Comics What direction would you take Amazing Spider-man if you were a writer?

[Spiderluke]

There has been alot of dissagreement in Amazing Spider-man from everyone reading it. If you don't like what's going on, what would you do or change?

 

[Eye Doc]

There has been alot of dissagreement in Amazing Spider-man from everyone reading it. If you don't like what's going on, what would you do or change?

I could be here for days discussing this, but I'll keep it short.

1) Establish a "status" quo for Peter outside the suit. Is he a student? A teacher? A fulltime Bugle employee? Or something else?

2) Reintegrate the supporting cast into the book. Peter needs to intereact with more people than May and MJ. I'd definitely have a mix of old and new characters in the book.

3) Tell straight forward Spidey stories. No mystical totems or crap like "the Other". No retconning of previous events (Sins Past), especially the Silver Age. I don't mind seeing new concepts and villians, but JMS has taken the book waaay off in left field. I'd ditch the Spidey claws and have a guy show up and say that Ezekiel was "pulling Peter's leg".

4) Decide what to do with the Parker Marriage. I like Spidey enough to write him married or single. But a decision needs to be made and move on.

5) Bring back the old suplots. Since Marvel has become "Trade happy" in recent years, the old suplots I use to love have all but vanished. I think Spidey has been hurt by having nearly every arc packaged as a six issue read.

 

[Spiderluke]

I too miss the old days. I would probably end the Avenger thing. Have himself move out of Stark tower and start being Spider-man again. I wish he would have a struggle with a villan again instead of a superhero registration act. It all gets boring to me.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Well, I have a warped view on Spider-Man and his mythos. I know if I were writing the book I'd pretty much be getting ripped apart on these boards like JMS does. But this would basically be my plan of attack as a writer.

Writing Spider-Man stories, approaching as a writer, I basically try to keep one thing in my and that's: Keep It Simple, Stupid. Or KISS.

No new suits. No new powers. No Sins Past. No The Other. I'd try and start my run from the end of the Book of Ezekiel, that is if I had any kind of power what so ever in the comic book industry...but we're just playing pretend here so bear with me.

Doctor Octopus would be plotting an idea, not exactly sure at this point. But it's the usual BS, right? Wrong. Spidey gets involved and the two begin having their basic everyday battle that they always have. I'd throw in some continuity and have Ock mention his being drugged and being struck by lightning...and surviving...and somehow seeing the "light" so to speak.

The fight gets crazy and Ock becomes more aggressive, defeating Spider-Man. Ock will then unmask Spidey and reveal it to be Peter Parker. Ock will sort of have a distant memory of knowing that Peter is Spider-Man, not fully clear because he once died...remember Web of Death? I do.

Peter can't defend himself and he thinks that Ock is going to kill him. So, Pete lays everything on Ock. From his origin to now. Ock says, "Osborn killed Gwen Stacy? She was your love?" Ock will feel sympathy for Peter, knowing that Peter has suffered greatly being Spider-Man through all these years. Ock feels that Peter has suffered enough and doesn't deserve to be killed. Ock releases him and tells him that he feels a bond with Peter. That he feels that he once saved Peter's life...but things are blurry. Pete remembers when he was dying and Ock saved him. Ock tells Peter they will meet again in the future and Ock will not be so merciful.

From there I'd go in all kinds of directions. My first concern would be to address Pete and MJ's child. I'd have Kaine return in the comic and tell Peter that he found his daughter. But this sets off Osborn, who's had the child in hiding for all these years, and he cannot take Spidey and Kaine at the same time. He needs help. So Osborn enlists the help of any villains that he can, but he gets Roderick Kingsley, who's recently returned from his island paradise.

Spidey and Kaine eventually defeat the Goblins. Roderick escapes but Norman is captured. Kaine tells Peter about his daughter, but it will be difficult to find her. He'll have to do some digging to really get to her. Kaine offers to take care of Norman for Peter...Pete, of course, wants no one dead. Kaine promises he won't kill Norman, only to keep him locked up with him so that he never bothers Peter again. There would be a small sequence of Kaine being alone with Osborn, and Kaine saying, "...I have the memories of Peter Parker. I remember what you did to her...to Gwen. Peter is a good person and doesn't have it in himself to do what I do. But I'm not Peter!" And Kaine would torture Osborn until his dying days...or until he escaped.

That would be the nitty gritty. I haven't really given it a lot of deep thought. Just basic plot points to help clean up some of the things that were left uncleaned in the Spider-Man mythos. Especially his daughter.

And that would basically be the point of my run on the book. To have Peter and Mary Jane searching for their daughter all around the world. Getting help in all the wrong places and, of course, eventually finding her and being a family.

 

[The Joker]

Doctor Octopus would be plotting an idea, not exactly sure at this point. But it's the usual BS, right? Wrong. Spidey gets involved and the two begin having their basic everyday battle that they always have. I'd throw in some continuity and have Ock mention his being drugged and being struck by lightning...and surviving...and somehow seeing the "light" so to speak.

The fight gets crazy and Ock becomes more aggressive, defeating Spider-Man. Ock will then unmask Spidey and reveal it to be Peter Parker. Ock will sort of have a distant memory of knowing that Peter is Spider-Man, not fully clear because he once died...remember Web of Death? I do.

