Comics My Theory on why recent Spider-Man is not so good.

[Shmoil]

I was thinking about why Spider-Man has been not so good recently, and I think I have it narrowed down. At least in my opinion.

I think that the reason Spider-Man has "sucked" these last few years is that stories have treated Peter Parker and Spider-Man as the same person. In the "classic" stories, Parker and Spider-Man, while being the same person, had two fairly separate lives. Spider-Man tried to fight crime, while Peter tried to survive in the real world. Recently, as far as I can tell, and especially with the unmasking, Pete's storylines and Spidey's storylines have been merged into one.

Many people complain about the sensationalism of recent stories, and how every few months a storyline comes along that will "Change Spidey's life forever." These people wish for a return to "classic" stories. I've been reading the old "classic" stories lately, and I've discovered that they did the same thing. Every few months they would advertise a story as having "Spidey's biggest foe yet", and that "Spidey's life will never be the same". I believe that Marvel has been trying to return to that, but that they don't understand exactly what it was that made those old issues "classic".

Ever since Morlun and the totem storyline, Spider-Man's storylines and Peter's storylines have been so interconnected that they are simply one story. Which is okay for every once in a while. But I think that, lately especially, there is just one, that Spider-Man and Peter Parker are one now, which is disappointing.

My point is that when Spidey's life gets in the way of Pete's, and vice-versa, the stories are good. And when they have one story, where Peter and Spider-Man are completely in harmony, it's not so fun. Peter was the "original hard-luck Charlie", as he called himself, and back then it was because Spider-Man always got in his way. Today there is no Peter, there is only Spider-Man and his wife and Aunt.

Anyways, these are the late night ramblings of a tired man. Good night all. And Merry Christmas.

 

[3dman27]

you may be right about the current state of the spider

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

Yeah, Shmoil; It's basically a combination of that and the writing and plotting of a small child, lack of 45 years of supporting characters or characterization.

 

[3dman27]

that and the idea of seperating pete from the bugle i think it was something about not wanting to glamorize the paparzzi[sp]

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

Yes, 'cause tiny ticks of JMS's personality outweigh story continuity or characterization.

 

[CConn]

Y'know, normally I'm against "Here's my random reason why Spider-Man sucks!" threads, but Shmoil actually raises some good points. I wouldn't quite say that's why Spider-Man sucks - I mean, I believe good writing is good writing, and while it certainly wouldn't be the classic stories, you could read some good stories of Peter Parker as Spider-Man - but it is one of those things from the early books that is missed. By me, at least.

Also, everyone should just drop ASM and pick up SSM. Your *****ing will drop by like 47%, I swear.

 

[Shmoil]

Exactly. I didn't mean to make this thread a "Here's my random reason why Spider-Man sucks!" thread, I simply made this to give why I think it's not as good as it once was. On its own, I think that "The Other" was a really good story. I really enjoyed it. I didn't enjoy it as a Spider-Man book, but as a story of someone having to come to terms with and take responsibility for all aspects of theirself, I thought it was really good. Same with Sins Past, continuity ignored, it was a pretty good story. Just not a good Spider-Man story, because it was lacking too many Spider-Man characteristics. It was a good superhero story, it just didn't fit with continuity and it lacked the main aspect that I feel made Spider-Man great, that Pete and Spidey are usually of conflicting interests.

While I still enjoy reading ASM, SSM, FNSM, and USM, USM is the only one that really feels like a Spidey book to me. The others I enjoy because, and maybe this was Marvel's intent, but, I like the current Spider stories as a look at perhaps a superhero who was once Spider-Man, but is now more like Captain American, or Tony Stark. More superhero than regular person. And I always enjoyed the regular person aspect. I hope that in the future they will find a way to return Peter Parker as being a main character, separate from Spider-Man in the way that he was for so many years.

 

[Silver Sable]

I think the reason why Spidey isn't so great these days is due to the writers

 

[Brainiac 8]

You are correct. SSM right now is the most entertaining of the books.

FNSM is the only one that I see that is mentioning the horrible "Other" stuff. I am afraid as to wha the cacoon Pete found in the newest issue is. I wish they would forget the other ever happened.

 

[aptget]

I always said its because the stories suck

 

[VICTORVONDOOMX]

It's because Quesada, Bendis and JMS are : THE UNHOLY TRINITY; BLACK HOLES OF SUCTION.

 

[stillanerd]

I was thinking about why Spider-Man has been not so good recently, and I think I have it narrowed down. At least in my opinion.

I think that the reason Spider-Man has "sucked" these last few years is that stories have treated Peter Parker and Spider-Man as the same person. In the "classic" stories, Parker and Spider-Man, while being the same person, had two fairly separate lives. Spider-Man tried to fight crime, while Peter tried to survive in the real world. Recently, as far as I can tell, and especially with the unmasking, Pete's storylines and Spidey's storylines have been merged into one.

Many people complain about the sensationalism of recent stories, and how every few months a storyline comes along that will "Change Spidey's life forever." These people wish for a return to "classic" stories. I've been reading the old "classic" stories lately, and I've discovered that they did the same thing. Every few months they would advertise a story as having "Spidey's biggest foe yet", and that "Spidey's life will never be the same". I believe that Marvel has been trying to return to that, but that they don't understand exactly what it was that made those old issues "classic".

