PeterDavid.net

This is no slight towards you, Mr. David, but I'm hating The Other. And really, trying to "head us off at the pass" by making fun of the crazy stuff (spider-stingers) in the book before the fans can do it really doesn't make it any better for me.

I'm undecided on whether I'll follow F'n Spider-Man, or just stop reading all the Spidey titles.

Peter, While I have to admit I am not enjoying the overall storyline of "The Other", I am completely enjoying your writing on Spider-Man. The overall feel of your writing brings me back to my favorite stories of the mid/late 70s and early 80s, which i consider to be the best Spider-Man stories written. In the little sample I have seen from you, I feel as if you completely understand the nature and personality of all the characters in a way I have not seen in years. It is a very fun read, and I really hope this book does well so you can stick around on it a good long while.

Mike

Agreed. The Other storyline has made me call it quits again and I've stopped all orders from my supplier. And that was just from the issue where they took Spidey's eye out. That was enough for me and I haven't even seen the issue with the costume change yet. The purported image is horrible. What happened to just good stories?

I like your writing on the title. Spider-Man's a funny guy, and he goes along well with your style. I have to say, and as with others, it's no slight towards you, PAD, that I'm not a fan of the changes brought about with "The Other" storyline, though. --- Matt

and I haven't even seen the issue with the costume change yet.

I've seen it, and I can't say I care for it in the least.

I wonder if this one will last as long as the new one Superman got a few years back.

TypeKey seems to be stuck, so I'll do this without signing in...

I haven't ever really read comics, at least not the way we're talking about here. I do have a number of comics, mostly trades but some individual issues, but that's usually outside-the-norm stuff--not part of the major lines or even characters. Watchmen, Sandman, V For Vendetta, etc. I've certainly never followed a story issue-by-issue before; the hallmark of wanting to get backstory first, I suppose. I have what I'm sure qualifies as a slight obsessive tendency--I can't handle starting in the middle of a story. Every time I've considered starting to follow a comic issue-by-issue, I've run into the problem of the enormous history. (Neither of the Big Two Companies has much claim to sanity in that department--though Marvel's DVDs of the backstory for some of its series might do the trick for me. Or I could just get over it.)

The upshot of all of this is that I was planning to start following F'n Spider-Man, but then I saw "The Other." I was already torn on that--big crossover events are a mess, and then there's the backstory problem, but on the other hand...two of the writers are Peter David and J. Michael Straczynski. I'm nothing if not loyal. External forces made the decision for me: the combination of being broke and never being able to find all the issues at once adds up to I haven't started reading F'n Spider-Man; indeed, any of "The Other."

Assuming my brokeness stops, I'm considering waiting for some form of trade PB for the "The Other" story and then going with F'n Spider-Man issue-by-issue, but I wonder how long the trade will take. (Any idea?)

My other concern is that after this crossover, I don't know how the three lines will interact. Are they the same world? Different? How will whatever stories you tell interact with Marvel Knights and Amazing? Will I need to read them all? How does this work in these circumstances?

Assuming I don't need to read everything (well, after "The Other" is over), and assuming I won't feel there's important backstory I'm missing because I haven't been reading, then I might be able to get "The Other" somehow and then keep going with F'n Spider-Man...once I have some money coming in, of course.

This is a longwinded way of saying I'm hoping to start F'n Spider-Man, but have some reservations, and maybe getting some answers from the PADnoscenti.

Well I've just read all the responses above and I guess I'll extend the unanimity.

I like Peter David's writing. And I like the return of Flash Thompson. But this whole spider mysticism is not Spider-Man's kind of story. His origin is quasi-scientific not quasi-magical. That and the whole eye-gouged out, beaten to death, cocoon metamorphosis thing has all the trappings of another clone saga that will need to be discarded in a couple of years.

Just write good stories.That doesn't mean altering everything beyond recognition.

A great issue even with PAD being forced to wade through the Other storyline that was handed from above. The snappy and enjoyable dialogue that makes PAD work exellent is there, this is the Spider-Man that I know. Stingers and whatever else Marvel has in the works will be cast off in due time like the whole Clone Saga snafu. I am not worried.

I've waiting long for PAD to come back to the Hulk, X-Factor and Spidey. And with each return to these titles, I have YET to be disappointed in his work. Just disappointed in Marvel's grand scheme of things.

Nice issue, I've liked "The Other" a lot so far. Previous month was great, hopefully this last month can top it.

Haven't read the issue Hudlin wrote yet, but the final month is off to a good start.

PAD + Spidey = goodness.

JMS's mysticism fetish + Spidey = godawful

Therefore, I'm looking forward to Peter David, post Other

When JMS first introduced this "totem" storyline it was a breath of fresh air to stale Spidey books and I fell in love with the character again after Byrne & co had driven me away. So, it's no wonder I had high hopes for this storyline... and well I wasn't disappointed.

Okay, I didn't exactly love the middle three issues written by the BP writer Reggie Hudlin but the rest of the story has been very entertaining.

Hopefully whatever changes Spidey is going through will be addressed in every Spidey book after this event is over, I didn't like how the story where he got the organics was pretty much forgotten afterwards. Maybe it wasn't a good story (I certainly didn't like it) but when you make a big change like that it shouldn't be (almost) totally ignored.

So, good work with The Other - I'm sticking with FNSM after the event is over too, as long as Quesada's "second genie" doesn't turn out to be "unmarrying" Spider-Man. In that case not even PAD and JMS can keep me reading.

I have to agree with the previous opinions about The Other storyline. Personally, I'm not sure why it's needed, ut I tend to subscribe to the 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it' school of thought. I've read all the issues, buying the David and JMS issues and just reading the other ones while in the local Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc. That way I can keep up with what's going on, but not getting soaked for the price of several issues I don't want.

Peter, I still find it difficult to offer an objective opinion about the book until The Other storyline is over. The characters are very well-defined and the dialogue is up to your usual standards, but I've got to say, the artwork does nothing for me. I'm sure this is completely subjective, but I don't really care for that simplistic Manga-esque style that seems to be filling a lot of the Marvel books lately, and unfortunately Wieringo's work seems to fit that category. The facial expressions are not all that compelling, and I wouldn't have been able to identify several characters if not for the dialogue identifying who they are, and I've been a Marvel reader since comic books cost a dime.

