ASM 548 ***Spoilers***

[ShaggyB]

Ok here it is for discussion
Direct from newsaramas forums.


"
OK, we pick up back at the maggia meeting. Spidey is coughing from the gas, but he and the hotel staff are ok because the gas only affected the members of the crime families. Carmine Karnelli is still alive, and Spidey confronts him about not having any family blood, and he admits to being adopted. Carmine tells Spidey that the women and children of the family are at the circus and asks him to save them.

As Spidey takes off, Harry, Lilly, and Carlie drive by. Harry sees Spidey and starts muttering in a foul mood. Carlie gets out to help the police at the crime scene, but they tell her she's too new for such a big case. Another cop then remarks that she's Ray Cooper's daughter, and they talk about him in the past tense making it sound like he's dead.

The Spider-Mugger confronts the guy he sold Peter's credit card to. He shoots a web at him, but the guy grabs it and yanks SM to him and starts to choke him out.

Spidey is heading for the circus, but his web-fluid runs out, so a cabbie gives him a lift.

We see Marla and Jonah in the hospital. Jonah is talking, and asks how the Bugle is. Marla turns her head away.

Dexter Bennett shows up at the Bugle and starts giving orders. He tells the staff that he bought all of Jonah and Marla's shares.

Spidey makes it to the circus, and tries to get everyone to leave, but the Inner Demons attack him. The crowd thinks it's part of the show, until Spidey defeats them and slingshots the gas bomb into the air. As the crowd is evacuating, Mr.Negative grabs one of the Karnelli kids and holds his black knife to her throat. He makes Spidey give him a blood sample in exchange for her life, but then throws her in the river to make his getaway.

Spidey saves the girl, and one of the Karnelli women says that he is now a member of their family for putting his blood before theirs.

Carlie is shown working on one of the shriveled-up corpses from the maggia meeting. She finds a spider-tracer in his mouth.

Peter takes some time to think about everything that happened. He doesn't consider giving Negative his blood a big deal because he has no blood relatives that it could be used against. He calls Aunt May to check in on her.

Negative is revealed to be Mr.Li, Aunt May's boss.

Spidey then picks up his tracer signal. He finds the Spider-Mugger, dead, in an alley. He recovers his webshooter and takes off just as the cops show up. The cops think that he murdered SM.

We're told that the next arc will feature a death and the debut of Menace.
"

[SnakeEater]

I KNOW THE WHOLE NEGATIVE IDENTITY THING I FREAKING CALLED IT. i hate the way it was so predictable

[stillanerd]

Well so much for the Spider-Mugger subplot being used to echo the death of Uncle Ben, huh? Sounds like that was the least predictable moment in the issue.

Also, I don't know about you guys, but it appears to me that if Joe Q and JMS had brought back Gwen Stacy like they wanted to then she'd be in the place of Carlie Cooper, considering how it sounds like her dad was a cop as well and most likely died in the line of duty, just like Gwen's dad--at least that's what I'm guessing. Plus Gwen, being a cop's daughter also but scientifically minded, could have easily gone into forensics had she lived. So Carlie is just nothing more than a substitute. Just take Gwen, put glasses on her, change the color and style of her hair, call her a different name and PRESTO!

Oh, and here's my theory who the person is that dies next issue...it will be Hobie Brown, a.k.a. the Prowler, and Menace will kill him.

[unkiedev]

It's super refreshing talking about an issue of Spidey without having to bemoan the marvel PTB, EIC or etc. Ahhhhh. That's the sound of one fan appreciating a comic book on its own merits.

Thought it was jim-dandy swell! I'm nervouse about the next story line, as Dan Slott's writing was the biggest selling point to me on these BND books. I thought the end to this one was kinda rushed, but no biggie.

SNAKEEATER- everybody knew who that guy was. It's ok man. Some villians are meant to be mysterious, some are meant to be the "lion in plain sight".

I wonder where Slott was going with the poisoned blood thing...could it be possible there are more Parker's someplace? What was his Mom's maiden name...have they ever shown any cousins from his mom's side?

[TheAmazingSpidey]

I KNOW THE WHOLE NEGATIVE IDENTITY THING I FREAKING CALLED IT. i hate the way it was so predictable


Yeah...you, and, y'know, crap loads of other people. :rolleyes:

[Leocomix]

I sure hope Hobie Brown stays alive. I mean, if they aim to have Romita-era feeling, then they should keep the cast. Also too many supporting characters have died. The great supporting cast used to be a hallmark of the series.

[Cayman]

The issue didn't flow quite as well as the previous two but it was still a lot of fun. I think I enjoyed Spider-Man's cab ride the most.

[Matt Linton]

Taken away from all of the controversy and hype, Slott and McNiven's Spider-Man is just a well-done Spider-Man story. I know McNiven's moving on to other stuff, but I really hope he can squeeze in an annual or a return arc down the road. He was just born to draw Spider-Man. Mr. Negative looks to be a good recurring villain, one who thinks on his feet, and is willing to go as far as he needs to in order to win. Slott has a great handle on Parker's voice, and he pretty effortlessly uses word balloons, thought balloons, and narrative captions to move the story along. There are a few "on the nose" false notes, where things like the Parker Luck are spelled out a bit more than they need to be, but given that this essentially functions as a first issue/opening arc, I'm willing to cut him a little slack. In much the way that Bendis' Ultimate Spider-Man reads as a great modern take on the Lee/Ditko era Spider-Man, this is a great modern take on the post-college/pre-marriage Spider-Man - similar in spirit, but very different in execution.

The new format, with rotating writers and artists, makes it a bit tough to judge the new direction completely, but so far I'm on for the duration.

[Cayman]

I'm really excited for the Marcos Martin arc. I hope we see some preview art soon.

[jackolover]

Seeing the fence taking out the Spider-mugger and driving off, just makes the fence seem so menacing for the future of Peter Parker. If the fence knows, Spidermans secret identity could circulate faster than a bushfire. So much for everyone forgetting his identity. Of coarse, the fence could try to blackmail Peter, or, sell his identity to the underworld, or rat him out to SHIELD.

A good pick up on the Gwen Stacy alternative. She is kind of receptive to Peter, as they met last issue, so Peter felt some connection there.

But this has all moved too slowly for me. 3 issues and we get a mugger, and Mr Negative for action. The rest has been character developement, and plot developement, but in the old Spiderman books, you always got the Rhino to come by and keep Spiderman webbing and punching, at some point in the book. Granted we got some Spidey recuing here, and some clown Japanese masked bad guys keeping Spidey busy, but none of Spidies host of villians that normally show up. Maybe because Peter has been out of circulation for months, the villians have all got bored and joined the Initiative.

There seems to be some anamosity between Harry Osborn and the sight of Spiderman, there. Is it possible that the fence could sell Peters ID to Harry, sometime in the future? Maybe Harry dies next issue. Who knows why Marvel brought Harry back?

[HaroldAllnut]

Who knows why Marvel brought Harry back?

All I'm saying is that, in a new Dynamic Forces cover drawn by John Romita, Sr., the villain Menace is proudly displayed... on a goblin glider. :eek:

I'm hoping it's not who I think it is.

[jackolover]

All I'm saying is that, in a new Dynamic Forces cover drawn by John Romita, Sr., the villain Menace is proudly displayed... on a goblin glider. :eek:

I'm hoping it's not who I think it is.

Yeah. I saw that. Does look Goblinish, so maybe Harry doesn't buy the farm.

[Sean Whitmore]

Oh, and here's my theory who the person is that dies next issue...it will be Hobie Brown, a.k.a. the Prowler, and Menace will kill him.

I sure hope Hobie Brown stays alive.

What's all this about the Prowler? Have you all heard something I haven't?


SEAN

[stillanerd]

What's all this about the Prowler? Have you all heard something I haven't?


SEAN

During one of the promotional interviews for Brand New Day to IGN, Steve Wacker seemed to suggest that Hobie Brown would be making an appearance.

IGN Comics: Any of the other classics roaming around?

Wacker: Betty Brant will be a big player in Peter's life. We'll get to Flash Thompson. The basics are all around. Robbie is there. Robbie has always been important to Pete. With him at the Bugle still, he'll gain even more prominence.

[Tom Brevoort says something in the background]

What? Oh! Gwen Stacy.

IGN Comics: -laughs-

Wacker: Uh… Gwen's dad. Who's now a woman. So he's her mother. My joke was that we bring Gwen back as a guy and name him Glen Stacy. A very twenty-first century take on it.

IGN Comics: I think that would go over really well…

Wacker: Edgy.

IGN Comics: -laughs-

Wacker: Hmmm… who else… well, with Dan Slott in the room, nobody is forgotten. Uh… Hobie Brown! You know who that is? Is that right, Tom?



Wacker: Yeah, Hobie Brown. There's no bigger fan than Dan Slott. Every pitch was, "How about Hobie Brown does this instead of Spider-Man? [B]If they've ever appeared in an panel of Spider-Man, they'll probably have an issue devoted to them at some point.

http://comics.ign.com/articles/840/840731p3.html

[Sean Whitmore]

Uh-oh.

I must agree, he sounds like dead man walking.


SEAN

[ZT4]

Stop killing off interesting obscure characters. That's a mandate that should go in with smoking.

[Monty_Cristo]

Mr. Negative is, so far, a very intimidating guy. i'm guessing that he's using Parker's blood to create a weapon similar to the one that was able to kill all the members of the crime family (exclusively). so, the guy isn't an indiscriminate killer. but he definately has a "bad side." heh.

Stop killing off interesting obscure characters. That's a mandate that should go in with smoking.

to be honest, Hobie hasn't done anything interesting in years. wasn't he retired before they fished him out for that confusing Ms. Marvel story (where he sold out Julia Carpenter)? i'd rather they bring in a new Prowler, if it came to that. i wouldn't care as long as they were black and created their own gadgets. Hobie's supposed to be happily married, so i'd rather see him do that as well.

[ZT4]

His selling out Julia was'nt a bad use of him

Killing off these guys is always a sour issue. I know, this is "comic book death" terrirotry and he'll be back if we get a good writer for him, but we have good writers on Spidey right now. I'd always figured Prowler (popular enough at one point to be in the FOX cartoon), would be Spidey's "Falcon" to his Cap one day, they had a great straight man/clown relationship...only Spidey, the clown, was the straight guy pulling Hoabie out of scraps.

He's best remembered as a Mcfarlane illustration sadly.

[Alan2099]

I find the best way to do comicbook deaths is the "nobody could have possibly survived that" thing, where you don't see the body but everyone just assumes they're dead and acts that way. It makes it much less ridculous when another writer wants to bring the character back.