Ever since Morlun and the totem storyline, Spider-Man's storylines and Peter's storylines have been so interconnected that they are simply one story. Which is okay for every once in a while. But I think that, lately especially, there is just one, that Spider-Man and Peter Parker are one now, which is disappointing.

My point is that when Spidey's life gets in the way of Pete's, and vice-versa, the stories are good. And when they have one story, where Peter and Spider-Man are completely in harmony, it's not so fun. Peter was the "original hard-luck Charlie", as he called himself, and back then it was because Spider-Man always got in his way. Today there is no Peter, there is only Spider-Man and his wife and Aunt.

Anyways, these are the late night ramblings of a tired man. Good night all. And Merry Christmas.

I think you pretty much nailed it, at least what I agree is a MAJOR problem with Spider-Man right now. Marvel has forgotten that Spider-Man is about a guy who tries to balance two lives, one where he's a superhero and the other where he is a relatively ordinary guy with common everyday problems everybody faces and who interacts with everyday people rather than just superbeings--a life that is a mess because his life as a superhero keeps interfering and a life that is just as equally important. And I would say the merging of Peter's and Spidey's lives--and most of the characters problems-- began even further back than the recent stories when they all but removed him from his regular supporting cast except for Aunt May and MJ.

 

[Red]

I think the reason why Spidey isn't so great these days is due to the writers

BINGO.

 

[3dman27]

I think you pretty much nailed it, at least what I agree is a MAJOR problem with Spider-Man right now. Marvel has forgotten that Spider-Man is about a guy who tries to balance two lives, one where he's a superhero and the other where he is a relatively ordinary guy with common everyday problems everybody faces and who interacts with everyday people rather than just superbeings--a life that is a mess because his life as a superhero keeps interfering and a life that is just as equally important. And I would say the merging of Peter's and Spidey's lives--and most of the characters problems-- began even further back than the recent stories when they all but removed him from his regular supporting cast except for Aunt May and MJ.

which was due to a desire to not glamorize the paparazzi [JMS saw pete as a celebrity photographer due to constantly taking photos of spidey]

 

[Doc_OCK_4MUGEN]

which was due to a desire to not glamorize the paparazzi [JMS saw pete as a celebrity photographer due to constantly taking photos of spidey]

which could've been fixed easily by not having Parker take pictures of Spidey exclusively... and force him to take pics of other events for cash... this could open possibilities for Parker getting his ass kicked (Which Marvel seems to love) and keep the Bugle's staff as background characters for Peter to interact...

I don't know; maybe JJJ could just tell parker that he doesn't want spidey pics... Pete's given him a hell lot of them and JJJ can use older spidey pics in his editorials... that way he isn't glorifiyng the wall crawling menace's newest exploits, and jjj can spout his crap...

But JMS made Peter a Teacher, where he barely interacts with other teachers... he only interacts with thights now... Last time I checked Spider-man was the disguise, not Peter Parker...

 

[Lazlo Panaflex]

Spider-Man is only hot whenever a new movie hits theaters or some hot artist takes over, speaking of which when was J.Scott Campbell going to be working on Spidey, I remember reading an article in Wizard.

 

[3dman27]

which could've been fixed easily by not having Parker take pictures of Spidey exclusively... and force him to take pics of other events for cash... this could open possibilities for Parker getting his ass kicked (Which Marvel seems to love) and keep the Bugle's staff as background characters for Peter to interact...

I don't know; maybe JJJ could just tell parker that he doesn't want spidey pics... Pete's given him a hell lot of them and JJJ can use older spidey pics in his editorials... that way he isn't glorifiyng the wall crawling menace's newest exploits, and jjj can spout his crap...

But JMS made Peter a Teacher, where he barely interacts with other teachers... he only interacts with thights now... Last time I checked Spider-man was the disguise, not Peter Parker...

AMEN TO THAT

 

[farmernudie]

The reason Spidey stinks is because he is married. I mean....duh!!!!

The whole marriage and the controversy it has created over these many years has really ruined the entire Spider-man mythos.

Marriage entirely ruins a super-hero.

Superheros should be single...it is hard to believe some morons ever okayed the decision to let him be married to begin with.

Just because I am married, and that most people desire to grow up and be married, doesn't mean the typical person can handle associating with a married hero in well written comics. I mean, when he was originally getting married I told my wife how dumb the marriage was and how it totally ruined my ability to believe in Spidey stories anymore.

The thought of marriage in a superhero comic working, let alone in Spider-man where he is a common everyday type guy, is absurd.

Spidey will be great once Joey Q resolves this marriage controversy once and for all like he has stated he will. I have been perplexed for years and don't know why it took so long for an editor brave enough to come along and fix this obvious flaw that was written into the Spidey folklore. I mean, this controversy has been ruining these comics for some time now. Anyone that likes the MJ marriage obviously isn't a true fan and hasn't read spidey comics as long as I have.

