In probably one of the worst kept secrets in comics, the one true Peter Parker is set to return to comics after taking a year sabbatical just in time for the launch of his new movie. Last year's "BIG" headline was the death of Peter Parker where we saw Parker's arch-nemesis Doctor Octopus cheat death himself by replacing Parker's consciousness with his own and becoming the "Superior" Spider-Man. The story was by Dan Slott, who despite giving us a pretty interesting story, took a lot of guff online from hardcore Spidey fans for the maneuver. Well now Marvel looks to set things right by returning the real Peter Parker as the one-true Amazing Spider-Man.
Though news actually leaked out last week when the cover for the new Amazing Spider-Man #1 appeared online from the cover of an upcoming Previews magazine, it has now been officially confirmed. According to
The NY Daily News Marvel will kick off a new Marvel Now Amazing Spider-Man title in April which will be written by Dan Slott and artist Humberto Ramos.
Slot himself took to social media this weekend to hype the news by "warning" fans to be weary of some major Superior Spider-Man spoilers that are set to be revealed by a corporate media site, which he admits was given the spoilerish scoop in order to try and build up hype and hopefully increase sales for the Spider-Man titles.
He tells fans of
Facebook, "This Sunday, January 12th there will be some BIG Superior Spider-Man SPOILERS on news & comic news sites."
He goes on further on his
blog to explain why companies like Marvel release these "SPOILER" plot line before their actual release:
"Question: Why spoil something in major news outlets BEFORE new comic Weds?
Simple answer: To drum up interest for potential all-new comic readers and to get the word out to lapsed comic readers.
In order to survive, adapt, and thrive the comic book market needs new readers.
While the characters are alive and well in movies, cartoons, video games and other media, that doesn't always translate to new/potential readers taking the initiative to go into a direct market comic shop-- or surf to a digital site, download a comic reading app, and then download a digital comic.
But character awareness IS out there with the world at large-- whether its people who saw THE AVENGERS in the theaters, viewers who watch WALKING DEAD on TV, or gamers who've played an ARKHAM ASYLUM console game. And a news story about a major development with a major character might just be the thing that gets that potential new reader to go into that shop later that week.
We fans who read stuff on the day are already primed to sites and stories-- we already have our Wednesday comic book day rituals down. Not everyone else is in the same boat.
Wish it wasn't the case, but sometimes stories that break in the mainstream early are a necessary evil in order to get new blood into an industry that needs it. Those extra sales will help books that you enjoy thrive. Those extra potential customers will also be exposed to OTHER mainstream and indie comics while they're there. And, in the end, that's a good thing for everyone, right?
Spoilers on comic sites and comic gossip sites though, IMO, do more harm. They're aimed squarely at the audience we already have-- you don't really get the potential gain of new readership-- and you give away major surprises/reveals that could have made those comics MORE enjoyable for the people who were already going to read them anyway.
That's my take on it all."
I am pretty sure most of us knew the day Marvel tried to say Spider-Man was dead that Peter would be back eventually, and as I mentioned before the Superior Spider-Man story has actually been really good, but do you think comic companies do more harm than good with these so called "publicity stunt" type stories. There is no doubt they give a title a temporary boost in sales, but in the long run do you think it drives more readers away than attracts? Let us know what you think below.