The End of Dan Slott?

30 Comments

1. But we have Superior GUARANTEED up to #24 (Venom cover)- and already advertised on the Marvel website. At the same time, Peter is back as Spidey in the Marvel Knights and Amazing 700.5 versions. I can’t be the only person who, at this point, would be massively disappointed were Parker to come back to the “real” Spidey title, and Superior be canned. Personally, I reckon we’re good to at least #50.

   Steev

2. I looked up Dan Slott’s twitter feed. He says that Superior Spider Man is the best-selling Marvel comic out right now. But by pushing the release date of #19 all the way back to October 16, people will forget about the series very quickly. And personally, I only read Superior for two reasons: one, to see when Peter is coming back (at this point, Pete’s return is inevitable), and two, to make sure I stay in touch with the Spidey mythos when Pete does return. And honestly, at the rate this series is going, only the Carlie/Wraith storyline is understandable. So please Dan, bring back Pete, before you end your run. Otherwise, there won’t be an audience before “The End”.

3. Is anyone else getting annoyed with seeing all of these? Are we supposed to get excited from seeing one word?

4. #22

   “All that demonstrates is that the current industry usually works in that way-sales keep slipping and slipping until the next event story, creative change or variant cover.”

   Not talking about the current industry. I’m talking about Spider-Man right now. It does not need a 3D cover gimmick because the whole storyline is a gimmick.

   “It doesn’t say anything in particular about the quality of Superior Spider-Man either way.”

   It does say however that the only reason people took notice of Spider-Man now is because he died. Its Captain America and Superman all over again and notice that sales took a drop once those storylines for them had ended.

   #25

   “I think you may find that the reason Superior sells as many as it does, is because it’s a brilliantly-written book that has built on the fantastic work Slott (and friends) have been doing since BND.”

   If that’s your opinion….

   “Superior is a plotline. It was a stroke of genius on behalf of Marvel to spin it out into its own series and to “cancel” the old numbering.”

   You call that genius? Really? I have a bridge i want to sell you if you really think that but whatever…..I respect your opinion.

   “It’s comics, and as long as I get entertained every issue I care not one jot. ”

   If you are that easily entertain then good for you.

   #26

   “I’m sorry but I have to disagree with you about the sales slipping if Peter were to return.”

   Sales were not very good when Peter was there being written the way he was. BND and Big Time was evident of that.

   “Your whole argument about “Loser Peter” being a huge problem, well a lot of that was because of Dan Slott himself!”

   No, Dan was not responsible for that. He added to the horrible characterization but he was not responsible for that. That came from editorial wanting him to be a man child.

   “Now I’m not blaming Dan for ALL of the stories after One More Day but he did do a majority of them it seems and it can show how bad Dan can be in my opinion.”

   He did do a majority of the work but it still came from editorial on how the character should be written.

   “Also there have been interviews with artists who said that when they returned to work on Spider-Man, it didn’t feel the same anymore, so it’s safe to say that there are some writers who have been screwing up the character badly or just aren’t talented enough to handle this book.”

   I agree with you there. However you have to change the editorial staff and their mandate in order for things to get better.

   “If Peter Parker does return, I want Dan far away from him. We need either the old writers who used to work on his titles or some new writers who know how to tell a damn good story.”

   It would be in the step in the right direction but i doubt that will happen any time soon.

   “The character is not the problem, the writer is the problem.”

   The writer and the editorial mandate.

   “If Peter Parker really was such a terrible character that sales would be bad, then how come he’s one of the most popular characters in comic history and not in a discount bin like Blue Beetle?”

   Spider-Man will always be popular but i can find almost everything from “One More Day” to most of “Big Time” in discount bins.

5. Those that say it might mean the end of Spock might be right. Slott seems to be deconstructing what he did during his run (Horizon as Peter’s job; MJ and Peter; Norrah and phil working at the bugle; even aunt may isn’t around anymore) a little like Morrisson did before he left Batman. Basicaly, it might be a complete return to old the statu quo.

6. @ #22

   I’m sorry but I have to disagree with you about the sales slipping if Peter were to return. Your whole argument about “Loser Peter” being a huge problem, well a lot of that was because of Dan Slott himself! Now I’m not blaming Dan for ALL of the stories after One More Day but he did do a majority of them it seems and it can show how bad Dan can be in my opinion.

