Comics Spider-Man's Future (according to Marvel)

[JerseyJoker]

The Clone Saga really didn't drive people away, HOW IT WAS HANDLED is what did it. If they kept the saga down to the time it was suppose to go, it wouldn't of had such a bad backlash to it at the beginning, it was just dragged out so long.

But i like revisiting the Sage and bringing Reily back into the fold, just gives something from Peter's REAL past, something he remembers from long ago that he has to deal with.

 

[farmernudie]

Well.....yeh....the Clone Saga told the fans the guy they had read for all their life wasn't the real deal....and then it took eons and ages to untell the story....which made it worse....dragged on and on....

 

[Donald Thomas]

Aloha,
I remember a while back that JoeQ said that the most requested trade paperback has been The Clone Saga.Most people liked the beginning of the saga it's just that it just wandered on and on, as well as the very idea that Peter was not really Peter for all these yearsSo if Marvel has a way of condensing the Clone Saga into what they thought it should have been like, then I'll take 6 issues over more than two years and countless volumes in multiple titles, any day.Should be interesting to see if they can make things fit.
Spidey rules

 

[Dragon]

My mistake... though you were just talking about Ben Reilly and the Clone Saga in your above paragraph, so you can see how easy it was for me to "assume" that you were talking about the "Who is Ben Reilly?" story as opposed to "The Gaunlet"... though I didn't think that was going to be 12 issues...

And I didn't see anything about a "title change"... link please.

SW: It starts in November with Issue #611 and the books will be called The Gauntlet through about February or so.

Adding The Gauntlet to The Amazing Spider-Man looks like a title change to me.

And again- why does it all have to be lumped together into an event? Fighting villains is what Spider-Man always doe. Making the return of his classic villains under one banner or whatever makes it into something other than what it should be. Like I said, Marvel just needs to tell good stories.

In these guys hands the drug issues would've lasted for a year and Gwen and Norman's deaths would've been two.

 

[imdaly]

SW: It starts in November with Issue #611 and the books will be called The Gauntlet through about February or so.

Adding The Gauntlet to The Amazing Spider-Man looks like a title change to me.

Are the current issues undergoing a title change? They have the "Dark Reign" banner.

 

[Dragon]

Are the current issues undergoing a title change? They have the "Dark Reign" banner.

Well, Wacker doesn't say the issues will be "under the banner" of The Gauntlet. He says they'll be CALLED The Gauntlet. Maybe he meant that they will merely have the banner. But that's not what he said.

And regardless. they're still making an event of something that needn't be. But then, they're makng an event of two geezers getting married, so what else is new?

 

[imdaly]

Well, Wacker doesn't say the issues will be "under the banner" of The Gauntlet. He says they'll be CALLED The Gauntlet. Maybe he meant that they will merely have the banner. But that's not what he said.

And regardless. they're still making an event of something that needn't be. But then, they're makng an event of two geezers getting married, so what else is new?

"What is unifying the stories in The Gauntlet is that these threats are building in Spider-Man's life and in Peter Parker's life, and it's going to ultimately end in a sort of personal Gauntlet for Pete," Marvel editor Steve Wacker told Newsarama.

From the Rhino to Electro to the Lizard, the more familiar rogues who dominated his title before its status quo change in January 2008 will return to plague Spider-Man. While the issues in The Gauntlet aren't all one story, the subplots running through all the issues wearing the banner will have "hints of a mystery that's going to grow and grow until it comes to a head" in spring 2010, Wacker said, implying that the Sinister 666 is involved.

Source: Newsarama

Beginning with Amazing Spider-Man #611 by Mark Waid, which sees the return of Electro, a series of villainous returns will follow, all tying together under the "Gauntlet" banner and taking the title into 2010.

....

Steve Wacker: "The Gauntlet" is what we're calling the return of all the villains later in the year. It's kind of like what they did with Dark Reign, where there wasn't just one story called Dark Reign, but it's an over-arcing title that gives you the unifying theme of what's going on.

So while the issues in The Gauntlet aren't all one story -- Mark [Waid]'s still writing his own story, Joe [Kelly]'s still writing his own story -- the subplots going through will have hints of a mystery that's going to grow and grow. And it's going to come to a head in the spring of next year.

...


NRAMA: Will there be some unifying theme behind their appearances?

SW: I don't want to give too much away, but it has to do with the Sinister 666 stuff and a few other things.

NRAMA: So is there a link in the motivation for all these villains coming back?

SW: No, it's not like there's a secret bad-guy thing where they say, "alright Electro, you go out and then I'm going to send this guy." That would be the obvious thing to do, and that's not quite what we did.

What is unifying the stories in The Gauntlet is that these threats are building in Spider-Man's life and in Peter Parker's life, and it's going to ultimately end in a sort of personal Gauntlet for Pete.