Soon we won't have to have threads like this asking the obvious of what is making the comics stink. It will be solved. Spidey only works as a single guy in an endless loop of dating, possibly,..so..Get with the program. Thread question solved. t:

 

[Doc_OCK_4MUGEN]

but wouldn't the eternal bachelor thing be boring as hell... not defending the marriage here, but if Spidey becomes single by mag...ma... magi... can't say the "M" word without throwing up... by bad... I mean moronic... I mean Smart editorial decisions from Bizarro World...

Peter wouldn't want to get involved with any girl seriously, because of what happened to Mary Jane... I'd usually mention Gwen here, but now we all now that Gwen Stacy died because she was a ****, not cause she was close to Parker... *Vomits* Plus I don't think that Peter would be sleeping around... He could get STDs and kids would get STDs because they were doing the same thing as their beloved hero Spidey... Think about it... Wolverine and the Thing don't smoke aymore, cause Joey Q was scared that kids would smoke in a feeble attempt of character emulation...

So we should eliminate superhero books... We don't want kids praying to spider-cods asking for super powers, or kids injecting metal into their bones so they can pop claws, or kids taking Gasoline showers trying to be Torches, or... forget it the list is too long...

Why recent Spidey sucks? Simple, The fat Bastard in my avatar is the reason... He's an agent of Osborn. His mission, destroy Spider-man...

 

[Spade]

Wolverine and the Thing don't smoke aymore, cause Joey Q was scared that kids would smoke in a feeble attempt of character emulation...

Kids don't read comics anymore because the medium has been retooled to adult tastes. Hence the reason why sales are pitiful in comparison to what they can be. I have no idea why he would think characters smoking would be impressionable- if anything, Morlun teaches kids that you can tear out vital necessities, eat them and never really be held accountable for your violent actions so long as you're alluded to be immortal or a 'hive mind' (i.e. crazy). Wolverine, a character that has risen to popularity over the years, teaches the young ones all the time gratuitous violence is not only lacking penalty but something awesome. And how about Pete occasionally having the mouth of a sailor in JMS' rendition?

But no, it's the smoking that's the bad message here.

 

[3dman27]

but wouldn't the eternal bachelor thing be boring as hell... not defending the marriage here, but if Spidey becomes single by mag...ma... magi... can't say the "M" word without throwing up... by bad... I mean moronic... I mean Smart editorial decisions from Bizarro World...

Peter wouldn't want to get involved with any girl seriously, because of what happened to Mary Jane... I'd usually mention Gwen here, but now we all now that Gwen Stacy died because she was a ****, not cause she was close to Parker... *Vomits* Plus I don't think that Peter would be sleeping around... He could get STDs and kids would get STDs because they were doing the same thing as their beloved hero Spidey... Think about it... Wolverine and the Thing don't smoke aymore, cause Joey Q was scared that kids would smoke in a feeble attempt of character emulation...

So we should eliminate superhero books... We don't want kids praying to spider-cods asking for super powers, or kids injecting metal into their bones so they can pop claws, or kids taking Gasoline showers trying to be Torches, or... forget it the list is too long...

Why recent Spidey sucks? Simple, The fat Bastard in my avatar is the reason... He's an agent of Osborn. His mission, destroy Spider-man...

LOL

 

[farmernudie]

LOL

In a perfect world they'd just hire some good writers and true fans of spidey who respect the continuity and cast and move FORWARD with Spider-Man.

Taking away MJ by either mindwipe or death is a dingbat of a plot.

Redundant to the extreme.

One surely to be retconned either way after the big sales event is over and the fans are heard...a year from now, or two tops. They will be married again and or alive again, etc...

Waste of time to keep us going in circles here story wise. Thanks Joey Q. for tackling this "marriage controversy" so bravely like you are about to do to put an end to it at last! He deserves a raise, or something.

 

[Screenscribe]

The reason is plain and simple. There have been no strong stories for Spider-Man. JMS has unfortunatley failed. He didn't set out to do that but he did. He had one real plot dragged out among 5 years and 5 villains(that were all the same... person dressed in black that wants to "eat him") He took Spider-Man down a path and got lost on the way. And now they are trying to bring him back. Same with the Clone Saga. You can't change the core of a character and expect long time fans to support you. The clone saga sucked, to make peopel forget they bring back Norman Osborn. The totem plot sucked. To make peopel forget they unmask him. While I agree this opens a huge amount of story possibilities, its wrong for the character. To make people forget this they... well we have to wait and see..

 

[Doc_OCK_4MUGEN]

Well JMS DID get Peter and MJ back together...
If Joe Q hates the marriage that much he wouldn't had ok'ed the return of Pete and MJ... If only we had Joe Quesarro as Spidey's editor we might have good stories for him...

 

[Arcturus]

There was a time when I followed Spider-Man comics like crazy, then eventually I grew out of comic-books (for awhile only). I then felt the spark and thought i'd get back into them, only to find that the Spider-Man comics have, how shall I say, become lousy. But I did get hooked on Ultimate Spider-Man.

However, as of late, i'm looking to also getting back in 616, give it another chance, but i'm not sure where to start. I always see people complaining about the current Civil War story, I don't know what to do.