What do you think of the idea of a younger Aunt May?

[Jim Thompson]

I don't know that I'm speaking for myself Jim...Sales show that most books slowly drop off after the first three issues until they hopefully maintain at that point. USM has slowly dropped sales since it started with the new direction. It has maintained at it's lowest sales numbers for some time. At least last I checked.

I'm not sure that'd prove your point that people give Bendis longer to get a character/direction established.

[Chris S.]

I'm not sure that'd prove your point that people give Bendis longer to get a character/direction established.

I suppose it doesn't.... My main point is that 20 issues is not early in a books life. When most satellite books don't last more than a few years at best, it makes you pause when looking at Bendis' new direction. USM is kind of a unique instance though.

[Jim Thompson]

I suppose it doesn't.... My main point is that 20 issues is not early in a books life. When most satellite books don't last more than a few years at best, it makes you pause when looking at Bendis' new direction. USM is kind of a unique instance though.

Well, it can be argued, I think, that Ultimate Spider-Man has gone well beyond the 30 issue lifespan of the comics you're comparing the book against.

[Chris S.]

Well, it can be argued, I think, that Ultimate Spider-Man has gone well beyond the 30 issue lifespan of the comics you're comparing the book against.

We are way off topic here...

But USM is under a new direction/volume. Thus I feel like it falls into that category.

[Jim Thompson]

We are way off topic here...

But USM is under a new direction/volume. Thus I feel like it falls into that category.

Yeah, I can see that -- I guess I just don't look at it that way. Just because Amazing has ended, for example, doesn't mean Spider-Man's story is done, I guess is more the way I look at it.

[jphamlore]

Marvel DID have its very best at the time Mark Millar write about a much younger May. The miniseries was called Trouble ...

[Chris S.]

Yeah, I can see that -- I guess I just don't look at it that way. Just because Amazing has ended, for example, doesn't mean Spider-Man's story is done, I guess is more the way I look at it.

Oh I agree a hundredfold on that.

But Volume 1 and 2 of USM ended with the death of Peter Parker. Yes Spider-Man is still going, but it is a very different Spider-Man. Thus I feel like it is a very different book. Heck the supporting cast is drastically different minus a few odd cameos here and there.