[Mysterio's Helmet]

I sure hope Hobie Brown stays alive. I mean, if they aim to have Romita-era feeling, then they should keep the cast. Also too many supporting characters have died. The great supporting cast used to be a hallmark of the series.


Wasn't the whole argument for not killing Aunt May and/or MJ was because there's been too many deaths to the Spider supporting cast????

So what's one more death? Kind of flies right in the face of what Marvel previously said......

And here's hoping the "death" is the death of Harry Osborn and the "birth" of Menace. Therefore Marvel actually sticks to it's guns...... for once. For longer than 3 issues....

[TheAmazingSpidey]

I don't care too much about Hobie. If he dies, I'm okay with that. If he lives, I'm okay with that, too. If he DOES die--I hope he STAYS DEAD. It's becoming all too common nowadays for comic "deaths" to be cheapened by bringing said character back to life.

As a side note: I feel that, if a character IS going to come back from the dead--it should be a "big" character. (However, I feel that said "big" characters SHOULD NEVER DIE IN THE FIRST PLACE.) Spider-Man? Bring him back. Superman? Back. Batman? Back. The Thing? Back. Et cetera, et cetera.

Prowler? Stay dead. Eh, Ned Leeds? Stay. If Toad died? Stay dead. Again, et cetera, et cetera...;)

[AndyinColor]

The series is off-and-on for me right now. I really wish there was some more prominent figures in the Universe right now besides Mr. Negative and his henchmen who say "CURSES" and "EVIL PLAN", there is not much Spider-man development. (I guess this is the soap opera part or something?)

Strange issues to start off the "new" series. I am not ever going to threaten to 'drop' the series, because I grew up on Spidey... and no matter what, it's fun.

Are we supposed to know why the man had the Spider-Tracer in his mouth right now?

The art is just tops during these issues, but the idea of "FRESH AND NEW" Spidey talking like a kids television show? I dunno... we shall see.

-AndyinColor

[Monty_Cristo]

Are we supposed to know why the man had the Spider-Tracer in his mouth right now?

1) to frame Spider-man

2) to send a message to Spider-man

[Sion]

The story started off slow but ended okay I suppose.

I just don't like how predictable it is to this point, and Spider-Man is sorta a little less heroic than I would have thought, especially with children's lives in danger and such...

[Liberty Belle Fan]

Anyone else notice the notebook paper underneath the newspaper on the first page saying something about the New Avengers?

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Anyone else notice the notebook paper underneath the newspaper on the first page saying something about the New Avengers?

Yes, I noticed that in #547, too.

[Matt Linton]

From that interview, it sounded like they were joking about Hobie Brown (the Prowler) making an appearance.

[Kevin D.]

You know, the art kinda fell for me. It's like it got worse each issue. And the arc as a whole, like the first issue. was meh. not bad, but not great.

[BlackToe]

From that interview, it sounded like they were joking about Hobie Brown (the Prowler) making an appearance.

Add some lines, spikes and a new color scheme and you got Spawn :p

[Will.S]

Yeah...you, and, y'know, crap loads of other people. :rolleyes:Hell, even I guessed it.

[Will.S]

You know, the art kinda fell for me. It's like it got worse each issue. And the arc as a whole, like the first issue. was meh. not bad, but not great.
Well shockingly this is one of the first times I've ever seen Steve's art NOT colored by Morry Hollowell and I thought it suffered big time because of it.

I think that speaks highly of Morry and Steve's collaboration.

[Sean Whitmore]

Well shockingly this is one of the first times I've ever seen Steve's art NOT colored by Morry Hollowell and I thought it suffered big time because of it.

I think that speaks highly of Morry and Steve's collaboration.

Did anyone else get a REALLY strong "Andrew Wildman" vibe from the art this issue?

(To those of you who remember him, that is. I'm sure Chris and Cyberman do.)


SEAN

[darksaint124]

I looked long and hard, and i think I finally found the Brand New in BND, IMHO. The Bugle is no longer JJJ's. And that is just wrong, IMO. Menace's all of them. Hey, now that I think about it, with BND being super predictable what's the chances that menace turns out to be JJJ. You know with everyone guessing Mr. Negative's I.D. in the first issue, and MJ is so obviously Jackpot. What Spidey character starts off his day with calling everyone a menace. Holy super predictable plotlines Batman(Jinkies) I think I found a clue.

[DeadXMan]

deffinly a good arc for both the new readers and those that came back for the ture spidey that has been denied them for 20 years.

+
I definitly like Mr Neg as villian. he calm cool and collective, when facing spidey
The Mob is now in debted to Spider-man ( you so gonna see Frank wanting to talk to him)
Pete getting framed for two murders ( leading into the jackpot arc)
Robbie being the bad ass EiC

-
yeah I've gotten to used to the other colorist

[CyberCoyote]

Anyone got a link to the Romita Sr Menace image?

And I agree, there's no need for OMD to make this story work, but I'm adopting GWs position and just blindly staying the course no matter how bad previous decisions were.. SOMEBODY'll fix it :)

The Dragon's Breath.. kinda cool. It shows that Mr Negative isn't out to just kill everyone (any toxic gas could have done that) to get things done. He's still a psychotic killer, but psychos with twisted codes of honor are so much more interesting and fun to play with than straight up nut jobs.

Spidey's in the Family?!? Now here's some fun, Pete's on the ropes and the freaking Maggia saves him :) JJJ'll LOVE that :cool:

[Leocomix]

Yeah the speed at which Spider-Man's rep went down the toilet with the Magia adopting him and the death of the spider-mugger was fun. Not new but fun. For new I look in indies comics anyway since Spider-Man stopped being new ca 1966 (if we except Gwen's death). Someone pointed that Carlie beig the daughter of a dead cop is a replacement Gwen Stacy and I concur. I realise now that Lily is a replacement MJ (who would have stayed with Harry). It's funny that it took me three issues and another poster to point out the Carlie-Gwen relation to figure it out.

[DeadXMan]

Anyone got a link to the Romita Sr Menace image?

And I agree, there's no need for OMD to make this story work, but I'm adopting GWs position and just blindly staying the course no matter how bad previous decisions were.. SOMEBODY'll fix it :)

The Dragon's Breath.. kinda cool. It shows that Mr Negative isn't out to just kill everyone (any toxic gas could have done that) to get things done. He's still a psychotic killer, but psychos with twisted codes of honor are so much more interesting and fun to play with than straight up nut jobs.

Spidey's in the Family?!? Now here's some fun, Pete's on the ropes and the freaking Maggia saves him :) JJJ'll LOVE that :cool:

I'm sorry I couldn't read your post I was busy looking at the lower attack rates, gerneral approval rating of the new goverment and the improving infrastructure in Iraq. I geuss Patraus is fixing it


But I agree with your Spidey Ponits on the Mob and DB

[Leocomix]

And Mr. Negative is the scientific villain trying to get hold of the mob who is close to Aunt May (like Octopus was circa the Octopus-Hammerhead war, the apex of Spider-Man in my opinion). I wonder how many of these classic elements we're going to see. The BND downsayers were right: nothing new but I couldn't enjoy it more.

[ozvette]

Anyone got a link to the Romita Sr Menace image?


https://www.dynamicforces.com/images/C109168.jpg

Looking forward to getting this, signed and all.

DF gets too much of my cash.

[DeadXMan]

damn it they're gonna get my money too


JRsr rules

[Rahul]

Its like Fresh Cheese this first month.

Pros:

Spidey is written in a refreshing way after a long time in his own series(not that I didn't mind JMS' interpretation).

There is a whole new and exciting aura about the title.

The artwork is still excellent.

Cons:

Again, the formulaic air is still present.

Why start a plotline about his secret identity when already with convoluted effort his secret identity was restored, beats me.

The identity of Mr N while obvious could have been revealed in a more dramatic manner.

The dialougue reminds me of Stan's golden days. But not what I want for a Brand New Day.

Even if the reason is yet to established, Harry Osborn's hatred of Spider-Man makes no sense now, because his father is still alive.

The whole ac feels like a Saturday Morning toon suddenly turned harsh...a bt jarring, especially for a Brand New Day.

Other:

Carlie Cooper could be potentially interesting or annoying. M opinion is that no dating storylines take place till this character is fully and properl established.

So yeah, not a bad start,some improvements need to be made if they want to tell truly great stories.

[SpideyZERO]

Just one problem

Why every issue starts with Spidey wants to/or kiss someone?

I'm looking forward to see the mob family helping Spidey!

[Leocomix]

It's for thematic consistency. This Menace is the replacement for the Green Goblin. I see where this is all leading: he'll be somebody in Peter's relations, maybe that new publisher. Remember when people supposed the Goblin to be Jameson? Mystery Villains have always been a part of Spidey: the Green Goblin, the Big Man, Crime Master, Master Planner. Will we have equivalents of the Vulture, Kraven, the Lizard, etc.?

[CyberCoyote]

Thanks for the image, very Golbinesque with a headsman's axe :) Fun! I'm sure Harry's behind it somehow. Just watched Spidey3 again, though, and long for that New Goblin heroic twist, Pete and Spidey fighting side by side is just so cool (when he's alive and all) Dang Can JRSR do Spidey, I'll spend some cash there, too.

The name Menace.. makes ya think of Jonah. He always said Spidey was a Menace in the first place. Can't see him behind anything like this, now, unless he blames Spidey for losing the paper.

[TheAmazingSpidey]

https://www.dynamicforces.com/images/C109168.jpg

Looking forward to getting this, signed and all.

DF gets too much of my cash.


That's a great pic.

[Arilou]

Solid issue. The maggia sideplot is going to get interesting.

And I don't think "Li" is aware of Mr. Negative, I think he's a split personality of some sort (why else call his minions "Inner Demons"?)

[Shade 20x6]

I found the story to be dull, predictable, and completely rehashed. There is absolutely nothing "new" about Brand New Day.

[darksaint124]

I found the story to be dull, predictable, and completely rehashed. There is absolutely nothing "new" about Brand New Day.

Exactly, but I have to disagree with you on one point. The Daily Bugle being sold is new. I'm wondering why this wasn't called "Same Old Day."

[Shade 20x6]

Exactly, but I have to disagree with you on one point. The Daily Bugle being sold is new. I'm wondering why this wasn't called "Same Old Day."

Actually, the Bugle being sold is nothing new either. In fact, he (forcefully) sold it to Norman Osborn, of all people.

[darksaint124]

Actually, the Bugle being sold is nothing new either. In fact, he (forcefully) sold it to Norman Osborn, of all people.

Yeah, I know, but we didn't see it 3,000 times before like everything else.

