Joss Whedon developing Marvel SHIELD series for ABC

[The Question]

Maria Hill did.

Not really. It wasn't skin tight and it didn't look like spandex. I mean, it wasn't super baggy, but I'd hardly call it skin tight. Didn't look any tighter than a normal pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

 

[Dark Raven]

Right??? Like I'm open to the character and am interested in her. But why is her name even Spiderwoman? From the info I've heard she has nothing to do with Peter or anything in his world really. Makes no sense to me. Why is she even called that??

Her name doesn't derive from Spider-Man. She was originally conceived of by Archie Goodwin as a spider who was mutated into a woman by the High Evolutionary, so originally she literally was a spider woman. However, Stan Lee thought that idea was too disgusting and had Goodwin change it so that she was a woman (or girl at the time) who was injected with a serum based on spiders' blood to save her life as she was dying from radiation poisoning. It was retconned that Hydra simply brainwashed her to believe that she was an evolved spider.

She originally went by the name of Arachne, and "spider woman" was just descriptive of what she was, not a name or identity as such. It was only later that she actually began calling herself Spider-Woman, which was nothing to do with Peter Parker. As Jessica Drew herself said, she didn't even know for a while that a Spider-Man existed, and they certainly didn't meet until some time later.

Not everyone has to be related to another character or their world to have a similar name. In the case of Jessica Drew, it's supposed to be that she arrived at that name independently of Parker because that simply described what she was. She was even supposed to have existed before Peter Parker (since she was born at the turn of the 20th century but placed in suspended animation for a number of years when she was undergoing her radiation treatments).

 

[Riptor]

Personally i didnt like the Avengers and wasnt at all impressed by the overall status of it. Joss i feel didnt do as well as he did on other Comic book stories and i just felt it to be WAY overhyped and overrated. Hoping he does better in the future.

 

[mr. peasant]

Her name doesn't derive from Spider-Man. She was originally conceived of by Archie Goodwin as a spider who was mutated into a woman by the High Evolutionary, so originally she literally was a spider woman. However, Stan Lee thought that idea was too disgusting and had Goodwin change it so that she was a woman (or girl at the time) who was injected with a serum based on spiders' blood to save her life as she was dying from radiation poisoning. It was retconned that Hydra simply brainwashed her to believe that she was an evolved spider.

She originally went by the name of Arachne, and "spider woman" was just descriptive of what she was, not a name or identity as such. It was only later that she actually began calling herself Spider-Woman, which was nothing to do with Peter Parker. As Jessica Drew herself said, she didn't even know for a while that a Spider-Man existed, and they certainly didn't meet until some time later.

Not everyone has to be related to another character or their world to have a similar name. In the case of Jessica Drew, it's supposed to be that she arrived at that name independently of Parker because that simply described what she was. She was even supposed to have existed before Peter Parker (since she was born at the turn of the 20th century but placed in suspended animation for a number of years when she was undergoing her radiation treatments).

The confusion occurs due to the same reason why when two characters share the same surname, the audience assume they are related. Or why people get confused when two characters share the same first name. It's because unlike real life - where people meet randomly and one's name is something that for the most part can't be changed - character names in fiction are entirely by design. Therefore, why would an author/creator deliberately associate two characters who aren't meat to be associated at all?


On a separate note, does anyone hope that with SHIELD, there will be new Marvel One-Shots to promote the new show? They are probably some of the funnest (most fun?) parts of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

As for why they'd do this, ABC could air them randomly between shows; using it to advertise and increase the show's exposure while at the same time promoting comic book fans to watch their shows in order to potentially watch these short clips.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Not really. It wasn't skin tight and it didn't look like spandex. I mean, it wasn't super baggy, but I'd hardly call it skin tight. Didn't look any tighter than a normal pair of jeans and a t-shirt.

Hill's is a little lose but still pretty form fitting. Scarlett's was much tighter but no one seems to mention it. Or Alba's ff outfit.

They don't look like spandex because they're not spandex. No you won't see anything like that because it look cheesy as all hell.

 

[The Question]

Both of those look equally form fitting and I wouldn't call either of them "skin tight." Maybe BW around the pants. Certainly not to the extent that was suggested for Spider-Woman.

 

[DrCosmic]

Her name doesn't derive from Spider-Man. She was originally conceived of by Archie Goodwin as a spider who was mutated into a woman by the High Evolutionary, so originally she literally was a spider woman. However, Stan Lee thought that idea was too disgusting and had Goodwin change it so that she was a woman (or girl at the time) who was injected with a serum based on spiders' blood to save her life as she was dying from radiation poisoning. It was retconned that Hydra simply brainwashed her to believe that she was an evolved spider.

