CBR: Cup O' Joe - Aug 5, 2011

[stephen wacker]

Race isn't a gimmick but exploiting a hot and controversial topic is. The big fanfair and patting on the back for having a black Spider-Man is absolutely gimmicky.

I mean, I hope the new USM isn't a gimmick. I think Bendis on USM is aces, I thought Pete's death was great and honestly think a great character deserves a great end rather then a descent and dilution into nothing more then a name, and I am excited to read about Miles. We will see what you Marvel cats do with the character.

What was the hot and controversial topic exactly? That different people exist? Stop the press!!

SW

[Deathcharge]

There are so many things I want to say to this post but I'll get banned so I won't.

Fyi marvel spokespeople has already confirmed that the new spidey isn't gay.

I didn't mean this as offensive post.. I am puertorrican and proud of it in my genes i am 1/3rd blk 1/3rd Wht and 1/3rd indian. I take this subject VERY seriously. I understand this is a comic and it isn't real world but if they want to add diversity or mix things up he could have gone with making the character interesting without his reach being put into question. And if you don't agree just consider that there are way too many other ways they could have gone about it.

[Jackraow21]

Once all the hype around this dies down people will go back to their general apathy regarding the post-Ultimatum Ultimate line anyway. So I'd imagine this new Spider-man, gimmick or not, won't last long.

Not passing judgment on the issue of changing his race one way or the other, just pointing out that alternate universes which deviate sharply from the real Marvel Universe tend to lose steam after awhile and go away.

[Jackraow21]

If they really want Miles Morales to be a big deal they should introduce him in the real-deal Marvel Universe as a totally new character (i.e., not a replacement for Peter Parker). A younger kid who gets spider-powers somehow (but slightly different like Spider-woman's) and who could be Peter's protege and take on the mantle of the new Scarlet Spider or something like that. Let his popularity grow organically instead of shoving him down fandom's throat by replacing an already popular character with him. That's why it seems gimmicky to me.

[Blade X]

What makes you think Marvel doesn't want diversity? That's a lot of mind reading.

SW

Because there have been several cases over the last 10 years the only use you guys seem to have for non white minority characters is to either kill them off (and unlike their white counterparts, they stay dead),maim them,depower then,or turn them evil.

Then there is crap like the Blade's last ongoing series, in which you guys cut off Blade's hand and revealed that he is half white. You guys took one of the earliest black heroes (who also kicked off Hollywood's interests in comic book movies again) and made him half white. What the hell is up with that? I don't think that you guys would ever do that with a long standing white character.

[Blade X]

Race isn't a gimmick but exploiting a hot and controversial topic is. The big fanfair and patting on the back for having a black Spider-Man is absolutely gimmicky.

Quoted for the ever lovin truth.

[Blade X]

If they really want Miles Morales to be a big deal they should introduce him in the real-deal Marvel Universe as a totally new character (i.e., not a replacement for Peter Parker). A younger kid who gets spider-powers somehow (but slightly different like Spider-woman's) and who could be Peter's protege and take on the mantle of the new Scarlet Spider or something like that. Let his popularity grow organically instead of shoving him down fandom's throat by replacing an already popular character with him. That's why it seems gimmicky to me.

That's a great idea. Heck, they could use the Spider-Island story to do so.

[Blade X]

What was the hot and controversial topic exactly? That different people exist? Stop the press!!

SW

More like the ignorant mainstream news media thinking what you guys are doing is something "new" and "daring".

[Brian M.]

I'm looking forward to Ultimate Spider-Man, along with the rest of the Ultimate Universe relaunch. The new titles look very, very good.

[Blade X]

I don't think they had the same synergy that the current Marvel company does. In other words, tv people made tv shows, comic book people made comics. Now you see the comic book people all over the movies and tv shows.

Oh I can agree with you on that. However, those Spidey series that I listed were still made by Marvel.

[jyeager11]

All this bickering! I'm just glad Peter is gone, so I can finally have my own hero, a vegetarian Spiderman.

That joke was done the day news of the new Spider-Man broke.

[jyeager11]

Race isnt a gimmick. There are actual people in the world with brown skin in the world. I've seen it with my own eyes.

SW

There are also overweight people. In fact, there are more overweight people in the world than there are people who are in shape. If Marvel is all about fair representation -- and not cheap publicity stunts -- why isn't Miles 40 lbs overweight, like most of America is?

Because overweight can't be spun as sexy, that's why. Overweight doesn't sell. And this, first and foremost, is about sales.

Why not just own up to it? It would be easier for us to defend the decision if the people behind it were more honest about the motives behind it.

[stephen wacker]

There are also overweight people. In fact, there are more overweight people in the world than there are people who are in shape. If Marvel is all about fair representation -- and not cheap publicity stunts -- why isn't Miles 40 lbs overweight, like most of America is?

Because overweight can't be spun as sexy, that's why. Overweight doesn't sell. And this, first and foremost, is about sales.

Why not just own up to it? It would be easier for us to defend the decision if the people behind it were more honest about the motives behind it.

We can only make Miles who he is. he's not meant to be an example of every convenient trait you can dream up.

He's not overweight, but we do have other overweight characters if that's your interest.

(I hope your point wasn't something like "no black or hispanic characters until we have overweight characters" because that would be too cartoonish even for a message board.)

SW

[SpideyCzar]

I wish instead of wasting ink in the credits of each Marvel comic by stating who the CCO and Publisher were Marvel would credit the original creators in the credits. For Example have a 'Spider-Man created by Stan Lee and Steve Ditko' or FF created by Stan Lee & Jack Kirby. DC credits the characters original creators when will Marvel follow suit?

[Ramage]

I'd love to see an overweight superhero done seriously. Spandex costume and everything. Maybe a female hero with a muffin top Thatd be beyond awesome.