[Alan2099]

You know, I'm going to have to agree that most of this stuff isn't new, but most of these elements, especially the more fast paced and fun feel to the book have been missing for so long that they feel fresh and a very welcome change from the way the books have been written for the last several years (possibly decades.)

[Brian M.]

This issue wasn't bad. Interesting use of the gas bomb. I'll reread the whole arc together to get a real feel for this story. If I like it, I continue on with next month's story.

[Stephane Garrelie]

Another awesome issue.
I just loved it.:)

[ozvette]

You know, I only really had one problem with this issue, the line:

"Our evil plan is ruined"

(or something to that effect)

Evil plan ruined? It sounded like a BAD kids cartoon, really jarred me out of the story.

[Mister Mets]

Wasn't the whole argument for not killing Aunt May and/or MJ was because there's been too many deaths to the Spider supporting cast????

So what's one more death? Kind of flies right in the face of what Marvel previously said......

And here's hoping the "death" is the death of Harry Osborn and the "birth" of Menace. Therefore Marvel actually sticks to it's guns...... for once. For longer than 3 issues....The death may be more minor or someone new.

My guess at the moment is Vin Gonzalez's partner or Lily's father.

I KNOW THE WHOLE NEGATIVE IDENTITY THING I FREAKING CALLED IT. i hate the way it was so predictableIt wasn't exactly presented as a mystery. Any new character is a suspect in these situations.

[Mister Mets]

One prediction I'll make....
Peter Parker is going to learn about a new blood relative, who can be endangered by Mister Negative's Devil's Breath. Because otherwise the only one it endangers is Spider-Man and that's not impressive enough.

Did anyone else get a REALLY strong "Andrew Wildman" vibe from the art this issue?

(To those of you who remember him, that is. I'm sure Chris and Cyberman do.)


SEANI'm totally unfamiliar with his work.

As I liked Mcniven on ASM, I should go seek it out.

[jackolover]

The Dragon's Breath.. kinda cool. It shows that Mr Negative isn't out to just kill everyone (any toxic gas could have done that) to get things done. He's still a psychotic killer, but psychos with twisted codes of honor are so much more interesting and fun to play with than straight up nut jobs.


Yeah, well. Why is Mr Negative doing it - killing off the Magia family and the children. Isn't he like this good person working in a soup kitchen or something. Neg is either a demented crime fighter, like Spidey but more Punisher-like, or, he used to be a crime Lord and has now gone straight, but has a vendetta against the Magia.

[Shyft]

webs run out so he gets a cab? SO lame.

Peter gives over blood and doesnt worry about it? Did the Clone Saga not happen because of OMD too? Because anyone having his blood ALWAYS turns out badly.

[Sean Whitmore]

Peter gives over blood and doesnt worry about it?

Um...no, he actually did worry about it.


SEAN

[MaxofSteel]

webs run out so he gets a cab? SO lame.

It's a classic Spidey situation. I liked it. My only problem with this is though is the fact that he's back to needing web-shooters again (I'm pro-organic shooters).

[stillanerd]

The death may be more minor or someone new.

My guess at the moment is Vin Gonzalez's partner or Lily's father.

Well, here's why I think it could be the Prowler, and not only because of the comments Steve Wacker made in that interview I posted.

Look at Hobie Brown's current status: he's no longer the Prowler now, essentially forced to retire because of injuries and the Superhero Registration Act, so he's currently in character limbo. Plus, he's a C-lister, yet at the same time important enough to Spidey's history for his death to resonate--especially since Spidey considers him a really good friend who has helped him out so many times in the past.

Also, we know that Menace, according to solicits for next issue and the Spider-Man bible that got leaked, is going to kill someone. Aside from the fact that he seems to have connections with the Green Goblin which has always been personal to Peter, if Menace kills Hobie Brown, one of the few people Spidey could call a trusted friend, then that makes it all the more personal.

Plus, it provides that much more pressure for Jackpot, who is hunting him down herself already, to bring him to justice because Menace is now targeting people who are registered under the act, which would suggest that Menace has inside knowledge and is therefore that more dangerous.

It also makes Harry the prime suspect because not only because his father is not only the Green Goblin and therefore allowing his son to have access to Goblin weaponry, but also because Norman is the head of the Thunderbolts and would have access to files on heroes or retired heroes who registered under the act.

Finally, since Spidey and Jackpot are on opposite sides of the law thanks to registration and each have their own motives for wanting bringing down Menace, it makes their partnership (plus the fact that, as we assume, Jackpot is Mary Jane, his "ex-girlfriend") have that much more internal conflict. That's what I'm going on anyway.

Perhaps Vin Gonzalez's partner will get killed in a later part of the story, which intensifies the animosity towards Spider-Man, especially if Spidey fails to stop Menace from the outset. Also, Lily father, I believe, could actually BE Menace. Why? Well, in part it could be to boost his own mayoral campaign, in that by having a masked criminal that does enough to outrage the public, he can better sell himself as an enforcer of "law and order," especially since he's got a reputation already as the District Attorney. Plus, his donning a Goblin guise will make all the guilt point to Harry, since he doesn't like the fact that Harry is dating his daughter. And who can blame him? After all, would you want your "little girl" going out with and possibly having sex with a guy that a dubious reputation for marrying and divorcing women at the drop of a hat and whose father also happens to be criminally insane? No parent in their right mind would allow for that kind of relationship to continue if they had the power to stop it.

One prediction I'll make....
Peter Parker is going to learn about a new blood relative, who can be endangered by Mister Negative's Devil's Breath. Because otherwise the only one it endangers is Spider-Man and that's not impressive enough.

Actually, it could potentially endanger Aunt May--and no, not because of that awful "Trouble" series by Mark Millar that suggested May was Peter's biological mother because she had an affair with Uncle Ben's younger brother Richard.:mad: which thankfully is not officially canon. Rather, and this was an interesting theory I came across, it because Peter, at one point, donated his own blood to Aunt May when she was hospitalized, not just from the Back in Black story, but all the way back in ASM #10. By that reason, the gas could effect Aunt May because she literally has Peter's blood flowing through her veins. Perhaps not enough to instantly kill her because Aunt May would still not be a blood relative, but certainly enough to put her critical condition and have her be hospitalized.

[darksaint124]

I'm pretty sure transfusions don't work that way, The body has a tendency to reject what doesn't belong, so Pete's blood has most likely been filtered out.

[stillanerd]

I'm pretty sure transfusions don't work that way, The body has a tendency to reject what doesn't belong, so Pete's blood has most likely been filtered out.

Yeah, that's certainly a problem with the "transfusion" theory, and even though there were radioactive particles left over in Aunt May's blood from the transfusion, those were neutralized by Spidey because of what happened in the classic "If This Be My Destiny" arc. But Peter's blood IS compatible to Aunt May's because she didn't reject the donation. So Peter either has the same blood type as Aunt May, or he's a type "O" which is a "universal donor" in the sense that it can donate to all blood types, but can only receive from another O type. And in "Back in Black," Peter did give May a transfusion also, and if what Joe Quesada says is true about Aunt May still being shot and hospitalized but, thanks to "Mephisto's magical marriage annulment" no one remembers those events, then it may not have filtered out in time.

[DeadXMan]

You know, I only really had one problem with this issue, the line:

"Our evil plan is ruined"

(or something to that effect)

Evil plan ruined? It sounded like a BAD kids cartoon, really jarred me out of the story.


The Bad Guys were staling him, while letting the audience believe it was part of the show. so they wouldn't run away until the bomb went off.
Even Mr.N's henchmen have intelligence, and that's a good thing:o

[Brand]

Yeah, that's certainly a problem with the "transfusion" theory, and even though there were radioactive particles left over in Aunt May's blood from the transfusion, those were neutralized by Spidey because of what happened in the classic "If This Be My Destiny" arc. But Peter's blood IS compatible to Aunt May's because she didn't reject the donation. So Peter either has the same blood type as Aunt May, or he's a type "O" which is a "universal donor" in the sense that it can donate to all blood types, but can only receive from another O type. And in "Back in Black," Peter did give May a transfusion also, and if what Joe Quesada says is true about Aunt May still being shot and hospitalized but, thanks to "Mephisto's magical marriage annulment" no one remembers those events, then it may not have filtered out in time.

It is a nice theory, but the problem I see with it is the uncertain timeline of BND. There's no specific amount of time given between the transfusion in BiB and where we are now, so it's most likely that Peter's blood has already broken down. The platelets certainly have (they only have a lifespan of a few days), and the red and white blood cells will degrade after a few months. Since it has already been months since the end of OMD, I expect the last traces of Peter's blood are disappearing or are already gone.

Or, you're completely right and Marvel will come up with an excuse about Peter's spider-blood being more durable to make up for their ignorance in this matter. I guess we'll find out sooner or later.

[Sonicjuce]

Don't have time to read entire thread just wanted to leave my two cents for now.

I enjoyed the issue. Not bad at all, and each issue seemed to have grown off one another.

The things that gets me is why couldn't this have been done with a married Spider-Man? I just don't understand this logic...

[DeadXMan]

I really don't think this arc was to establish the single spidey status quo

it seems more of jumping on point for new and quit shortly after Pete was married crowed

[Harlock]

The Bad Guys were staling him, while letting the audience believe it was part of the show. so they wouldn't run away until the bomb went off.
Even Mr.N's henchmen have intelligence, and that's a good thing:o

Yeah, that's exactly how I read it and thought it was a great improv by Mr. Negative's henchmen. Much smarter than the standard underworld soldier we normally see portrayed in comics. It actually makes them a real threat.

[static]

good issue...amazing art and solid good spidey story....

[Mister Mets]

I posted a review for it on the Comic Crypt. :) (http://thecomiccrypt.com/viewtopic.php?p=50826)

[Dr. Chaos]

One prediction I'll make....
Peter Parker is going to learn about a new blood relative, who can be endangered by Mister Negative's Devil's Breath. Because otherwise the only one it endangers is Spider-Man and that's not impressive enough.
Five bucks says Pete's got a brother or sister running around (we still don't know who the hell that one woman Mephisto was portraying with the short hair was) that he didn't know about.

A closer relative like another aunt, uncle or grandparent seems like something May would have hooked Peter up with by now.

Overall, I really enjoyed Mr. Negative debut and look forward to him hopefully becoming a cornerstone of Parker's rogue gallery, he's definitely got alot of potential, we'll see where they decide to go with him.

[Chiasm]

Pros: The art is pretty good and much better than Joe Q's horrible art on One More Day.

