moraldeficiency
Maxwell's Demon
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Came across these two interviews and thought they'd be an interesting read. Two notes: 1. Wacker seems like a class act and hell of a guy, I wish the circumstances were different. 2. JMS is pulling less of his punches then ever here, I guessing that means an eventual move from marvel (sorry Thor fans).
http://comics.ign.com/articles/895/895914p1.html
IGN Comics: Coming up we have the huge "New Ways to Die" arc that starts in August and runs through October. What can you tell and tease about what's coming during that storyline?
Steve Wacker: On a pure gut level, New Ways To Die is simply about bringing Norman Osborn and Venom back into Pete's life. Digging deeper, NWTD (which is what all the cool kidz are calling it) is about revenge and the need to claim your piece of the past.
It brings in all the different elements in Spidey's life that have been introduced since January into one giant story. There are pieces of plot and what seemed to be throwaway bits that Dan (along with the rest of the writing team) have crafted into a big end-of-summer slamdance. Does anyone still slamdance? Oy, what a nightmare.
Alongside Venom and Green Goblin, we'll also be meeting a new creepy guy called Anti-Venom and we'll see the return of another classic Spidey bad guy.
Plus in part one, you get a 10 page backup by Mark Waid and Adi Granov catching you up on what Eddie Brock has been up to since last year's "Back in Black" story.
IGN Comics: A few questions came up during Comic-Con and I had a follow-up to those conversations. During the show, a few disgruntled fans lamented over the One More Day storyline and the Brand New Day direction. Specifically one constant source of griping is the resolution of continuity issues and how Brand New Day synchs up with Spidey's life. The standard Marvel response at this point seems to be "Wait and see. That story isn't over yet."
Wacker: When isn't the response "wait-and-see"? Seriously, show me the company that decides to just reveal all the big story plots and secrets in panels at the conventions. Show me that company and I'll show you a publisher saving a ton on paper and even more by not needing an accountant!
I mean, I'm dying to find out what happens in the next season of Friday Night Lights, but those jerks at Direct TV won't tell me nothin'!! TV sucks!
However, to the larger question you're implying, I took over editing the Spidey books in January, so that's really what I feel responsibility over. That first issue opened an indeterminate amount of time after the previous issue closed because at the time we started (this is late 06, early '07), we weren't quite sure exactly where the previous story was going to end. It's a fact of comics that you simply can't create these books in the order they're going to be published. I had a year to bank as much material as I could and we just couldn't wait around. We had to start working before the previous story was even done.
So to give the new creative teams some freedom and room to move, we started after some time had passed between the end of the last story and our first one. It's no different than when some comics open "One Year Later". Now, I'm hip enough to know that that's not going to be enough for readers who need stuff quantified right away, but we simply don't want to reveal all that right now. I know that gruntles some folks, but what can ya do? Some folks get disgruntled that we're still publishing Spidey after they told us to stop.
IGN Comics: Given the fact that everyone involved knew this change (both in OMD and BND) would be difficult to sell to fans, why haven't these questions been answered yet? Clearly it wouldn't work to list everything out in an encyclopedia, but why wait this long? Why not set the stage so everyone can see the intent/full direction for the character?
Wacker: I'm not sure what you're referring to specifically, but the stage is set pretty clearly from the first issue (ASM #546) on. You may not like the stage or you may not like that the stage was even built, but we're on that stage now and everybody starts on a level playing field. As always though, there's more to be revealed, but we wanted to be able play on the new stage for a bit before knocking it around and breaking things.
Why do it this way? Who knows? Why start any story anywhere? The Iron Man movie could have started on a dead horse tongue, but it didn't. (Boy, that was a crappy example. Okay make it a live horse tongue. That's yours for free, Favreau.)
Readers know as well as I do that this ain't math. It's all a mix of experience, inspiration and the most important ingredient: guess work. We found a way to set our stories up that intrigued the creative team and intrigued me. I suppose I could have strong-armed the stories into the shape you're suggesting, but A) I try not to run my books that way and B) Who's to say that would have led to stories you lied better? Certainly there would still be fans upset. Spider-Man fans are incredibly thoughtful and it matters deeply to them if they suspect you are mishandling the character. Everything else aside aside, I respect that.