Peter can't defend himself and he thinks that Ock is going to kill him. So, Pete lays everything on Ock. From his origin to now. Ock says, "Osborn killed Gwen Stacy? She was your love?" Ock will feel sympathy for Peter, knowing that Peter has suffered greatly being Spider-Man through all these years. Ock feels that Peter has suffered enough and doesn't deserve to be killed. Ock releases him and tells him that he feels a bond with Peter. That he feels that he once saved Peter's life...but things are blurry. Pete remembers when he was dying and Ock saved him. Ock tells Peter they will meet again in the future and Ock will not be so merciful.

Good god no

Ock feels sympathy for his greatest enemy?? He thinks he's suffered enough and should not be killed?? What the hell?? This is Doctor Octopus we're talking about right?? The man who has tried to kill Spider-Man more than any other Spidey villain.Who has made super villain groups for the sole purpose of killing Spider-Man.

He only saved Spider-Man in Web of Death so he could kill him himself later."Resume the dance" he called it. You think the death of Spidey's loved one would inspire sympathy in Octavius??

You forget the Ock/Owl gang war in Spectacular Spider-Man in the 80's, where Ock bashed the Black Cat within an inch of her life,and then went to finish her off in the hospital.And he was well aware she and Spidey were an item.That's why he was doing it.He wanted to punish Spider-Man for ruining his scheme of blowing up New York.

Really SIAT that is quite out of character for Octavius.The most humanity he's ever shown was for Aunt May.I think he was genuinely fond of her,even though he used her and her home several times for his criminal schemes.I think,no I know if Ock found out Spidey lost a loved one,it would fill him with joy.He'd only be sorry it wasn't him that got to do it.

Your idea would be good for a 'What if' story,but never in regular continuity.If there's one thing I hate it's bastardization of classic characters.It's one of the main reasons why Sins Past is so universally hated.

No offence dude,but as a long time Spidey/Ock fan,that idea is way out of character for Ock.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Good god no

Ock feels sympathy for his greatest enemy?? He thinks he's suffered enough and should not be killed?? What the hell?? This is Doctor Octopus we're talking about right?? The man who has tried to kill Spider-Man more than any other Spidey villain.Who has made super villain groups for the sole purpose of killing Spider-Man.

He only saved Spider-Man in Web of Death so he could kill him himself later."Resume the dance" he called it. You think the death of Spidey's loved one would inspire sympathy in Octavius??

You forget the Ock/Owl gang war in Spectacular Spider-Man in the 80's, where Ock bashed the Black Cat within an inch of her life,and then went to finish her off in the hospital.And he was well aware she and Spidey were an item.That's why he was doing it.He wanted to punish Spider-Man for ruining his scheme of blowing up New York.

Really SIAT that is quite out of character for Octavius.The most humanity he's ever shown was for Aunt May.I think he was genuinely fond of her,even though he used her and her home several times for his criminal schemes.I think,no I know if Ock found out Spidey lost a loved one,it would fill him with joy.He'd only be sorry it wasn't him that got to do it.

Your idea would be good for a 'What if' story,but never in regular continuity.If there's one thing I hate it's bastardization of classic characters.It's one of the main reasons why Sins Past is so universally hated.

No offence dude,but as a long time Spidey/Ock fan,that idea is way out of character for Ock.

Like I said earlier in the post. I have warped ideas of the Spider-Man mythos and if I were really a writer at Marvel...I'd probably be getting my ass ripped open worse than JMS.

You think it's out of character. But it's just a quick idea that I had and I haven't even really fleshed it out at all yet.

Remember, Doctor Octopus was drugged beyond belief by people we have no idea about during Millar's Marvel Knights run and then he was struck by lightning...there are a million things you can do with that. Possibly amnesia or certain memories lost.

And the main point of it was to make Ock a more sympathetic villain for the readers as opposed to the mad scientist who's got a serious hard on for killing Spider-Man. And also in my planned Spider-Man arc Ock would play a role in finding Baby May...and Pete and Ock would also resume their battle at the end of the arc.

To me, Ock is Spidey's greatest villain...not Osborn.

Hence, why Kaine owns some Goblin ass.

 

[The Joker]

Like I said earlier in the post. I have warped ideas of the Spider-Man mythos and if I were really a writer at Marvel...I'd probably be getting my ass ripped open worse than JMS.

LOL! Well if you did that to Ock,then you'd be off my christmas card list

You think it's out of character. But it's just a quick idea that I had and I haven't even really fleshed it out at all yet.

Well it is out of character.I've only ever seen Octavius show sympathy for Aunt May,because she was genuinely kind to him.For example,there he was trying to marry her so he could get his hands on her inheritance of a nuclear facility so he could build atomic weapons of mass destruction with it,and at the same time he's gallantly protecting May when Hammerhead and his goons attacked the wedding.

And Stunner.I think he cared for her too.Especially after she sacrificed herself to bring him back from the dead.

Remember, Doctor Octopus was drugged beyond belief by people we have no idea about during Millar's Marvel Knights run and then he was struck by lightning...there are a million things you can do with that. Possibly amnesia or certain memories lost.

They already covered that in issue 12.They said when Ock recovered he was missing two months of his life.Obviously the two months he was being brain washed to kill Osborn.

And the main point of it was to make Ock a more sympathetic villain for the readers as opposed to the mad scientist who's got a serious hard on for killing Spider-Man.

But that is the nature of Ock.He is an evil,fiendish super villain.You want sympathetic villains then go to the Lizard or Harry Osborn as GG2.

Same as we don't try to make the Joker sympathetic.Leave that for Two Face and his kind.

