him, but I never got into it. The stories were good though.
His cartoonish style usually drove away people

[Ultimate Doom]

-Classic Villains
-Venom being used right
-Single Storys
-Todd McFarlane
-John Romita jr.
-a Happy Peter

YES, I AGREE :up:

[Shadowknight]

-Classic Villains
-Venom being used right
-Single Storys
While I hate Venom, I do agree that haven't used him right, since what, his second appearance? Most of the time he's been in "lethal protector" mode and doesn't really seem to try to even fight, much less kill Spider-man. Some motivation as a criminal besides trying to kill Peter would be nice as well. Kind of like how the early Doc Ock and Green Goblin stories had them try to take over the city rackets. I'm not saying he should go that route, but just have some point to his existence, you know?

[Kraven TH]

I miss me.

[Captivated]

A supporting cast (Like Betty, Ned, Liz, Flash, Harry, Robbie, Glory, Pete's neighbors and landlords, Mary Jane's friends, Felicia, etc) and all the drama with their lives. Yea, the soap opera stuff neatly woven around the action. I love it.

Peter progressing through life stages and lessons... you know, like most of us do. (A caveat would be: Don't kill Aunt May) He would naturally stay married to MJ (he IS after all a responsible, decent guy, who was marriage-minded early on) but someday let them have kids. This has been a serial from day one.

A STRONG, smart Peter, whose Spider-sense actually works, unless there is a reason given... you know, like his has the flu, etc.

A Peter who wholeheartedly loves his wife, sans mental obsession with a long dead girlfriend. Peter went through the stages of grief. Even though Gwen will always be special to him, he really moved on. He's completely into MJ.

Art on the realistic side, as opposed to the cartoony... I hate the freaky, buggy, scrawny Spidey. (JR Sr. was closer to a Deodato in realism than to Jrs. And has anyone else thought that JR Sr.'s Peter had a sight resemblance to Elvis?)

A more secret secret-identity. Finding out who he is should be a bigger deal.

Webbing that doesn't break. It used to be such tough stuff... now everyone and their dog seems to be able to snap it.

Continuity. Especially respect for foundational, classic, turning point stories and characters. This would have prevented disasters such as Sins Past. Even references to past issues, so we know they are paying attention.

Shorter stories, at least now and then. I don't mind the 6-parters, but how about a stand alone now and then, or a TPB with two 3-part stories? Of course, there should always be the relationship threads that are on-going.

The Letter's page. I love reading these in the old issues.
Remember this thread? Seems this topic comes up constantly... What you MISS may not be what Spidey NEEDS to be considered "back on track" but, it's something to look at.

To the above list I would add:

Respect for Spidey's origin The first several years should serve like a "plumb line." Once AGAIN, this does not mean there cannot be "change"... there HAS to be change... it just means it should be LOGICAL. It should mesh with who the character is. This would mean that Peter's accident was not PLANNED by cosmic forces, making him merely one more in a long line... (Of course, the marriage IS one of those logical progressions... Peter WANTS to be married. Stan, the man HIMSELF planned that one from the get go. Long before it happened in the strip... Sorry JQ. That's a fact.)

More stories that DON"T tear apart Spidey's world Funny ones, like Slott's Spidey and the Human Torch... touching ones like Jenkin's story about the kid with CP... the Valentine story...

Spidey's quips/humor should be juxtaposed to his amazing powers. Otherwise he comes off looking like a whiney, lame, goofball, a la New Avengers.

I'm sure there are more... but this is making my brain hurt...

[TheWhiteSpider]

Remember this thread? Seems this topic comes up constantly... What you MISS may not be what Spidey NEEDS to be considered "back on track" but, it's something to look at.

To the above list I would add:

Respect for Spidey's origin The first several years should serve like a "plumb line." Once AGAIN, this does not mean there cannot be "change"... there HAS to be change... it just means it should be LOGICAL. It should mesh with who the character is. This would mean that Peter's accident was not planned by (Of course, the marriage IS one of those logical progressions... Peter WANTS to be married. Stan, the man HIMSELF planned that one from the get go. Long before it happened in the strip... Sorry JQ. That's a fact.)

More stories that DON"T tear apart Spidey's world Funny ones, like Slott's Spidey and the Human Torch... touching ones like Jenkin's story about the kid with CP... the Valentine story...

Spidey's quips/humor should be juxtaposed to his amazing powers. Otherwise he comes off looking like a whiney, lame, goofball, a la New Avengers.

I'm sure there are more... but this is making my brain hurt...

Brain and heart Cap, when you realize how many of Pete's defining elements are M.I.A.