As for all this fuss about a new costume, none of it's going to last for very long, for reasons that have nothing to do with creative concerns. In the end, Spider-Man is a tremendous cash cow from a merchandising point of view, and Marvel isn't about to compromise the licenses by changing the costume permanently. Unless they gave Spidey's costume the silverized webbing of the films that it, but even then, the basic silhouette is the same. So all this new costume discussion is just a lot of fuss about nothing. Superman's basic costume will never change. Neither will Batman's and neither will Spider-Man's. There's just too much corporate money riding on the status quo.

...Wait, someone GOUGED OUT SPIDEY'S EYE?

He has Ben Reilly's stingers?

He's gonna look like Iron Man?

AUNT MAY was Iron Man for an issue?

Did some smoke weed around me or something?

Peter, is Spider-Man going to get organic webshooters? I hope he does, because I'm more into that development than I am "spider-stingers." Other than that I'm loving this title. It's by far the funniest Spider-Man comic out there (well, at least issues 1 and 4, respectively). Keep 'em coming.

-Nathan

He all ready has organic webshooters. They were introduced in the Spider Man Disassembled story arc in Peter Parker Spider Man.

I'm in the same boat as several other people here. I like your writing, but I'm glad that The Other will be over soon. I'm also hoping that there won't be another crossover after this one. I don't want to buy 3 Spidey titles a month just to follow the story. I just want to buy F'n Spidey.

The one thing that worries me is Flash. I see that he's lost the memories of his interactions with Peter since High school. He referred to Peter as "Puny Parker", which is antagonistic, but he seemed like he might not mean it that way. I'm really hoping this doesn't regress to him being a jerk to Peter.

From how it read, it could be that Flash doesn't remember how their relationship changed over the years, but he's still matured and might be a good guy to Peter now. If that's the case, then I look forward to reading it.

You know, I don't really mind Spider-Man's powers having a mystical or quasi-mystical origin, although you really would think Dr. Strange would have noticed and mentioned it to him during one of their many, many team-ups.

However, I do think Marvel (not you, Mr. David, in particular) really missed a bet by making the Spider-spirit or Spider-god so deadly serious and so focused on hunting things. There's a perfectly good Spider deity in real world mythology and folklore who could have been behind Spidey's powers and explained a lot of things, including his tendency to crack wise while in costume and the many strange coincidences that constantly intrude on his life. I speak, of course, of Anansi, the trickster Spider of West African origin. And no, I doubt Gaiman would have accused anybody of plagiarism, considering that myth and folklore are public domain, so long as he didn't call himself Mr. Nancy...

Oh, well. Maybe in another decade or two when somebody decides Spider-Man needs another makeover as an African-American teenager or something of the sort...

Anansi was mentioned earlier in JMS' ASM run and if I recall correctly he was mentioned again during "The Other" too.

>He has Ben Reilly's stingers?

I wish. He has big bone-like stabbers that come out from under his wrists, Wolverine-style.

"Over 38,000 species of spiders have been identified, but because of their great ability for hiding, it is believed that about 200,000 species exist."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiders

Storylines galore await the inquisitive.

Haven't read any of The Other yet.

I just read through the 10 volumes of JMS' Spidey in TPB and have overall quite enjoyed them; I'll be picking up The Other HC when it comes out in, what, six months or so?

What the--

Are you people insane? This is a FREAKING AWESOME storyline! I rarely even GLANCE at the Marvel section (aside from Astonishing X-Men), much less buy their stuff. "The Other" has me completely hooked. I'm all for the "totem" aspects being brought into Peter's nature...dealing with the "spider" in the "man." And it makes me anxious to see how Peter deals with these changes in himself - and what his reaction will be when MJ finally tells him about his whole Jeffrey Dahmer routine on Morlun.

I haven't bought a Spider-Man title in years and years, and I was still able to follow this storyline, so I don't get the bitching there.

I DO agree that the new costume is just godawful, though. I mean...no. Just...no. I give it four months, tops. Besides, Spidey's a franchise. They can't screw with the outfit forever.

Oh, I just noticed one other thing about the comic. It was dense. Really dense.

When I was reading it, I got about 3/4ths of the way through and thought it was running long. It must have extra pages.

I just flipped through it and counted. Nope, 22 pages. Even though it was regular size, it felt like a lot happened. I like that.

>I haven't bought a Spider-Man title in years and years, and I was still able to follow this storyline, so I don't get the bitching there.

That is possibly the reason that you don't get the "bitching". I have been reading the character nearly non-stop for over 30 years and he is unrecognizable to me under JMS's tenure. That is my biggest area of contention with the current incarnation of the character. The story is not hard to follow and JMS's skills at storytelling has never been in doubt to me. His take on this particular character has come across as shoehorning his story ideas and character responses into a fictional universe with a cast of character in which they don't fit.

Jeez. I enjoyed PAD's issues! And I'm of a wait and see approach. I wait till I read the whole darn story before making comments. Good lord PAD I'm not suprised you stop posting at comicboards.com/smb SHEESH! I'll admit I'm not a fan of the well to paraphase Spidey from MK "Wolverine talon/stinger envy" but I'm willing to give it a chance. Wow guys you come off well mean.

Just to add one more to the yays. Here's mine.

I loved this ish. From Stark cracking wise, "A little attention is all..." to Aunt May taking a stand, I was basking in Spidey goodness.

See, I still don't get why you've never written Iron Man, PAD. I think you'd write a really fun Iron Man comic, something that book has been missing for years. I'm not saying Stark should be Peter with the quips, but he's a smartass, and I miss that aspect of the character, which you seem to get.

