CBR has an interview with Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott that covers questions about Renew Your Vows (which hits this week) and also what might be in store for ASM down the road. However, the real news may be in his final answer, in which he teases fans with his possible departure from the book.
Highlights from CBR:
CBR News: You’ve written Spider-Man for several years now, but with “Renew Your Vows” you get a chance to revisit a Spidey status quo that was changed shortly before you began writing the character. Why did you want to tell a married Peter Parker story?
Dan Slott: In the world of “Battleworld” and “Secret Wars” we have this big canvas where you can tell any kind of story. We’ve got a world where Captain America rides Devil Dinosaur and fights Hulks. [Laughs] So there’s no limit to anything you can do, and that’s the way it was sold to us.
Everything was wide open and everybody knows the big taboo in Spider-Man ever since “One More Day” has been the marriage. So I was like, “We can tell any story?” And they were like, “Yeah.” So I asked, “Can I tell the story of a married Spider-Man that lives in a world where everything was on the table?” And they were like, “Yes.” And I was, “WOO-HOO!” because this is like the once piece of forbidden fruit. It’s something I could not explore. So of course it’s the most fun place to play.
…
CBR: Finally, some fans might dismiss “Renew Your Vows” as almost a “What if?” style story, but like you said and like all “Secret Wars” tales, you’re setting up some elements that will determine what Spider-Man is like after “Secret Wars.”
Dan Slott: Yes, I can not confirm though whether or not I’ll still be on the book, but there are elements that are introduced in “Renew Your Vows” which will have an impact on the world of Spider-Man post-“Secret Wars.”
Check out the full interview at CBR. The first issue of Amazing Spider-Man: Renew Your Vows #1 hits comic stands tomorrow, June 3rd. The question now is if the era of Dan Slott coming to an end.
–George Berryman!
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I’m gonna shock all of you…
Slott, it’s clear by just reading your books that you’d rather be writing other characters beside Spider-Man. In fact, I always saw you just using the book a s a vector for your own characters. And forcing us along for the ride. So instead of slamming your writing skills… or lack thereof…I say give him a new book with one of his pet characters. And give ASM to a better writer. Preferably someone who DOES love to write the character.
As far as everything else…
“We’ve got a world where Captain America rides Devil Dinosaur and fights Hulks. [Laughs] So there’s no limit to anything you can do, and that’s the way it was sold to us.”
This right here sums up how serious you should take this news.
I should note this is not to say there aren’t a lot of mistakes I had to ignore. Still a great read & end made no sense but Im left excited for more.
@#42-Nick come off it, he didn’t actually write it in Spidey/Torch. He wrote THREE lines of dialogue during other scenes. A monkey could’ve done that.
Now this being said having read RYV Slott apparently CAN write good married Spider-Man. Which is either proof that it’s a matter of application or apparently those two characters together write themselves.
But as for not disliking it you have to somehow explain the countless disparaging comments he’s made against it then dating back at least to 2006.
@#32 Lol this is true… OK my quick comment on RYVs without spoiling anything. It was actually great! Exciting! Great MJ & Spiderman/Peter & left me wanting more. The whole arc now! All except the end made no sense is all I’ll say. So one whole star away for that…darn almost…Still left me wanting more as I zoomed through it. I’ll keep reading this.
yes get rid that stupid STUPID reset mj and peter for ever!!!!!
@#44 Zak — Wow, if that’s the case, I would be happy with that.
I think that it will be Bendis. Doesnt he have a big announcement coming up?
Oh and I meant Slott of course,not what I wrote,lol. Thanks for editing that,whomever did that.
Would still like to see that crossover,sounded like fun.
J-R!
@40 Considering Slott always comes at the Spidey gig at least partly from a fan perspective, I can actually believe that he’d want to check off the marriage on his Spidey-stuff-written bingo card while he’s still on the book. He did a perfectly decent job writing it during the Spider-Man/Human Torch mini, I don’t think he dislikes it that much. Does make sense Marvel wouldn’t let him near the marriage for most of his run, since they’ve been very focused on getting the new direction set up.