Cons: The whole arc redefined boredom. I was muttering "Bored now" through the whole thing. Mr Negative is a boring villian and it was lamely predictable who he was. And Slott's writing style is a throwback to the 60's and 70's and thats not a good thing at all.

I'll stick with the title through Guggenheim's arc in hopes that he can do what Slott so miserably failed at doing: make Spiderman interesting. If that fails I'm sadly going to drop the book.

[TheAmazingSpidey]

Five bucks says Pete's got a brother or sister running around


Dear God, I hope not.

[Shade 20x6]

webs run out so he gets a cab? SO lame.

If you'll notice, BND has pretty much already blown its load in regards to what Quesada wanted to do with Spider-Man:

- organic webs were removed so that there are situations where Spider-Man will run out of webbing
- Peter being single allows him to "mack" other women
- Peter's identity being secret again allows bad people to find it out and use it against him

In three issues, all three of these situations have already reared their heads, and all three situations were dull and uninspired. We've already seen ALL of these scenarios played out. There's no suspense anymore.

[Stephane Garrelie]

You know, I only really had one problem with this issue, the line:

"Our evil plan is ruined"

(or something to that effect)

Evil plan ruined? It sounded like a BAD kids cartoon, really jarred me out of the story.

Frankly i understood the line as them trying (on order of Mr Negative) to make the public believe it was a spectacle and not a real fight.
And i'm pretty sure im right.

[pesmerga316]

Don't have time to read entire thread just wanted to leave my two cents for now.

I enjoyed the issue. Not bad at all, and each issue seemed to have grown off one another.

The things that gets me is why couldn't this have been done with a married Spider-Man? I just don't understand this logic...

Because the spiderman in this story has the maturity lvl of a 20 year old....

[darksaint124]

Because the spiderman in this story has the maturity lvl of a 20 year old....

Hey, hey, three years to the day, when I was 20 I was way more mature than Pete.

[ZT4]

The Hair Bear Bunch get more meat than BND Peter.

[Monty_Cristo]

Because the spiderman in this story has the maturity lvl of a 20 year old....

30 is the new 20

[Monty_Cristo]

Yeah, well. Why is Mr Negative doing it - killing off the Magia family and the children. Isn't he like this good person working in a soup kitchen or something. Neg is either a demented crime fighter, like Spidey but more Punisher-like, or, he used to be a crime Lord and has now gone straight, but has a vendetta against the Magia.

they are competition. he is a crimelord.

[jackolover]

they are competition. he is a crime lord.

Then why bother with the soup kitchen. Would Kingpin work in a soup kitchen? No. I think Mr. Negative is something other than a crime lord. It could be revenge for a past crime done to his family, and he only wants the deaths done to that genome of the Magia. Sounds to me like Neg has some scientific acumen.

[CyberCoyote]

they are competition. he is a crimelord.

Yeppers. And he's in a position to take over so if he whacks the families he's the only one organized (Hood?) to take over. There are underlings that'd try to take command, but they wouldn't be prepared if MrN's plan had worked.

So May isn't a blood relative? Is she not a sister to one of his parents? I thought that was the whole point to Pete saying no one's to worry but Neg's got his paws on May.. showing that she could die. And wouldn't it be a dum-ditty that after OMD it's Pete's blood that kills May? :evilsmile Of course if Ben was the blood uncle that wouldn't work..

As for the soup kitchen, I agree with other posters that he may be a split personality..

[Sean Whitmore]

So May isn't a blood relative? Is she not a sister to one of his parents? I thought that was the whole point to Pete saying no one's to worry but Neg's got his paws on May.. showing that she could die.

I saw that as the point myself, but it doesn't make sense, because May's only the wife of Peter's dad's brother.

Unless they're going with the transfusion theory expressed earlier in this thread.


SEAN

[sherlockbones]

if the mafia mommies are gonna buy back the bugle from this bennent guy to work on spidey´s pr sitution i am going to be very ... i don´t know, not amazed?

[Sonicjuce]

if the mafia mommies are gonna buy back the bugle from this bennent guy to work on spidey´s pr sitution i am going to be very ... i don´t know, not amazed?

HAHA that would be great. I bet a lot of people wouldn't even pick up on that either. To most it would seem like a new story.

[Monty_Cristo]

Then why bother with the soup kitchen.

why does Daredevil bother being a lawyer?

Would Kingpin work in a soup kitchen?

he would have if he had been smarter. but it's possible that his dual identities don't know about one another. or maybe he's a guy who believes heavily in balance. if he's incredibly evil in his super-villain persona, then he has to be incredibly benevolent the rest of the time.

No. I think Mr. Negative is something other than a crime lord. It could be revenge for a past crime done to his family, and he only wants the deaths done to that genome of the Magia.

i think you're dead wrong. he brutally murdered his own men for trying to win his favor. this isn't some kind of vigilante.

[Alan2099]

I know they introduced some relative of Spider-man (I forget what exactly it was) in one of the novels. There's also Gus Beezer, Spidey's distant cousin.

[tv horror]

Menace looks a lot like the demi-goblin what if he is the real Peter Parker and we were fooled into thinking that he was the one and true version. Afterall the devil is hardly going to make Peters life easy, there is always a price to pay. If Jackpot is MJ then why not Peter as his own alter-ego.

[ZT4]

It would tie in to Norman wanting Peter to become his true heir and a Goblin, but new readers would get pissed off what they were reading were lies...oooh wait, there reading lies right now anyway so they'd be used to it.

[CyberCoyote]

Menace looks a lot like the demi-goblin what if he is the real Peter Parker and we were fooled into thinking that he was the one and true version. Afterall the devil is hardly going to make Peters life easy, there is always a price to pay. If Jackpot is MJ then why not Peter as his own alter-ego.

Ah, and have Menace kill MJackpot.. as much as I'm trying to totally ignore OMD that thought makes me wring my hands with malevolent joy and laugh maniacally. Then Harry can become Spider-Man after the fake Peter huffs his own Dragon's Breath that Menace has pumped into her lungs.. ending the whole thing with an image like these started, Pete macking with a girl.. MJackpot this time.

Okay, that's all just cruel.. gotta stop :)

[darksaint124]

Menace looks a lot like the demi-goblin what if he is the real Peter Parker and we were fooled into thinking that he was the one and true version. Afterall the devil is hardly going to make Peters life easy, there is always a price to pay. If Jackpot is MJ then why not Peter as his own alter-ego.

Menace is so obviously J. Jonah Jameson.

[Sean Whitmore]

Menace is so obviously J. Jonah Jameson.

I think it's the guy who bought the Bugle.

Which would make it the third time it's been owned by a super villain...depending on what you considered Puma to be at the time.


SEAN

[Alan2099]

I think it's the guy who bought the Bugle.

Which would make it the third time it's been owned by a super villain...depending on what you considered Puma to be at the time.


SEAN
Are you counting when Jameson had his face right on those Spider-slayers?

[jackolover]

I think you're dead wrong. he brutally murdered his own men for trying to win his favor. this isn't some kind of vigilante.

Yeah. The killing of his men does throw a spanner in that theory. So I wonder why the genome of the Magia in particular? Is he worried about innocent deaths. Not by your reasoning. It looks like he is pin-pointing the Magia with clinical accuracy, like one of those Egyptian plagues taking out the first born from the time of Moses. It may be just his MO. 'I'll kill you and your whole family', as the Godfather used to say.

[Monty_Cristo]

Yeah. The killing of his men does throw a spanner in that theory. So I wonder why the genome of the Magia in particular? Is he worried about innocent deaths. Not by your reasoning. It looks like he is pin-pointing the Magia with clinical accuracy, like one of those Egyptian plagues taking out the first born from the time of Moses. It may be just his MO. 'I'll kill you and your whole family', as the Godfather used to say.

it still fits my theory. he kills who he has to; to send a message. that's why he took spider-man's blood and left that tracer. he has his own twisted code of honor.

[Sean Whitmore]

Are you counting when Jameson had his face right on those Spider-slayers?

Hmm.

That one's iffy.


SEAN

[Alan2099]

Hmm.

That one's iffy.


SEAN

Would you accept saying that the Daily Bugle has almost always had super villain ties then?

[Sean Whitmore]

Would you accept saying that the Daily Bugle has almost always had super villain ties then?

Oh, it definitely has. Those ties only increase when you count Fredrick Foswell, Jacob Conover, and Ned Leeds (even if he was ultimately cleared of any wrongdoing).


SEAN

[MrPalen]

Is "Maggia" supposed to be a replacement word for "Mafia"?

[ozvette]

Frankly i understood the line as them trying (on order of Mr Negative) to make the public believe it was a spectacle and not a real fight.
And i'm pretty sure im right.

That is a possibility that I did not consider

I can miss some pretty obvious stuff sometimes :rolleyes:

[Arilou]

Then why bother with the soup kitchen. Would Kingpin work in a soup kitchen? No. I think Mr. Negative is something other than a crime lord. It could be revenge for a past crime done to his family, and he only wants the deaths done to that genome of the Magia. Sounds to me like Neg has some scientific acumen.

I suspect that it's some kind of balance thing: Mr. Li is the "good aspect" and Mr. negative the "bad aspect" (quite possibly it's a Jekyll & hyde situation)

[Mister Mets]

Is "Maggia" supposed to be a replacement word for "Mafia"?Probably. But it's also been an organization within the Marvel Universe since the Silver Age.

[Mister Mets]

Five bucks says Pete's got a brother or sister running around (we still don't know who the hell that one woman Mephisto was portraying with the short hair was) that he didn't know about.

A closer relative like another aunt, uncle or grandparent seems like something May would have hooked Peter up with by now.

Overall, I really enjoyed Mr. Negative debut and look forward to him hopefully becoming a cornerstone of Parker's rogue gallery, he's definitely got alot of potential, we'll see where they decide to go with him.

Possible blood relatives....
Jackpot- If she's somehow Peter and Mary Jane's daughter all grown up, which would explain her similarities to Mary Jane.
They may also just introduce characters on his mother's side of the family.
Or reveal that May and Ben had a kid who faked his/ her death/

[MrPalen]

Is "Maggia" supposed to be a replacement word for "Mafia"?Probably. But it's also been an organization within the Marvel Universe since the Silver Age.

Huh, strange I haven't noticed it before then. Thanks for the reply. Seems kind of lame if that is the case.

[Sonicjuce]

Possible blood relatives....
Jackpot- If she's somehow Peter and Mary Jane's daughter all grown up, which would explain her similarities to Mary Jane.
They may also just introduce characters on his mother's side of the family.
Or reveal that May and Ben had a kid who faked his/ her death/

No offense but all these scenario's sound lame. I would almost prefer it be MJ.