I really don't have a problem with the Other storyline either. I think it's been well written, aside from the Reggie issues, which I only flipped. Can't stand that guy's writing. Iron May being a great example of why. And Ringo, man. I absolutely loved the last splash page of that issue where Peter died and Iron Man carried him off. Just gorgeous stuff. I'm in for more FNSM. enjoying every page. And I agree with Jason Bryant. This issue seemed long on story, and I was shocked to see that it was only 22 pp. It seemed like so much happened. Of course, I had just read a Bendis comic right before that, so maybe that's my problem. I like the guy, but he sure does make with the talky.

Keep it up PAD. And maybe reconsider throwing a Stark pitch to the powers that be. I think you'd write a killer IM.

LOVE PAD's fn spider-man!

Love your writing of the Peter/MJ relationship. So excited to see Flash in the book again - please show more of Peter's time at school than has been shown over the past couple years in other titles. Great to see jj and robbie - i would love to see them more involved in future stories.

I am impressed with how all-ages you have made this book - something both my 10 year old son and i can enjoy.

Wieringo's art was terrific - i think it really fits the tone of the book well - also liked his FF stuff.

I have really enjoyed the Other storyline (except the Hudlin's Aunt May and MJ in iron man armor, and peter getting his hair braided with his death any minute). I think that the new developments on the origin are great - I mean he has been around for 40 years - without any change things get a little stale.

Anyway loved the book - hoping that you will stay with this title for a long time!

This issue has convinced me of at least one thing.

A JMS-PAD Aunt May series would get my money.

So far, I am enjoying your series quite a bit but, like some of the others here, I am not enjoying the Other storyline. I enjoyed the "Tracer" storyline (not including the Peter going to die part, and I enjoyed this issue, except for the changes to Peter's powers/anatomy.

What saddens me is the fear that even after The Other ends, the series is going to be bogged down in JMS's machinations. Is he going to be in the new costume by next issue? Everything I hear online indicates that the new costume thing is JMSs story to steer, even though it is going to be in all the books. The idea of Spidey in a Stark-made, gizmo-equipt super-suit does not appeal to me, but then, neither does the idea of Spider-Man living in Avengers mansion and having only MJ, May, and a buttload of superheroes as supporting cast.

What bugs me (no pun intended) is that... Marvel has three major ongoing Spider-Man books, so the opportunity exists to let each of them be different, have it's own focus or flavor. But instead, they all seem to be steered into the same area- Spidey the Avenger, living in Avengerland. I already read New Avengers, I don't need them in the Spider-Man books. Let Peter get his own place again, and bring back Jonah, Robbie, Betty, Glory... you know, the normal human people Peter can interact with?

Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #4 is the perfect example of why I'm sticking with this title while dropping AMS and just about every non-Slott, non-PAD comic being produced by Marvel.

This issue was filled with so many great moments and you managed to touch on, in just one issue, almost all of Peter's friends and family. Flash is going to be teaching at Pete's school! Tony, Hank, and Reed are all geeking out over Pete's new DNA! Aunt May throws her weight around! Mary Jane confuses Wolverine! Pete and MJ go webswinging! MJ makes a concealed gensture at JJJ! Creeeeeepy spider powers! Crazy cannibal pirate ninja spiders taking over Stark Tower!

Now, I'm interested in what changes you have in store for Peter and MJ after The Other concludes. I can take or leave the whole business with the Spider-Totem or the New Avengers or this new costume design. They're not why I pick up FNSM, and I don't suspect they'll detract from the stories if they're included. I read for the character moments and interactions, of which you've supplied an abundance. Thanks for a great issue.

Matt Rigdon

"bring back Jonah, Robbie, Betty, Glory"

No, I'd really rather that the Bugle staff stay in the past.

Mainly, I think J.J.J. is completely drained dry. I think I've seen everything that character could ever do at least 4 times.

Also, Peter's just moved on. Being a photographer was fine as a part time job in high school and college. To still be doing your high school part time job after all these years would be kinda sad.

I *like* that he's teaching school now. Sure, it gets into the usual super-hero problems of always having to duck out of work, but it's *progress*. He's got something that he can really treat as a career. Something that actually uses his intellect. I agree that some more non-super supporting cast is necessary, but the school is the best place to focus it. Flash as a coach and Peter as a science teacher, that sounds like it has more potential than going back to the Bugle again.

I remain extremely excited about Peter David writing a Spider-Man book. However, I think that the current storyline has been extremely poor, and trying to explain it to other comic fans has resulted in disbelief on their part. I know that sales have been good, but I'm not sure if this storyline will hold up in the future. I think it's pretty likely that there will be a long-term backlash. Right now, it reminds me way too much of all the things that were bad with the 90s comic scene.

I am greatly looking forward to seeing Peter's work on Spidey once things stabilize. For now, I'm just waiting for all of this to be over.

It is kind of weird to add a mysticism element to the Spider-Man mythos, but I dig yours and JMS's issues. Reggie Hudlin on the other hand makes my eyes bleed. (Although nothing was as bad as the SM HoM crossover)

And since Venom/Eddie Brock isn't around, I'm glad to at least see something kidn of fill that void of an opposite/equal to Spider-Man.

I would also like to chime in with the fact that i've enjoyed some aspects of the storyline (even reggie's issues - the first i've read of his because I can't stand Pat Lees art)but overall it has left me feeling majorly underwhelmed.

I too have been reading spidey for about 30 yrs (i'm 34!) and have to say that he's not been written so well at all since PAD left in the 80's-90's. The one thing I always loved about spidey was his rich supporting cast and the best runs have involved them in suprising ways. Tom DeFalco, Roger Stern,PAD, Gerry Conway's 80's-90's run, J m DeMatties, they have all picked up on the fundementals of a great spidey run, great supporting characters and above all else MYSTERIES!

I loved all those "who is the new bad ass villian behind the mask - which of peters friends was it this time?" I don't think that ever gets tired.

Also the great thing is with having such a rich supporting cast is the fact that we care about them as much as spidey himself, and when it gets tough to do anything new with peter himself - the writers can rely on the other cast to make lasting changes too. This helps enormously with keeping things fresh and that ever elusive illusion of change.

Now Peter I have high hopes that you can bring these elements back to spidey - i think we are on the same wavelength, now go do it already??!!

Please.

And don't get me started on that god awful new costume........(although it does look better in that latest drawing).

