The Big Question

[oldschool]

Don't think there is a thread on this: the big question to me on BND is will it last? I don't mean just a single Peter; I mean the tone and direction of the book? I wasn't so sure when the first chapter of BND hit but now, after reading the "SPidey Manifesto" in the new Swing Shift Directors Cut it sounds like these guys are dead set on having this be the new Status Quo for quite awhile and this will not be another "daring new direction" only to be undone once a new creator is on the scene. I could be wrong but I think Joe Q has made this a mission and the rotating creative setup seems to suggest it will be this way for the forseeable future.....thoughts??

[Leocomix]

I never had any doubt that this was going to last as close to forever as possible.

[Mister Mets]

Leocomix summed it up well. If it's a success, I think Marvel will keep it up as long as they can.

[Harlock]

I think this new status quo will last as long as Quesada is EiC. Or, it may not even last that long as formulaic fiction can get a bit boring so they may have to shake things up again. Or, it may prove so successful a formula that even a new EiC will view the formula as something with which not to tamper.

So, um, there you go. I should be a politician I am so middle of the road! The truth is sales will determine how long the BND formula or if you will, return to the good old days, lasts.

[rZi]

BND will last.

My head is so messed up on this...

I like a married spider-man

I like that he was unmasked and on the run

I liked the general status of ASM after CW/during BiB before OMD.

I liked that he was alone again, no help from tony (who's relationship was not fully explored/end) or anyone.

Now BND has gotten rid of all of that and i cannot ever see it being addressed unless a "what if?" is made of it which im sure it will

But on the other hand;

I like the new direction in some respect (fast pace storytelling)

The thrice monthly

New villians

The new creative teams

I kinda wish BND was set after Bib without the retcon aspect.

[ZT4]

Quesada will reunite Peter and MJ, BND is a lengthy event that simply tells of how Peter and MJ get there again in a context the company are happy with (As with US, they prefer much prefer MJ be TOLD Peter is Spider-Man). Accidently disovering who he is was admitedly a poor idea, but the mystery of HOW she knew Peter wasnt, she figured out by herself...it happens, that's about the only thing I'm pissed about. There insistent on no woman or man (except ambigious ones like Robbie and the ever persistent "does May know", or "did Gwen know?" hints you get) knowing who he is unless his fears come true.

BND is too ass-backwards to be long-term, but so long as it pulls in quality above the 1999 reboot, it's got good stability. BND has a clear direction, it's an event, and a title you're going to see for a long time.

If that event concludes at Issue 600 (not neccersarily the status quoe, even if I think that's a likely possibility), let's continue the habit of "umbrella" titles for arcs that run for close to two and a half years. This is similar to the "year" titles that the FOX cartoon had. Arcs like "Negoenic Nightmare", and "Partners In Danger"

[The Confessor]

I like a married spider-man

I like that he was unmasked and on the run

I liked the general status of ASM after CW/during BiB before OMD.

I liked that he was alone again, no help from tony (who's relationship was not fully explored/end) or anyone.


But on the other hand;

I like the new direction in some respect (fast pace storytelling)

The thrice monthly

New villians

The new creative teams


Man, I totally agree with you on all of these points. Well said!

I think BND (and by that I mean the erasing of the marriage and the unmasking etc, etc) will stick unless the sales of Amazing Spider-Man take a serious dive. I don't know if that will happen but that's why I, for one, am boycotting this title at the moment.

I suggest that anyone annoyed by the recent turn of events in ASM do the same. It's the only way to make your voice heard these days, use your power as a consumer to vote for a return to the pre-OMD status quo.

[philly]

Don't think there is a thread on this: the big question to me on BND is will it last? I don't mean just a single Peter; I mean the tone and direction of the book? I wasn't so sure when the first chapter of BND hit but now, after reading the "SPidey Manifesto" in the new Swing Shift Directors Cut it sounds like these guys are dead set on having this be the new Status Quo for quite awhile and this will not be another "daring new direction" only to be undone once a new creator is on the scene. I could be wrong but I think Joe Q has made this a mission and the rotating creative setup seems to suggest it will be this way for the forseeable future.....thoughts??

I give it a year tops when Joe Q tries save face and go back to where it was before OMD.

[matthewaos]

Man, I totally agree with you on all of these points. Well said!

I think BND (and by that I mean the erasing of the marriage and the unmasking etc, etc) will stick unless the sales of Amazing Spider-Man take a serious dive. I don't know if that will happen but that's why I, for one, am boycotting this title at the moment.

I suggest that anyone annoyed by the recent turn of events in ASM do the same. It's the only way to make your voice heard these days, use your power as a consumer to vote for a return to the pre-OMD status quo.

I hear you guys... I also like the three times a month, and when I saw preview art I was amazed. It's not that I don't like the writers, but half of them I don't trust them, but I could live with that, either way, I didn't like JMS but I kept buying. But a status like that... I can't stand it, sorry. That's why I'm also boycotting.

[Leocomix]

I give it a year tops when Joe Q tries save face and go back to where it was before OMD.

What you be willing to bet?