Truth is, the events in Spidey were so dramatic, there was no way a certain percentage of people weren't going to find all this difficult to digest (I know this because Brevoort talked about it every single, unrelenting day in the year leading up to it), but the current Spidey team can't get too hung up on it.
I don't presume that any group of readers speaks for all "fans". Hell, we still get an occasional well-written letter from someone angry that the revelations of the Spidey Clone Saga were reversed. Some readers just want things the way they want them, and I have no problem with that even when I don't agree. I like the debate and lunch on a steady diet of rage. But, again, I don't imagine any of them speak for everyone or even "most". And even if they did, storytelling by majority vote is a pretty frightening prospect. Go down that road and we'll all be watching : "So, You Think You're Smarter Than An America Idol Anatomy House Project Runway and Colmes".
By-and-large (please note that I said that when you write into complain to me that you're the exception to the "by-and-large"), most folks are mad about a story that no one on this particular team worked on and while I respect where they're coming from, all the clutching of pearls and falling on the fainting couch doesn't really make me feel like I need to launch into action and make my creative team change everything they're doing. That way lies madness.
IGN Comics: Last one before we turn over the mic to the mob. Is "New Ways to Die" going to reintroduce an Eddie Brock Venom back into Spider-Man's life or is this arc the only Spidey/Venom interaction we'll be able to see for a while?
Wacker: I can't answer question about Eddie's status quo post-NWTD or even past ASM #559 .
Okay .They get married in Amazing Spider-Man #600. Thanks, Massachusetts!
IGN Comics: Alright, Steve, time for some good ol' fashioned reader questions. Remember, to all you reading out there, that you can send your questions for Steve (who might hand them off to the writers of the series for further information) by clicking here and filling out our e-mail form. Please try to keep it relatively concisder, clear and considerate, okay?
Taimur Asks: "Will Freak and/or Bookie be seen again and used by other writers?"
Wacker: Yes .Both play big parts in upcoming stories. One in New Ways to Die and one in the next big story-arc coming in January written by Guggenheim. We got a sneak peek at that next big story in this week's Amazing Spider-Man: Extra!
Sutherland Asks: "Is there any chance Amazing Spider-Man will become monthly again? Should more casual comic book readers (and purchasers) stick to Ultimate Spider-Man?"
Wacker: No plans to go monthly again, but there isn't a day goes by that I don't dream about it.
As for "casual comic book readers", I think they'll do what they've always done and keep buying the books that interest them. If that's Ultimate Spider-Man, I don't find that particularly offensive, as I think that's a great comic and it's been on the top of my reading pile for 8 years.
I do think though that the real casual readers, the folks that rarely if ever would pick a comic up in a store are drawn to the covers and I think our cover artists have delivered some amazing pieces from the word "go" starting with the first Phil Jimenez from the Free Comic Book Day story and Steve McNiven's instant classic from #546 that I felt perfectly captured the character and the book I wanted to put together.
Ben Asks: "When will Steve McNiven be drawing Spider-Man again?"
Wacker: Tonight. In my dreams.
In case you're wondering about the rest of the dream: I'm dressed as Rom: Space Knight and I'm making breakfast for John Romita, Jr., Geoff Johns, Garfield and Tara Reid. Is that music coming from the toaster? No, it's tiny Ralph Macchios playing Rock Band with Mark Waid and a Roomba. Deviled eggs fall from the sky. I lift my mask up but it's not my face I see it's New York Met legend Tom Seaver, still mad I put Peter Parker in a Yankees jacket.
What's it all mean!?!?!?
Spencer Asks: "I am very excited about the 'New Ways to Die' arc and was wondering if any of the T-Bolts or Brand New Day cast will die? Will there be any major changes?"
Wacker: You ask too much, Spencer! Geez, you IGN folks must hate reading the stories!
{Insert snide comment here!}
I'll tell ya this: No T-Bolts die in New Ways To Die. On the other hand, if I were a T-Bolts reader I wouldn't assume death is the worst thing that can happen to one of them.
Chris Asks: "Whatever happened to Hybrid and Toxin, the two "heroic" symbiotes? Will they be appearing in SI or BND?" (And by the way, Josh asks the same question but also throws Carnage's name into the mix )
Wacker: No plans for any of them right now. We're trying to keep the symbiote cast small for awhile.