I never read Spider-Man regulary, but I followed the series now and then, as I grew up with the character, and everybody likes Spider-Man. I was very interested in JMS take on the character, but I left pretty fast as it disappointed me dearly. I tried to go on board now and then again, but no, this isn´t stuff I enjoy.

This whole mystizism thing is plain out wrong for the character. It makes PP everyman into PP the Chosen one. From It could be you into In every generation there will be a Chosen one *g to borrow a line. This is so a fundamentally change in the character, and it is a change I have absolutly zero interest in.

I am not against change. And I don´t say these are badly done comics. Of course they are not from a craftsman point of view. And if new generations of readers enjoy this take and buy the stuff, good for Marvel. But as an old time reader I am permanently out for the time.

Same goes for the Gwen Stacey story. It was horrible misconceived. I don´t have a problem with the concept per se, such things happen, yes, but Gwen and creepy old Norman Osborn? With Flash, with Harry, with the nice neighbour, yes, but Osborn? I can´t muster enough suspense of disbelief for that.

I was very tempted to go an board again with FNSM, but after reading about the planed arc I lost interest, and it was the right thing to do. Why buy stuff which I won´t enjoy?

Very often nowadays you as a consumer of the Big Two have to make a decision. Will I enjoy a favorite creators work despite hating the overall direction of the character? I know PADs writing and I do enjoy it, hell, he even sold me Hulk, a character I always had zero interest in and never ever bought before his run. But is it enough to make me forget company enforced concepts which I don´t enjoy for even a second?

Sadly the answer in most cases is no, not any longer.

iron spider-man ...

yeah it caught me. Damn those marvel think tanks! I've been spider-man comic free since todd! Damn all you dirty web crawler to hell!!

ps: i'm getting two issues before of and after this new custom

pss: i'm still saying damn you under my breath

Add another vote for "Love PAD's writing, despise the current Spider-Man creative direction."

Normally I would pick up anything written by PAD sight unseen, no questions asked, no dollar amount too much.

But, sorry PAD, I won't spend money on "The Other" - and it's doubtful whether I will buy a Spider-Man book again until the current powers that be leave.

I did flip through the issue and, as great it was to see your trademark wit at work and return of the forgotten Flash, it's not enough to make up for the fact that the current books have completely lost sight of who Peter Parker is and why Spider-Man is such an unique, resonant character.

But I look forward to your other projects.

The other is great, your issues are the best of the story.

I can't wait to finally see the clone killed in the 12th chapter.

Thanks for a great story peter.

I don't mind the mysticism - I thought it was interesting to have scientist spidey have to deal with this twist on What He Always Knew. I don't mind this Other stuff, assuming it's fleshed out in a decent way and not a one-note villan with incomprehensible motivations - "magic" or "balance" is NOT a motivation. I don't even necessarily mind crossovers, though I am always assume they're marketing garbage rather than necessary for the story. When I'm proven wrong it's often a pleasant experience.

However I'm completely unhappy with how this "Other" storyline has been handled between the books. The back and forth and uneven schedule would have made pacing tough to begin with, what with some weeks having 2 books and others having none, but the jump back and forth between writers has made it just flat-out horrible in my opinion. I like both PD and JMS's work on their own, but the back and forth between them and Hudlin (who I find pretty forgetable) has been completely uneven. The whole thing has managed to seem both drawn-out and rushed at the same time, no small feat.

I'm sorry PD, if I could view the issues completely independently they're quite well done. As a stew, however, this Other stuff has been inedible. To quote "The State," two great tastes that taste WEIRD together.

Haven't read all the comments yet, but it seems like it was a good idea on my part to skip reading F'N Spider-Man until after the 'Other' storyline is complete.

PAD on another icon like Spider-Man is a great idea, I just wish he could have started with his own stories from day one. As for the costume change I've read about: Of course it won't last. Again, certain character's costumes are just too iconic to mess with in any large manner; Captain America, Superman, and Spider-Man being perfect examples. It seems like changes like this last a year maximum, then go back to 'normal'.

Count me in with those who love your writing, but aren't sure yet just where this whole storyline is going. 'Wait and see.'

To those who complain about the changes in his life, I think it's great that he's now with the Avengers, living in Stark Tower. He's grown up. And with his friends and his intellect, housing problems really should be a thing of the past, even for Spider-Man in New York. It would be nice if he had occasion to visit the Bugle from time to time for whatever reason, but that part of his life really is behind him. I do concur that he and MJ splitting up again would just about kill it for me. They are too great together to part yet again.

May and Jarvis? OK, didn't see that coming. I doubt they'll dare take it to a permanent thing, but I certainly wouldn't mind.

A new costume design? Gods, so many changes have begged to be done over the years. Incorporate a breath screen for example. Peter's been gassed so many times you'd think he'd have done it years back. Night vision? Light armour - not heavy as this would interfere with his trademark speed and agility - would work for me. Since he's now part of a team, communications gear is a must. With Stark's tech behind him, I can imagine a lot of other things he could build in, but should he is the question? He could well wind up figuratively tripping all over himself trying to handle those all the while using his long-ingrained fighting style.

As for the art, "...simplistic, Manga-esque..." is not being entirely fair to the manga genre. Sure, there are some fairly simplistic artists (look at popular Takahashi Rumiko), but there are also popular, ultra-detailed and realistic artists such as VIDEO GIRL AI and I"S(sic)' Masazaku Katsura. But, yes, the art isn't what it could be. That's the trouble with all the titles Marvel, DC and others are putting out. Not enough really good artists to go around.

Here's my big question about the costume changes. After the Iron Spider costume goes away, will the costume go 100% back to the original? If it went back, but the changed the back logo to the one the movie uses, I wouldn't be surprised. Making a minor change after such a major change wouldn't cause *near* the outcry as if they'd changed to the movie version immediately.

