He could work as an Avenger, but I don't think the writers really know how to make him work in the team. One big problem for him is that fact that's he's so popular he tends to overshadow everyone else around him.
There are any number of characters rotting in limbo who can fill this role, characters who don't have three solo titles dedicated to the everyman concept.
Why is there no mention of that? Because last time I checked, the title of this thread was "Why don't you think Spider-Man should be an Avenger?" Not "Why don't you think Spider-Man should be married to a supermodel?"
And for the record, I've never been a big fan of the marriage or MJ in general. But why am I going to bring those things up in a thread that's not about that?
If you want, I could go through and list every single misstep over the years which I feel detracted from Spidey's character, but that would make for a very long post which I'm sure you wouldn't bother reading in the first place. So should we really go to all that trouble or should we just concentrate on one argument at a time?
Bendis clearly isn't shy about pushing characters that are rotting in limbo. He's pulling out characters from the 70's and making them his books center piece. So he's definately done his share in that regard.
So I don't think he should feel too bad about using a character he happens to like, even if that character is used elsewhere.
DC has been putting their biggest characters in the JLA since day one. I don't think Bendis is committing any sort of cardinal sin by doing it here.
If Spidey was still "outed" to the public and had no need to maintain an apartment, day-job and dual-life as a civillian/nephew/colleage then I'd be fine with him being on the Avengers.
But he barely has enough time in his own thrice-monthly book to get sh!t done as Spidey/Peter, let alone enough time to parade around with Norse Gods and American Icon's fighting Nu-Kang or whatevers coming next.
Let him hangout with the F4 from time to time, that's classic Spidey if anything. But let the Avengers be Avengers, the X-Men be X-Men and Spidey be Spidey.
If Iron Man can make time to be an Avenger (and he's a guy that simotanously ran a billion dollar company and was secretary of defense and director of SHIELD), then I think Peter Parker can in theory make the time. He's not the first character to balance a solo book with a team one.
It's not just a matter of time, it's the fact that it's hugely impractical too.
I can handle Spidey on New Avengers because nearly all their ninja battles and TV parties and yadayadayada happen in Manhattan anyway.
But when I think 'Avengers', I think globe-trotting, space-hopping, multi-dimesnional adventures. Well, that's what I like to think anyway.
Yeah, but you really have to look at Spider-Man's resume closely for a bit. Is there really anything he hasn't done? He's fought everyone. He's teamed up with everyone. He's done everything from battle the kingpin to Thanos.
Despite his street level status, he's been put in every dam situation imaginable. There's very little you can throw at Spider-Man today that wouldn't be covered territory.
Yup Spidey has been in space a bunch of times and been all over the globe.
He has fought most of the biggest names in the MU.
Plus on a power scale he is has the one of the best combos of speed, strength and agility in the verse. That would come in handy in a lot of situations beyond beating up muggers in central park.
Yeah, I think Spider-Man is often underrated because he underperforms against non metahuman martial artist. Anyone with the black belt in the MU has good showings against Peter... writers use the poor guy as a stepping stone.
But the flip side is that Spider-Man has had some very good credible showings against all the X-Men and all the Fantastic Four. A well written Spider-Man is a mid-level team buster all by himself.
The basic problem with Spider-Man is that he's there for his quips and his popularity, not for his strength, his heroism, or any other qualities specific to him. Any other hero who jokes (e.g., the Beast) could fill his spot, although he migh not be as popular. None of Bendis's ____ Avengers has been a group in which each person has a specific role on the team. They're nearly randomly selected bunches, with a few characters that he likes to write dialogue for among them.
SRS
Well...to be honest. If Spider-man hadn't been an Avenger. The green goblin would never have been this big of a villian.
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