And also in my planned Spider-Man arc Ock would play a role in finding Baby May...and Pete and Ock would also resume their battle at the end of the arc.

That sounds interesting.Let me know more on that angle

To me, Ock is Spidey's greatest villain...not Osborn.

Agreed.Osborn is more an enemy of Peter Parker.Like Stan Lee once said: GG is Peter Parker's greatest enemy,while Doctor Octopus is Spider-Man's greatest enemy.

 

[SpideyInATree]

LOL! Well if you did that to Ock,then you'd be off my christmas card list



Well it is out of character.I've only ever seen Octavius show sympathy for Aunt May,because she was genuinely kind to him.For example,there he was trying to marry her so he could get his hands on her inheritance of a nuclear facility so he could build atomic weapons of mass destruction with it,and at the same time he's gallantly protecting May when Hammerhead and his goons attacked the wedding.

And Stunner.I think he cared for her too.Especially after she sacrificed herself to bring him back from the dead.



They already covered that in issue 12.They said when Ock recovered he was missing two months of his life.Obviously the two months he was being brain washed to kill Osborn.



But that is the nature of Ock.He is an evil,fiendish super villain.You want sympathetic villains then go to the Lizard or Harry Osborn as GG2.

Same as we don't try to make the Joker sympathetic.Leave that for Two Face and his kind.



That sounds interesting.Let me know more on that angle



Agreed.Osborn is more an enemy of Peter Parker.Like Stan Lee once said: GG is Peter Parker's greatest enemy,while Doctor Octopus is Spider-Man's greatest enemy.

As I said. It was just part of the quick idea I had of a story arc. I know the first thing I'm pitching as a Spidey writer is clearing up the Baby May storyline that's been dangling for like...a decade.

But you're right about Ock, I suppose. I wanted to use one of his strongest villains and a villain who would love to see him splattered on a wall...you know...helping him against Norman Osborn in a quest to reclaim his daughter. And then when Pete gets Baby May back Ock tries to kill him.

But maybe I could use a different Spidey villain. Hmmm...

 

[Spiderluke]

One thing I would like to see is when this Civil War stuff is some new fresh ideas. No more crossovers.

 

[The Joker]

As I said. It was just part of the quick idea I had of a story arc. I know the first thing I'm pitching as a Spidey writer is clearing up the Baby May storyline that's been dangling for like...a decade.

I didn't mean to rain on your parade,and I'm not trying to diss your creativity,it's just the wrong kind of creativity IMO. Dimension can be added to characters without changing them.

Like in Web of Death,DeMatteis showed a new angle to Ock.Despite how much he hated Spider-Man,and had always seen him as a pest,he also saw him as a worthy and decent self sacrificing adversary.Someone he could have been.Hence the parallel between Octavius and Parker.One is the geek turned hero,the other is the geek turned villain.

And the fact Spidey was dying,Ock felt cheated.Cheated out of killing his greatest enemy.Remember when he found Spidey unconscious,and he said to himself it would be so easy to crush him to a bloody pulp there and then.But he refused to,because he wanted him in peak condition for their battle.Hence why he cured him.

A wonderfully twisted logic.He did something decent,but for completely evil reasons.

But you're right about Ock, I suppose. I wanted to use one of his strongest villains and a villain who would love to see him splattered on a wall...you know...helping him against Norman Osborn in a quest to reclaim his daughter. And then when Pete gets Baby May back Ock tries to kill him.

Well if Ock ever helps anyone,there has to be something in it for him.And practically everyone he's teamed with,he has betrayed.

So what possible incentive could Ock have for helping Spider-Man find his child??

But maybe I could use a different Spidey villain. Hmmm...

That might be best

 

[Effect]

See I don't think change is a bad thing. People grow and change as a result of their experiences. No one stays the same. That would be boring. The thing is what kind of change should there be. Keeping characters the same, having the same reactions, and always feeling the same towards other characters is boring and things become dull no matter how interesting a story would be. Character change which is development is essential part of storytelling I feel.

I don't think everyone acts the same way day in and day out. I'm sure when you look back over the last year you've changed and wouldn't actually make the same decisions you made a year ago now as a result of your experiences or slight changes in personality. This is part of why I've never been against change at all in stories and been more open to it.

 

[Effect]

Sorry this is long.

As for what I'd do. Well my knowledge of the Spider-man history is pretty limited, having only recently in the past few months gotten into the comic version. What I'd try to do would really depend on where I started from I guess. Though the nature of what I'd try to do would go as follows.

First things first, Peter, MJ, and Aunt May would move out of the Avengers Tower. I have no problem with keeping Spidey on an Avengers like team but just not as a person in every arc. Put them in a house or apartment that's big enough for all three and perhaps someone else. Tony as a way of trying to rebuild the friendship would help with this but then Peter would say no more.

Personally I like the mystical aspect of Peter, at least him getting new powers. I'd like to see him use them more as well as coming up with smaller gadgets for himself but not to many. Money is an issue and using more of his spider powers saves money for creating things. MJ would go back to school and end up helping trouble children with family problems. Social work, which would tie back into her own childhood. This would partly be because she feels she hasn't really made any type of difference. She's the wife of Spider-man and what does she do? Act and stand and look pretty. She doesn't care for that but wants to make a difference. This would come about after visiting Peter at school (he's still a teacher) and seeing a child act one way but off to the side see her acting another and realizes she used to be just like and that starts putting things together. This also means she can tip Peter off on certain things if she does become a social worker. We'd see more of the students and teachers in Peter's life as well as those MJ works.