I have to say, I've enjoyed this storyline for the most part. I'm siding with the folks who point out that the character needs to move forward; 30 years of housing problems is getting old, for example. As for the new costume, I would ask how long the symbiote costume lasted. If memory serves, it was over a year or so, wasn't it? Personally, except for the colors, I think the new look is pretty good. I'd prefer blue where the yellow is, just because that's such a spidey trademark, but otherwise, why not change it some? In the end, though, I think the other Jason above probably has the inside track, and we'll see another costume change right around the release of the movie next summer to bring the comics and movies together. And that'd be a good thing, because the more they tie the movie and comics together, the more people will pick up a comic and the more the industry will prosper.

I'm with the... ummm.... others. "The Other" totally blows. The Peter David Spider-man bits you've managed to work in around the edges are chicken soup for the Spidey-Lover's soul.

I love the humor in the book, it fits in perfectly with Spider-Man's smart-arse persona. I mean, sure, MJ flipping JJJ "the bird" was total cheese, but dammed if it wasn't FUNNY cheese.

I rolled my eyes at the "Puny Parker" crack, but you know -- upon reflection -- I sort of look forward to the prospect of the jock/nerd conflict growing up into the coach/sciene teacher conflict.

I can't wait for this 'other' nonsense to end, and for you to be able to get back to straight-ahead, web-balls-to-the-wall spider-mantics.

I mean, stingers? That's just dumb. Spiders don't even have freakin' stingers (god, this isn't the return of The Hornet, is it?).

Are you going to have to use the new Spidey suit? I'd rather see Mike drawing the classic read and blue than this silly red-and-gold nonsense.

Anyway, keep making with the whoopee and the wisecracks and I'll be there.

Starwolf, I certainly wasn't dismissive of the Manga style as such in my earlier post, which is why I said 'Manga-esque' to indicate that maybe it's the style that certain Marvel artists are trying to emulate. While that style isn't necessarily my bag, I can understand there's an obvious following; otherwise we wouldn't be having this discussion when talking about a Spider-Man book.

I realize these things go in cycles, depending on what is popular at the moment, and what kind of influences the artists of the moment have. I still remember the Liefeld-esque period, in which every other character seemed to have huge legs, huge torsos and tiny heads, so I suppose we should be thankful for small favors. Personally, I come from the Kirby era of the sixties, a period that lasted to extent, into the nineties, dovetailing with the aforementioned Liefeld period, although none of them were ever as good as the King at his peak.

Going back to the new costume discussion, I can just imagine the boardroom discussion with Joe Quesada, Avi Arad and some big-name licensees, where Marvel was probably saying, 'Don't worry, we're just doing this costume thing for a few months to goose sales figures a bit, but we promise, everything will be status quo by the time Spider-Man 3 comes out!' Mark my words.

Like's Peter's characterization, liked MJ's characterzation. Liked them as a couple's characterzation.

Didn't like..knowing all of that is going out the window.

So Peter is now displaying abilities and characteristics of different spiders...I assume he'll be killing and eating Mary Jane durring Civil War?

I liked it. I was a bit ticked that the second and third issues of the book were not by Peter, and thought I'd abandon the entire "Other" storyline and resume with Friendly when it was over, but I picked up this ish at the store and leafed through it, and decided I liked what I saw enough to buy it. It was a good read.

A couple of things, though:

-I'm still getting used to the (to me) new status quo of Peter, MJ and Aunt May living in a huge-ass tower, with Peter's civilian ID known to everyone else, yadda yadda yadda, but why is Wolverine there? I mean, I gather that the X-Men have outed themselves and are now publicly known to live at the X-Mansion, so they may no longer be outcast renegades and stuff, but is Wolverine now an Avenger? When did this happen?

-Flash says he probably hasn't seen Peter since high school. I was a regular reading of Amazing and Spectacular during the Michelenie/McFarlane/Larsen run on the former, and the Gerry Conway/Sal Buscema run on the latter, and Peter was friends with Flash as adults. Was this all retconned, or something? If so, when did this happen?

Thanks.

Luigi, a couple of answers.

Yep, Wolvie is an Avenger now. It's Captain America, Iron Man, Spidey, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, and the Sentry. So there are several people who we don't usually think of as Avengers.

Flash doesn't remember Peter after high school. If you'll look one page earlier, the principal was asking Flash about brain damage that he had received. Flash tells him that chunks of his memory have been lost.

I enjoyed the issue - there were a lot of funny moments (including the slightly subtle one with Mary Jane and the pigeon), and it moved the storyline along nicely.

When Flash Thompson turned up, I did get a feeling of "my continuity sense is tingling!", but the coma does explain that. (I wasn't reading the Spidey titles when the coma itself happened, so I don't know the details involved.) So, I guess this is analogous to the Hulk/Nightmare situation, where the holes in his memory are vague enough to account for any glitches. Or like Hypertime, for that matter, although that's not a term I've heard used in the last few years (despite the initial controversy).

I don't have any strong feelings about "The Other" as a whole. My main concern was that I wouldn't get much out of the individual issues if I didn't read the whole thing, but that's turned out not to be a problem. So far I've read all of PAD's issues (which were good), all of JMS's (reasonable), and the first of Hudlin's (pretty dire - how do you screw up a Hulk appearance when your co-writer knows the character inside out?). I gave up on Hudlin's "Black Panther" after the first 6 issues, which seemed like a reasonable trial period, so I wasn't inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt by buying 3 more of his issues in this crossover, but I've still been able to follow the story as a whole - congratulations to PAD/JMS for that.

Am I the only one who's convinced that that really isn't Flash Thompson at the school?

I've enjoyed the Other story overall. It's been a long time since I read Spider-Man, and I initially wasn't going to follow the Other, but Peter's run got me interested. I did not care for Hudlin's writing (and I tried to get into Black Panther, but I get real tired of those thinly veiled characters based on real life people where they change one letter of their name-it's not clever at all). I really do not like Pat Lee's art, so that Spider book is definitely out now that the Other is coming to a close.

I don't mind the who bit about man or spider, though "the Weaver" feels vaguely Swamp Thingish to me.

I really enjoyed Aunt May's interaction with the other characters, especially under Peter's pen. I loved Peter taking Mary Jane out for a ride. And I love Mike W.'s artwork. So I will be sticking around for Friendly fer sure.