@#8 xonathan — I agree. Dan Slott’s quotes, or at least the way the article has presented them, suggests that all of this time he has wanted to write a Spider-marriage story, and that now he finally has his chance. They also suggest that this was indeed his own idea. I find both very difficult to believe.
And Slott wanted a Spidey/Who crossover,lol! I actually would’ve liked to see that as I like Dotor Who as well,lol.
Whoever comes next really don’t have any big shoes to fill,but good luck.
J-R!
@37 – Didn’t I read somewhere that Slott does not like DeFalco’s Spidey vs. Firelord story? That he doesn’t think that Spidey should have been able to defeat him? (if not then just ignore this entire post)
This is a prime example of this. In Slott’s opinion, Spidey should not be able to defeat Firelord, he is out of his class (and on paper that’s true). But DeFalco wrote the story so that it wasn’t just Spidey’s strength won that battle, it was his speed, his agility, his everything combined with his determination to never give up. THAT’S why that is a great story. And if you’re a Spider-Man writer who doesn’t get that, then sorry, but maybe you shouldn’t be writing the character.
@#36-As I’ve said before Slott is a writer who enjoys pointing out the negatives about Spider-Man infiitely more than celebrating his positives. Compare his depiction of Peter to DeFalco’s. DeFalco might have Spider-Man realise a home truth about himself but he will then work to get over it, whilst still saying “This guy is a genuine hero”. With Slott it’s just “Look Peter SUCKS”
I didn’t think the person who commented before was being serious about the clairemont and slott comparison and was making a joke about how mediocre to abysmal slotts run has been. but in the strange case they were serious Keep in mind clairemont wrote arcs and stories that have impacted the x-men till today. There’s not one story I can think of of slotts that people will look back on and say “yep that story really shaped spider-man”. He has regressed the character of Peter Parker to the degree that he’s a a hopeless man-child who’s successful today only cause one of his enemies killed him and stole his body. Wow amazing progress.
@18: “the JMS run right before BND was seen by many to be a sometimes-great run by a great writer” – Yes! But on top of it being sometimes great, he really managed to write Peter. The “positiveness” of Peter is what took such a back seat to anything post-BND. (The short-lived happiness and can-do attitude was just superficial. I kind of see Peter Parker like a superhero version of MacGyver in that they both manage to make the best out of their situation.)
Oh, and should Slott leave the book, can I ask that we get an artist to replace Humberto Ramos? I could … kind of … use the change. 😉
@16 The comparison between Clairemont and Slott is so inapt I have to conclude you are trolling. Good job sir. You clearly managed to suck some people in.
@30 So much this. PETER is supposed to be the hard luck character. SPIDER-MAN is supposed to give you that vindicating feeling when he’s so awesome that those that give his alter-ego such strife can only look on in jealousy.
Wow I totally need to edit my comment. Lol. I’m missing some of the intended keys some of the times.
Anyway, last line meant to say. I do think Slott actually does really want to write a married, Spider-man. In a way that tries to tell all readers that it can only end in a way all do not want because, he, Slott says so & writes it so. I hope that’s not the case though.
Should we the readers at least buy the first issue to show there’s a massive interest & demand for a married Spider-man continued? I mean we could drop it if the writing is bad after the first issue… It seems Slott may win either way. Either no one shows interest in a married Spider-man he could say. Or they do and he stays. Lol. I’ll take the marriage back for the long term win though (but I have a feeling he just wants it to end him being married = can only end bad or Spider-man have to end the series & being Spider-man because he is married or something lol)
Wait…. somebody actually tried to defend Slott by comparing his medicore ASM run with Clairemont’s X-Men run? Wow, just wow.