Gary Asks: "Spider-man was always my favorite character since childhood, and throughout my teens. Now as an adult, I find myself growing tired of Peter Parker. The character has put us through the ringer emotionally for so long, I find myself worn out by the thought of seeing Parker go through the same painful events. In short, Parkers pathos makes me feel dread, instead of exhilaration, an emotion that Spidey's very nature should bring. Is Spider-man's emotional baggage seen as a problem to the creative team for future storylines?"
Wacker: Gary, sounds like you're tired of things that make Pete such a classic character for so many other people. I don't want to tell you what to do, but you may want to consider that the things you're tired of still resonate with other readers and they're still getting a thrill out of it.
I know the creators involved in Spidey now were to a person thrilled to bring some of Pete's pathos back to the book and certainly no one at Marvel is looking to end Peter Parker's story by having him find eternal happiness and light. That's great for some characters, but not Peter Parker. He's a bright guy who will sometimes make dumb, avoidable mistakes, but is always at least trying to do the right thing. He'll learn lessons the hard way, but will still do some things that will have you screaming at the page.
Personally, I don't want Sherlock Holmes to stop solving mysteries, I don't want Fonzie married, and I don't want Pete to lose his emotional baggage.
Gary Asks Again: "Does Marvel Comics feel it has lost some control over its ability to push Spider-Man as a lead asset since Sony is Spider-Man's most powerful mainstream outlet? Also, with the somewhat mixed response to recent arcs, can Marvel maintain Spider-man's mass appeal while taking the character in a new directions?
Wacker: I don't know of anyone here that's worried about any of that. Mixed responses to comic book story arcs are pretty much the status quo in this day and age."Hating" is the new "liking". Show me a book selling 200,000 copies every month and I'll show you a legion of people ready to tell you how bad it all is.
Honestly, we love the movies and with all that Sony does to get the character out there effectively, there's certainly no shortage of Marvel pushing Spidey too.
Why, what did you hear? Did they mention me? Leave a red flag in the planter on your porch. If it's there, I'll know to meet you at the underground parking garage across from the Watergate. Redrum.
Ankur Asks: "What happened to Spidey's upgraded powers (spikes, etc)?"
Wacker: We haven't seen them yet.
Gary (a different one I think) Asks: "What's going on with Peter and MJ? Mephisto told the they would always feel a profound sense of loss over the dissolution of their marriage, that they would be haunted all their lives. So far, Peter's biggest woe has been running out of web fluid and MJ's biggest sense of loss has been dating hot stud celebs! Woe is them!!"
Wacker: They both know inside their hearts that something is missing, but that's not to suggest that they both know exactly what that "thing" is. If they did it'd be pretty easy to resolve. Our way makes it totally more Shakespearean.
F'r instance, I knew tonight that I felt a deep haunting in my life over not having coconut sorbet in my belly. Unlike the tragic, Pete and MJ, I knew exactly what I needed to fill it and was able to run out to Sorbet Emporium and fill that hole. Woe is them, but Yum is me!
Matthew Asks: "We know Joe Kelly is coming up as a guest writer anyone else? Mark Waid is slated to join the Brain Trust, correct? And Bob Gale and Zeb Wells are both departing the team, correct?"
Wacker: Joe and Mark are each writing a couple stories. Bob is still with us as a consultant and Zeb helped us through planning "New Ways to Die" but had to focus on some other work. Fortunately, Zeb is back with #577 in a story featuring the Punisher and a potential new job for Pete.
Being one of the book's regular writers is a pretty big commitment and eats up a lot of time as you have to read everyone else's scripts and make sure your own scripts match up. It doesn't sound like a lot in and of itself, but ask anyone who's worked like this: it consumes a lot of time.
Justin Asks: "Will we see more classic villains beyond Green Goblin and Venom. Any plans on that front?"
Wacker: Oh, yes several.
We all have our favorites, but let me know here at IGN, who you'd like to see specifically. (And if your suggestion is Hydro-Man, you don't need to make it. I got ya covered.)