I think that covers the supporting cast and ties them to the Parker family. Also shows a more stable family life for Peter but with the interesting personal aspect in each of their lives.

Spider-man plot wise I'd try to introduce a new villian into the mix. Different from the Parker's personal life. This I haven't thought that much about though and this is just a really rough idea and the idea might be taken from somewhere else.

Out coming home after stopping a car jacking one night (Peter would be cutting down some of his time as Spider-man to focus more on his teaching as to not undercut the kids) he comes across one of his old foes fighting a stranger. Peter first hangs back to check things out to see what's going on, only see his old foe getting the crap beat out of him. The new guy goes for the kill and at that moment Peter jumps in and saves his old foe, much to his surprise and the old villian. Right thing to do, in Peter's mind. The new guys is upset that Spidey got in the way and attacks him only to find that Peter is no push over and then leaves but not before saying something mysterious. After deposting the old villian off a police station he heads home.

Several nights later the same thing happens but different stranger and another past villian. Peter is getting reports that some of his old rogue gallery and several other NYC villians have been having fights with a new group of players that have the same style of uniforms, type of talking, or fighting style. Spidey has yet to be attack and this new group haven't actually attacked civilians.

This setup would cause Peter to start looking into things himself in hopes of understanding the situation. He comes to the aid of several past villians but only to find out what is happening since killing isn't his style, nor is letting others be killed if he can help it I believe. Come to find out this new group is looking to clear the area so they can set up shop. As a result, and tired of Spidey interfereing but not really hating him, it becomes a three way situiation. New guys vs. Spidey and perhaps other heros vs. villians.

Who these new guys could be I haven't figured out yet. Was thinking they could be either mystical (not bad but amoral mostly) instead some weird things. I'd bring out a more detective apsect of Spider-man out. Perhaps have a few allies on the police but also have those that distrust him and want him arrested. A similar Batman/Gorden type relationship with someone.

If I had a choice of books, have one be more focused on his personal life and another on the Spider-man life. I'd try to get them released on the same day so readers will be sure just when each one takes place. Perhaps after three pages, there is a note saying refer to pages 1 to 10 of the life book and then the life book refers back to the Spidey action book and goes back and forth like that for the two issues and then next month that continues.

I'd try to bring closue to the whole baby issue. Wouldn't be to major though, Peter with help of unlikely sources (someone else comes across her first and Peter gets word that a baby is found and by whom and gets in contact with that person). Baby had been put into a semi stasis by whoever had her. It would be some time before Peter and MJ get the baby though but would know she's okay and in a safe place. Then sometime later I'd allow them to get the infant and raise it with Aunt May spoiling the child and greatly helping out. I'd try to flesh out the supporting cast before bringing in a child.

I personally think Peter and MJ have to age. If I want to explore more relationships I will use other characters and the old "pretending or acting out a situation in the mind trick". Someone ask Peter for advice, he tries to picture what he'd do in the situation and it plays out in good ways and sometimes bad ways. That way he ages and you still get the what ifs of him in other relationships but all in good fun. Serious stuff is done by supporting characters, even one that might be similar to Peter in look or personality if need be.

Or really just double size each issue and do it all in one book. Not every issue but ones where you focus in on the non-Spidey issues along side the Spidey ones. I'd also try to move the story along at a decent past. They wouldn't be tailored to fit TPBs. Can't stand that. Actually wouldn't even name the arcs or try to give the issues titles.

 

[Galactus]

Is it really the writer who decides in which direction the comic should go? Isn't that the editor's decision? Even if you have some interesting ideas you can't be sure Marvel would let you do exactly all that you want to do.

 

[Spiderluke]

Is it really the writer who decides in which direction the comic should go? Isn't that the editor's decision? Even if you have some interesting ideas you can't be sure Marvel would let you do exactly all that you want to do.

I don't know for sure. I'm sure that with some of the past storylines that Marvel will let the writers do whatever they want.

 

[stillanerd]

Reminds me of a thread awhile back called "What if YOU ran the Spider Books."

http://superherohype.com/forums/showthread.php?t=215363
http://superherohype.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7605443&postcount=6

Much of what I said there is pretty much how I'd deal with the books, although given today's development, I'd have some changes:

1. Hopefully, as a result of Civil War, Peter has quit the Avengers and the Parkers have moved out of Stark Tower into his own apartment. He is also be wanted by the authorities, including the feds (a.k.a. he's once again considered a "menace").

2. Following that, the set-up for the two books (yes, I'd only have Amazing Spider-Man and either Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man) would be as follows:
A. Amazing Spider-Man would be seen as the more "traditional Spider-Man" consentrating more on Peter's freelance work at the Daily Bugle, making him once again interact with J. Jonah Jameson, Joe Robertson, Glory Grant, and Betty Brant. With regards to Betty, I'd try to make her useful, in that, since she's a reporter, she goes out on stories and Peter tags along as the photographer. Relax folks, she and Peter are just good friends; in fact, I'd have her dating Ben Urich. It would also include a lot of the old school villains.
B. Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man would be Peter's job as a teacher, sort of what one guy described as "Boston Public with Spider-Man in it." This would also include some newer villains. As for the supporting cast, this would include Flash Thompson (still the PE Teacher); Liz Allen, who is once again a neighboor of the Parkers, often asking them to babysit "little Normie" and who is Flash's girlfriend once again; the principal who is too much of an admistrative type; a female science teacher who has the hots for Peter and Mary Jane who (and this comes from another poster) has become the substitute drama teacher as part of a kids after school program. Why is Mary Jane there you ask? I'll get to that in a minute. But first:

3. The new age, spider-totem, mystical origin crap is put to bed at last. How? Remember the "Other" that "female" composed of all those spiders that ate Peter's discarded skin? Well, it turns out she is supposed to be the chosen one and essentially becomes a "female" version of Peter Parker (sort of a mystical X-23) Peter was just the catalyst to make it happen. In fact, the spider that bit him wasn't magical at all (thus getting this back to the real origin) and that it his "dormant powers"--especially those Wolverine-esque bone spears, i.e. "stingers"--was due to mutation that resulted from when Spidey had exposed himself to radiation when he first fought Morlun. Why is all of this happening? Well, Shathra (remember her?) is about to return and make a mess of things
and so "The Other" was essentially created to fight her and Spidey essentially team-up with her, even though he's way in over his head. Shathra is actually a creature who takes on a totem's opposite form (spider vs. spider-wasp, etc.) It's also revealed that Morlun is Shathra's "Golem" who hunts down people with these totemistic energies to prevent the "chosen one" from defeating it's "mistress." Anyway, Shathra is defeated, the "Other" essentially fades away, having done her part, and Spidey loses his "new" powers--including his organic webbing, meaning he goes back to the web-shooters.

4. Okay, so how did MJ (once again back to her fun-loving, easy going self) become a substitute drama teacher? Well thanks to a psycho killing fellow stage hands on the production of her new Broadway play, and committed by a guy who is in love with her, Mary Jane decides to reprioritize her life and realize that she can't get by on just her good looks and winning personality. Due to a volunteer program at the school Peter teaches, MJ learns of the after school program and decides to teach drama to the kids, and finds she's quite good at it. Of course, because his wife is no longer bringing as much income, this means Peter HAS TO work two jobs just to pay the rent (hence why he is both a freelance photog and a high school teacher) Also Peter is a little uncomfortable with his wife working at the same school he is. But there's another reason why she's no longer acting:

5. MJ's pregnant, and this time--NO MISCARRIAGES. She'll look forward to being a mom, aothough she's worried about the possibility that she'll loose this baby as well. Liz helps her out as being her birthing coach, being a registered nurse and all. MJ's pregnancy makes Peter want to be Spidey even more, not LESS, because he'll want his family to live in a safer world, but feels conflicted because his activities as Spidey will keep him away. Oh, and that female high school teacher who has a crush on him--even though Peter rebuffs her, MJ is jealous. Not only does she see her as Peter's intellectual equal but also the fact that MJ's pregnancy means her hormones are kicking in, she feels like she's getting fat, and thinks she no longer physically attractive to her husband makes it all the more problematic.

6. As a result of Peter rebuffing the female science teacher's unwanted advances, she (taking a page out of disclosure) sues him for sexual harrassment. Of course, because he's Spider-Man, it makes it complicates Peter trying to defend himself.

7. A couple of stories would include:
A. the Sinister Six is short a member, so they have a "talent search." Among the tryouts--which brings out scores of B and Z grade listers. Some of the highlights I envision are the "shocking" revelation that White Rabbit has been cheating on the Spot with the Walrus, the Hypno-Hustler tells off the five remaining Sinister Six members for being "an all white, super-villain country club," and Spidey in disguise as Venom (he's wearing the black costume) attempting a VERY BAD impersonation of him when the villains start getting suspicious. After the Sinister Six end up picking Spidey (thinking he's Venom) which leads to a bunch of villains spontaneously forming their own teams out of spite: becoming a three-way brawl between the new Sinister Six (Doc Ock, Vulture, Mysterio, Electro, Sandman, and Spidey) vs. The Sinister Syndicate (Shocker, Boomerang, Rhino, Speed Demon, and Hydro-Man) vs. the newly reformed Legion of Losers (The Spot, Kangraroo, The Walrus, White Rabbit, Hypno Hustler, and the Gibbon). Then the real Venom shows up....
B. The Venom symbiote leaves Gargan and bonds with...Flash Thompson. After Spidey is forced to fight him, he seeks out Eddie Brock, who is in a hospital's psychiatric ward due to his failed suicide attempt. Together, they manage to free Flash of the symbiote (which results in almost all of Flash's memories being restored, but not knowing Peter is Spider-Man). Unfortunately, it's next victim is Aunt May. Somehow, Spidey and Eddie manage to free the symbiote from her, but as a consequence, she has forgotten the past year, including the knowledge that her nephew is Spider-Man. The symbiote doesn't bond with Eddie, believing it had rejected him when he sold it off at the auction, so it escapes. Eddie however, having been bonded to it the longest, decides to track it down to "put it out of it's misery."
C. Doc Ock abducting various nuclear scientists (those who turned out to be his former colleagues, including Carolyn Trainer) and uses them as "batteries" for a "cold fussion" device.
D. A story arc that FINALLY wraps up the Clone Saga once and for all. Kaine returns and asks Peter for help in finding a girl that was taken from him by Norman Osborn. At first, Peter believes his daughter is alive, but in reality, this "baby May" is a clone, created when Kaine attempted to revive Baby May using his own DNA. She not only had the same abilities as Peter, but advanced intelligence--even though she's only three years old. Also, this May considers KAINE is her real father. Osborn, ironically, finds her a more suitable hier than even Gabriel and Sarah (who as it turns out were actually "test-tube babies" taken from Osborn and Gwen's DNA. "Sins Past" was another sick and twisted mind game on Osborn's part). And Kaine reveals that Osborn IS a clone himself, created by the Jackal, who created him just to kill the Green Goblin for killing Gwen--only Osborn escaped, the cloning process altering his memories. In the end, Norman and the twins seemingly die, and, despite Peter trying to stop him, Kaine escapes with his "daughter" to find the Gwen clone.
E. Daniel Beckhart Mysterio vs. the "Evil That Men Do" Mysterio vs. the original Mysterio, Quentin Beck (who had faked his death once again) which results in the survival of only one Mysterio. Trouble is, at the end, no one knows which one has survived...except Mysterio.
F. A new villain named Silk--a female crook who somehow bonded with one of Spidey's webs after he was captured and tripped into the MacFuffin known as the "matter/anti-matter device." She's essentially now a single strand of webbing that can form herself into any form she wishes, and when stretched out is almost a mile in length. However, she constantly has to supply herself with chemicals--the same one's Spidey uses to make web fluid--to keep herself from dissolving.

