Mr Negative aka Mr Li

[beachball8]

Is the Mr Li's connection to Aunt May at the shelter a coincidence or is it somehow related to Aunt May being related to Spidey? I mean, is Aunt May's boss conveniently ALSO Spidey's new foe??

If its a coincidence, its too bizarre.

[TheAmazingSpidey]

If its a coincidence, its too bizarre.

Welcome to comic books...

[Matt Linton]

It's even more common in Spider-Man comics. J. Jonah Jameson's son becomes Man-Wolf. Betty Brant's brother is killed during a battle between Spider-Man and Doc Ock, after Betty, who borrowed money from a loan shark, picks up Doc Ock from prison. Liz Allen's brother is the Molten Man. The father of Peter's best friend winds up being his archnemesis.

[Matt Linton]

Oh, and the granddaddy of them all; the thief who robs the TV station where Spider-Man is appearing, and who Peter lets escape, somehow ends up in Queens and robs the house where Peter lives, killing his Uncle Ben.

[ZT4]

It's logical in the context of OMD...the price paid for dealing with Mephisto is instantanious obstacles thrown into the supporting cast's lives as well as Peter's own.

[rZi]

Is this question serious? I mean of course it was done deliberatley, it adds to the drama or so slott thinks.

[beachball8]

I don't see how patronising me makes good "drama". And yes, it was a serious question.

[darksaint124]

I don't see how patronising me makes good "drama". And yes, it was a serious question.

It's Spider-Man, nothing is a coincidence. Curt Conners becomig the Lizard. Eddie Brock becoming Venom. Miles Warren becoming the Jackal. The list goes on and on.

[Mister Mets]

If it's a coincidence, it's no stranger than Curt Connors getting a job at ESU, a Daily Bugle reporter being revealed as the Big Man, the stuff others here have mentioned and things you'll see in fiction and non-fiction.

ZT4 makes an interesting case that this may be more than just a coincidence, if it's a result of Mephisto reshaping the world.

[Monty_Cristo]

in other words, who cares?

[JohnnyC]

I move for a hijacking of this thread for general discussion regarding Mr. Negative. Objections?

[ZT4]

in other words, who cares?

Don't be so negative

It's context baby!

[Monty_Cristo]

I move for a hijacking of this thread for general discussion regarding Mr. Negative. Objections?

none. carry on!


i can't wait to find out his origin.

[JohnnyC]

Yeah, and I'm not so sure that Li's as innocent as some people are making him out to be. I've heard an awful lot of readers think Mr. Negative is an alter ego, but didn't he change back into Martin mid-sentence during one issue? If that was the case (I can't be assed to look back at the moment) that would be quite a conscious change of character, no?

[Monty_Cristo]

Yeah, and I'm not so sure that Li's as innocent as some people are making him out to be. I've heard an awful lot of readers think Mr. Negative is an alter ego, but didn't he change back into Martin mid-sentence during one issue? If that was the case (I can't be assed to look back at the moment) that would be quite a conscious change of character, no?

yeah, i think Mr. Li is just his "cover"; like Wilson Fisk posed as a businessman most of the time.

[Mister Mets]

yeah, i think Mr. Li is just his "cover"; like Wilson Fisk posed as a businessman most of the time.That seems most likely.

Mister Negative did have an impressive debut (especially his three pages in the first part of BND). He's a fairly promising new villain and it's an interesting mystery as to why someone so vengeful and vicious would want to run a charity.

[Matt Linton]

My random-ass theory: Mr. Li is two people. He's twin brothers who were somehow joined so that only one exists at a time, and the bad one is the negative (like a photograph) of the other. Mr. Li does all of his charitable work to atone for the evil that his brother does.

If I'm right, I SO deserve a cookie.

[JohnnyC]

Matt, refer to my earlier post for my counterpoint.

[Matt Linton]

Referring back for counter-point

Yeah, and I'm not so sure that Li's as innocent as some people are making him out to be. I've heard an awful lot of readers think Mr. Negative is an alter ego, but didn't he change back into Martin mid-sentence during one issue? If that was the case (I can't be assed to look back at the moment) that would be quite a conscious change of character, no?

You could be right. I can be assed to look back at the moment, so I will.

Be right back.

[Matt Linton]

His last words as Mr. Negative are mid-transformation, and still in "Negative" font. Once he's Li he doesn't say anything.

[JohnnyC]

Oh, wow. Everything's still up in the air then. The plot thickens. :evilsmile

[Monty_Cristo]

a crimelord with a split personality would be interesting.

[Ullar]

It would be so awesome if Matts' theroy is right and yes would deserve a cookie. Anyone else think Mr. Negative is the best new villain in Spidey comics?

[JohnnyC]

Anyone else think Mr. Negative is the best new villain in Spidey comics?


Um...isn't his only competition Overdrive so far? Let's wait until Guggenheim's arc finishes up and then we can judge Mr. Negative against some legit new foes (well, just Menace, but Marvel's pimping the hell out of him as the next great villain).

[Monty_Cristo]

It would be so awesome if Matts' theroy is right and yes would deserve a cookie. Anyone else think Mr. Negative is the best new villain in Spidey comics?

he's the most stylish, imo. he would also translate well into a movie villain; should BND lead to that sort of thing.

[beachball8]

Any isn't the standard front for a Chinese gangster a Chinese Restaurant? Since when was it homeless shelters?

[JohnnyC]

Any isn't the standard front for a Chinese gangster a Chinese Restaurant? Since when was it homeless shelters?