That's it. I'll see ya in month when we'll be smack in the middle of New Ways to Die, I'll be sweating deadlines, and all of the above will have just made you madder!
http://comics.ign.com/articles/895/895914p1.html
IGN Comics: Coming up we have the huge "New Ways to Die" arc that starts in August and runs through October. What can you tell and tease about what's coming during that storyline?
Steve Wacker: On a pure gut level, New Ways To Die is simply about bringing Norman Osborn and Venom back into Pete's life. Digging deeper, NWTD (which is what all the cool kidz are calling it) is about revenge and the need to claim your piece of the past.
It brings in all the different elements in Spidey's life that have been introduced since January into one giant story. There are pieces of plot and what seemed to be throwaway bits that Dan (along with the rest of the writing team) have crafted into a big end-of-summer slamdance. Does anyone still slamdance? Oy, what a nightmare.
Alongside Venom and Green Goblin, we'll also be meeting a new creepy guy called Anti-Venom and we'll see the return of another classic Spidey bad guy.
Plus in part one, you get a 10 page backup by Mark Waid and Adi Granov catching you up on what Eddie Brock has been up to since last year's "Back in Black" story.
IGN Comics: A few questions came up during Comic-Con and I had a follow-up to those conversations. During the show, a few disgruntled fans lamented over the One More Day storyline and the Brand New Day direction. Specifically one constant source of griping is the resolution of continuity issues and how Brand New Day synchs up with Spidey's life. The standard Marvel response at this point seems to be "Wait and see. That story isn't over yet."
Wacker: When isn't the response "wait-and-see"? Seriously, show me the company that decides to just reveal all the big story plots and secrets in panels at the conventions. Show me that company and I'll show you a publisher saving a ton on paper and even more by not needing an accountant!
I mean, I'm dying to find out what happens in the next season of Friday Night Lights, but those jerks at Direct TV won't tell me nothin'!! TV sucks!
However, to the larger question you're implying, I took over editing the Spidey books in January, so that's really what I feel responsibility over. That first issue opened an indeterminate amount of time after the previous issue closed because at the time we started (this is late 06, early '07), we weren't quite sure exactly where the previous story was going to end. It's a fact of comics that you simply can't create these books in the order they're going to be published. I had a year to bank as much material as I could and we just couldn't wait around. We had to start working before the previous story was even done.
So to give the new creative teams some freedom and room to move, we started after some time had passed between the end of the last story and our first one. It's no different than when some comics open "One Year Later". Now, I'm hip enough to know that that's not going to be enough for readers who need stuff quantified right away, but we simply don't want to reveal all that right now. I know that gruntles some folks, but what can ya do? Some folks get disgruntled that we're still publishing Spidey after they told us to stop.
IGN Comics: Given the fact that everyone involved knew this change (both in OMD and BND) would be difficult to sell to fans, why haven't these questions been answered yet? Clearly it wouldn't work to list everything out in an encyclopedia, but why wait this long? Why not set the stage so everyone can see the intent/full direction for the character?
Wacker: I'm not sure what you're referring to specifically, but the stage is set pretty clearly from the first issue (ASM #546) on. You may not like the stage or you may not like that the stage was even built, but we're on that stage now and everybody starts on a level playing field. As always though, there's more to be revealed, but we wanted to be able play on the new stage for a bit before knocking it around and breaking things.
Why do it this way? Who knows? Why start any story anywhere? The Iron Man movie could have started on a dead horse tongue, but it didn't. (Boy, that was a crappy example. Okay make it a live horse tongue. That's yours for free, Favreau.)
Readers know as well as I do that this ain't math. It's all a mix of experience, inspiration and the most important ingredient: guess work. We found a way to set our stories up that intrigued the creative team and intrigued me. I suppose I could have strong-armed the stories into the shape you're suggesting, but A) I try not to run my books that way and B) Who's to say that would have led to stories you lied better? Certainly there would still be fans upset. Spider-Man fans are incredibly thoughtful and it matters deeply to them if they suspect you are mishandling the character. Everything else aside aside, I respect that.
Truth is, the events in Spidey were so dramatic, there was no way a certain percentage of people weren't going to find all this difficult to digest (I know this because Brevoort talked about it every single, unrelenting day in the year leading up to it), but the current Spidey team can't get too hung up on it.