   Let me put it another way, Spider-Man has had a ton of different writers on his comic, a good handful of them being great writers bc they knew how to handle the character and keep the stories fun and exciting without…. oh… i don’t know…. killing people like Dan is known for I found out.

   Also there have been interviews with artists who said that when they returned to work on Spider-Man, it didn’t feel the same anymore, so it’s safe to say that there are some writers who have been screwing up the character badly or just aren’t talented enough to handle this book.

   If Peter Parker does return, I want Dan far away from him. We need either the old writers who used to work on his titles or some new writers who know how to tell a damn good story. The character is not the problem, the writer is the problem. If Peter Parker really was such a terrible character that sales would be bad, then how come he’s one of the most popular characters in comic history and not in a discount bin like Blue Beetle?

7. I think you may find that the reason Superior sells as many as it does, is because it’s a brilliantly-written book that has built on the fantastic work Slott (and friends) have been doing since BND. It’s brought people back to Spidey who haven’t read it in years. I know many long-term readers are put-out, but it’s the same long-term readers who get put-out over ANYTHING. The same ones who moaned endlessly and boringly online when Marvel Zombies became popular (“It’s obscene that Peter Parker should eat Aunt May! He’s a children’s hero!”).

   Superior is a plotline. It was a stroke of genius on behalf of Marvel to spin it out into its own series and to “cancel” the old numbering. It has resulted in thousands of column inches around the world, incredible sales and many people coming back to comics- but no one really believes it’s forever! Personally, I love it, and I would be happy for it to continue for as long as Slott can keep it going. I’m not sure I’d want it to continue without him- it’s very much his baby, his plotline (which why I’m wary of things such as Superior Team-Up, despite that comic being a lot of fun) and I think it should be entirely up to him to end it as and when he wants to.

   It would make me laugh heartily however, if he ended it by making the dominant personality to emerge that of Spidey 2099!

   It’s comics, and as long as I get entertained every issue I care not one jot. But I really hope Marvel do end the Ultimate line (which is surely what they have said they are doing, isn’t it?). As I say- what is the point of having a Spider-Man who isn’t Peter Parker, when the “real” Peter Parker is dead and gone anyway? Just what are they drawing a comparison to anymore? Start a new comic, with Parker and the cast of the movies- flog it to the people who see the films and then can’t find a comic that replicates the experience they enjoyed on screen (as is my problem with Avengers comics! I loved the movie and the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes cartoon- but can I find a comic that features those characters to buy? No I cannot.) and feel secure that you are then pleasing everyone!

   Steev

8. I hope (and believe) that they’re not going to get rid of the Ultimate Universe. There are fans that read only the Ultimate Comics and they would be losing a lot readers, even if they have done a sloppy job at the titles since Ultimate Fallout. It may be the Galactus crossover event like some of you mentioned but I don’t think they’re getting rid of UU. But since that event is already happening, I doubt they’d be referring to that.

   My theory is that there is going to be a Spider-related event soon that is going to have an effect on various titles. I’m basing this on the fact that both Venom (a title that, though it’s been through a rough patch for the last few months, I enjoy) and Scarlet Spider (a title that, though I haven’t read it yet, I hear lots of people raving about constantly) are both being cancelled. If they’re saying “The End” about Superior Spiderman and they’re cancelling both Spider-related titles around the same time, it might mean that we’re about to see an event that affects most Spider-related comics.

9. @22 All that demonstrates is that the current industry usually works in that way – sales keep slipping and slipping until the next event story, creative change or variant cover. It doesn’t say anything in particular about the quality of Superior Spider-Man either way.

10. #18

    “I thought the reference to Superior Spider-Man was positive. Slott seemed happy with it.”

    That was more criticism that praise. As for Slott, He’s happy to get his name mention any where.

    #11 “Superior is selling nearly 80,000 copies a month- with no recourse to 3D covers- and so is not going anywhere.”