Source: Newsarama

“The Gauntlet” isn't one giant story arc, but actually several smaller ones that connect together to tell one enormous tale. “We're taking our cue from the way Marvel has done things like Dark Reign or The Initiative storyline, which spun out of 'Civil War,' where you give a sort of an über-arc name to all the stories that come out,” Steve Wacker told CBR News. “From Peter's point of view, all these villains are coming back, one after the other. Is there a connection and where does that question takes Spider-Man is what 'The Gauntlet' is all about.”

In “The Gauntlet,” Spider-Man's foes will wage war on him, but readers won't see straight up battles with all of Spidey's foes attacking at once. In this storyline, Spider-Man's rogues are fighting a war of attrition. “The emphasis is on reintroducing the 'classic' Spidey villains at a constant pace that will wear Peter down to a nub,” Mark Waid told CBR News. “Spidey's enemies, when they work in concert, have a bad tendency to rush him all at once, forgetting how hard it is for a human rhino to not accidentally trip over metal octopus limbs (or whatever). Not that I'm confirming they're working in concert, but if they were, hmm, who'd be arranging that...?”



...


“What connects all these stories, apart from the toll they take on Peter and Spider-Man, is the fact that we're building up to the next big arc,” added Guggenheim. “I have to be vague out fear of spoiling the other writers' work, but you'll see that all of this is laying the foundation for an even bigger more ambitious arc to come. Speaking as someone who's been in the meetings, knows where we're headed, and knows what the arc is after 'The Gauntlet', I think people are going to be very excited.”

Source: Comic Book Resources

This is not one storyline, but rather a unified story direction that will guide every arc of the series for many months forward. A variety of classic Spider-Man villains are poised to return and make life miserable for Peter Parker. Think of it like Dark Reign for the Spider-Man universe.

...

IGN Comics: Steve, when you say "branding", does that mean this is something like Dark Reign?

Wacker: It's like Dark Reign. There's no mini-series called "Dark Reign" where they're telling the Dark Reign story. It's just what the tone of the Marvel Universe is. And that's exactly what we're trying to do with The Gauntlet. This idea for an overarching title came from Joe Q. at the last Spidey retreat. He was really into the ideas that the writers were throwing out and suggested this as a simple way to get across what we were doing in the stories.

Source: IGN


Seems pretty clear to me that this is going to just be a banner put on the covers just like "Dark Reign" or "The Initiative" was and not some sort of renaming of the book.

Also seems pretty clear that while the individual motivations of the characters may not be directly tied together, the events in these stories tie together as a part of a overarching theme as well as into a bigger story, one that seems to definitely follow up soon afterward.

 

[Dragon]

Seems pretty clear to me that this is going to just be a banner put on the covers just like "Dark Reign" or "The Initiative" was and not some sort of renaming of the book.

Also seems pretty clear that while the individual motivations of the characters may not be directly tied together, the events in these stories tie together as a part of a overarching theme as well as into a bigger story, one that seems to definitely follow up soon afterward.

Didn't realize how important that was to ya. I was making my point based on Wacker's statement. I guess next time I'll research every mention of the subject. (Not)

As for an overarching theme.. Spider-Man's entire existence is that theme. He fights criminals. The criminals that are cionsidered classic ones are those that are interesting and give him tough battles. Again- no need to make an "event" of it. Just tell good stories. That's all.

 

[Donald Thomas]

Aloha,
Here's where being a stock holder comes in handy. EVERY so called event that Marvel has done in the past few years(House of M, Civil War,death of Capt America,Secret Invasion) has been responsible for Marvel Publishing growing as a company.This goes back to my point regarding fan boys and business. Yes, fanboys are EXPERTS on the characters and continuity(yea) but when it comes to how to run a comic book publishing company in the 21st century, the very thing that some complain about (EVENTS) are the things that helps business.Writers should study from fan boys and fan boys should take business and marketing courses-from JoeQ-who happens to be the most successful publisher of comics, Marvel or otherwise since Stan Lee.
Spidey rules

 

[Meehaul]

Yeah, love him or hate him, Joe Q has done a lot for Marvel. He's made Marvel more successful than it's been (publishing-wise), in a long time. Part of the reason for these "arcs" and "events" is to provide fodder for the trade paperbacks. Marvel and DC both recognize that digital and the tpbs are the future of the medium and that the monthly, single issue comic, like other magazine forms, are pretty much on life support.

 

[Venom 1988]

Marvel and DC both recognize that digital and the tpbs are the future of the medium and that the monthly, single issue comic, like other magazine forms, are pretty much on life support.

Actually Joe Q would disagrees with you there. He views TBP and digital are an alternative, but not replacement of the monthlies.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

BND itself has a been a really long difficult period for Spidey, imo.