 

[Effect]

Who is Kaine? Keep hearing the name.

 

[stillanerd]

Who is Kaine? Keep hearing the name.

He was the very first Peter Parker clone with heightened spider powers but with a degenerative disease. Signature was the "Mark of Kaine" in which he literally ripped the skin of of people's faces due to his having enhanced strength and wall crawling abilities. Believed Spider-Man was a clone, and therefore his "younger brother" and hated Ben Reilly a.k.a. the Scarlet Spider because he thought he was the real Spider-Man (even though he turned out to be a clone too). First appeared during the infamous Clone Saga (which is way too complicated to get into here) but hasn't been seen since it "ended" in 1996. Here's further info:

http://www.samruby.com/Villains/Kaine/kaine.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaine
http://www.spiderfan.org/characters/kaine.html

NOTE: By the time you read this post, fellow SHH poster Citizen Kaine will probably tell you all about him and then some. Or not

 

[UK_Stu]

wow, I have to admit to always being pretty impressed with your ideas Stillanerd. I'm not sure I agree with them all here - but good work all the same.

I'd look for ways to remove the recent poor storlines for sure, but I'm wondering if SSM and FNSM are already starting to do this with their current arcs.

The parallel universe/time travel storyline in FNSM is a great way to wipe out Sins past, yeah its a cliche and a bit COIE, but if it sensibily removes sins past - it'll be worth it. Though I like the idea of using the hanging plotlines from the clone saga to resolve this problem.

Possibly the SSM storyline could be tied to animalistic totems - and possibly a resolution of this issue.

 

[Doc Destruction]

Bring it back home. That's what I'd do.

1) No more Avengers for Spider-Man.

2) Make him a teacher with a very casual freelance photography gig. This way you could bring in new supporting cast members (fellow teachers), while retaining the old Bugle group.

3) Resolve Baby May, dammit. The Clone Saga was NOTHING as bad as the Other, so let's review it. Bring Kaine back in, even if to have him finally die, with his final wish being to return May to her parents.

4) Pretend the Other and Sins stuff never ever happened. I mean, I would never even bring it up. Ever. Again. Just make the stingers go away, never bring up Osborne's kids. Stop talking about Gwen. Period.

5) I would keep May and Jarvis together. I actually LIKE that plot line. The stories they can share are priceless. Hell, put her to work at Avengers Mansion/Tower even.

6) Bring back subplots. The stories run roughshod through an arc these days with no setup to the next one. Stuff is just happening out of nowhere. I would increase the level of writing one hundred fold by simply bringing writers like Slott and Kirkman in and having EDITORS monitor the books for consistency.

7) New villains are always good. Just have some. No need to delve into their damn lives for five books. Just make em, and let the stories flush them out.

8) LEAVE THE PAST ALONE. Let's have some forward momentum, shall we?

9) Tune up the old villains, DC style. Make Electro a badass again, please. FNSM is doing this right now, and it works. Go, Stegron!

10) I like the previous poster's idea to make MJ get a drama coaching job, or maybe even a model co-ordinator.

11) Have MJ and Black Cat become close friends. That would give MJ someone to relate to for her hubby's "other side".

I think this would all make for a very good start IMO.

 

[WOLVERINE25TH]

To keep it short, a return to basics WITHOUT any retcons. Take him off Avengers, bring back a supportin' cast, KEEP THE MARRIAGE and return Spidey to a street-level hero.

My dream book, though, would be a Ben Reilly book. Don't care if it'd be an alternate universe or not.

 

[shinlyle]

Stillanered, your solutions were perfect. I also like how you did away with "The Other". Good work!!

If I were writing the books, I'd set things straight. First off, I'd do EXACTLY what stillanerd suggested. Brilliant.

My main focus:

Amazing Spider-Man: This book would focus in the more classic-feeling tales. We would see a return of the supporting cast of old, some new ones, and we'd see Peter and MJ balancing acting like a married couple. They'd go out on dates, forget special occassions, fight, make-up, interact with the rest of the world....not just the freakin' Avengers. In fact, they would be living in their own apartment, and Peter would no longer be a member of the Avengers. May would be living in her old house in Queens, now rebuilt by Tony Stark....kind of an apology to the Parkers for what went on during Civil War. There could be a juicy story to this one.