She originally went by the name of Arachne, and "spider woman" was just descriptive of what she was, not a name or identity as such. It was only later that she actually began calling herself Spider-Woman, which was nothing to do with Peter Parker. As Jessica Drew herself said, she didn't even know for a while that a Spider-Man existed, and they certainly didn't meet until some time later.

Not everyone has to be related to another character or their world to have a similar name. In the case of Jessica Drew, it's supposed to be that she arrived at that name independently of Parker because that simply described what she was. She was even supposed to have existed before Peter Parker (since she was born at the turn of the 20th century but placed in suspended animation for a number of years when she was undergoing her radiation treatments).

If that whole thing plays out in the TV show, then there shouldn't be any problem. But if the audience is introduced to or hear of this "Spider-Woman" they will natural assume that she is related to Spider-Man, regardless of what happened in comics that they've never read.

Now calling her Arachne would solve all that, and be comics faithful. That might be a good icea.

 

[Maximus One]

I like that idea much more. Thang for the info though, it was nice to get that little piece of character history cuz I've honestly never read any comics with the High Evolutionary besides the little bit he was in Xmen: Endangered Species and that's it. But yea, the GA doesn't know or care if she is related to Peter or not. What they do care about is stuff that is stupid and when you don't know anything about there even being a character called Spiderwoman when you first hear it it seems a little absurd and your head will always go straight to Peter. Not necessarily as a family member but just the spider name is what would make people think she is his side kick or some ****. I felt the exact same way when I first heard that there's a Batwoman now too. Although, I have heard the Batwoman books are pretty good actually

 

[marcvader]

Isn't Spider-Woman's suit supposed to look like body paint? They could go that route.

 

[The Question]

If that whole thing plays out in the TV show, then there shouldn't be any problem. But if the audience is introduced to or hear of this "Spider-Woman" they will natural assume that she is related to Spider-Man, regardless of what happened in comics that they've never read.

Now calling her Arachne would solve all that, and be comics faithful. That might be a good icea.

Or just call her Spider-Woman. I don't see it being that big a problem if there's an initial Spider-Man association. Besides, they'd probably call her Jessica more often than any code name and we'll probably be introduced to her as this freaky super assassin terrorist lady way before we ever learn what her name is, so I doubt people well get that confused.

Isn't Spider-Woman's suit supposed to look like body paint? They could go that route.

No. That would be awful.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

At the end of the day, I'd rather see about a hundred SHIELD-related characters before Spider-Woman on the TV series. Spider-Woman's kind of terrible, as far as I'm concerned. Give me Abigail Brand, Alan Quatermain, Jimmy Woo (and the Agents of Atlas, if at all possible), Sharon Carter, Jack Truman, etc. Leave the superheroes to the movies, for the most part. A cameo here and there would be cool, but I hope Whedon goes more the traditional spy show route and just has SHIELD doing its thing.

 

[Whiskey Tango]

Both of those look equally form fitting and I wouldn't call either of them "skin tight." Maybe BW around the pants. Certainly not to the extent that was suggested for Spider-Woman.

Yes. That's what I'm saying.

 

[OB12]

At the end of the day, I'd rather see about a hundred SHIELD-related characters before Spider-Woman on the TV series. Spider-Woman's kind of terrible, as far as I'm concerned. Give me Abigail Brand, Alan Quatermain, Jimmy Woo (and the Agents of Atlas, if at all possible), Sharon Carter, Jack Truman, etc. Leave the superheroes to the movies, for the most part. A cameo here and there would be cool, but I hope Whedon goes more the traditional spy show route and just has SHIELD doing its thing.

Agree to an extent. I have no real desire to see Spider-Woman and I do think the main cast should be mostly non-powered SHIELD agents (Sitwell, Danvers, Quatermain, Woo, and Morse). However, I do think the show should be packed with superhero comings and goings. They should be interwoven throughout the show, some with reoccurring spots. A spy show is just like any number of other spy shows that we have seen in the past. IMO it needs the superheroes and supervillians to set it apart.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Yeah, but those would just be cameos, like I said. I'd also prefer not to see Carol Danvers, personally, since she's kind of a nobody before she becomes Ms. Marvel, but that's just me. I'm not really a fan of her.

 

[The Question]

At the end of the day, I'd rather see about a hundred SHIELD-related characters before Spider-Woman on the TV series. Spider-Woman's kind of terrible, as far as I'm concerned. Give me Abigail Brand, Alan Quatermain, Jimmy Woo (and the Agents of Atlas, if at all possible), Sharon Carter, Jack Truman, etc. Leave the superheroes to the movies, for the most part. A cameo here and there would be cool, but I hope Whedon goes more the traditional spy show route and just has SHIELD doing its thing.