I enjoyed Amazing enough to give it a try after the Other is done.

And I will try and bear the new costume.

Nooo, that's definitely Flash Thompson. The concept that he suffered some brain damage that has led to memory loss doesn't strike me as remotely out of the question for someone who was in a coma.

PAD

No, comatose people never lose their memory. Sure, I have zero evidence to back me up...but I am sure that is impossible. ;)

but is Wolverine now an Avenger? When did this happen?

When Marvel handed the keys to the MU over to Bendis.

He blew up/killed some Avengers in Disassembled, then the New Avengers came along.

More or less, they're like the Defenders/New Defenders.

And it's also more or less an excuse to do something off the wall, and then get yet another title for Spidey & Wolvie to appear in each month.

"yet another title for Spidey & Wolvie to appear in each month."

Well, they're just trying to even things up. In the March solicitations for DC, there were 10 different comics that had "Batman" in the title. :)

Well, I have yet to FIND a PAD Spider-issue, besides FNSM #1 - seen several copies of various issues by the other guys - so I can't comment much, besides hoping that that really is a good indicator of the sales :) (I will in all likelihood be adding FNSM to my pull list, but asking to pull one issue of ASM, etc. would have been tricky, if possible at all, at my shop; and from the sounds of "The Other", the PAD issues are probably the only ones I would have wanted ...)

Reading this thread did remind me that Flash had had a coma - after a car crash, IIRC; and I'm now recalling a sequence where he was sitting there drooling, and doubt was expressed that he would fully recover. So, his forgetting parts of his life doesn't seem to me to be that unlikely in this light.

Peter

As someone who likes your honest 'take no prisoners (or if we do, don't pretend we haven't!)' approach to stating an opinion (even if i don't always agree), can I ask you a fairly straight-forward question:

Whatever your personal opinons: does the ratio of likes-to-dislikes of the current 'Other' storyline expressed here (and on several other sites) which seems to tilt around 80+% against reflect the ratio you're hearing from other people, or are we, the slightly miffed, just more vocal? :)

Thanks.

I just wish Peter's run had not started in the midst of "The Other" storyline, which I have been less than impressed with. And from the sound of things I may be the only one that wasn't too keen on the bringing Flash back without memory that he and Peter became friends. It makes me think Flash will be back to bullying "Puny Parker" again. ugh. Been there and done that. Hopefully, Peter has something more original in store for us.

Bobby

"Whatever your personal opinons: does the ratio of likes-to-dislikes of the current 'Other' storyline expressed here (and on several other sites) which seems to tilt around 80+% against reflect the ratio you're hearing from other people, or are we, the slightly miffed, just more vocal?"

Depends where I am. What seems to be happening is that if a few people start off a thread by saying they like the book/series, then the majority of the comments turn up positive. If, on the other hand, a few people crab about it up front, then people start to pile on. Case in point.

It just amazes me that only a handful of comments on this thread are remotely relevant to the specific issue and instead just complain about the entire crossover. Even people who *haven't read a single issue* are slagging it. I suppose it was stupid of me to think that people would actually concentrate on, y'know, the topic: FNSM #4. No one's saying it's badly written or badly drawn or not engaging or interesting or exciting or intriguing. Curiously, whether I turned in a dynamite issue or phoned it in seems irrelevant.

Actually, on second thought, I'm not amazed.

PAD

Jason M. Bryant: Yep, Wolvie is an Avenger now. It's Captain America, Iron Man, Spidey, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, and the Sentry. So there are several people who we don't usually think of as Avengers.
Luigi Novi: Yeah, me not likey. In my mind, I can't separate Spidey and Wolvie from the idea that they're mostly outcasts. Spidey being a reserver member, as he was way back when, was one thing, but him and Wolvie both being full members? It's hard for me to accept.

Jason M. Bryant:Flash doesn't remember Peter after high school. If you'll look one page earlier, the principal was asking Flash about brain damage that he had received. Flash tells him that chunks of his memory have been lost.
Luigi Novi: And apparently, I suffered some as well, apparently. D'oh!

Thanks, Jason.

Peter David: It just amazes me that only a handful of comments on this thread are remotely relevant to the specific issue and instead just complain about the entire crossover. Even people who *haven't read a single issue* are slagging it. I suppose it was stupid of me to think that people would actually concentrate on, y'know, the topic: FNSM #4.
Luigi Novi: Well, the issue is part of the crossover, so naturally, people are going to comment on the story of which it is a part, and how the issue contributes to it.

"Depends where I am. What seems to be happening is that if a few people start off a thread by saying they like the book/series, then the majority of the comments turn up positive. If, on the other hand, a few people crab about it up front, then people start to pile on."

"It just amazes me that only a handful of comments on this thread are remotely relevant to the specific issue and instead just complain about the entire crossover."

I think these comments are just a little unfair, Peter. It's entirely possible that the majority of people on this site actually *do* dilike the crossover, and they're not just going with what the first guy said. It's also possible that on another website that is less dominated by your fans, most of the people are reading the comic because the crossover brought them to it. So that site might get a completely different set of responses for perfectly legitimate reasons.

Also, there have been quite a few comments on the issue. Lots of people liked the MJ moment with JJJ. Some people liked seeing Flash back, and a few of those people expressed concerns about what his coming back might mean. A few people even commented on how well your comic fits in with the crossover, and how they were able to follow the story even if they didn't read the other parts. Personally, I commented on how I don't like big crossovers in general, because I want to be able to buy one Spidey comic a month and get a complete story.

I think the people in this thread have actually tried pretty hard to answer the original question in a reasonable manner.

1
>>It just amazes me that only a handful of comments on this thread are remotely relevant to the specific issue and instead just complain about the entire crossover.

--Peter, for my part, I'm not reading *any* of the crossover. I long ago gave up on JMS' Spidey and Reggie Hudlin won't get a dime of my money. I was excited to hear you were coming back to write Spidey until I heard it was at the start of a crossover I had no intention of getting. I've flipped through various issues in The Other and not only has nothing really grabbed me, but the crossover itself has really underwhelmed me. The *only* things that have stood out were your (thus far) two issues of FNSM. I can say that what little I read, I enjoyed...when it wasn't directly involved in the crossover (such as Peter and MJ swinging across the city in the recent issue). It's just hard to dissasociate oneself from the crossover to judge the book on its own merits.

