Comics Did Quesada let the cat out of the bag at Wizard Con?

[shinlyle]

Looks like its time for me to join the Civil War banner bandwagon...

Preach it, brother!!!


I really think Quesada needs to go back and re-read all of the issues of ASM, and then, after he realizes how many mistakes he's made, he should fire himself. He's done NOTHING to advance the character of Peter Parker/Spider-Man.

He wants to turn Peter Parker into a lightly older Ultimate Peter Parker.

If you do not agree with that statement, then you are lying to yourself.

 

[spider greg]

But what about all those 15-25 who ACTUALLY HAVE CHILDREN... THEY'RE FRICKIN YOUNG!!! HELL MY COUSIN, who's 4 months younger than me, GOT KNOCKED UP WHEN SHE WAS 18 OR 19... SHE'S GONNA BE 24 IN JULY!!! SHE'S NOT OLD AND WITH A CHILD... WHY THE HECK MJ AND PETE CAN'T HAVE A CHILD!!!

Whoa! I felt like THWIP* for a moment there...
Quesada is Marvel's Schumacher...

Not that I like Joe Q or agree with him all the the time, but on this I do agree with him. It's not that your incorrect about young people having kids, it's more about being practical with the character in the long run. Marvel wants to keep Spidey around for a long, long time. The baby can't stay a baby forever it has to age, therefore Spidey ages with him or her and becomes more of an abberation than he already is.
Even more, would someone like Peter, who's so hell bent on responsibility continue being Spider-man after having a Baby? The baby would and should be his #1 priority. Working a full time job to support his family, and being Spider-man would take all his time from his child, being the kind of character that he is I just don't see that happening. Just my opinion.

 

[Eye Doc]

Not that I like Joe Q or agree with him all the the time, but on this I do agree with him. It's not that your incorrect about young people having kids, it's more about being practical with the character in the long run. Marvel wants to keep Spidey around for a long, long time. The baby can't stay a baby forever it has to age, therefore Spidey ages with him or her and becomes more of an abberation than he already is.
Even more, would someone like Peter, who's so hell bent on responsibility continue being Spider-man after having a Baby? The baby would and should be his #1 priority. Working a full time job to support his family, and being Spider-man would take all his time from his child, being the kind of character that he is I just don't see that happening. Just my opinion.

I agree with the first part of your post. A "spider-baby" would add nothing to the series. It would age the character even more and take him farther away from his original incarnation. Also, if Marvel hasn't been able to right a compelling Parker mariage, why would anyone expect a baby to make things any better?

I see your point in the 2nd part of the post, but I don't entirely agree. Lot's of people who put their lives on the line daily have families (ex: policeman, sildiers, fireman, rescue workers, etc). Having a kid doesn't mean Peter would just stop his webslinging. However, I do think he would curtail his activiities or consider a full time stint in the Avengers so he wouldn't have to go it alone.

 

[spider greg]

I agree with the first part of your post. A "spider-baby" would add nothing to the series. It would age the character even more and take him farther away from his original incarnation. Also, if Marvel hasn't been able to right a compelling Parker mariage, why would anyone expect a baby to make things any better?

I see your point in the 2nd part of the post, but I don't entirely agree. Lot's of people who put their lives on the line daily have families (ex: policeman, sildiers, fireman, rescue workers, etc). Having a kid doesn't mean Peter would just stop his webslinging. However, I do think he would curtail his activiities or consider a full time stint in the Avengers so he wouldn't have to go it alone.

I see your point, but I think you misunderstood my reasoning a bit. The jobs you mentioned are actual occupations that people are paid for, being Spider-man is not. I meant he would have to work a full time job and go out as Spider-man. I'm kinda putting myself in his position, because I have a baby girl at home and couldn't fathom doing all the things Peter would have to do plus take care of the baby.
Granted, he could join the Avengers full time and make some loot, but I like Spidey as a loner.

 

[Doc_OCK_4MUGEN]

Afterall they already did... have one... once. Reed Richards had a baby... two of them... does that make Sue an old woman? Sure she's a BIT older than Peter and MJ, but they shouldn't have childen either with all that space travelling, alternate dimension visiting, time travelling, and battling Doc Doom on a monthly basis, but they did... and the kid has barely aged in all these years... not saying that Pete and MJ HAVE to have another kid, but they COULD... the only problem with the baby is that it IS a double-edge sword... It could shift the writers attention on the "Evil Marriage" or turn MJ into NagZilla...

A baby isn't bad compared to Stingers, clones, Ironman suits, and Goblins boning Gwen... It's kinda NORMAL for married couples to have children... Peter is supposed to try hard at having a semblance of a normal life... thus it seems natural that Pete tries to have a child...

 

[Mara Jane]

I kinda wish that Pete and MJ had tried to have a baby and found out they couldn't, to be honest. It could add tension, and Marvel would not have to explain about why Pete & MJ never have kids. Unfortunately, because MJ got preggo before, it would be hard to go this route now.