@#31- Ronny- It’s a nice sentiment, that if Renew Your Vows is a success it will cause Marvel to change their mind. And it’s not like sales haven’t swayed creative decisions in the past. But I think that whatever the outcome of Renew Your Vows will be, it has already been decided, good sales or bad. And it certainly wasn’t like poor sales deterred the folks in the Spider-Offices from pushing the notion that Peter was “better” as a single man and that MJ wasn’t all that important to the larger narrative.
On another note, if this is Slott’s last story- emphasis on IF- then it would confirm the theory I’ve held for a long, long time- that Peter and MJ would only get together in Slott’s LAST EVER story. He had no interest in writing the couple AS a couple, and he was clearly stalling as long as he could to push his own creations. If this is his last kick at the can, then I think he’s ironically in the same position JMS was in with OMD- writing a story that he disagreed with in order to set up the next set of stories coming out of a universe changing event.
Read the old Spider-man Stan/Ditko/Romita Sr. & actually read the Clairemont issues & tell me Slott’s anywhere near their equals. I mention the originals on Spider-man because you have to understand just how literally dumb slot has written Spider-man…
Big question for everyone though…? I actually hope that a whole lot of people by renew your vows. At least the first issue to show a huge interest in a married Spider-man. Look how that worked with “Spider-Gwen”. Ok, if it’s not good after first issue drop it which will still make a huge impact & point.
So question is any going to & should we all buy at least the first issue to show a massive interest? I think yes… I will most certainly
However, I think Slott does really want to write & married Spider-man just only to write it in a careful what you wish for way to ruin it in a way that if he’s married it has to end in a way no one ones cause he Slott says & writes it so. @xonathan #18
It seems we have these moments with Spider-Man where it seems both editorial and the writer need to completely focus on tearing Peter apart and focusing on the bad and go: “he’s a loser hero, that’s what we remember.” Happen in 90s especially going to Mackie and then JMS and Paul Jenkins completely rebuilt the characters. Then they started the OMD where they had to go back to that era again with: “He works better single and as the happy go lucky but constantly losing in life hero.” Now, we are once again at the point where people are sick of it and yes, they need a writer that wants to build Peter back up. Of course we will probably get six or seven years and then they will be in this: “Peter needs to be a loser” and we will have that undone again. Wash, rinse, repeat.
Personally speaking, I wouldn’t mind if someone came in to take the reigns from Slott, as I feel he’s been on the book long enough.
And, if Slott were to pick a time to leave, the end of Renew Your Vows and the start of the September mini-relaunch might be a good time for him to do so.
I whish we could say slott was the clairmont of spider-man, sad to say his run will in the long run be largely forgotten.
The book needs a voice that will take spider-man to a new level of greatness. Give us great spider-man adventures.
And great human complications for peter Parker make him the focus of the book!
We are about to enter a brand new area now that spider-man will be in the mcu. Now is marvels chance to do something great with the greatest character of all!
@#16-
a) People did complain about Claremont
b) People probably didn’t complain as much because Claremont WAS X-Men. Imagining ti without him was like imagining the Beatles with only 3 members
c) Claremont X-Men is work that is grossly superior in it’s quality to Slott’s Spider-Man work it’s a ridiculous comparison. Claremont made the X-Men more or less EVERYTHING they are today and wrote multiple all time classic Marvel stories. Slott has spent 8 years undermining the protagonist character and fundamentally misunderstanding him and therefore doesn’t pass writing 101.
d) Slott hasn’t made his ideas work. He just got done with an event about masses of Spider-Heroes which barely fucking featured Peter Parker, a character he’s torn asunder multiple times and left in ruins. Before that he did Superior Spider-Man a series not even ABOUT Spider-Man and before that he wasted the 50th anniversary on a character who had no goddam business being in any Spider-Man comic since he was waaay too cosmically overpowered
e) The Other did suck but it’s not like that was entirely JMS fault. Sins Past also sucked but that means JMS has had 1 and a bit crappy stories vs Slott’s 8 years of maybe 10 decent stories if we are REALLy grading him on the curve
f) JMS wasn’t responsible for OMD
g) If you think Slott revived Spider-Man WTF were you reading from 2001-2007 when JMS, Jenkins, Scasa, Peter David and Mark Millar were goddam crushing Spider-Man and writing stories about him which fixed the problems of the 1998 reboot and treated him and everyone else as well rounded adult characters. What? The Other and Sins Past existing means we have to ignore ALL the good stories which came out during that time? Doomed Affairs, Marvel Knights, everything by Sacasa and PAD?