I think they kinda throw it being Carlie out in this issue though.

Also I have to say I am really enjoying the thrice monthly program.

[ZT4]

With Mephisto involved, and the balance good MUST have over evil, it'd make sense to try and save what Mephisto "brought forward" (the fact of the daughter) and place her in the present. It's happened in several titles, and I can see Peter and MJ's daughter having that kind of attitude and power

Of course I don't expect anything clever from BND, that much has been obvious

[Matt Linton]

Saddling Peter Parker with an artificially grown/time-displaced daughter would rank pretty highly on my "bad idea" scale.

[Brian M.]

With Mephisto involved, and the balance good MUST have over evil, it'd make sense to try and save what Mephisto "brought forward" (the fact of the daughter) and place her in the present. It's happened in several titles, and I can see Peter and MJ's daughter having that kind of attitude and power

Of course I don't expect anything clever from BND, that much has been obvious

Trust me...there isn't anything good about a time-displaced, might-a-been daughter. There was only one good scene ever written with Scott Summers and Rachel Grey.

[ZT4]

Trust me...there isn't anything good about a time-displaced, might-a-been daughter. There was only one good scene ever written with Scott Summers and Rachel Grey.

Were the pages that scene is contained on stuck together in every edition of Cyclops and Phoenix? Otherwise I couldnt see it.

Marvel have sneezed worse. Franklyn Richards...cyber-punk?

[Mister Mets]

No offense but all these scenario's sound lame. I would almost prefer it be MJ.

I think they kinda throw it being Carlie out in this issue though.

Also I have to say I am really enjoying the thrice monthly program.
I didn't say they were good, just possibilities.

Though something that seems like a poor idea could be well executed.

[Sonicjuce]

Though something that seems like a poor idea could be well executed.

That may be the case but Marvel hasn't done that in years. OMD is the first example that comes to mind...

[Mister Mets]

That may be the case but Marvel hasn't done that in years. OMD is the first example that comes to mind...
The return of Bucky is the big example of an unpopular idea being executed superbly.

[DeadXMan]

and bringing back Jean

[Monty_Cristo]

I suspect that it's some kind of balance thing: Mr. Li is the "good aspect" and Mr. negative the "bad aspect" (quite possibly it's a Jekyll & hyde situation)

Negative-Li. lol.

[Jay R]

I still fail to see why it was so important for Pete to be single. This story could have been done with a married Pete.

And if Carlie is Peter's potential new love interest (Speculating), did she have to resemble Mary Jane? I see her, and I think MJ. And the fact that her backstory is similar to Gwen's kinda bugs me too, but not as much as the MJ resemblance.

BND is really not doing it for me. I tried to give it a chance. I hated OMD, but still gave BND a shot. I like the dialogue, I like the art, but for some reason, it still leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

-Jay

[Monty_Cristo]

I still fail to see why it was so important for Pete to be single.

Mary Jane's a wet blanket.

[Mister Mets]

I still fail to see why it was so important for Pete to be single. This story could have been done with a married Pete.

And if Carlie is Peter's potential new love interest (Speculating), did she have to resemble Mary Jane? I see her, and I think MJ. And the fact that her backstory is similar to Gwen's kinda bugs me too, but not as much as the MJ resemblance.

BND is really not doing it for me. I tried to give it a chance. I hated OMD, but still gave BND a shot. I like the dialogue, I like the art, but for some reason, it still leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

-JayRight now you have Peter in an ambivalent place. If he's married, that adds a level of support which isn't that useful when showing the character when he's miserable.

Peter performing CPR on Jonah is a hell of a lot worse when he doesn't have a gorgeous redhead to go home to.

[DeadXMan]

Right now you have Peter in an ambivalent place. If he's married, that adds a level of support which isn't that useful when showing the character when he's miserable.

Peter performing CPR on Jonah is a hell of a lot worse when he doesn't have a gorgeous redhead to go home to.

that's why you have friends like jack, and Johnny to wash it away

[richjb77]

I still fail to see why it was so important for Pete to be single. This story could have been done with a married Pete.

And if Carlie is Peter's potential new love interest (Speculating), did she have to resemble Mary Jane? I see her, and I think MJ. And the fact that her backstory is similar to Gwen's kinda bugs me too, but not as much as the MJ resemblance.

BND is really not doing it for me. I tried to give it a chance. I hated OMD, but still gave BND a shot. I like the dialogue, I like the art, but for some reason, it still leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth.

-Jay

Your exactly right. It could have been the same story with a married Peter. and I could do without all those classic cliche moments " out of web fluid?" " secret I.D. in danger" " The Bugle in danger of being sold/closed/or destroyed" " The major villian having a close relationship with someone Peter cares about" "People saying that he is a "menace"" ( he was a freaking Avenger)

I too thought the dialogue was good. Spider-man was funny. But whenever he is quote " Macking a girl" all I see is a man who is having an affair....

feels like a dream...like I'm reading an issue of Marvel Age...

[Blader5489]

I still fail to see why it was so important for Pete to be single. This story could have been done with a married Pete.

No, it really couldn't have been. The problem with marriage is that you have to treat the two characters as equal partners; if you treat MJ as Peter's equal and thus focus a part of the story on her, then you would need to sacrifice the supporting cast.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

[Venom]

Wow! What a great issue. I think out of all the new villains that are coming up, I definitely like Mr. Negative the best. He's a smart, ruthless and cunning guy not to be underestimated at all. I'm really enjoying this "Brand New Day" so far. I really wish Steve McNiven was staying on for another arc or two as he's one of the best artists in the industry at the moment. I also can't wait until Dan Slott's next story in May.

I've got to mention this part as well because it's so funny. I go to this mega comic superstore located in Central London every week to buy some of the latest titles. I went there on Thursday to pick up the latest Amazing Spider-Man. There was like 200 copies or more and underneath was a sign from the shop saying exactly all this.

Amazing Spider-Man
Brand New Day
No more Friendly Neighbourhood
or Sensational Spider-Man series
No more continuity
No more Mary Jane
Welcome Back Harry Osborn
Read this if you liked Dallas

I couldn't stop laughing when I read it as you really wouldn't expect something like this from a mega store.

[Jay R]

No, it really couldn't have been. The problem with marriage is that you have to treat the two characters as equal partners; if you treat MJ as Peter's equal and thus focus a part of the story on her, then you would need to sacrifice the supporting cast.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

Then why not write MJ out of the story? Maybe she's out of town on a modeling gig. Or maybe she's in Asia for a couple weeks filming a movie.

I have to agree with what some people have been saying. It feels like I've already read this story 20 years ago.

-Jay

[MstlyHarmlss]

And this isn't even talking from a retailer standpoint....which sales have been tanking at my store for the title. (I've already started cutting back on orders, and returning a bunch of #546's back to Diamond.)

As a reader also, I cannot believe that people are buying this junk. Below is a quote from this issue that sums up how horrible a book this is become.

Quote: (all from 1 panel)
1st Henchman - "Curses! It's Spiderman!"
2nd Henchman - "Our evil plan is ruined!"
3rd Henchman - "GET HIM!"

Are you kidding me??? This is the type of stuff we are to expect??? The we don't wanna bring Gwen back, but wait we did and she's named Carlie now. Might as well brought her back if you were gonna do that. Do they REALLY expect new readers to get in on this?

Back to being a retailer, I have decided that Joe Q isn't in touch with today's comic buyers. You are not gonna get kids buying comics with a gimmick, you just piss off the current buyers. When I was a kid I could get a $1-2 allowance and go to the grocery store and buy 3-4 comics and still have something left for gum. That's what today's parent remember, and I can't count the number of times a parent has brought their kid into the store wanting to introduce their kids to comics like they bought as kids. About half the time they just get a couple and don't worry about the price, but I can tell the ones with sticker shock. They remember the 3 comics for a dollar days and when they find out that the range from $2.25 to $2.99 now I hear the same response to the kid...."Well we'll just get one today and we will come back and get more later." Sometimes I never see them again. Kids can't just walk themselves to the grocery store, or pharmacy, like the old days and buy their own comics; we have to depend on parents driving them to the store.

We've been pretty successful over the last few years with Free Comic Book Day in introducing kids to comics, but there are a lot that only show on that day and never again. They stop to find out what's going on and get some free issues for the kids, but don't think to stop by later and actually buy them. I know I might be sounding a little bitter, but that's the marketplace we are in today. Comics are a luxury item, and say if gas were to go up to $4.00 a gallon.....comics would be one of the first items people would cut from the budget to just get gas. We depend on a good economy, and money to spend, for us to do well.

I know that I got on my soapbox a little, but these are the times we live in. Last time I saw a dip this hard in Spidey reading was during the Clone Saga, and took a long time to recover. It took GOOD writing to do it, and right now it's not good writing. I wanna believe I remember Erik Larson writing one time that "there are no bad character, only bad stories". :(

[ZT4]

And this isn't even talking from a retailer standpoint....which sales have been tanking at my store for the title. (I've already started cutting back on orders, and returning a bunch of #546's back to Diamond.)

As a reader also, I cannot believe that people are buying this junk. Below is a quote from this issue that sums up how horrible a book this is become.

Quote: (all from 1 panel)
1st Henchman - "Curses! It's Spiderman!"
2nd Henchman - "Our evil plan is ruined!"
3rd Henchman - "GET HIM!"

It's Dan's trademark humour, there being sarcastic.

But other than that, yeah, BND is, and will continue to be, a public relations fuck-up. Commercially, it's more than stable, so that makes it "easier" for people to accept force-fed status quoes.

[Dan_Slott]

As a reader also, I cannot believe that people are buying this junk. Below is a quote from this issue that sums up how horrible a book this is become.

Quote: (all from 1 panel)
1st Henchman - "Curses! It's Spiderman!"
2nd Henchman - "Our evil plan is ruined!"
3rd Henchman - "GET HIM!"

Are you kidding me??? This is the type of stuff we are to expect???

MstlyHarmlss,
Hi. I don't know if you've read the issue, but you're taking that dialogue out of context.

***Spoilers for ASM #548***

Spider-Man knows that there's a lethal biological device planted inside a circus in order to kill mob children. While he's trying to convince audience of the very REAL threat (in a Spider-Man costume), the bad guys sends in his henchmen to do two things:

1) Keep Spidey occupied so he can't find the device.

2) Make everyone in the audience think that it's not the real Spider-Man-- and that this is all part of the show. As they attack Spidey in the center ring, they PURPOSELY use corny, over-the-top dialogue to make the kids and their parents think that it's a fake/staged Spider-Man fight.