When The Other is done, then I think you'll see people judging the book based on your writing.

I'm sure you had to know that people would have some major reservations with the story and possibly be unable to objectively judge your writing in the midst of it.

Well lets see. Here's a couple things I didn't like, the beginning of the issue Spidey surrounded by these lab techs, I mean this isn't exactly PAD's fault but this cavalier attitude about his identity. I don't know, if I could buy that Spidey was really an Avenger to stay, but thats hard. Flash Thompson's convenient memory loss is also a little hard to take, its just a little forced. That said, I can't wait to see what comes of it, I think thats going to be great, getting there is causing me a little pain, but oh what fun we're gonna have.
As for the rest of the issue, I loved it, Aunt May telling them to let Peter come play. That woman is indominatable. She just defeated Iron Man and Yellowjacket, and at least fought Mr Fantastic
to a draw. Then there was Peter and MJ's swinging conversation, it was realistic, I've had conversations like that, that are almost surreal but incredibly relevant. Oh, and MJ giving J.J.J. the finger was precious ( we don't see hime enough, fix that please). I find this whole Avenger thing hard to get a hold of myself, but I like it when PAD is writing it. I mean obviously Pete's got his friends and then the people he doesn't get along with so much, its just like most jobs I've worked, or he's worked for that matter. It's also kind of a better supporting cast we've had for him in a while, think about how inbred the Spider Man supporting cast relations have been in the past several years, all these people that shouldn't be in Peter's life anymore, not to mention that half the time they turn into villains. No these varied people whom Peter has been put into a situation to live with and work with thats got potential. Sorry I've been on a tangent. Other things that were nice, Peter does a great job of keeping the web swinging action up. Really, all of this could have been Bendissian talking heads (I love Bendis but really...), Peter keeps us swinging along and never once lets us forget that this man is Peter Parker, and this man is Spider-Man, a lot of writers have some trouble with that, writing a story for one that doesn't adequately include the other. PAD it was really a Dynamite issue, probably my favorite of your current run. Oh, and while its not his board lets here it for Wieringo, I've never found his style manga-esque, maybe a little cartoony, but I don't think thats wrong, and I don't mean just for this book, I mean for comics. He does action very well and his versions of the characters can look like whatever version of the character thats being used, not some wrote preconception. I will admit that some of the faces in this issue, were a bit odd, but unexpressive is not what'd I'd call them.

Mind you I might be a bit biased, I've been reading Peter since I was very small, he had me at the Mayo Jar. I watched Space Cases, read his X-factor and Sidey 2099. I never paid attention to who did things when I was a kid I just read and enjoyed, and then when things weren't fun anymore, after growing up some and observing more I found that things ussually stopped being fun when PAD left a book, since getting back into comics I've been reading just about anything PAD puts out, and everytime I've had fun.

One further thought on this: I couldn't help feeling that Mary-Jane was being a bit unreasonable. It's something of a moot point, now that she's come to terms with the new lifestyle, but anyway...

Previously, she was saying: "I feel like you're having an affair with me, because I never get to meet any of your friends". Now she's saying "I've met your friends, and they all think of me as your wife, so I want to spend time with people who know me as me". Poor baby...

As I understand it, she still has her acting career, with her own circle of friends who are completely separate from the superhero set, so it's not as if she's cut off from normal life; the only problem is that she and Peter can't easily invite friends over for dinner. Then again, it's been heavily implied in the past that Robbie does know Peter's secret, so they might as well just be open about it now that he's telling so many other people.

As for the Bugle staff, I like JJJ, and I'm happy to see him showing up in PAD's stories. On the other hand, he and Robbie appear fairly often in "The Pulse", so I'm not sitting here thinking "Wow, I haven't seen them for ages".

I love your writing on F'n Spidy.
But, I feel you keep getting hobbled by the current crap that I don't like in Spidy's books to do a really good Spidy book.
I'm not a fan of his being in the Avengers, but you do the best job of dealing with it.
I hate the whole mystic spidy stuff, and it makes it hard to enjoy any scene it's mentioned in.
The "Other" story is dreadful, and you can't avoid it.
F'n Spidy just has too much crap to wade through to read.
I end up feeling bad for you whiel reading.
On the bright side, your Fallen Angel is nothing if not better then it's ever been.
And X-Factor is great so far. Not as harmed by the "decimation" connection as I'd feared.

I had stopped buying the spiderman books a few months ago. I started buying them again with this storyline. Now while I've enjoyed the chapters that you have written for the most part I really can't wait till next issue so this Other crap is over and I can just buy your book. Hindsight 20/20 I think that Marvel should have waited to launch this book until after this storyline was finished.

One other thing I hope that the stupid new power of his (the stingers) doesn't last. Same for the new costume that they revealed at newsarama.

Dear Mr. David, Sorry I've never written before. Turns out I've been a fan since the beginning. FN Spidey #4 really made me laugh out loud several times. Few comics have ever done that. ("Yes Ma'am." "Yes Ma'am." "That's a lovely outfit Mrs. Parker")

You said you were just trying to write a good story and I think you did just that. Granted this whole Other story worked for me because the other two genttlemen pulled their weight too.

Don't let the negativity get to you. Looking forward to what comes next

I've been buying the individual issues ('cause I want to support the launch of PAD's title) but I'm holding off on reading them till the whole crossover is complete. However, I don't really care about spoilers, so I have been reading people's comments. And yes, the overwhelming sentiment I have heard so far is negative; as to the specifics of PAD's run, the consensus seems to be that the cheesy elements of the crossover (like Spider-Man sprouting a Wolverine-like claw) are unfortunately being carried over into PAD's title, and that is diminishing any enjoyment people have.