h) Slott has been 99% reductive to Spider-Man and left him in an almost as damaged and broken state as he was when Mackie got done.
i) JMS fucking revived Spider-Man by building his character up and celebrating the positives of him. Slott has helped continue to kill him in the wake of OMD by tearing Peter Parker down repeatedly and shining a light on all the bad things about him. and if he can’t do that he just makes up bad shit about him.
j) Sins Past had redeeming features and was a well written bad idea…Slott has literally done a comic book where Doc Ock masturbated in Spider-Man’s body, basically raping him…after he got done failing to date rape Mary Jane. Sins Past can and will never ever be as bad as that.
Honestly, Slott’s run has been incredibly 50/50. Its time for him to go. What’s it been, five years? Give or take?
Yeah. I don’t see Nick Lowe letting go of Slott anytime soon.
Let’s be honest Marvel is going to be lazy and let Slott keep writing this book this is the big problem with this Company after 2007 they’ve been so lazy with Spider-Man it’s not even funny boring ass artwork, forced dialogue, hyper active dialogue, over sexual tones like it’s a college/porn party and everybody is acting like a douche. Oh well that’s the price you pay with Spider-Man in the modern age of 2000’s (at 2008 – ongoing) all his content will be good 10%, bad 50%, God awful 80% and mediocre 45%. In the old days the good use to always outweigh the bad, sigh how times have changed…..
I will run down my street naked laughing crying and cheering if this is true. If this is what comes out of secret wars or marvel redux 2015 as I call it then it will all be worth it.
I think Slott’s time with Spider-Man is up. The character needs a new voice. Who that voice is, that’s another debate all together.
@20 – But his pre-Superior Peter stories weren’t that much better.
Silver Surfer has shown that Slott is pouring better writing and stories on it. He said that his stories were meant for Otto and he had to fit Peter in the stories. Which translated to making him a moron and guest star in his own book.
Maybe give Yost a chance at the book?
@16 – That’s not really a fair comparison. Before Claremont came on the X-Men book, it was only putting out reprints. No one was interested in it, and it didn’t matter to Marvel. He took that book and made it great, made it important, and gave the readers good stories.
Before Slott came on ASM, it was already the flagship character of Marvel. He didn’t rescue a book that wasn’t putting out new content and nobody cared about. Even though he wasn’t there at the start of BND, the JMS run right before BND was seen by many to be a sometimes-great run by a great writer. Slott was not like JMS coming in after Mackie (no offense to Mackie, but his reboot era was not great). If any Spidey-writer in recent memory should be thought of as reviving the character from the previous run, it’s JMS.
As for Slott reviving the character, I would say that the constraints of BND prevented that. The whole point of that era was to regress the character and prevent any growth or character development. And even his Big Time stories didn’t do much to revive anything – his biggest change was to give him a job at Horizon Labs, which we had seen the exact same thing in the Mackie’Byrne reboot. Slott’s biggest idea for the character of Spider-Man was to kill him off – whoop-dee-doo.
@ yes he had ideas but that doesn’t mean everyone loved them.
As far as the Claremont comparison, Claremont wrote dozens of iconic X-characters very well during his tenure. Slott can’t write many Spider-characters well (most glaringly, Peter Parker himself) and especially not ones that aren’t his creations.