    Considering that every book is hyped to hill as game changing by Marvel and the fact that the whole series is based on a gimmick, it does not need a 3D cover. Once the gimmick is over when Peter Parker returns, i doubt interest will stay high with the book. Once they return to the bad characterization of loser Peter and the parker luck, watch sales go right back down again. The reason it sells now is because of the hype of when peter is coming back and what Doc Ock is going to do in the mean time. You want a good example of this, look no further than the death of Superman and the reign of the Supermen. Once that ended, sales for the title slipped. You will see it here as well.

11. Sorry, I meant @18

12. @17 Well, Raj likes it, Howard doesn’t.

13. I just hope this is the end of Superior Spider-Man. I’m done with SpOck.

14. #17, I thought the reference to Superior Spider-Man was positive. Slott seemed happy with it.

    https://twitter.com/DanSlott/status/383390061594570752

15. In a moment of glorious splendor, The Big Bang Theory’s Howard Wollowitz openly derided the current SPock run….it was a beautiful moment…doesn’t matter how many issues sell….killing off an iconic character and replacing him with a serial killer was not a good idea. Having the top rated North American comedy series agree added some lovely validation. Just sayin’.

16. Marvel Previews has Avengers #i featured with the figure 1 looking like that in the image mentioned,
    trumpeting “The all new Marvel Now”.
    Then they show various characters against a purple background, announcing the same deal.
    So…misdirection?

17. If red and blue merged together make purple, then will Ock and Peter’s minds combine?

18. My current guess is that it’s a fight between Spider-Man and the Green Goblin, but it’s not the finale of the Superior Spider-Man mega-arc.

19. Ah-Ha ! The Dr. Strange purple velvet stripper pole revelation !

20. the logo in the background looks like an obscured ‘4’ for Fantastic Four or maybe an ‘A’ for Avengers so I doubt it’s Spider-Man related unless it involves him on those teams

21. Superior is selling nearly 80,000 copies a month- with no recourse to 3D covers- and so is not going anywhere. I’d imagine Marvel are killing the Ultimate universe in order to create a new alt.Marvel range of comics that feature the characters people are familiar with from the movies- so yes, a Peter Spidey, the movie Avengers, etc etc. This would be kept separate from the NOW universe. After all, what is the point of a “not Peter” Ultimate Spidey, when the real-universe Spidey is not Peter anyway?

    Personally, I’m happy to see the current status quo on Spidey continue all the time Dan Slott wants is to. I can’t remember the series ever being this much fun…

22. I would love this to mean the end of Superior Spiderman!!! I like what Slott is doing with the title but enough!!! WE WANT PETER BACK!!!! Let this be a huge comeback which will end the same time the movie comes out and the amazing spiderman title comes back!!!

23. It being the end of slotts run? No we’re not that lucky

24. No way this has anything to do with the Ultimate Universe, at least not primarily, given what panel this is for. Chances are that it will just be announcing the final arc of Superior, but maybe not Slott’s run.

25. As much as I’d like to see Slott leave the Spider-Man books, I have a feeling that this is more about the end of Superior Spider-Man than the end of his run entirely.

    He’s gone on way too much about the plot threads he is setting up for next year, so this will probably be more about the end of Superior and the relaunch of ASM.

26. @#5–Or at least that’s the conclusion we are meant to draw. But yes, since it specifically mentions both the writer and one of the co-artists on Superior Spider-Man, and is going to be announced on the “Superior Spider-Man and Friends” panel, it seems safe to assume it specifically relates to something happening in Superior Spider-Man.

    And a couple of tidbits to think about. Purple is a secondary color made from two primary colors, red and blue. And we know very well which Marvel superhero has their costume predominately made of those colors (and no, I’m not thinking of Captain America). Also, lets not forget about this teaser image:

    http://oyster.ignimgs.com/wordpress/stg.ign.com/2013/07/Marvel-Inhumanity-Teaser.jpg

27. This is definitely Spidey related since this will be revealed in the Superior Spider-Man panel. I think it’s obvious that Spock is coming to an end, just in time for Amazing Spider-Man 2 to hit theatres.

28. Aa much as I would love to believe this possibly means the end for Dan Slott, I don’t think it is. It almost looks like it’s going to be one of those big crossovers. Seems almost like that’s what both Marvel and DC have been doing lately

29. Maybe the “1” is for “This is going to be 1 crappy comic”?

30. The purple color would lead me more toward a galactus related annoncement. With the supposed end of the ultimate universe, it could work.