I don't presume that any group of readers speaks for all "fans". Hell, we still get an occasional well-written letter from someone angry that the revelations of the Spidey Clone Saga were reversed. Some readers just want things the way they want them, and I have no problem with that even when I don't agree. I like the debate and lunch on a steady diet of rage. But, again, I don't imagine any of them speak for everyone or even "most". And even if they did, storytelling by majority vote is a pretty frightening prospect. Go down that road and we'll all be watching : "So, You Think You're Smarter Than An America Idol Anatomy House Project Runway and Colmes".
By-and-large (please note that I said that when you write into complain to me that you're the exception to the "by-and-large"), most folks are mad about a story that no one on this particular team worked on and while I respect where they're coming from, all the clutching of pearls and falling on the fainting couch doesn't really make me feel like I need to launch into action and make my creative team change everything they're doing. That way lies madness.
IGN Comics: Last one before we turn over the mic to the mob. Is "New Ways to Die" going to reintroduce an Eddie Brock Venom back into Spider-Man's life or is this arc the only Spidey/Venom interaction we'll be able to see for a while?
Wacker: I can't answer question about Eddie's status quo post-NWTD or even past ASM #559 .
Okay .They get married in Amazing Spider-Man #600. Thanks, Massachusetts!
IGN Comics: Alright, Steve, time for some good ol' fashioned reader questions. Remember, to all you reading out there, that you can send your questions for Steve (who might hand them off to the writers of the series for further information) by clicking here and filling out our e-mail form. Please try to keep it relatively concisder, clear and considerate, okay?
Taimur Asks: "Will Freak and/or Bookie be seen again and used by other writers?"
Wacker: Yes .Both play big parts in upcoming stories. One in New Ways to Die and one in the next big story-arc coming in January written by Guggenheim. We got a sneak peek at that next big story in this week's Amazing Spider-Man: Extra!
Sutherland Asks: "Is there any chance Amazing Spider-Man will become monthly again? Should more casual comic book readers (and purchasers) stick to Ultimate Spider-Man?"
Wacker: No plans to go monthly again, but there isn't a day goes by that I don't dream about it.
As for "casual comic book readers", I think they'll do what they've always done and keep buying the books that interest them. If that's Ultimate Spider-Man, I don't find that particularly offensive, as I think that's a great comic and it's been on the top of my reading pile for 8 years.
I do think though that the real casual readers, the folks that rarely if ever would pick a comic up in a store are drawn to the covers and I think our cover artists have delivered some amazing pieces from the word "go" starting with the first Phil Jimenez from the Free Comic Book Day story and Steve McNiven's instant classic from #546 that I felt perfectly captured the character and the book I wanted to put together.
Ben Asks: "When will Steve McNiven be drawing Spider-Man again?"
Wacker: Tonight. In my dreams.
In case you're wondering about the rest of the dream: I'm dressed as Rom: Space Knight and I'm making breakfast for John Romita, Jr., Geoff Johns, Garfield and Tara Reid. Is that music coming from the toaster? No, it's tiny Ralph Macchios playing Rock Band with Mark Waid and a Roomba. Deviled eggs fall from the sky. I lift my mask up but it's not my face I see it's New York Met legend Tom Seaver, still mad I put Peter Parker in a Yankees jacket.
What's it all mean!?!?!?
Spencer Asks: "I am very excited about the 'New Ways to Die' arc and was wondering if any of the T-Bolts or Brand New Day cast will die? Will there be any major changes?"
Wacker: You ask too much, Spencer! Geez, you IGN folks must hate reading the stories!
{Insert snide comment here!}
I'll tell ya this: No T-Bolts die in New Ways To Die. On the other hand, if I were a T-Bolts reader I wouldn't assume death is the worst thing that can happen to one of them.
Chris Asks: "Whatever happened to Hybrid and Toxin, the two "heroic" symbiotes? Will they be appearing in SI or BND?" (And by the way, Josh asks the same question but also throws Carnage's name into the mix )
Wacker: No plans for any of them right now. We're trying to keep the symbiote cast small for awhile.
