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The goings-on going on...
2008-03-21 15:38:50

ASM #562 cover by McKone, Lanning and Cox

ASM #560 by Martin and Rodriguez.

ASM #568 by Romita Jr., Janson & White.

My desk.

My wall.

My Brennan.

{Originally there was a paragraph here apologizing for the lack of updates the last couple weeks, but as I finished I realized none of you probably care, so I took it out. As an apology enjoy this first look at a colored John Romita Jr. page from this summer's blockbuster NEW WAYS TO DIE by Johnny and Slott.}

I'm gonna give you a peek behind the curtains and let ya know some of the stuff that we've been dealing with this week.

-Letters! We get a lot of e-mails everyday to the Spidey e-mail address and this week is no different. Some very negative, some very positive and a good chunk of folks right in the middle. What's interesting is that we get mail from literally every continent. Spidey is certainly global which is no surprise given the reach of the movies, but it is great to see.

-We also have started to get written mail too, which is a rarity nowadays. We don't get as many of these as we do e-mail, but it's growing. The snail mail also tends to skew younger. Not sure why that is.

I have about two dozen letters in front of me I'm going to take home this weekend and type up if they're good for printing. (Envelopes with Spidey drawings on them always get read first.)

-I have a script here for a special Spider-Man Secret Invasion story that should get people talking. It leads into this year's Annual and it's coming together to be a pretty powerful story. It features one of our supporting cast in a central role and is written by Brian Reed who I've been working on Captain Marvel and Ms. Marvel with for the last few months. Brian's been central to the planning of Secret Invasion over the last couple years, so it's helpful to have him on this book. It's got a lotta redhead in it.

-In Los Angeles last week, we announced that Joe Kelly is going to be writing a couple issues of Amazing later in the year. Before that though, he's going to do a short story in an upcoming Spider-Man Special that gives you a new look at the history of one of my favorite Spidey villains. This will lead right back into Amazing and lay some groundwork connecting this classic villain with our new stories.

I now have his first script in hand and it's a better than I expected. Joe hasn't worked at Marvel in several years, but I expect him to make a big splash with this return.

-I have a sticky note reminder to send flowers to Slott as an apology for posting a sketch of his a couple weeks back in an earlier entry. he was pretty steamed. Whatever. I can fire him.

-Marc Guggenheim has sent in a revised script for the first part of an important three part story starting in July. Phil Jimenez (who is really an idea factory and the kind of artist obsessed with story) is drawing it and brought a couple ideas to the table that Marc has really embraced, Guggenheim went back and rethought huge sections of the already completed script to take these ideas into account and made a strong script even stronger.

The Spidey writers do this kind of extra work a lot and while I'm always the one concerned about deadlines and getting these things out every week, I have to appreciate the way the team digs in to get these issues the way they want them. With all the writers (plus me, Brevoort and Brennan), there are a lot of chefs, but everyone's done a spectacular job checking any egos at the door and realizing the final comic is all that's important. If you have to tweak something at the 11th hour, that makes the story better, it's worth taking the time (if ya have any left).

All right, that's all for now. Enjoy the pictures of my desk and a disappointed Tom Brennan (who wishes I weren't taking time to do this since there's so much craziness around me in the office today).

-Wacker

Great pictures
Great JRJR picture. I can't wait to see him do spider-man again.

Posted by aapalsmei on 2008-03-21 16:36:52

I want a Brennan too. You should give one free with every copy.

Posted by Fetsur on 2008-03-21 16:50:05

Good to hear that another arc by Phil Jimenez is coming and I'm really looking forward to John Romita junior's return to Spider-Man.
Same counts for Kelly, McKone and Martinez upcomming work. Altough I've been somewhat disapointed with Brand New Day, I can say that the future is looking bright.

Posted by medard on 2008-03-22 03:14:46

Need to step up the art
Not only do these guys not really sell, but besides Romita Jr., the others aren't anybody's favorite. I like Kitson, but McKone and Miller are supposed to excite me?

May I suggest:

Marc Silvestri
David Finch
Art Adams
Joe Mad
Dale Keown
Greg Capullo

Posted by Dusty. on 2008-03-22 12:47:29

ya know, i'm not one to bash an attempt at something new with a classic character. though I have to admit, i'm not really on board with the Brand New Day storyline.

main reason? my idea of a hero doesn't make deals with the devil. well, at least not heroes like Spider-Man. Ghost Rider has his reasons. ;-)

I feel that there are other ways to put a 'spin' on the classic character, but I gotta give y'all credit for trying something like this. though I won't be picking up the single issues anymore (after this months run, see I tried to give it a chance) then chances are I may pick up a trade or two. maybe.

good luck with the future tales.