Here's the dialogue you pulled put into the context of the actual scene:

MR. N: Hurry. Here is what you need to do.
MR. N: Keep him busy long enough for the device to go off. I want him to be there.
MR. N/CAPTION: "I want him to see every child wither and die in front of him...
MR. N/CAPTION: "I want those faces burned into his every waking moment."
SPIDER-MAN: EXCUSE ME! YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
SPIDER-MAN: I'm going to need all of you to calmly make an orderly exit.
CROWD: What's going on?
CROWD: Is he serious?
CROWD: Is that the real Spider-Man?
CROWD: This's part of the act, right?
MR. N/CAPTION: "Now go. Go and give them what they want..."
MR. N/CAPTION: "Give them A SHOW!"
INNER DEMON 1: Curses! It's Spider-Man!
KID IN CROWD: Cool!
INNER DEMON 2: Now our evil plan is ruined!
INNER DEMON 3: GET HIM!
PERFORMER 1: What, we're hiring locals now?
PERFORMER 2: I guess. But why dress them up as Spider-Man? You think they'd pick someone better.
SPIDER-MAN: I HEARD THAT!
SPIDER-MAN: What's the matter with you people? This isn't a gag! This is-- AGHH!
SFX: SHKKK
SPIDER-MAN: See? Real Blood!

***Spoilers for ASM #548 over***

Kind of reads differently when you read it in context, right? :)
ttyl
Dan

[Rahul]

Wow! What a great issue. I think out of all the new villains that are coming up, I definitely like Mr. Negative the best. He's a smart, ruthless and cunning guy not to be underestimated at all. I'm really enjoying this "Brand New Day" so far. I really wish Steve McNiven was staying on for another arc or two as he's one of the best artists in the industry at the moment. I also can't wait until Dan Slott's next story in May.

I've got to mention this part as well because it's so funny. I go to this mega comic superstore located in Central London every week to buy some of the latest titles. I went there on Thursday to pick up the latest Amazing Spider-Man. There was like 200 copies or more and underneath was a sign from the shop saying exactly all this.

Amazing Spider-Man
Brand New Day
No more Friendly Neighbourhood
or Sensational Spider-Man series
No more continuity
No more Mary Jane
Welcome Back Harry Osborn
Read this if you liked Dallas

I couldn't stop laughing when I read it as you really wouldn't expect something like this from a mega store.
Thats hilarious, Venom!

[TheAmazingSpidey]

MstlyHarmlss,
Hi. I don't know if you've read the issue, but you're taking that dialogue out of context.

***Spoilers for ASM #548***

Spider-Man knows that there's a lethal biological device planted inside a circus in order to kill mob children. While he's trying to convince audience of the very REAL threat (in a Spider-Man costume), the bad guys sends in his henchmen to do two things:

1) Keep Spidey occupied so he can't find the device.

2) Make everyone in the audience think that it's not the real Spider-Man-- and that this is all part of the show. As they attack Spidey in the center ring, they PURPOSELY use corny, over-the-top dialogue to make the kids and their parents think that it's a fake/staged Spider-Man fight.

Here's the dialogue you pulled put into the context of the actual scene:

MR. N: Hurry. Here is what you need to do.
MR. N: Keep him busy long enough for the device to go off. I want him to be there.
MR. N/CAPTION: "I want him to see every child wither and die in front of him...
MR. N/CAPTION: "I want those faces burned into his every waking moment."
SPIDER-MAN: EXCUSE ME! YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
SPIDER-MAN: I'm going to need all of you to calmly make an orderly exit.
CROWD: What's going on?
CROWD: Is he serious?
CROWD: Is that the real Spider-Man?
CROWD: This's part of the act, right?
MR. N/CAPTION: "Now go. Go and give them what they want..."
MR. N/CAPTION: "Give them A SHOW!"
INNER DEMON 1: Curses! It's Spider-Man!
KID IN CROWD: Cool!
INNER DEMON 2: Now our evil plan is ruined!
INNER DEMON 3: GET HIM!
PERFORMER 1: What, we're hiring locals now?
PERFORMER 2: I guess. But why dress them up as Spider-Man? You think they'd pick someone better.
SPIDER-MAN: I HEARD THAT!
SPIDER-MAN: What's the matter with you people? This isn't a gag! This is-- AGHH!
SFX: SHKKK
SPIDER-MAN: See? Real Blood!

***Spoilers for ASM #548 over***

Kind of reads differently when you read it in context, right? :)
ttyl
Dan

Hey, cooool, you've got the same avatar as me! :D

[Dan_Slott]

Hey, cooool, you've got the same avatar as me! :D

It worse than that...

Turn around...

The call's coming...

...FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!!!
:eek: :eek: :eek:

Just kiddin', TheAmazingSpidey,
Seriously, I have NO idea to make an avatar, so I lifted yours-- 'cause I REALLY wanted one from BND. Is that bad avatar protocol?
If so, then--
SORRY! I'll ditch it.
If not, then--
THANKS! Good job make making it!
ttyl
Dan

[TheAmazingSpidey]

It worse than that...

Turn around...

The call's coming...

...FROM INSIDE THE HOUSE!!!
:eek: :eek: :eek:

Just kiddin', TheAmazingSpidey,
Seriously, I have NO idea to make an avatar, so I lifted yours-- 'cause I REALLY wanted one from BND. Is that bad avatar protocol?
If so, then--
SORRY! I'll ditch it.
If not, then--
THANKS! Good job make making it!
ttyl
Dan


Don't worry about it at all! I find it awesome that one of my favorite writers has the same avatar I do!

I loved the first part of BND, you handled Spidey well. I wish you could stick around on the title longer! :D

[DeadXMan]

Dan
you did on helll of great job on ASM.

one question though

Is Mr. Li(ght?) aware he is Mr. Neg?

[stillanerd]

Well, if Dan Slott is still reading, I have a few questions:

1. Joe Quesada has said in the interview he gave to CBR that he and J. Michael Straczynski wanted to bring back Gwen Stacy as well as Harry Osborn but that you folks on the "Spider-Man Brain Trust" voted this idea down. Considering how Carlie Cooper, like Gwen, appears to also have a scientific background, a deceased father who was a well respected police officer, and has a crush on Peter (I would even imagine that if Gwen lived she would become a Crime Scene Investigator) was Carlie created to be her substitute?

2. Since the "Spider-Tracer" killer obviously can't be Spider-Man (although I'm sure we could have a scene with Peter going "Oh No! I'm starting to crack-up!) then my guess is that the killer has to be someone we meet before and also someone who has held onto or has access to Spider-tracers, which considering how many times Spidey has used them over the years there must be quite a few? I suppose it's too much to ask if you can give us ONE hint?

3. Will Peter ever go back to college? From a story-telling sense, his career options, besides working at the Bugle, are pretty much nil so I would think he'd want to try and get another degree to rebuild his future job prospects. Also it might not make him appear too much the slacker.

[Dan_Slott]

Don't worry about it at all! I find it awesome that one of my favorite writers has the same avatar I do!

I loved the first part of BND, you handled Spidey well. I wish you could stick around on the title longer! :D

TheAmazingSpidey,
I'm not goin' anywhere. :)
I'll be back in the "big chair" writing ASM from #559-561 starting the 2nd week of May. I'm really excited for this arc for two reasons:

1) My first gig ASM #546-548 was kind of like working on the "pilot" episode. There were a LOT of pieces to set up and put on the board. And while that was fun, with #559 everything's in place, and I can really cut loose!
And, BTW, when I'm NOT in the "big chair", I'm still part of the "Spidey Braintrust" reading through the other Spidey-Writers' scripts and giving notes and suggestions. (I just read through 4 of 'em this past week! And they're lookin' good!). On top of that, we're all staying in contact with many e-mails, just finished an in-the-room summit last week-- where we flew in all the guys from the West Coast, and had another mammoth conference call just the other day. Whew!

2) I'm teamed up with MARCOS (DOCTOR STRANGE: THE OATH) MARTIN!!! And his artwork is FANTASTIC! We already have the first issue plotted, penciled, inked, and colored-- and this weekend I'm working on the script. We really have to work far ahead to make sure this thrice-monthly schedule stays on track! (BTW, I turned in the final draft of the plot for #270 yesterday!)

ttyl
Dan

[TheAmazingSpidey]

TheAmazingSpidey,
I'm not goin' anywhere. :)
I'll be back in the "big chair" writing ASM from #559-561 starting the 2nd week of May. I'm really excited for this arc for two reasons:

1) My first gig ASM #546-548 was kind of like working on the "pilot" episode. There were a LOT of pieces to set up and put on the board. And while that was fun, with #559 everything's in place, and I can really cut loose!

2) I'm teamed up with MARCOS (DOCTOR STRANGE: THE OATH) MARTIN!!! And his artwork is FANTASTIC! We already have the first issue plotted, penciled, inked, and colored-- and this weekend I'm working on the script. We really have to work far ahead to make sure this thrice-monthly schedule stays on track! (BTW, I turned in the final draft of the plot for #270 yesterday!)

ttyl
Dan


Fantastic news! Sounds great-- I'm looking forward to it!!

[Dan_Slott]

Dan
you did on helll of great job on ASM.

one question though

Is Mr. Li(ght?) aware he is Mr. Neg?

You'll have to keep reading! :)
(I can't wait till Spidey-Fans find out what his origin is...!)

[DeadXMan]

You'll have to keep reading! :)
(I can't wait till Spidey-Fans find out what his origin is...!)



Is that gonna be your next arc?
I don't know if I can hold out that long

but if I could wait out for Logan's I shall try for Neg

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Dan I'm gonna say... I'm dissapointed. I mean I found both issues (as detailed on this forum) for a song . And thus far I'm just wondering.... WHERES THE 3 WAY ? I mean I thought single Spiderman was gonna be having wild sexual encounters with as many chicks as possible. But thus far... nothing.

I just wanna know that if I can't vicourasly (spelling sorry) live thru Peter Parker and his wild sex life with Mary-Jane , Betty Brant , that new blond chick all chasing after Peter...whats the point ? Make mine not Marvel...... til Peter gets laid that is.































;)

[Gemini no Saga]

Man ... that story could have been told with a Married Spidey.

Besides ... all of us already knew that May boss was Mr Negative.

Average at best

[Dan_Slott]

Well, if Dan Slott is still reading, I have a few questions:

1. ...was Carlie created to be (a Gwen) substitute?

2. Since the "Spider-Tracer" killer obviously can't be Spider-Man...
...I suppose it's too much to ask if you can give us ONE hint?

3. Will Peter ever go back to college? From a story-telling sense, his career options, besides working at the Bugle, are pretty much nil so I would think he'd want to try and get another degree to rebuild his future job prospects. Also it might not make him appear too much the slacker.

