Marvel's Official Answer to "Who is Alpha?" (spoilers)

[stillanerd]

Remember the promo for the upcoming 50th Anniversary issue in Amazing Spider-Man #692?



Well, it looks like Fox has gotten the exclusive from Marvel themselves as to who Alpha is. Get ready because apparently Alpha is...

...Spider-Man's new kid sidekick.

That's right. Spider-Man is getting his own version of Robin. As quoted in the article:

Meet Alpha, a 15-year-old teenager named Andy Macguire who becomes the Spidey’s protégé in Marvel’s upcoming "Amazing Spider-Man No. 692." The issue, which will be released in August, celebrates Spider-Man’s 50th anniversary while introducing Alpha/Andy to the world in a story that pays homage to the Webslinger’s 1962 origin.

In this story, we find that Peter Parker's days as photographer for the Daily Bugle are behind him and he's now a scientist at a research firm. Andy is part of a student field trip that visits Parker's lab. He's in the wrong place (or perhaps the right place) at the wrong time when Parker's invention malfunctions and zaps him with great power. Parker - haunted by the way he got his own super abilities and how his failure to use them led to the murder of his beloved Uncle Ben so many years ago - feels an even greater responsibility to help young Andy. He feels he must help him discover his powers and teach him how to use them responsibly.

And apparently, Andy Macguire (hmm...a combination of Andrew Garfield and Tobey Maguire Oh, brother.) is supposedly more "confident," "brash" and "powerful" than Spidey. Oh and if you think "doesn't this make Spider-Man seem older?" Well apparently that's the whole idea according to Axel Alonso:

"Part of it is that Spider-Man is grown up," said Axel Alonso, editor-in-chief of Marvel Entertainment. "He's older, more seasoned, but young at heart. He's still a young man, but he's been around. It's interesting because it flips the paradigm. Teen hero Spider-Man is now responsible for this teen hero sidekick. He's responsible because one of his inventions caused this kid to get his powers. He's directly responsible for the responsibility this kid now has with his new powers. He feels he has a responsibility to make sure this kid walks the right path, which won't prove easy."

So does this mean we're going to be getting ANOTHER Spider-Man title now to compete with Batman and Robin? You can read the full article here: http://nation.foxnews.com/spider-man/2012/06/26/exclusive-spider-man-get-amazing-sidekick

[Wombat 909]

The initial idea sounds horrible though I'm willing to give it a chance. It could be interesting. Maybe. We''l have to read it for the full verdict. Considering the ominous hints we've had that this is 'Peter Parker's final year, you don't think they're going to replace him with this new kid? I highly doubt it but I'm throwing it out there, as speculation.

[K-Box]

But Peter Parker still isn't allowed to be married, because that ages the character too much and removes him too far from his roots.

[DarkKnightJared]

...That honestly kinda interests me. Wasn't at all what I was expecting, and I'm kind-of curious to see where it goes.

[remoteman]

It's a solid idea and at the very least will bring something new to the table. As long as 'Alpha' is a well rounded, engaging character I think that this is something that could work very well. I can see him becoming a villain too, hence becoming another one of Peter's big failures without having to burden him with yet another death on his conscience.

[Donomark]

I'm actually down for this idea. I've always liked sidekicks, and I think it's a very intriguing premise to give Spider-Man one. That said, I have zero faith in Slott handling it to the best of its potential. I'm still really interested though.

[NickMB]

I'm not sure I see it lasting forever, it seems likely Alpha will end up a villain, leaving Peter feeling guilty about failing to "save" him from that path. Maybe en route there will be a Knightfall-esque story in which Peter is somehow incapacitated and Alpha takes over for a bit, before he proves to be unsuitable and Peter has to take him down. But it's certainly got the obvious responsibility theme in it, and there's still room for twists and turns along the way. Or hell, maybe I'm wrong and Slott will do something completely different.

But if Alpha takes over as Spider-Man in ASM #700, it would certainly provide that massive can't-be-ignored change that Slott has been talking about in interviews.

[Tonyd117]

I am so glad I dropped ASM...a sidekick? Seriously?

[The hooted hoodlum]

If this is not proof positive that Spider-Man needs a creative house cleaning, then i don't know what is.

[herbiepopnecker]

I am so glad I dropped ASM...a sidekick? Seriously?

You and me both.
Gawd, those people get dumber/more desperate/dumber all the time.

[herbiepopnecker]

It's a solid idea and at the very least will bring something new to the table. As long as 'Alpha' is a well rounded, engaging character I think that this is something that could work very well. I can see him becoming a villain too, hence becoming another one of Peter's big failures without having to burden him with yet another death on his conscience.

Won't he feel responsible for the death of real creativity?

[Phantom Roxas]

But Peter Parker still isn't allowed to be married, because that ages the character too much and removes him too far from his roots.

This. Especially glaring is that Alonso specifically cites Peter's growth as a reason for why this whole sidekick thing can work.

If this is not proof positive that Spider-Man needs a creative house cleaning, then i don't know what is.

Can we start by getting Brevoort or Quesada as far away from ASM as possible and replacing Ramos with Jim Cheung?

[herbiepopnecker]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what is known as
jumping
the
shark.

[NickMB]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what is known as
jumping
the
shark.

It seems a fairly reasonable idea for a Spider-Man story, it's one that hasn't been done to death before, it fits with Slott's ongoing thread of Spider-Man getting more acceptance as a superhero. At least a couple of Delta House members have commented that it could be an interesting story idea, even if they worry Slott won't execute it well. I don't see how it's that big an obvious shark-jump.

Obviously, it could still be a disaster if done badly, but I see nothing in the premise that screams "TERRIBLE AWFUL IDEA".

[Donomark]

And this, ladies and gentlemen, is what is known as
jumping
the
shark.

It seems a fairly reasonable idea for a Spider-Man story, it's one that hasn't been done to death before, it fits with Slott's ongoing thread of Spider-Man getting more acceptance as a superhero. At least a couple of Delta House members have commented that it could be an interesting story idea, even if they worry Slott won't execute it well. I don't see how it's that big an obvious shark-jump.

Obviously, it could still be a disaster if done badly, but I see nothing in the premise that screams "TERRIBLE AWFUL IDEA".

Yeah I think the whole "THIS IS UNCREATIVE/HOUSE OF IDEAS MY ASS" mentality is taking it too far in terms of critique. Marvel rarely has sidekicks, and I think out of most Super Heroes, Spider-Man would prove to be an excellent mentor for a young hero...most of the time.

It's not a wholly original idea in and of itself, but it's not the most uncreative idea ever.