Bringing back the Clone Saga on top of things...is perplexing too, considering that even Marvel itself considers it soemthing that drove hordes away from collecting. And that BND is the next devisive thing since...so now they're teaming the two up?? During bad economic times?
Going for broke?

Oh for god sakes, get over it already! We Reilly fans have been waiting 13 long years to get so much as a bone thrown our way. And now that we are finally getting a modicum of respect and acknowledgment for a character many of us love, you can't let us even enjoy that! It's not a new saga. Ben Reilly is not even being resurrected! It's a flashback story. It's TWO issues (ASM#608, 609), an annual and the unrelated clone saga writer's cut mini (that's not in continuity and you don't have to pick up. That's right. You can ignore it). Suck it up and let us have our moment in the sun. Geez... you've made it clear you don't even buy the books, clone or no clone! Well I do buy the books, and I'm thrilled by this upcoming arc.

 

[roni14]

Oh for god sakes, get over it already! We Reilly fans have been waiting 13 long years to get so much as a bone thrown our way. And now that we are finally getting a modicum of respect and acknowledgment for a character many of us love, you can't let us even enjoy that! It's not a new saga. Ben Reilly is not even being resurrected! It's a flashback story. It's TWO issues (ASM#608, 609), an annual and the unrelated clone saga writer's cut mini (that's not in continuity and you don't have to pick up. That's right. You can ignore it). Suck it up and let us have our moment in the sun. Geez... you've made it clear you don't even buy the books, clone or no clone! Well I do buy the books, and I'm thrilled by this upcoming arc.

Quoted for some serious truth.

 

[Donald Thomas]

Actually Joe Q would disagrees with you there. He views TBP and digital are an alternative, but not replacement of the monthlies.

Aloha,
And for now he's correct. Only the future will tell how much influence Kindle and other electronic readers will have on book reading in general.Computers did not replace paper and I don't think that we will ever see the complete death of words and pictures on paper.I'd like to see a mini disk digital version of the comic included with the paper version, sort of like how some Computer mags include a disk of programs and apps.
Spidey rules

 

[Dragon]

Aloha,
Here's where being a stock holder comes in handy. EVERY so called event that Marvel has done in the past few years(House of M, Civil War,death of Capt America,Secret Invasion) has been responsible for Marvel Publishing growing as a company.This goes back to my point regarding fan boys and business. Yes, fanboys are EXPERTS on the characters and continuity(yea) but when it comes to how to run a comic book publishing company in the 21st century, the very thing that some complain about (EVENTS) are the things that helps business.Writers should study from fan boys and fan boys should take business and marketing courses-from JoeQ-who happens to be the most successful publisher of comics, Marvel or otherwise since Stan Lee.
Spidey rules

Oh please. Marvel has fired Editors-in-chief that have been more successful than Quesada. Never in ASM's history has it sold 60,000 copies until now.

And you're not actually saying that events are needed to sell comics, are you? Because the comics were selling better before the "banners" became SOP. There's no growth because of the events, they only serve to get the people who loyally buy Marvel comics to buy a few more books they wouldn't normally buy. But ultimately they still aren't selling very well.

 

[imdaly]

Never in ASM's history has it sold 60,000 copies until now.

And never in ASM's history has it been released 3x's a month, and for over 1.5 years so far.

 

[Dragon]

And never in ASM's history has it been released 3x's a month, and for over 1.5 years so far.

Well.... There has been at keast 2-3 Spidey titles per month since the late 70's. And Marvel did publish ASM twice monthly for a few summers back in the late 80's.

But that's not at issue. Even if the title is selling thrice monthly, that would have no effect on how many people purchase each issue. Only the quality of each issue can effect that.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Well.... There has been at keast 2-3 Spidey titles per month since the late 70's. And Marvel did publish ASM twice monthly for a few summers back in the late 80's.

But that's not at issue. Even if the title is selling thrice monthly, that would have no effect on how many people purchase each issue. Only the quality of each issue can effect that.

Actually, yes it would. If someone can only afford a certain amount of comics a month (and don't laugh, because in this economy even three comics a month can be a stretch for some folks), then they might only get one ASM issue a month and not all three. Then there are casual Spidey fans who don't even know it's coming out three times a month and just go to the comic-store once a month and buy whatever's newest.

 

[Jack O Lantern]

When Amazing Spider-Man was selling in the millions, lot's of comics across the board [Marvel/DC/Imgae] were selling in the millions as well, because a hell of a lot more people were paying comics.

The comic industry fail on it's backside in the mid-90s and that's not Quesanda's fault

 

[Donald Thomas]

When Amazing Spider-Man was selling in the millions, lot's of comics across the board [Marvel/DC/Imgae] were selling in the millions as well, because a hell of a lot more people were paying comics.