Was that sarcasm?

[beachball8]

Was that sarcasm of a sarcasm?

[JohnnyC]

ARGH! What I meant was this: it seemed silly to ask why a Chinese gangster wouldn't operate out of a Chinese restauraunt. I mean, they can go to other places, you know.

[beachball8]

Well then why did u use the term "Chinese ganster"? The chinese can be other things to you know. Do you refer to Wilson Fisk as the white gangster? Dumbass.

[Ullar]

I meant including the JMS villains.

[sherlockbones]

Well then why did u use the term "Chinese ganster"? The chinese can be other things to you know. Do you refer to Wilson Fisk as the white gangster? Dumbass.

oh my, what a poor comparison. you do realize that there is a massive amount of crime fiction out there refering to italian, russian, chinese, irish, japanese, black gangsters and so on?

[Rahul]

Well, if he's gonna try and hit on Aunt May. He's gonna have to walk over Doc Ock's dead body(and maybe Jarvis' but I dont think he remembers)...

[ozvette]

He's a fairly promising new villain and it's an interesting mystery as to why someone so vengeful and vicious would want to run a charity.

As I said right after reading the first BND:


Vicious new villian in Mr Negative, kind of a Kingpin type, but I think he will be shown to live by a very closely held code of conduct, it may not be a good code, but I think he has his morals.

[Mister Mets]

It would be so awesome if Matts' theroy is right and yes would deserve a cookie. Anyone else think Mr. Negative is the best new villain in Spidey comics?He may be the best since Fusion (from Jenkins's Spider-Man.)


Seems one of the posters here has split personality....
Well then why did u use the term "Chinese ganster"? The chinese can be other things to you know. Do you refer to Wilson Fisk as the white gangster? Dumbass.

Because the guy who first used the term "chinese gangster" was....
Any isn't the standard front for a Chinese gangster a Chinese Restaurant? Since when was it homeless shelters?

[Sonicjuce]

He may be the best since Fusion (from Jenkins's Spider-Man.)

So Fusion was a good villain?

I think Mr. Negative is stupid. He is just another gang lord. Why not bring someone from that past back? I've never understood this drive to create new characters. We have a huge list of rogue villains who could all hold the mantel of being a new threat, and could have likely came up with this plot.

The only thing that did seem interesting was his henchman were intelligent. That was different.

Oh and haven't we seen split personality in a villain before? I don't think it would be all that interesting. I don't think it is what it is either (as dumb as that sentence sounds).

[rZi]

. Why not bring someone from that past back? I've never understood this drive to create new characters. We have a huge list of rogue villains who could all hold the mantel of being a new threat, and could have likely came up with this plot.

Another story with the vulutre or Doc oc or any other of the main spider-villians has been done to death, they want new villians to play around with. Plus it kind of makes BND more special, for example JMS's run was totemistic and thus had villians which were close to this theme...morlun and shatra etc.

[JohnnyC]

Wow...I just read beachball8's responses to my post and...wow. I'll just pretend that didn't happen.

Anyway, regarding the wisdom in introducing new villains, I personally think it's a great idea. They shouldn't overdo it, however, or it really will feel like a reboot.

[Matt Linton]

Each of the new writers is introducing a new villain, but Slott mentioned that his third arc (six issues, rumored to be with JRjr) features a classic villain.

[rZi]

Each of the new writers is introducing a new villain, but Slott mentioned that his third arc (six issues, rumored to be with JRjr) features a classic villain.

UGH! Is no-one else sick of jrjr? He's drawn TOO much spider-man, it's not even good!

As for the classic villians i was hoping instead of the 6 month rule of "no rogue gallery" it could be extended to 12.

[Mister Mets]

So Fusion was a good villain?

I think Mr. Negative is stupid. He is just another gang lord. Why not bring someone from that past back? I've never understood this drive to create new characters. We have a huge list of rogue villains who could all hold the mantel of being a new threat, and could have likely came up with this plot.

The only thing that did seem interesting was his henchman were intelligent. That was different.

Oh and haven't we seen split personality in a villain before? I don't think it would be all that interesting. I don't think it is what it is either (as dumb as that sentence sounds).I loved the hell out of Fusion, so I thought he was a great villain.

Regarding split personality, we don't yet know if that's the case with Mister Negative.

As for what I liked about him....
He has a great visual.
He's ruthless, with a moral code that still allows him to endanger children.
He's trying to fill a void in the crime world of the Marvel Universe, so he has a legitimate plan that takes into account guys like the Hood.
Plus, he has distinctive henchmen.

[Rahul]

I loved the hell out of Fusion, so I thought he was a great villain.

Regarding split personality, we don't yet know if that's the case with Mister Negative.

As for what I liked about him....
He has a great visual.
He's ruthless, with a moral code that still allows him to endanger children.
He's trying to fill a void in the crime world of the Marvel Universe, so he has a legitimate plan that takes into account guys like the Hood.
Plus, he has distinctive henchmen.
His only negative(pardon the pun) is that his dialogue was extremely lame as long as Slott continues to write him.

[Rahul]

double post....

[Matt Linton]

UGH! Is no-one else sick of jrjr? He's drawn TOO much spider-man, it's not even good!

As for the classic villians i was hoping instead of the 6 month rule of "no rogue gallery" it could be extended to 12.

You know, there's a reason he's drawn so much Spider-Man. And, no, it's not because of who his father is.