What To Do With "Web of Spiderman"?

[oldschool]

Wondering how long this latest title will last.....after all, it basically is blending ASM Family and ASM Extra, two titles that basically failed to generate much interest (even though Extra featured some of the best Spidey stories of past year). So it begs the question: if those titles failed, why will this succeed? Is Marvel hoping the "Web" name is the big difference-maker? And, if it doesn't make it, will there be another crack at a fourth monthly Spidey title? What do you guys think??

[HULKquist]

Unfortunately, I think the addition of Spider-Girl hurts the book. First, it reminds fans of the Phisty Proposal, and what was lost as the result. Second, it has no bearing whatsoever to what is going on in ASM. And third, it's still a setting in an "alternate future" of Spider-Man, so whatever is going on in HIS title has no bearing on her adventures as well.

But I do like the spotlight on the villains, and if that's a regular ongoing feature, I think this book has legs. I think the book could take a lesson from this and make a regular ongoing feature of POV stories from the supporting cast. I'd like to see a JJJ story in which he's not portrayed as such a buffoon, for instance.

[JZ040488]

i didn't like the first issue one bit. that saying a lot considering i pretty much nevner have a problem witha spidey title

[whiteshark]

I think it will be a title that last.

It`s worth in content alone,it have the Spider-Girl stories for fans of that title or fans that never read it before but are willing to read it now (as myself).
It have the new concept of the first stories focusing in villains,this concept by itself is original enough to last,since those kind of stories were never done before,and keeping in mind the interesting villains Spider-Man have is worth reading.
And to the completist is the title to read,to have more detailed info about the main plots in ASM.

[Mister Mets]

Anthology titles usually don't do too well, so I'm not very optimistic about Web's future.

I think one of its current flaws is that each issue has material crafted for two segments of the fanbase for which there isn't a lot of overlap: the Spider-Girl fans willing to pay four bucks an issue for 16 pages of new material, and the people who enjoy Amazing Spider-Man so much three issues a month isn't enough.

If Web doesn't worth, I think it may be worth it to relaunch the title as Web of Spider-Girl. There could still be Spider-Man stories like the McKeever/ (Stephanie) Buscema collaboration, but it has to be stuff that can fit in the history of the MC2 world.

It would make sense to hire Roger Stern and JM Dematteis to tell new stories in the MC2 universe, in addition to Defalco's stuff, as both writers have expressed their appreciation for the title. and write in a similar style. Plus, they appeal to old-school (or at least, 80s and 90s) Marvel fans, who seem to be the core audience for Spider-Girl.

[Farmernudie]

I just don't see this title lasting long at all.

One, it is set in OMD/BND continuity.

Two, it has a lot of "mini" stories, per say, going on in it.

Three, Marvel has less fans than before buying spidey, and more of it,...thus, i doubt these fewer customers are going to shell out even MORE money for a fourth title.

Otherwise...i would LOVE an actual "WEB OF" title, if done properly, and if they cared about me as a customer, and provided 616 spidey in full continuity in this book. Again, they've lost ME at least, a very long time loyal customer, who will not be buying this.

So, really, imo, it depends on those fewer customers they're catering to, and if they'll be willing to buy even MORE.

[oldschool]

Originally Posted by Mister Mets

Anthology titles usually don't do too well, so I'm not very optimistic about Web's future.

I think one of its current flaws is that each issue has material crafted for two segments of the fanbase for which there isn't a lot of overlap: the Spider-Girl fans willing to pay four bucks an issue for 16 pages of new material, and the people who enjoy Amazing Spider-Man so much three issues a month isn't enough.

If Web doesn't worth, I think it may be worth it to relaunch the title as Web of Spider-Girl. There could still be Spider-Man stories like the McKeever/ (Stephanie) Buscema collaboration, but it has to be stuff that can fit in the history of the MC2 world.

It would make sense to hire Roger Stern and JM Dematteis to tell new stories in the MC2 universe, in addition to Defalco's stuff, as both writers have expressed their appreciation for the title. and write in a similar style. Plus, they appeal to old-school (or at least, 80s and 90s) Marvel fans, who seem to be the core audience for Spider-Girl.

I think Mets is on to something with the idea to hire a big fan fave like Stern or Dematteis as the hook to lure a big fanbase in each and every month and drop the idea of rotating creators; you can then keep the anthology format and still draw a loyal segment to the book each and every month. It may not be huge but at least you can bank on it.