Tony, after having been put in his place by Peter, offers to make amends to Peter and MJ after Civil War. He wants to have Peter back on the Avengers, but Peter won't have it. Tony rebuilds May's old house, back to the shingle. Everything is exactly as it was. Peter still won't have it, and refuses to live in it. He expects Aunt May to join him in his anger at Stark, but Aunt May moves back in. She tells Peter that she has made her peace with worse people than Stark. He gave them a place to live, and now, as an act of atonement, has done it again. He's done 2 rights to 1 wrong. Also, it's her house.

Peter and MJ are having a tough time struggling in their day-to-day life. MJ, after the debacle with Stark back in ASM, has had trouble getting work. She decides she wants to complete her college education, and make something of herself (I was thinking a paralegal or something). Peter is hesitant to tell her to go back to school, due to their lack of funds, but MJ won't hear it. She wants this, and she won't take no for an answer.

Peter then goes back to teaching at the school, but needs more than a teacher's salary. He decides to go back to the Bugle and puts on his best "kiss-up" face. On the way in, he sees a Bugle employee sneaking out with some files, looking shifty, triggering his spider-sense, and sees a hundred dollar bill fall out of one of the files. he has his camera around his neck, and casually snaps a couple of pictures. He then ducks out anc changes into his Spidey suit, and apprehends the guy, forcing him to confess to the whole thing. Peter develops his film, and takes it to JJJ, who now has the evidence he needs to put away a thief who has been stealing from him. He gives Parker some grief about his lack of photos, and Parker begins to leave....with the photos. JJJ quickly recants, and gives him his old job back. Robbie welcomes him back, and gives him an assignment working with Betty Brant (great idea , stillanerd).

Peter now has the means to scrape by a little extra dough.

Ta-da! Peter back at the Bugle, a supporitng cast, MJ being independant, and oppurtunities for *gasp* MJ to develop a life outside of Peter!!!

 

[Jack O Lantern]

I have a few ideas:

1) During the Civil War I would have a basic superhero, superhero fight between Stark and Peter when Peter refuses to give up his secret identity. Stark easily defeats Spidey, who is wearing his Iron spider suit. This causes a rift amongst the Avenegrs, especially with Captain America, who doesn't like the way Stark treated Peter but loves America so he follows the law. MJ and Aunt May are throwm out of Avenger Tower. Peter puts on his own coustume and is basically on the run from the rest of the pro resgintration superheros and the authorities, because of this Peter is fired from his teaching job at the school. Meanwhile the tension within the AVENEGRS reaches its peak when a loved one of a superhero is brutaly murdered by a villain who would have no way of knowing the heros identily if not for the reginstration act. Captain America decides to campaign for a reforendum(or whatever its called in the US) to have the registration act void and all information given by the superheros to be destroyed. With Caps popularity with the people so high he is successful but it leaves a tear between Stark and Captain America causing the Avenegers to split, with Spidey going in Caps side.
Without Starks finaces and no government support, the Avengers on Caps side have to fend for themselves including homes and food etc. It also leads them to go back to their roots, no high tech **** for them Meanwhile Starks side begin to all get Iron suits, Stark is so arrogant that he wants to prove to the world it was he who mae the Avengers not Cap. A major threat attacks earth, what I'm not sure, but both sets of Avengers go to meet it, and Iron Man and Spidey are captured. During their long captivity Stark and Spidey are vrutally tortured, the threat want to study the animalistic side of humans vs the techinical side, eventually both men are broken down and they are set loose on each other. Spidey beats Iron man into a bloody pulp, he takes his mask off so that Tony can see into his eyes as he dies, when in the reflection on Iron Mans armour Spidey see's, Peter Parker and refuses to kill him, explaining that no matter what anyone says, he is a man and as a man he has responsiblity for his actions and he wil never revert to an animal side that would have him be willing to kill someone. On the outside the remaining Avenegers have decided to fight together to rescuse them and have finaaly broken into the base. An all out battle begins with a out of it Tony Stark resucing Captain America. The Avengers brcome a team again but the uneasyness between Cap and Iron Man contiues.
Meanwhile Spidey decides that he doesn't belong on a team, the registration act makes him realise that he is too head strong and that although he feels he's right this time, at another time it could cost the team when he's wrong.

2) His teaching job gone, Peter returns to the Bugle as a freelancer but things have changed, Jonah has a new found respect for Spider-Man, he explains that he discoverd something about a certain Spider-Woman during the act and that Spider-Man had saved him a lot of agro. During this time Venom and theres something wrong with him, he's missing something inside. Cargan is not a perfect host he has no real hatred of Spider-man he hates only Jameson and the smyboite is confused by this, with Brock they both had strong feelings towards Spider-Man but with Scorpy there's no real connection meantally. Venom goes after Jameson, kid naps him and begins to torture him, learning this Peter begins to track him but with no great detective skills he is forced to visit Eddie Brock who is being kept alive in ravencroft by a machiene. Brock gives the information as to where the symboite would take Jameson but only gives it to Spidey on one condition, he must promise to kill the symboite and end the madness forever. Spidey finds the Smyboite and in the fight the symboite bonds with Spidey once again. The news is reported in the Bugle and after hearing the news Carnage begins to fear for his life, worried that a Venom with the new revved up Spider-Man would be to powerful for even him to stop. Carnage then breaks Eddie Brock out of prison, hoping that the Venom symboite will then bond with him again, allowing for him to finally kill Brock, Spidey and Venom all all once. The Spider-Venom and Carnage meet in batte above the baxter building. Peter had gained enough conrol to go for help, during the battle the Human Torch, being the only memebr home, goes out and joins the battle, during the fight Carnage knocks Brock of the building, seeing this the symboite debonds with Spidey and goes to save Brock, they bond an they swing off Brock wishing that he had died. While this is happening the Torch is easily beating Carnage with his fire, thinking Spidey can look after himself, wrong Peter has (conveiently for us) lost his new ablities including organic webbing and Torch has to save him allowing Carnage to escape. Meanwhile we see that Venom now has Spideys extra strenght stingers etc...