1. No. Think about it:
Gwen: The room lights up when she's in it. Every head turns. And guys like Flash and Harry are hanging off her every word.
Carlie: Thinks the music is too loud. Sneaks off. And no one notices she's gone.

Gwen: Sweetness and Light.
Carlie: Total ghoul. Can't wait to cut into a corpse. The stranger and more exotic the death, the more she can't wait to get her hands in there.

Gwen: Pete's smitten.
Carlie: Barely one Pete's radar.

It's been 3 issues and Carlie's only appeared on 9 pages. Give her time to flesh out. See? I hear a phrase like "flesh out" and know that Gwen would be thinking about moisturizer-- and Carlie would be thinking about an autopsy. ;)

2) No. It's a mystery. You want hints, read the book. :)

3) Slacker? Where do you get that? In #546 through #548 only about 48 hours have passed.

On the first day, his aunt kicks him out of bed at 7:00 am. (No sleeping in late here!)

And then from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Pete is hittin' the bricks looking for work.
(Really! We time stamped it and everything.)

Then, aside from hanging out with his friends for a few hours (and giving someone a heart attack), he spends the next day and a half (without sleep) being Spider-Man and, eventually, saving the lives of a bunch of kids.

That's hardly slacking, sir. :)

[Gemini no Saga]

Still I found just to cool that Slott is here to listen to us.

Hey Dan why don´t you bring back THE REAL Black Tarantula ... not the latino gang menber from Daredevil.

[GRANT!]

I too thought the dialogue was good. Spider-man was funny. But whenever he is quote " Macking a girl" all I see is a man who is having an affair....

feels like a dream...like I'm reading an issue of Marvel Age...

There's a lot of infidelity going on in Marvel Ages? :confused:

[ZT4]

Gwen: From day one, Pete's smitten.
Carlie: Barely one Pete's radar.

During the Lee/Ditko era, Peter didnt acknowledge Gwen when she tried throwing herself at him on their first day of college, he barely registered her, so she gave him a hard time as a result. She was pretty much cold and possesive until Romita took over and established her "definitive" look , and Lee began writing her much more mellower.

The reason this changed after the redesign? Hey, it's artwork, we don't have to explain it.

[Dan_Slott]

Man ... that story could have been told with a Married Spidey.

Besides ... all of us already knew that May boss was Mr Negative.

Average at best

Look, you're really not going to see me trade back and forth with people who are steamed with what happened in OMD. There's no "get" to it. All I can do is just try to put out the best work I can and, hopefully, win you over IN TIME.

I'm not going to validate or invalidate how you feel. You feel the way you feel -- and I get that. Over the years, as a fan, there have been many choices that certain titles have made that I disagreed with-- and that I had VERY strong feelings about. So I can see where you're coming from.

That said, only 3 issues have come out. And while I disagree with you that the first 3 could've been told with a married MJ, those are MY feelings. And I hope you can see where I'm coming from.

As for Mr. Negative's alter-ego...
Believe it or not, I have seen people online that WERE surprised.
I've also seen people and reviewers who suggested that we gave away his identity TOO SOON. So... In the end... there's no pleasing everybody. :)

But if you keep reading, I know we WILL eventually trick you with some stuff!
Thanks for trying out the first arc!
ttyl
Dan

[SUPERECWFAN1]

During the Lee/Ditko era, Peter didnt acknowledge Gwen when she tried throwing herself at him on their first day of college, he barely registered her, so she gave him a hard time as a result. She was pretty much cold and possesive until Romita took over and established her "definitive" look , and Lee began writing her much more mellower.

The reason this changed after the redesign? Hey, it's artwork, we don't have to explain it.

Remember Jill Stacy and how Peter's friends wanted him to move on. They wanted him and Jill togethor (which is creepy as shit since Mary-Jane's corpse wasn't that fried yet and her friends are pushing a new girl on him) in Mackie's run. Jill was the low-key girl character. The one who was unlike Gwen and Mary-Jane.

The only problem is ...Mary-Jane casts a very big shadow. And yeah I liked Jill Stacy...I thought she was a good character. But we saw Jill's fate to character limbo.

I compare Carla to Jill Stacy in essance. She's supposed to be this normal girl and be Peter's oppisite in a sense. But I fear she'll end up ala Jill in character limbo once things go on.

[Dan_Slott]

During the Lee/Ditko era, Peter didnt acknowledge Gwen when she tried throwing herself at him on their first day of college, he barely registered her, so she gave him a hard time as a result. She was pretty much cold and possesive until Romita took over and established her "definitive" look , and Lee began writing her much more mellower.

I know. As soon as I hit the enter key, I said "oops!" and I've been trying to go back and change that to:

Gwen: Pete's smitten.

But the edit function has been locking me out!! Grr!! I was SO trying to fix that before someone caught it! Ah well, guess I can stop hitting the "refresh" button on my other window now. :( Good eye, ZT4.

ttyl
Dan

[DeadXMan]

1. No. Think about it:
Gwen: The room lights up when she's in it. Every head turns. And guys like Flash and Harry are hanging off her every word.
Carlie: Thinks the music is too loud. Sneaks off. And no one notices she's gone.

Gwen: Sweetness and Light.
Carlie: Total ghoul. Can't wait to cut into a corpse. The stranger and more exotic the death, the more she can't wait to get her hands in there.

Gwen: From day one, Pete's smitten.
Carlie: Barely one Pete's radar.

It's been 3 issues and Carlie's only appeared on 9 pages. Give her time to flesh out. See? I hear a phrase like "flesh out" and know that Gwen would be thinking about moisturizer-- and Carlie would be thinking about an autopsy. ;)

2) No. It's a mystery. You want hints, read the book. :)

3) Slacker? Where do you get that? In #546 through #548 only about 48 hours have passed.

On the first day, his aunt kicks him out of bed at 7:00 am. (No sleeping in late here!)

And then from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Pete is hittin' the bricks looking for work.
(Really! We time stamped it and everything.)

Then, aside from hanging out with his friends for a few hours (and giving someone a heart attack), he spends the next day and a half (without sleep) being Spider-Man and, eventually, saving the lives of a bunch of kids.

That's hardly slacking, sir. :)

yeah those forensics girls are not to messed with.

They know how to get rid of a body...:eek:

[SUPERECWFAN1]

yeah those forensics girls are not to messed with.

They know how to get rid of a body...:eek:

Spidey's getting more action from your avator thus far man. I mean I thought he was gonna be like a walking superhero porno.

[Mister Mets]

MstlyHarmlss,
Hi. I don't know if you've read the issue, but you're taking that dialogue out of context.

***Spoilers for ASM #548***

Spider-Man knows that there's a lethal biological device planted inside a circus in order to kill mob children. While he's trying to convince audience of the very REAL threat (in a Spider-Man costume), the bad guys sends in his henchmen to do two things:

1) Keep Spidey occupied so he can't find the device.

2) Make everyone in the audience think that it's not the real Spider-Man-- and that this is all part of the show. As they attack Spidey in the center ring, they PURPOSELY use corny, over-the-top dialogue to make the kids and their parents think that it's a fake/staged Spider-Man fight.

Here's the dialogue you pulled put into the context of the actual scene:

MR. N: Hurry. Here is what you need to do.
MR. N: Keep him busy long enough for the device to go off. I want him to be there.
MR. N/CAPTION: "I want him to see every child wither and die in front of him...
MR. N/CAPTION: "I want those faces burned into his every waking moment."
SPIDER-MAN: EXCUSE ME! YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE!
SPIDER-MAN: I'm going to need all of you to calmly make an orderly exit.
CROWD: What's going on?
CROWD: Is he serious?
CROWD: Is that the real Spider-Man?
CROWD: This's part of the act, right?
MR. N/CAPTION: "Now go. Go and give them what they want..."
MR. N/CAPTION: "Give them A SHOW!"
INNER DEMON 1: Curses! It's Spider-Man!
KID IN CROWD: Cool!
INNER DEMON 2: Now our evil plan is ruined!
INNER DEMON 3: GET HIM!
PERFORMER 1: What, we're hiring locals now?
PERFORMER 2: I guess. But why dress them up as Spider-Man? You think they'd pick someone better.
SPIDER-MAN: I HEARD THAT!
SPIDER-MAN: What's the matter with you people? This isn't a gag! This is-- AGHH!
SFX: SHKKK
SPIDER-MAN: See? Real Blood!

***Spoilers for ASM #548 over***

Kind of reads differently when you read it in context, right? :)
ttyl
Dan
I messed up in my review. (http://thecomiccrypt.com/viewtopic.php?t=5282) :(

[Mister Mets]

Don't worry about it at all! I find it awesome that one of my favorite writers has the same avatar I do!

I loved the first part of BND, you handled Spidey well. I wish you could stick around on the title longer! :D
It's better than that. One of your favorite writers intentionally lifted your avatar because you have such great taste. :evilsmile

[DeadXMan]

Spidey's getting more action from your avator thus far man. I mean I thought he was gonna be like a walking superhero porno.

what?
every issue Pete getting a little action

of course it gone from hot chick,to an old man, to a corpse

[Gemini no Saga]

Look, you're really not going to see me trade back and forth with people who are steamed with what happened in OMD. There's no "get" to it. All I can do is just try to put out the best work I can and, hopefully, win you over IN TIME.

I'm not going to validate or invalidate how you feel. You feel the way you feel -- and I get that. Over the years, as a fan, there have been many choices that certain titles have made that I disagreed with-- and that I had VERY strong feelings about. So I can see where you're coming from.

That said, only 3 issues have come out. And while I disagree with you that the first 3 could've been told with a married MJ, those are MY feelings. And I hope you can see where I'm coming from.

As for Mr. Negative's alter-ego...
Believe it or not, I have seen people online that WERE surprised.
I've also seen people and reviewers who suggested that we gave away his identity TOO SOON. So... In the end... there's no pleasing everybody. :)

But if you keep reading, I know we WILL eventually trick you with some stuff!
Thanks for trying out the first arc!
ttyl
Dan


Ohhh I´ll keep reading it. I have never stoped reading Spidey not even during the Clone Saga (Bring back Ben).

... And I looking forward to get surprised.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

what?
every issue Pete getting a little action

of course it gone from hot chick,to an old man, to a corpse

Ha .... I know on one site someone had those Civil War banners and it had One More Day. In it it said....

