CBR: Spider-Men: DeMatteis, Collins Talk Web-Slinging

**CBR News** · 10-25-2011, 09:58 AM

With their "Marvel Adventures Spider-Man " #19 hitting stores this week, veteran Spider-scribe J.M. DeMatteis and Marvel newcomer (and CBR contributor) Sean T. Collins discuss what makes Peter Parker tick.

Full article here.

**C. Earl** · 10-25-2011, 10:58 AM

There may be some people who wouldn't touch a book marked "all ages" with a ten-foot pole, but "Marvel Adventures Spider-man" is less a kiddie book and more like classic, "ole school" Spidey, IMO...

**chastmastr** · 10-25-2011, 11:04 AM

I love DeMatteis, but I hope this doesn't mean Tobin is off the book!

Or that the plot points he was working on will be abandoned or anything. (Love Chat and the teen Emma!!)

**kalorama** · 10-25-2011, 11:07 AM

I have to agree with DeMatteis' assertion that his Spectacular run with Buscema was his best work on the character. I was never a huge fan of the "Last Hunt" storyline or Zeck's Spider-Man work (although I liked his stuff in general).

**Sabrewulf** · 10-25-2011, 11:58 AM

Your kidding me. Is Marvel overflowing with so much talent that this is the only place they can find for a talent like DeMatteis. Dear god.

People tend not to buy these because they are out of continuity and comics are kind of too expensive to be throwing money away on books that they dont see as counting.

They also just throw it all away and restart the whole 'adventure' stuff every couple of years anyhow. It just makes it feel even more pointless.

If this is just aimed at kids then fine but Marvel really are misusing talent like DeMatteis.

Funny when I was a kid I could buy the books the grown ups were buying and those books kept me around for 30 years.

Still I guess Marvel must know what they are doing because they say so and readership is on the climb thanks to book likes these. Aren't they?

**chastmastr** · 10-25-2011, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by Sabrewulf

Your kidding me. Is Marvel overflowing with so much talent that this is the only place they can find for a talent like DeMatteis. Dear god.

I think it's a great place, actually, and I love the series.

People tend not to buy these because they are out of continuity and comics are kind of too expensive to be throwing money away on books that they dont see as counting.

Their loss.

They also just throw it all away and restart the whole 'adventure' stuff every couple of years anyhow.

I hope this won't happen with this. It's like the Ultimate Universe--its own continuity apart from 616--only, in my view, much more enjoyable.

If this is just aimed at kids then fine but Marvel really are misusing talent like DeMatteis.

It's all-ages, and not just for kids.

Funny when I was a kid I could buy the books the grown ups were buying and those books kept me around for 30 years.

Things have changed, alas. Unless (or until) the mainstream comics return to being accessible to a wider audience, this is what we have available.

Still I guess Marvel must know what they are doing because they say so and readership is on the climb thanks to book likes these. Aren't they?

I hope so. Personally, I'd love to see the Marvel Adventures line expand, though I also think the mainstream 616 universe is currently vastly better than it has been since mid-2004 or so.

**Blade X** · 10-25-2011, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Sabrewulf

Funny when I was a kid I could buy the books the grown ups were buying and those books kept me around for 30 years.

Well that's because those CCA approved Marvel books from 1961 to 2000 were written written in layers so that they could be both appealing and appropriated for people of all ages. While it can be debated if those CCA approved Marvel books from back then were true "all ages" comics (I personally think they were), it is pretty common knowledge that Marvel during those years made a conscious effort to make sure those books didn't go too far in regards to language,violence,and sex. Those books tried (and often succeeded) in pushing the envelope without making their books unsuitable for kids.

Still I guess Marvel must know what they are doing because they say so and readership is on the climb thanks to book likes these. Aren't they?

That's debatable.

**CyberHubbs** · 10-25-2011, 06:11 PM

I love how people argue that Mutant Massacre was suitable for kids just because it lacked a lot of gore. Forget that it basically had a teenage girl being hunted down and begging for her life before being killed at the beginning of the whole thing.

But what's important is that the blood wasn't red!

**pedroparkero** · 10-25-2011, 06:25 PM

just wishing spider-man adventures all the best

some issues were solid.

**Lee H** · 10-25-2011, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by CyberHubbs

I love how people argue that Mutant Massacre was suitable for kids just because it lacked a lot of gore. Forget that it basically had a teenage girl being hunted down and begging for her life before being killed at the beginning of the whole thing.

But what's important is that the blood wasn't red!

Sounds like the opening of a Doctor Who episode. I can't comment on Mutant Massacre specifically because I haven't read it, but don't undersell the difference presentation can make.

**Blade X** · 10-25-2011, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by CyberHubbs

I love how people argue that Mutant Massacre was suitable for kids just because it lacked a lot of gore. Forget that it basically had a teenage girl being hunted down and begging for her life before being killed at the beginning of the whole thing.

But what's important is that the blood wasn't red!

MUTANT MASSACRE was a LAYERED ALL AGES that was both suitable for and appealing to people of all ages on many different levels. Just because something is aimed at all ages, doesn't mean it has to be over sanitized and/or talk down to the readers.

**CyberHubbs** · 10-25-2011, 09:46 PM

I'm sure someone must have found a roomful of homeless children getting slaughtered appealing, certainly.

**Nova2814.1** · 10-26-2011, 01:12 AM

Originally Posted by kalorama

I have to agree with DeMatteis' assertion that his Spectacular run with Buscema was his best work on the character. I was never a huge fan of the "Last Hunt" storyline or Zeck's Spider-Man work (although I liked his stuff in general).

His Spectacular Spider-Man #200 was the first US Spider-Man comic I bought, and I loved it. I hadn't read any previous issues and only had a passing familiarity with Spider-Man's overall story, but it was a great example of an issue that could appeal to new and current readers. Unfortunately, I was never able to get any other issues. At that time, beyond a few new series, newsagents only sold the US anniversary comics as special one shots. For a long while my Avengers collection consisted of just #360, 363, 366, 369 and 375!

**charlesthehammer** · 10-26-2011, 02:26 AM

Originally Posted by Blade X

MUTANT MASSACRE was a LAYERED ALL AGES that was both suitable for and appealing to people of all ages on many different levels. Just because something is aimed at all ages, doesn't mean it has to be over sanitized and/or talk down to the readers.

Because having no blood and gore (during a massacre) isnt talking down to a person.