I love how so many are complaining that it is way past time for Slott to leave but they never complained when Claremont spent 17 years on Uncanny. Lets be honest, Slott is doing to Spider-Man what Claremont did to X-Men; revived. Spider-Man was stagnant after the renumbering in 1998 and JMS breathe in a decent bit of air but The Other sucked, Sins Pasts sucked and then One More Day ruined it. Slott had ideas and he made them work. I appreciate what he has done with the character.
Despite my better instincts, I am cautiously optimistic about this.
And the only good thing about having Mark Waid on the book would be that we could resurrect his unofficial nickname given to him on the Crawl Space : Mark “dick-move” Waid.
I really enjoyed Jeff Loveness’ little annual trilogy, I hope he takes over.
Even the best runs have to end. Slott’s era will be, to me, all sizzle no steak. He’s overstayed his welcome, and personally I think Matt Fraction should get a shot, if he and Marvel are at all on speaking terms. Peter David, if he was to come on, it’d be right after Secret Wars wraps up, that way he can chart where he wants the character to go with essentially a clean slate.
Please…. *crosses fingers*** Please please please please please please please please….
Remember that he is the one (substantially) setting up the new/revised status quo, by means of this story. Wouldn’t he prefer to be the one to run with that ball? It’s probably that Marvel simply hasn’t dotted all the i’s and crossed all the t’s on his new contract yet.
The only possibility i can think of is that SSM and Spider-Verse are interpreted as comprising a fitting ASM crescendo, while at the same time Silver Surfer is doing well, so Marvel would like to have him take on an additional book. And this post-SV has been mediocre at best. But he can’t add yet another book because of his writing speed, so maybe he figures, “Seven years, it’s been a good run”, and relinquishes ASM.
Believe it or not…I want Slott to stay. He’s so egotistical about his contributions to the canon and continuity that if he’s still there when a reboot may or may not happen that he may very well wind up changing very little about Spider-Man history. But if PAD is an option and is allowed to do what he wants then hell yes
#8-I think Quesada is Spider-Marriage enemy #1 and then Slott, Brevoort and Wacker compete for the coveted #2 position
ASM really is long overdue for a new writer.
I likewise wouldn’t want Waid on the book (Spider-man is one character I just don’t think he writes particularly well). But I think an ASM run by PAD would be fantastic.
I’m the negative one, so I think he’ll stay. As to what elements are carrying over, I would say the costume, the buildings, the name Spider-man, maybe the new Reagent bad guy or whatever his name is. Any element but the marriage.
What I find irritating, is that Slot makes it seem like he’s been wanting to write a married Spider-man but evil Marvel did not let him. How dare he throw a WOO-HOO? He’s like #1 Spider-marriage enemy
Slott should just leave already. After years of his rather lackluster work on ASM, many readers want a better writer on the book
I agree with George:
“@1 – It is way past time, though I don’t want Mark Waid anywhere near this book.
@2 – That’s the right path here. If one thing Marvel’s publishing division has taught us over the last several years, it’s to not get your hopes up.”
#4 I’d prefer PAD stay on 2099 rather than come back to ASM. Give him free reign to work his magic and not have to deal with a random cross-over for at least 3 years and the run has the potential to be considered a classic. As it is, every time he gets a good plot line going, it is interrupted by an event that derails any progress.
To be honest, I don’t have a clear idea on who I’d like to write Peter any more, I just know it’s not Slott. I’m at the point where I just don’t care any more about the comics and that saddens me.
if Slott in leaving Marvel needs to pull Peter David off 2099 and put him on Amazing.
@1 – It is way past time, though I don’t want Mark Waid anywhere near this book.
@2 – That’s the right path here. If one thing Marvel’s publishing division has taught us over the last several years, it’s to not get your hopes up.
Yeah, I’m not getting my hopes up that he’ll be gone. He’s been on it for about seven years, which is plenty of time, but that statement is vague enough that I’m going to just wait and see.
Honestly, it’s time. It’s way past time.
My hope is that they bring on Mark Waid and Chris Samnee.