One More Day: I'm for Aunt May. I Need My Wheatcakes.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

Ok being serious..... (serious as I can be now anyhow)


Dan with Harry Osborn back now how about bringing The Jackel back as a villain. The Clone Saga (since Harry never died) appears to never have been put in motion so you could bring him back with a pod opening. Since he's never died so you don't have to explain it. (Marvel likes that I'm sure)

[DeadXMan]

Ha .... I know on one site someone had those Civil War banners and it had One More Day. In it it said....

One More Day: I'm for Aunt May. I Need My Wheatcakes.

copy it and paste here
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=205488

It's been kinda dead since I went nuclear with a Photo-shop Sig of Pete's CPR scene;)

[SUPERECWFAN1]

copy it and paste here
http://forums.comicbookresources.com/showthread.php?t=205488

It's been kinda dead since I went nuclear with a Photo-shop Sig of Pete's CPR scene;)

Heh.... I don't know how to do the whole paste thing. Not that computer smart sad to say....;)

[GranApp]

I'm new to Spider-man and comics in general. I got the DVD collection of ASM for Christmas and decided Brand New Day would be a good jumping on point to start reading new issues. I've really enjoyed the first three issues so far, maybe because I don't know the previous continuity or marriage very well. I especially like the light tone and sense of humor. I hope it stays, I don't like darker-feeling stories as much.

[ZT4]

I know. As soon as I hit the enter key, I said "oops!" and I've been trying to go back and change that to:

Gwen: Pete's smitten.

But the edit function has been locking me out!! Grr!! I was SO trying to fix that before someone caught it! Ah well, guess I can stop hitting the "refresh" button on my other window now. :( Good eye, ZT4.

ttyl
Dan

No worries. Actually, Lee's mellower Gwen was a nice touch because it had rarely been done in comics (adding more vulerabilities to "bad girl" characters, it's what led to other "opposites" couples in comics, and the marra...I CAN say that like it is'nt a profanity can't I?)

Hey, someone's got to keep your eye on the canon that DOES matter....:p

[GranApp]

That tone existed during the marraige too.

That's good. I haven't gotten that far on the DVD yet, but I'm looking forward to reading it.

[stillanerd]

1. No. Think about it:
Gwen: The room lights up when she's in it. Every head turns. And guys like Flash and Harry are hanging off her every word.
Carlie: Thinks the music is too loud. Sneaks off. And no one notices she's gone.

Gwen: Sweetness and Light.
Carlie: Total ghoul. Can't wait to cut into a corpse. The stranger and more exotic the death, the more she can't wait to get her hands in there.

Gwen: From day one, Pete's smitten.
Carlie: Barely one Pete's radar.

It's been 3 issues and Carlie's only appeared on 9 pages. Give her time to flesh out. See? I hear a phrase like "flesh out" and know that Gwen would be thinking about moisturizer-- and Carlie would be thinking about an autopsy. ;)

Well, as long you don't have a certain Goblin-type by the name of Menace throw her off of the Brooklyn Bridge...or is it the George Washington bridge.:p

Of course I know Carlie isn't EXACTLY like Gwen, but she certainly shares certain traits that Gwen had--that, like Gwen, Carlie has an interest in Science (although it certainly is far more morbid, I'll give you that) and that her father appears to have been a cop as well.

EDIT: Just saw ZT4 corrected you on that score and you fessing up about Peter being instantly smitten with Gwen, so I won't give you grief for that. Just so long as we keep you on your toes.

I'd also could say that Carlie shares characteristics with Debra Whitman as well, in that she too was a "wallflower" type that no one took for being a "looker" because she kept her hair up and wore glasses. Also, I asked whether she was a substitute for Gwen--not a copycat of--when you guys turned down the idea that Gwen should be brought back, which I notice you didn't really answer. Hoe I'm not being too snarky.

2) No. It's a mystery. You want hints, read the book. :)

Oh well, no harm in trying.

3) Slacker? Where do you get that? In #546 through #548 only about 48 hours have passed.

On the first day, his aunt kicks him out of bed at 7:00 am. (No sleeping in late here!)

And then from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm, Pete is hittin' the bricks looking for work.
(Really! We time stamped it and everything.)

Then, aside from hanging out with his friends for a few hours (and giving someone a heart attack), he spends the next day and a half (without sleep) being Spider-Man and, eventually, saving the lives of a bunch of kids.

That's hardly slacking, sir. :)

By the very fact that Aunt May herself has to kick Peter out of bed and tell him to look for a job, as opposed to say Peter setting his alarm clock himself and start looking for work without anyone telling him to do so, suggests that he is a "slacker." Even Aunt May herself complains how it seems like Peter is still in High School, which of course is just her opinion. Likewise, how about Peter deciding not to stop the Spider-Mugger as Spider-Man because he refused to take pictures of himself in action in order to help Jameson. Understandable, given all the crap Jolly Jonah has put Peter through, but he still could have stopped the mugger as Spider-Man without have to take photos if he really wanted to. Everything else, however, is characteristic Peter Parker. I'm just suggesting the idea of putting Peter back in college in order advance the idea that, since his only job is freelance work at the Bugle, that he could try to improve his lot by going back to school. It does happen , it's something readers can relate to, and it's harkens back to classic Spider-Man of Peter having to juggle school along with everything else to boot.

[Dan_Slott]

By the very fact that Aunt May herself has to kick Peter out of bed and tell him to look for a job, as opposed to say Peter setting his alarm clock himself and start looking for work without anyone telling him to do so, suggests that he is a "slacker." Even Aunt May herself complains how it seems like Peter is still in High School, which of course is just her opinion.

Exactly. To me that says more about Aunt May. From her POV, Peter is someone with limitless potential who seems to be squandering his life away doing God-knows-what. (Psst. He's Spidey!)

Likewise, how about Peter deciding not to stop the Spider-Mugger as Spider-Man because he refused to take pictures of himself in action in order to help Jameson. Understandable, given all the crap Jolly Jonah has put Peter through, but he still could have stopped the mugger as Spider-Man without have to take photos if he really wanted to.

It's New York. It doesn't matter if Pete takes a picture or not. If Spidey's back in action after SO long AND people see it, the Bugle gets a story. They can run whatever stock photo they've got.

Everything else, however, is characteristic Peter Parker.

[stillanerd]

Exactly. To me that says more about Aunt May. From her POV, Peter is someone with limitless potential who seems to be squandering his life away doing God-knows-what. (Psst. He's Spidey!)

Yeah, if only Aunt May knew her beloved nephew was really that "icky" Spider-Man then she'd totally understand. Wait a minute...:evilsmile Okay, THAT was definitely being snarky. My bad. But that is a good point about Aunt May's perception of Peter, and I did get that. It's just that Peter didn't exactly do much to set her mind at ease about that "slacker" label, IMO. (Then again, Uncle Ben way back in the very first Spider-Man story had to wake up Peter to get him ready for school, so that's points in your favor as well. Or maybe Peter really is so strapped for cash he can't afford an alarm clock after all these years. ;) )

It's New York. It doesn't matter if Pete takes a picture or not. If Spidey's back in action after SO long AND people see it, the Bugle gets a story. They can run whatever stock photo they've got.

Fair enough. Although I'd think he'd want to stop a guy who is using his likeness to commit crimes, not to mention that good 'ol "With great power, there must come great responsibility" come into play? Besides, if he DID decide to take a photo of himself as Spidey, there are other papers besides the Bugle he could have taken it to. He did it before with regards to the Daily Globe. Then again, he couldn't get a photo job with his Spidey photos at the magazine, despite the fact he had a coffee table book to his credits.

[Matt Linton]

Yeah, if only Aunt May knew her beloved nephew was really that "icky" Spider-Man then she'd totally understand. Wait a minute...:evilsmile Okay, THAT was definitely being snarky. My bad. But that is a good point about Aunt May's perception of Peter, and I did get that. It's just that Peter didn't exactly do much to set her mind at ease about that "slacker" label, IMO. (Then again, Uncle Ben way back in the very first Spider-Man story had to wake up Peter to get him ready for school, so that's points in your favor as well. Or maybe Peter really is so strapped for cash he can't afford an alarm clock after all these years. ;) )



Fair enough. Although I'd think he'd want to stop a guy who is using his likeness to commit crimes, not to mention that good 'ol "With great power, there must come great responsibility" come into play? Besides, if he DID decide to take a photo of himself as Spidey, there are other papers besides the Bugle he could have taken it to. He did it before with regards to the Daily Globe. Then again, he couldn't get a photo job with his Spidey photos at the magazine, despite the fact he had a coffee table book to his credits.

I don't know if it was intentional, but I chalked both of those up to being riffs on Amazing Fantasy #15. At the start of Brand New Day, after having not been Spider-Man for a few months, Peter's regressed a bit to the way he was in that issue. It takes Jonah's heart attack to snap him out of it, and send him swinging back into action.

[stillanerd]

I don't know if it was intentional, but I chalked both of those up to being riffs on Amazing Fantasy #15. At the start of Brand New Day, after having not been Spider-Man for a few months, Peter's regressed a bit to the way he was in that issue. It takes Jonah's heart attack to snap him out of it, and send him swinging back into action.

You know, that's very likely what Slott was shooting for, now that I think it about it further. I initially thought what was going to happen with regards to the Spider-Mugger was that, because Peter let him go (although having put the spider-tracer on him) and with the Spider-Mugger figuring out he had robbed Spider-Man, I thought at, in later issues, the Mugger, in an attempt to track down Spider-Man, would end up leading to Aunt May getting shot or injured where she would have to be hospitalized again, and that Peter would blame himself because it's almost exactly like what happened when Uncle Ben died (plus it would be a way for Mephisto to screw Peter over with regards to the deal he made). But then the Spider-Mugger has ended up dead, so it throws that idea off kilter. Then again, perhaps the guy who killed the Spider-Mugger might be responsible and it could still lead into that later on.

[Mister Mets]

So is Mister Negative now the most notable Asian Spider-Man villain? How do you guys feel about that milestone?

[DeadXMan]

I can't remember any other asian spidy villain.

[Mister Mets]

I can't remember any other asian spidy villain.Shhh.

I don't know if it was intentional, but I chalked both of those up to being riffs on Amazing Fantasy #15. At the start of Brand New Day, after having not been Spider-Man for a few months, Peter's regressed a bit to the way he was in that issue. It takes Jonah's heart attack to snap him out of it, and send him swinging back into action.Interesting observation.

[Venom]

I've got a question for Dan Slott. I know the classic villains won't be coming back until later into the year, but here's what I really want to know. Do you or any of the other Spidey writers intend to bring back the original Venom and Hobgoblin anytime soon?

I've been getting some of my Hobgoblin fix from the superb Amazing Spider-Girl, but I want him in a main Spider-Man story again. Come this September it'll be