[oldschool]

I really think this will stick beyond a year regardless of sales one way or the other. Reason I think so is also why I think they "went back" to this status quo and that is that the character of Spidey is so much more important than the sales of the comics. Today, Marvel is concerned with Spidey the character for movies, TV's, merchandising out the wazoo that absolutely dwarfs what was done in the past (pick up the new "coffee table" book Spiderman: The Icon for some fun browsing). Yes, they always had Pez dispensers, toys, etc. But not on today's scale and now they are much more important than the comics since the titles today sell a fraction of what they did prior to the mid-90's regardless of creators and status quo. So, bottom line, I think Marvel is going to safeguard their prize cash cow and keep him away from the dark, gritty, eyeball-eating, mystical stories that defined a lot of the recent decade and get him back to what made him the cash cow in the first place. And, please, I am not debating which Spidey is "better" or who is now boycotting the books, just giving my opinions on the topic of whether this retcon will last longer than most others.

[Sonicjuce]

I don't honestly know.

I have said numerous times that I did not think ASM would see a sales decline. I still think that so in that sense than yes it will.

I do think eventually he will end up back with MJ. I just don't see them creating a greater character. So one day down the line Peter will remarry MJ.

[Endless Flight]

So basically in a year or two, we'll be back to square one again? :rolleyes:

[Kirayoshi]

Here's what I understand;

Various sources have indicated that the Next Big Arc(after Secret Invasion) will involve Marvel's magic users, with Mephisto as a major player. Last year's Major Arcanna hinted at something big on the horizon. Also, Mephisto appeared briefly in Marvel Knights' '4' at the end of the Salem Seven arc, with portents of something big happening.

While I like the idea of Spider-Man having fast-paced lighter stories, the whole 'shaking hands with Mephisto' thing is still the elephant in the living room for this book. Until that is addressed, I can't look at the BND without fearing the worst. Once it's addressed and dealt with, then hopefully we can enjoy the new direction.

Having said that, I still think that Joe Q's fix(eliminating the marriage) was unnessessary. The marriage wasn't the reason so many Spider-Man stories in recent years sucked. Trust me, the Clone Saga would have still sucked if Spider-Man was single at the time.

[Matt Linton]

I think we'll see Peter and MJ dating again, but I doubt we'll see them married.

[ZT4]

I think Marvel do love the marraige regardless of their grumblings, but they prefer to tell storylines that restore it or returned to stability. Whilst the writing wasnt good with Peter and MJ's seperation, the intention was good on paper.

And JMS wrote a good reunion, so now that theyve done the "reallistic" seperation well, they have to go to the fantasy route and Avengers-esque stuff to tell bigger and better chases

I dont think anyone's written them renewing their wedding vows:p

[Chino]

I think we'll see Peter and MJ dating again, but I doubt we'll see them married.

bingo.

nor will norman or harry ever die again.
marvels wanted to undo this stuff since it happened, joeq just pulled the trigger. its here to stay.

the key is bringing back mj as his gf at the right time and of course, simply telling (or re-telling) good stories. once this happens ppl will forget/ignore all this crap. i think the worst thing they can do is try to actualy explain it.

[Endless Flight]

I have this strong sense of deja vu right now.

[ZT4]

Well, if they devote a cult ongoing that addresses all the Clone Saga stuff they disown, as well as the daughter, I dont see why the inevitable, and extra, "What If..." can't help assure people it's time to move on.

In fact, two paralel Spidey titles with the same events happening in two self-contained Spidey titles ("Freindly Neighbourhood" and ASM) would be a much better game to play with fans. Keep the masked Spidey element, but show different outcomes of the deal. Dont have Jackpot and Harry in any other Marvel title but ASM, and have an unaltered present in FNS...and let fans guess which one is which, at least that way you can keep guys like Peter David, Jenkins etc writing stuff that there not currently going to do for a long time.

[Matt Linton]

It'd be kind of cool if they changed Spider-Man Family to a book that features stories with a married Peter and MJ.

[Leocomix]

Bargaining is the third stage of grief. Next come depression and acceptance. You're nearly there guys! Well done! (Unless my sarcasm sends you back to anger)

[Phil Hunn]

BND will last as long as sales support it.

How long that is, though, remains to be seen. Not that it makes much difference to me, of course, what with the only Spider-title I'll be buying from now on being Spider-Girl, but still...

[Mister Mets]

I think we'll see Peter and MJ dating again, but I doubt we'll see them married.We'll see them married once Marvel decides that Spider-Man's adventures in the Marvel Universe are coming to an end.

But I agree that if BND is a success, we'll probably never see anything as permanent as a marriage in the Spider-Man books, as long as his adventures are meant to continue indefinitely.

[Leocomix]

They are married in Spider-Girl but then this title has been flirting with cancellation for most of its history and I just don't believe all the people who say they will buy this one to show their support of the marriage. Who started buying it since OMD?

[Brand]

They are married in Spider-Girl but then this title has been flirting with cancellation for most of its history and I just don't believe all the people who say they will buy this one to show their support of the marriage. Who started buying it since OMD?

I have both ASG trades and I'm working on picking up all the SG digests now. That's money that ISN'T going towards ASM. I still have my subscription to USM for my Spider-Man fix, though I'm not overly fond of Immonen's art. Come back to us, Bagley! :p