Pete should just buy MJ a dog, like he did in Stan's cartoon strip. Even though it was years ago when I read it, I still remember the puppy's name: Lergnom, which is Mongrel spelled backwards. Leave it to Stan to come up with something cheesy like that.

 

[Themanofbat]

I kinda wish that Pete and MJ had tried to have a baby and found out they couldn't, to be honest. It could add tension, and Marvel would not have to explain about why Pete & MJ never have kids. Unfortunately, because MJ got preggo before, it would be hard to go this route now.

Since Pete injected himself with radiation during his first fight with Morlun, it might have made him sterile, which could be such an easier answer to them not having children.

Though in the hands of a good writer, a child should be a challenge, never a hinderence... same as continuity.

 

[Langoth]

There is only so much you can do with certain characters, before their story has to move forward, and they have to move on. Its just a matter of not making those stories ******ED.

I think DC handles families and aging much better then Marvel, and they do seem to move their stories forward more.

 

[spider greg]

Afterall they already did... have one... once. Reed Richards had a baby... two of them... does that make Sue an old woman? Sure she's a BIT older than Peter and MJ, but they shouldn't have childen either with all that space travelling, alternate dimension visiting, time travelling, and battling Doc Doom on a monthly basis, but they did... and the kid has barely aged in all these years... not saying that Pete and MJ HAVE to have another kid, but they COULD... the only problem with the baby is that it IS a double-edge sword... It could shift the writers attention on the "Evil Marriage" or turn MJ into NagZilla...

A baby isn't bad compared to Stingers, clones, Ironman suits, and Goblins boning Gwen... It's kinda NORMAL for married couples to have children... Peter is supposed to try hard at having a semblance of a normal life... thus it seems natural that Pete tries to have a child...

I would never dispute that the storylines are very bad right now, that's not really the issue. I'm sure a good writer could make some interesting stories with a Spider kid, Tom Defalco's been doing it for a while, but that's a different universe, The problem is for how long could you do it before hitting a brick wall? You mentioned the Fantistic 4 kids, I like the Fantastic 4 but must confess I don't know a lot about their background, I didn't even know Valeria existed, so I did a little research. From what I read it really sounds like a big mess, Franklin's aging has been so back and forth because of time travel, he's been put into a coma by Reed to control his powers, he's been a teenager, now he's a kid again. I'm pretty sure Franklin's age problems was a catalyst for why they don't want Spider-man to have a baby. He was "born" in 1968 so I don't think the issue of aging then was in question.With Valeria, she showed up as a teenager or older girl and will pretty much stay that way so again, aging isn't an issue anymore.
I really don't think it's fair to compare The FF to Spider-man raising a baby because the circumstances are different, plus from what I read, and I don't know if this is still going on, but I read child welfare took the kids away, though that may be a storyline that's over with.
As I said before, it's not so much that MJ and Pete can't have a kid and have good stories, it's that it's changing the character from it's inception and becoming an abberation. I know it's easy to get personal with these characters, I done it also. But for the character to have longevity certain rules have to be applied. Again just my opinion.

 

[stillanerd]

JQ needs to brush up on his history... (there's an understatement...)

MJ disappeared from the books around ASM #182 ish after she refused Peter's first proposal.

She then re-appeared under Stern's writing around ASM #243... some 5 years later (our time). She was then in the book until Peter proposes again in ASM #291-2, which would have been 4 years (our time again) since her "sudden reappearance" in the book.

That was something I noticed as well, and Joe Q made the same assertions about the history behind the marriage in that infamous Joe Friday's interview he gave to Newsarama about a month or so ago. He also made this statement:

There is no denying that during the classic heyday of Spider-Man soap opera played an important part in the telling of his stories. Remember, he had a bunch of girlfriends before even meeting MJ, Gwen, Betty, and Liz.

http://www.superherohype.com/forums/showpost.php?p=8612882&postcount=310

Which should have been definitive proof that Joe Q really does not know the history of the characters he's in charge of.

 

[Symbiotica]

* * *

 

[Spiderluke]

I remember (it might have been the wizard article) that Joe Q said something about Spider-man being married made it harder for younger fans to get into Spider-man. Now with that being said, I started reading Spider-man when they were married and had NO trouble enjoying the book. If Joe Q would write a decent storyline with some villans and branching off the fact that Spider-man has developed and grown up in his life (just like all other superheros) then I think that would be an easier way for younger children to get into a book. I know when I was young I could've given a crap if Spider-man was married, just as long as Venom was in a book, or Hobgoblin.

 

[Eye Doc]

I remember (it might have been the wizard article) that Joe Q said something about Spider-man being married made it harder for younger fans to get into Spider-man. Now with that being said, I started reading Spider-man when they were married and had NO trouble enjoying the book. If Joe Q would write a decent storyline with some villans and branching off the fact that Spider-man has developed and grown up in his life (just like all other superheros) then I think that would be an easier way for younger children to get into a book. I know when I was young I could've given a crap if Spider-man was married, just as long as Venom was in a book, or Hobgoblin.