I doubt it'll be a traditional spy show any more than Buffy was a traditional monster show or Firefly was a traditional space show.

Really, I think Spider-Woman being on the show is a very strong possibility. She's a super powered woman who was raised by a cult-like terrorist organization to be an assassin and then defects and joins an intelligence organization that battles super villains, aliens, and mythological monsters.

That's pretty much everything Joss Whedon likes besides cowboys.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I doubt it'll be a traditional spy show any more than Buffy was a traditional monster show or Firefly was a traditional space show.

Really, I think Spider-Woman being on the show is a very strong possibility. She's a super powered woman who was raised by a cult-like terrorist organization to be an assassin and then defects and joins an intelligence organization that battles super villains, aliens, and mythological monsters.

That's pretty much everything Joss Whedon likes besides cowboys.

She might be a late-series addition, like Faith in BTVS.

 

[TheCorpulent1]

Oh, I'm sure the show will have its standard Whedon spunky lady ass-kicker. I'm not an idiot; I know there's no way in hell Whedon can resist that. We even saw it in the movie with the disproportionately huge role the Black Widow had. But there are plenty of those to choose from in SHIELD's hallowed ranks besides Spider-Woman. Abigail Brand, for one, whom, if you'll recall, Whedon himself created.

 

[The Question]

She might be a late-series addition, like Faith in BTVS.

I doubt she'll be in the first episode. She's got to be in HYDRA first.

Oh, I'm sure the show will have its standard Whedon spunky lady ass-kicker. But there are plenty to choose from in SHIELD's hallowed ranks besides Spider-Woman. Abigail Brand, for one, whom, if you'll recall, Whedon himself created.

Absolutely. I'm just saying that, female ass-kicking aside, Spider-Woman has a lot of traits that Whedon gravitates to (abusive childhood, father issues, past villainy, a transhuman sense of alienation, a lack of social skills due to isolated upbringing), so she seems like a very likely character to show up at some point. Probably not the main character, probably not until later on in the show, but she seems like the kind of character he'd want to use at some point.

Brand will probably appear in the show before she does, though. Carol Danvers, too.

 

[Destructus86]

Personally i didnt like the Avengers and wasnt at all impressed by the overall status of it. Joss i feel didnt do as well as he did on other Comic book stories and i just felt it to be WAY overhyped and overrated. Hoping he does better in the future.

The entire movie felt like it was ripped right out of a comic...which is why I LOVED IT.

 

[Destructus86]

I'm sure we will see Hydra having a huge presence in the series. So, I totally think Spider-Woman will eventually show up.

 

[mr. peasant]

I'm sure we will see Hydra having a huge presence in the series. So, I totally think Spider-Woman will eventually show up.

Depends on whether Hydra will make a return for Cap2 and if Marvel wants to limit them to that franchise. That said, there's always AIM as an alternative.


Speaking of Whedon-style female ass-kickers, a potential one would be Barbara Morse a.k.a. Mockingbird. The added benefit is that she doesn't really have any actual powers aside from being a professional ass-kicker and being quick on the quips (which again, fits the Whedon archetype); which is good if the show wishes to have a less superpowered-heroes-centric setting. Plus, her costume in the article picture does seem to fit the movie SHIELD's aesthetic.

 

[OB12]

Depends on whether Hydra will make a return for Cap2 and if Marvel wants to limit them to that franchise. That said, there's always AIM as an alternative.


Speaking of Whedon-style female ass-kickers, a potential one would be Barbara Morse a.k.a. Mockingbird. The added benefit is that she doesn't really have any actual powers aside from being a professional ass-kicker and being quick on the quips (which again, fits the Whedon archetype); which is good if the show wishes to have a less superpowered-heroes-centric setting.

I think Hyrda will be in Cap2 but I gotta believe that Hyrda will be the main antagonist for SHIELD and will be behind a bunch of different subplots, perhaps backing some smaller level supervillians.

As to Morse, yes I think she should be part of the main cast:

Agent Sitwell - Max Hernandez
Agent Danvers - Yvonne Strahovski
Agent Quartermain - Mark Valley
Agent Woo - ???
Agent Morse - ???

 

[Dark Raven]

Mockingbird would be great to see. I just hope she has those big sleeves and the mask, and blue and white or black and white colour scheme (I prefer blue and white though). She just better show up in an Avengers movie later on though.

Not sure who I would cast as Mockingbird. She needs to be someone quite articulate and quick witted.

 

[The Question]

She's not going to have the big sleeves. Those were the silliest part of that costume.

 

[marcvader]

No. That would be awful.

lol, I was joking.