Posted by inhumansiike on 2008-03-22 21:11:12

Caution?
This isn't pertaining to Spider-Man himself, but the state of the title, I guess. I'm digging Brand New Day so far, and I'm interested to see where JJJ finds his place in the world without the Bugle. What I am a little worried about though, is the new continuity set up in Spider-Man regarding another title you are working on that it branches into, Ms. Marvel. A few months ago, Carol's publicist said that Jameson was starting up trouble for my favorite Superheroine, and I'm sure that that will be picked up again soon once the dangers of everything start to slow down a bit. But my question is how is he doing this if he no longer has control of the Bugle? I'm sure that you all have thought about this and I know that me saying this isn't some sort of revelation, but I hope that you guys aren't going to spoil any of the JJJ goodness in Spider-Man by telling us what he's up to down the line in Ms. Marvel, or by saying that Ms. Marvel (which is current with Secret Invasion continuity) happens before BND or Jonah's heart attack. That would be a pretty big buzzkill.

Posted by 616 Spider-Man on 2008-03-23 00:37:00

Letters
My guess would be that parents are now getting more and more paranoid with the internet and are reluctant to teach the younger kids how to use the computer, lest they get caught in the encroaching cesspool of reality.

That or the parents are just too busy using the computers themselves to do anything but hand paper and pencils to the kids.

Posted by PseudoSherlock on 2008-03-24 08:55:01

Spidey!!
BND has been great so far, and I really look forward to see where we are going next! These is a little something for everyone at the spidey office. Thanks for making spidey monthly!!

http://diaverik.deviantart.com/art/Spider-Man-BND-CAST-80949974

Hope you like!

Posted by diaverik on 2008-03-24 23:02:08

Frustration with BND
First, let me say that I am a huge, lifetime Spider-Man fan and would buy the book 30 times a month if you were so kind as to release it that frequently. However, the whole "Absolutely no one knows Spider-Man's identity. People remember that he unmasked during Civil War but no one really remembers who it was" thing is so frustrating. And in this past issue, you take it a step further by having Spider-Man talk to JJJ! You mean to tell me that someone as Spider-Obsessed and who has daily interactions with the very man who unmasked doesn't remember the unmasking!? As heartbreaking as it would be, I am almost at the point of taking it off the reserve list. Please do something!

Posted by acorcione on 2008-03-25 23:18:41

Blah blah choke on your retcon.

Maybe reed can teach you how to write good comics. Miss Marvel Rocks!

Posted by Seru1 on 2008-03-26 20:24:43

Hey Steve Wacker and Tom Brennan, you need to take a lesson from the editor of Ms. Marvel and learn how to make a good comic for a change.

Go talk to Steve Wacker and Tom Brennan who edit Ms. Marvel. And when you talk to him tell them hi from me.

Posted by bigdaddyhub2 on 2008-03-27 09:35:41

Gawd I hope this gets better soon...
I'm sorry to day, but there are so many things about this BND arc that are frustrating. Plot holes big enough for Galactus to fit through, cheap new villains (Freak and Menace- ugh! Though I'd like to see more on Mr. Negative) and worst of the worst- no M-J- unless you count the obvious Ms. Jackpot. I'm sorely disappointed.

I've been trying to give it a shot, but every month just seems to get harder and harder to shell out cash for a book I can no longer truly enjoy. Now, it has become simply a case of keeping up with continuity in the hopes of finding some niche where I can fit my own story-line that I've been working on. Yes, I AM an aspiring writer, so Steve and Tom, if you're reading this, I've got some GREAT ideas for you guys that just might save this sinking ship!

Posted by MsMarvelDuckie on 2008-03-27 17:37:16

Keep it up!
Hey Guys--

Have really enjoyed the last two months plus of BND--Spidey looks better than ever and Pete's day to day adventures have really caught me up! Really love the idea of featuring three issue runs with a different staff at the helm--it is particularly interesting to see each new vision play out but advancing the overall story--look forward to more JJJ subplots, so keep im coming!!

Posted by iluvshelly1 on 2008-04-01 08:22:38

Array

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About this blog:
Freshly spun news and previews from the office of the Amazing Spider-Man

About the author:
Editor "Simperin" Steve Wacker and assistant editor "Typin" Tom Brennan take time out from bringing you Amazing Spider-Man thrice monthly and indulge your need to know everything now!!!