I might post more later if peoiple like these

 

[UK_Stu]

I have a few ideas:

1) During the Civil War I would have a basic superhero, superhero fight between Stark and Peter when Peter refuses to give up his secret identity. Stark easily defeats Spidey, who is wearing his Iron spider suit. This causes a rift amongst the Avenegrs, especially with Captain America, who doesn't like the way Stark treated Peter but loves America so he follows the law. MJ and Aunt May are throwm out of Avenger Tower. Peter puts on his own coustume and is basically on the run from the rest of the pro resgintration superheros and the authorities, because of this Peter is fired from his teaching job at the school. Meanwhile the tension within the AVENEGRS reaches its peak when a loved one of a superhero is brutaly murdered by a villain who would have no way of knowing the heros identily if not for the reginstration act. Captain America decides to campaign for a reforendum(or whatever its called in the US) to have the registration act void and all information given by the superheros to be destroyed. With Caps popularity with the people so high he is successful but it leaves a tear between Stark and Captain America causing the Avenegers to split, with Spidey going in Caps side.
Without Starks finaces and no government support, the Avengers on Caps side have to fend for themselves including homes and food etc. It also leads them to go back to their roots, no high tech **** for them Meanwhile Starks side begin to all get Iron suits, Stark is so arrogant that he wants to prove to the world it was he who mae the Avengers not Cap. A major threat attacks earth, what I'm not sure, but both sets of Avengers go to meet it, and Iron Man and Spidey are captured. During their long captivity Stark and Spidey are vrutally tortured, the threat want to study the animalistic side of humans vs the techinical side, eventually both men are broken down and they are set loose on each other. Spidey beats Iron man into a bloody pulp, he takes his mask off so that Tony can see into his eyes as he dies, when in the reflection on Iron Mans armour Spidey see's, Peter Parker and refuses to kill him, explaining that no matter what anyone says, he is a man and as a man he has responsiblity for his actions and he wil never revert to an animal side that would have him be willing to kill someone. On the outside the remaining Avenegers have decided to fight together to rescuse them and have finaaly broken into the base. An all out battle begins with a out of it Tony Stark resucing Captain America. The Avengers brcome a team again but the uneasyness between Cap and Iron Man contiues.
Meanwhile Spidey decides that he doesn't belong on a team, the registration act makes him realise that he is too head strong and that although he feels he's right this time, at another time it could cost the team when he's wrong.

2) His teaching job gone, Peter returns to the Bugle as a freelancer but things have changed, Jonah has a new found respect for Spider-Man, he explains that he discoverd something about a certain Spider-Woman during the act and that Spider-Man had saved him a lot of agro. During this time Venom and theres something wrong with him, he's missing something inside. Cargan is not a perfect host he has no real hatred of Spider-man he hates only Jameson and the smyboite is confused by this, with Brock they both had strong feelings towards Spider-Man but with Scorpy there's no real connection meantally. Venom goes after Jameson, kid naps him and begins to torture him, learning this Peter begins to track him but with no great detective skills he is forced to visit Eddie Brock who is being kept alive in ravencroft by a machiene. Brock gives the information as to where the symboite would take Jameson but only gives it to Spidey on one condition, he must promise to kill the symboite and end the madness forever. Spidey finds the Smyboite and in the fight the symboite bonds with Spidey once again. The news is reported in the Bugle and after hearing the news Carnage begins to fear for his life, worried that a Venom with the new revved up Spider-Man would be to powerful for even him to stop. Carnage then breaks Eddie Brock out of prison, hoping that the Venom symboite will then bond with him again, allowing for him to finally kill Brock, Spidey and Venom all all once. The Spider-Venom and Carnage meet in batte above the baxter building. Peter had gained enough conrol to go for help, during the battle the Human Torch, being the only memebr home, goes out and joins the battle, during the fight Carnage knocks Brock of the building, seeing this the symboite debonds with Spidey and goes to save Brock, they bond an they swing off Brock wishing that he had died. While this is happening the Torch is easily beating Carnage with his fire, thinking Spidey can look after himself, wrong Peter has (conveiently for us) lost his new ablities including organic webbing and Torch has to save him allowing Carnage to escape. Meanwhile we see that Venom now has Spideys extra strenght stingers etc...

I might post more later if peoiple like these

Symbiotes are definitely NOT the way to go. Besides Carnage is dead and you'd need to explain how he was back. I like the idea that Venom might go after JJJ now, because of Gargon. But thats it I'm afraid, sorry I appreciate you probably spent a while typing this old boy

 

[Jack O Lantern]

Symbiotes are definitely NOT the way to go. Besides Carnage is dead and you'd need to explain how he was back. I like the idea that Venom might go after JJJ now, because of Gargon. But thats it I'm afraid, sorry I appreciate you probably spent a while typing this old boy

when did carnage die?

 

[Kraven]

when did carnage die?

In the first New Avengers arc, he was ripped apart by Sentry in space.