You bring up a good point. Kids dig Spidey because he's Spidey. They dig the action, funny quips, and Peter's attempt to persevere despite all of the grief and trials life throws at him.

I've never heard a 10-15 year old kid say I read Spidey "because of his girl problems".

 

[Spiderluke]

And one last thing. I remember the Ultimate line was supposed to be another way for a younger generation of readers to become Spidey fans. I just prayed they don't f the character up too much.

 

[Doc_OCK_4MUGEN]

Well I'd like Themanobats Idea to get rid of Spider-Kids... it's the most plausible, but It isn't Quesada's Marvel Way... So I got Quesada's answer... Peter's Wang falls off... MJ leaves him cause she loves the (expletive deleted)...

Teh end of teh 3v1L Marr1ag3...

 

[Doc Destruction]

Sigh. I've said this before and I'll say it again. Why not just write an effective marriage? Or good stories with Baby May in them? Heaven forbid you should have kids read a book where a marriage actually works or anything.

 

[bulok]

Problem with having kids in stories and this has been addressed before is that they eventually grow up. That would mean the characters get older as well. Thats why Adam, remember him from Superman? The bratty kid was killed off. Also the Lizard's kid is rarely on anymore.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

To me Spider-Man is supposed to be the normal guy that happens to get super powers, normal people get married, normal people have children

 

[Doc Destruction]

Problem with having kids in stories and this has been addressed before is that they eventually grow up. That would mean the characters get older as well. Thats why Adam, remember him from Superman? The bratty kid was killed off. Also the Lizard's kid is rarely on anymore.

Lizard's kid is in SSM right now.

 

[Norman Osborn]

Lizard's kid is in SSM right now.

...which just coincidentally is the best (by far) Spider-man arc ongoing at this moment!

 

[shinlyle]

...probably because it's the only one that has Spidey acting like a hero with a brain, and also hasn't resurrected his Uncle Ben....which ASM and FNSM have both done, respectively.

 

[hulkamania85]

I think I'd prefer Ultimate Peter and MJ not getting back together. Come on, it's Ultimate SPider-Man. Let's see something new.

On the 616 side of things, keep them together. I'd rather Peter be single, but they married him. Get over it. Try to work with it. Divorcing them will just age Peter even more.

I read Kraven's Last Hunt last night. Even though I wouldn't have had Peter and MJ marry, this arc shows it can be well written and Quesada's scapegoat is bull.

 

[stillanerd]

BTW, there IS at least one writer currently at Marvel who doesn't have a problem with the Spider-marriage. Peter David.

http://www.newsarama.com/forums/showthread.php?t=72908

Joe Quesada recently got a lot of attention for commenting on how much he dislikes the marriage between Spider-Man and Mary Jane. What is your opinion on the marriage?

DAVID (sic): I have no problem with it. I really don't. I know that this makes me unique, perhaps, in the Spider-writers because most of the writers absolutely cannot stand the fact that they're married. I have absolutely no problem with it. Part of it is that I'm flexible I suppose, and maybe part of it stems from the fact that I wrote the Hulk for 12 years and pretty much the entirety of the 12 years, he was married.[/URL]

So writing dialogue and interaction for a married couple doesn't faze me. Coming up with stories for a married couple doesn't faze me. So I have no intrinsic problem with it. On the other hand, I'm not the one running Marvel Comics, so my opinion is merely an opinion. Joe's opinion becomes policy.

Translation: Peter David basically implies that the REAL reason why a lot of the Spider-writers don't like Peter and MJ as a married couple is because they feel it's too hard to write about married couples than it is single couples, meaning the whole line about "kids can't relate to a married Spider-Man" is complete and utter bull****.

He also gives some insights into Flash Thompson and the Uncle Ben from another dimension.

 

[The Infernal]

If they get back together then fine. However the break-up story has been done before. They say the relationship is a problem and they think that an recycled story is the solution. Geez.

 

[Dragon]

I kinda wish that Pete and MJ had tried to have a baby and found out they couldn't, to be honest. It could add tension, and Marvel would not have to explain about why Pete & MJ never have kids. Unfortunately, because MJ got preggo before, it would be hard to go this route now.

Pete should just buy MJ a dog, like he did in Stan's cartoon strip. Even though it was years ago when I read it, I still remember the puppy's name: Lergnom, which is Mongrel spelled backwards. Leave it to Stan to come up with something cheesy like that.

Actually, I'd prefer that it was a conscious decision on their part not to have kids. First, it's way too cliche' that everyone who gets married would immediately want children.

But moreso, because of their characters. Both would just know that a child given the current status of their lives simply isn't practical.