Personally, I could live with it if the crossover turns out to be awful, and then afterwards PAD is allowed to chart his own course. But my big fear is that this crossover is just the start, and the ideas from the other books will continue to be mandated to be included in FNSM, thus killing any enjoyment I might have. That would really disappoint me, because I wasn't reading any of the main Spider-books before PAD came on, and I was really hoping that his book would be free to chart its course. If that's not the case, it would really ruin the series for me.

Adding to my fears is the news that Tom Brevoort, an editor known for his respect and understanding of Marvel's characters, has been replaced by Axel Alonso, an editor... well, not known for that.

I guess I feel into analyzing the whole storyline myself in my last comment, so specifically for this issue:

-Overall, really liked it. From the first issue of FNSM you wrote, your characterization was consistent for everyone and really funny. Especially your use of Aunt May - fantastic in just the right amounts.

-Art was good. Lots of action that translated well. However, for me, the big Flash Thompson reveal really stood out in particular. And not to go off on a larger storyline tangent, I will say that between the Other's two appearances in this book and MKSM, its look seemed... inconsistent. This isn't a comment about either artist's talent, just an observation that they should maybe define the character's appearance a little more if several artists are going to be drawing it.

-RE: Flash Thompson - I also thought that we might be looking at an imposter, but PAD has addressed that already in this thread. If I have a say, I'd like to see Peter and Flash redeveloping their previous friendship, not fall back into the bullying relationship from way back.

-Loved the lab scene. Please, please, please leave them in Avengers tower as long as possible. It's a fun storyline to me, and frankly, it seems to give PAD a lot of toys to play with narratively. I will say, however, that it seemed a jump to me to have Peter unmasked in front of anonymous technicians when they had gone to great lengths previously in the same storyline to keep his identity a secret. I know that's a metacomment, but it pertains to this issue specifically, since in all previous issues Tony always seemed to sequester Peter in his top secret personal lab or Cap was sending him to a specialist doctor who they could trust to keep a secret.

Overall, I liked this issue a lot. It delivered on its own AND made me look forward to the next issue of both the Other storyline and FNSM.

An unusual perhaps method of evaluating a comic I occasionally use is to count the references to science, pop-culture, etc. If a kid were reading this, what might they learn about? (In X-Factor #1, for example, I loved the reference to the etymology of the word Decimation) This issue scores well as an educational comic.

Science

Cannibal spiders
Leonardo DaVinci's The Vitruvian Man

Pop Culture

Eddie Haskell (Leave it to Beaver)
Lucy, I'm Home (I Love Lucy show)
Sing Out Louise (the musical, Gypsy…the only one I had to look up)

(I may have missed a few, this is from memory)

No one's saying it's badly written or badly drawn or not engaging or interesting or exciting or intriguing. Curiously, whether I turned in a dynamite issue or phoned it in seems irrelevant.

I got my copy late, so I am only now commenting.

Actually, I thought it was a great issue. I don't like the art, not because it is bad, but I like a different style.

In regards to the crossover, I said it before and will say it again: Yours has been the only parts worth reading. I like JMS, and don't hate the story, but felt it took a long time to go nowhere (yet). Your books are the only ones that felt like I got a real story.

Your mastery is seen in this issue. It stood on its own, whether I read anything else or not. It had great interaction (especially between MJ and Wolverine). I love your version of Aunt May (JMS also does her well ).

Bottom line in the context of this being an ongoing series and not a one book episode, I think you hit the ball out of the park with this one. This is why I read you, PAD, in spite of our huge political differences.

In regards to "The Other," I felt it advanced the mythos enough to have warranted a crossover, I just would have liked stronger stories and it not being so drawn out. The only thing I hate is the "wolverine" style stingers that pop out. I can suspend disbelief to a certain degree, but the stingers seem both too large and too hard to fight with. (I have not read Spidey 2099 in forevever, but I seem to recall him having some sort of venom, but in a bite, so this was not as big a revelation to me.)

Iowa Jim

Bored at work today; can you tell?

Anyway, it just occurred to me that while the stingers are... different, I think the thing that is maybe putting people off is that stingers are a much more offensive, aggressive weapon. You web someone, they're ensnared, trapped or otherwise incapacitated, but not really suffering a mortal injury directly from the webbing as a weapon. Even when Spidey's punching someone, there's only so much a closed fist can do. Now a stinger, that's puncturing the flesh, that's injecting venom, that's causing an open wound, that's drawing blood and taking the fight to a new level for Spidey. I can suspend disbelief about spiders having stingers because, hey, didn't they just find like 30 new species of insects and arachnids in a cave in California? I'm more interested to see how Spidey deals with having these new, much more deadly weapons at his disposal, especially the first time he impales someone and blood starts spurting everywhere.

PAD
Thought it is clever. Dialogue between Peter and Tony show both Pete's IQ and Tony's scientist bent. Intro of Hank and Reed also added to the scene. Aunt May of course steals the scenes she is in. MJ and Pete's coversation also made great sense given the context. Eager to see where the skin/spider entity leads. And Iron Peter will be a new status quo and am sure you will have plenty to say on that and the upcoming Civil War.

1 I don't know if this was covered already because I don't feel like reading 74 posts...but Peter, how much "influence" are you having on all of the Spiderman changes? I mean "STINGERS?" WTF? I thought taking away the WebShooter that were creatively designed by Ditko was bad enough, but now "STINGERS????" WEAK! I'm hoping that by June the Stingers will be all but forgetten.

Oh...and I think my above post is a "comment" on the actual issue at hand.

PAD, I love your writing and think you're a great fit for Spidey.

However The Other has been a complete festering pile of dung from beginning to end. Marvel screwed the pooch on this one.

Just read it last night after finally getting my hands on a copy. I gotta say, bringing back Flash Thompson as a part of Peter's social life is a stroke of genius. I figure there's a reason why Stan Lee decided to make him a constant present in Peter's life through high school and college, while the ladies like Betty Brant and Liz Allen eventually faded away. The Peter and Flash relationship is just more interesting. (Kind of like how Angel and Spike were more interesting than Angel/Buffy or Spike/Buffy.) These two characters are destined to piss each other off until they are old and gray. It's like they say, "The more things change, the more they stay the same."