[Theophilus]

Originally Posted by oldschool

I think Mets is on to something with the idea to hire a big fan fave like Stern or Dematteis as the hook to lure a big fanbase in each and every month and drop the idea of rotating creators; you can then keep the anthology format and still draw a loyal segment to the book each and every month. It may not be huge but at least you can bank on it.

You hire DeMatteis fulltime, I think it would be wise to give him something he passionately cares about--Ben Reilly. Let him have take the character where he sees fit.

[Mister Mets]

Originally Posted by Theophilus

You hire DeMatteis fulltime, I think it would be wise to give him something he passionately cares about--Ben Reilly. Let him have take the character where he sees fit.

This could definitely work. Either an "Untold Tales of Ben Reilly" which somehow ties into the MC2 Universe, or an exploration of a "What If?" world in which the clone survived.

Originally Posted by oldschool

I think Mets is on to something with the idea to hire a big fan fave like Stern or Dematteis as the hook to lure a big fanbase in each and every month and drop the idea of rotating creators; you can then keep the anthology format and still draw a loyal segment to the book each and every month. It may not be huge but at least you can bank on it.

To clarify, I suspect a problem with the current approach is that it's a half-hearted appeal to two radically different fan-bases.

I think they may have more success making one base of fans very happy, then the current approach which ensures mixed results and less enthusiasm for two groups. So all creative team decisions should be based on making the best possible product for the Spider-Girl fans, a group that consists of fans of 80s/ 90s Marvel (for whom Dematteis and Stern will be enticing) and younger readers (for whom Stephanie Buscema's work may be appealing.)

This is not to suggest that Marvel should stop trying to make money off of the current Amazing Spider-Man fans. But I don't think this book is the way to do it.

[Mister Mets]

Originally Posted by Farmernudie

I just don't see this title lasting long at all.

One, it is set in OMD/BND continuity.

Two, it has a lot of "mini" stories, per say, going on in it.

Three, Marvel has less fans than before buying spidey, and more of it,...thus, i doubt these fewer customers are going to shell out even MORE money for a fourth title.

Otherwise...i would LOVE an actual "WEB OF" title, if done properly, and if they cared about me as a customer, and provided 616 spidey in full continuity in this book. Again, they've lost ME at least, a very long time loyal customer, who will not be buying this.

So, really, imo, it depends on those fewer customers they're catering to, and if they'll be willing to buy even MORE.

The OMD/ BND continuity is the 616 continuity.

And Amazing Spider-Man outsells all the other Spider-Man "universes" including Ultimate (even with the recent relaunch), the Clone Saga mini-series and every iteration of Spider-Girl.

[Theophilus]

Originally Posted by Mister Mets

This could definitely work. Either an "Untold Tales of Ben Reilly" which somehow ties into the MC2 Universe, or an exploration of a "What If?" world in which the clone survived.

I think setting the title in an alternate universe sets it up for failure.

Ben Reilly's return should be significant. Marvel needs to strike while the iron is hot.

[steveg887]

I like the idea of DeMatteis on the title. A Spider-Man Forever type series that explores the story of Peter Parker being the real clone and Ben Reilly taking over as Spider-Man could give people averse to the current status quo a good alternative.

[Theophilus]

Originally Posted by steveg887

I like the idea of DeMatteis on the title. A Spider-Man Forever type series that explores the story of Peter Parker being the real clone and Ben Reilly taking over as Spider-Man could give people averse to the current status quo a good alternative.

Or a title set in current continuity that explores Ben Reilly. Peter need not even know he's alive for it to work.

[steveg887]

Originally Posted by Theophilus

Or a title set in current continuity that explores Ben Reilly. Peter need not even know he's alive for it to work.

A title set in current continuity would definitely have more of an appeal, but DeMatteis would have to work some magic in order to revive a pile of dust.

[coconutphone]

Oh they've pulled off resurrections with less. The pile of dust re-formed eventually and the clone re-grew rapidly or someone makes a new clone from a sample and it happens to have the same meories etc. We're already stretching the bounds of reality as it is. An easy breezy resurrection would be quickly accpeted by most and then they can move on and away form it just as fast.

Get someone (like JDM) who really loves Ben writing it and I'd probably be all over it.