The comic industry fail on it's backside in the mid-90s and that's not Quesanda's fault

Aloha,
Of course it is, along with global warming and the Kennedy assassinationt:.Again, I am a stock holder of Marvel. I get the reports and the success or failure for Marvel Publishing for the past several years has been attributed in great part but not exclusively to EVENTS.Stephen Kings books also helped Marvel in publishing growth. While its true that there was a time when comic books in general sold in the millions and hundreds of thousands per month, the comparison of JoeQ must be done based upon what numbers books are selling today.Any statistics that anyone would like to present that shows where under JoeQ, Marvel was not the leader in comic book sales, I'd be glad to look at.I don't think I have to remind anyone that JoeQ WORKS for Marvel Entertainment. Crappy job-HE"S OUT!This is no corner Lemonade stand, it's a multi billion dollar business.If JoeQ or any other employee of Marvel was not carrying his weight-GONE!Joe is still standing after all these years.
Spidey rules

 

[Dragon]

Actually, yes it would. If someone can only afford a certain amount of comics a month (and don't laugh, because in this economy even three comics a month can be a stretch for some folks), then they might only get one ASM issue a month and not all three. Then there are casual Spidey fans who don't even know it's coming out three times a month and just go to the comic-store once a month and buy whatever's newest.

No, no it wouldn't. Since Marvel "cleverly" has the stories to all 3 issues connected, those who are following the story would want to purchase the subsequent issues. If the stories were worth following, people would spend their money on them.

 

[Dragon]

Aloha,
Of course it is, along with global warming and the Kennedy assassinationt:.Again, I am a stock holder of Marvel. I get the reports and the success or failure for Marvel Publishing for the past several years has been attributed in great part but not exclusively to EVENTS.Stephen Kings books also helped Marvel in publishing growth. While its true that there was a time when comic books in general sold in the millions and hundreds of thousands per month, the comparison of JoeQ must be done based upon what numbers books are selling today.Any statistics that anyone would like to present that shows where under JoeQ, Marvel was not the leader in comic book sales, I'd be glad to look at.I don't think I have to remind anyone that JoeQ WORKS for Marvel Entertainment. Crappy job-HE"S OUT!This is no corner Lemonade stand, it's a multi billion dollar business.If JoeQ or any other employee of Marvel was not carrying his weight-GONE!Joe is still standing after all these years.
Spidey rules

And when hasn't Marvel been the leader in sales for the last 30 years or so? They're the biggest publisher, so they'd be the largest in terms of sales. That doesn't change the fact that sales have continued to drop[i/] under Quesada's tenure. He, his events or other dumb ideas have certainly done nothing to bring comic books back. Quesada is lucky enough to have been working for Marvel when their fortunes have risen due to their film success. So the publishing end has become less a factor of importance than it was back in the 80's and 90's.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

No, no it wouldn't. Since Marvel "cleverly" has the stories to all 3 issues connected, those who are following the story would want to purchase the subsequent issues. If the stories were worth following, people would spend their money on them.

Absolutely wrong. If that were the case then how come when arcs crossed over the Spidey books back when they were Web/Sensational, Spectacular, Amazing and Peter Parker, the three sister books would still have lower sales than Amazing, even in the same story-line? I guess casual fans don't follow the story that closely. Gee, maybe that's why they're called "casual."

 

[Jack O Lantern]

No, no it wouldn't. Since Marvel "cleverly" has the stories to all 3 issues connected, those who are following the story would want to purchase the subsequent issues. If the stories were worth following, people would spend their money on them.

"Sorry kids. I would buy you dinner but the stories in Amazing Spider-Man are worth following."

 

[Themanofbat]

Well.... There has been at keast 2-3 Spidey titles per month since the late 70's. And Marvel did publish ASM twice monthly for a few summers back in the late 80's.

The following are the monthly averages of Spider-Man comics sold, be they all ASM, or ASM, FSM, SSM, Snesation, Tangled, etc...

2000 - 50 658 copies sold on average per month
2001 - 58 315 copies sold on average per month
2002 - 63 314 copies sold on average per month
2003 - 76 142 copies sold on average per month
2004 - 72 112 copies sold on average per month
2005 - 65 784 copies sold on average per month
2006 - 67 227 copies sold on average per month
2007 - 80 213 copies sold on average per month
2008 - 79 278 copies sold on average per month

And thus far, in 2009...

2009 - 82 718 copies sold on average per month

If your argument is that the quality of the issues is what dictates sales, then obviously, the last 2 1/2 years have been by far better quality then the books sold prior to 2007.

Oh please. Marvel has fired Editors-in-chief that have been more successful than Quesada. Never in ASM's history has it sold 60,000 copies until now.

If you look at the numbers of ASM only in 2000, the highest selling month saw 56 400 copies sold, and the lowest month selling 45 400 copies, with an average of 51 583 copies sold of ASM for that year... so obviously your above statement is wrong.