Gary Asks: "Spider-man was always my favorite character since childhood, and throughout my teens. Now as an adult, I find myself growing tired of Peter Parker. The character has put us through the ringer emotionally for so long, I find myself worn out by the thought of seeing Parker go through the same painful events. In short, Parkers pathos makes me feel dread, instead of exhilaration, an emotion that Spidey's very nature should bring. Is Spider-man's emotional baggage seen as a problem to the creative team for future storylines?"
Wacker: Gary, sounds like you're tired of things that make Pete such a classic character for so many other people. I don't want to tell you what to do, but you may want to consider that the things you're tired of still resonate with other readers and they're still getting a thrill out of it.
I know the creators involved in Spidey now were to a person thrilled to bring some of Pete's pathos back to the book and certainly no one at Marvel is looking to end Peter Parker's story by having him find eternal happiness and light. That's great for some characters, but not Peter Parker. He's a bright guy who will sometimes make dumb, avoidable mistakes, but is always at least trying to do the right thing. He'll learn lessons the hard way, but will still do some things that will have you screaming at the page.
Personally, I don't want Sherlock Holmes to stop solving mysteries, I don't want Fonzie married, and I don't want Pete to lose his emotional baggage.
Gary Asks Again: "Does Marvel Comics feel it has lost some control over its ability to push Spider-Man as a lead asset since Sony is Spider-Man's most powerful mainstream outlet? Also, with the somewhat mixed response to recent arcs, can Marvel maintain Spider-man's mass appeal while taking the character in a new directions?
Wacker: I don't know of anyone here that's worried about any of that. Mixed responses to comic book story arcs are pretty much the status quo in this day and age."Hating" is the new "liking". Show me a book selling 200,000 copies every month and I'll show you a legion of people ready to tell you how bad it all is.
Honestly, we love the movies and with all that Sony does to get the character out there effectively, there's certainly no shortage of Marvel pushing Spidey too.
Why, what did you hear? Did they mention me? Leave a red flag in the planter on your porch. If it's there, I'll know to meet you at the underground parking garage across from the Watergate. Redrum.
Ankur Asks: "What happened to Spidey's upgraded powers (spikes, etc)?"
Wacker: We haven't seen them yet.
Gary (a different one I think) Asks: "What's going on with Peter and MJ? Mephisto told the they would always feel a profound sense of loss over the dissolution of their marriage, that they would be haunted all their lives. So far, Peter's biggest woe has been running out of web fluid and MJ's biggest sense of loss has been dating hot stud celebs! Woe is them!!"
Wacker: They both know inside their hearts that something is missing, but that's not to suggest that they both know exactly what that "thing" is. If they did it'd be pretty easy to resolve. Our way makes it totally more Shakespearean.
F'r instance, I knew tonight that I felt a deep haunting in my life over not having coconut sorbet in my belly. Unlike the tragic, Pete and MJ, I knew exactly what I needed to fill it and was able to run out to Sorbet Emporium and fill that hole. Woe is them, but Yum is me!
Matthew Asks: "We know Joe Kelly is coming up as a guest writer anyone else? Mark Waid is slated to join the Brain Trust, correct? And Bob Gale and Zeb Wells are both departing the team, correct?"
Wacker: Joe and Mark are each writing a couple stories. Bob is still with us as a consultant and Zeb helped us through planning "New Ways to Die" but had to focus on some other work. Fortunately, Zeb is back with #577 in a story featuring the Punisher and a potential new job for Pete.
Being one of the book's regular writers is a pretty big commitment and eats up a lot of time as you have to read everyone else's scripts and make sure your own scripts match up. It doesn't sound like a lot in and of itself, but ask anyone who's worked like this: it consumes a lot of time.
Justin Asks: "Will we see more classic villains beyond Green Goblin and Venom. Any plans on that front?"
Wacker: Oh, yes several.
We all have our favorites, but let me know here at IGN, who you'd like to see specifically. (And if your suggestion is Hydro-Man, you don't need to make it. I got ya covered.)
That's it. I'll see ya in month when we'll be smack in the middle of New Ways to Die, I'll be sweating deadlines, and all of the above will have just made you madder!
In respect to him I will never buy another issue of asm until Queseda steps down. even if continuity is restored.
:bat:
)...
t:
