This shows how comics, or those run by corporations, are nothing but “the illusion of change”.

The way Kraven, who was just a mortal died is without a doubt definite. There is no other way around that.

I could see if he was a cosmic character some B.S. excuse to bring him back.

But even with magic and whatever B.S. they will use, Kraven would have no brains left.

Explain how they’d restore his brain and his memories.

Plus Spidey even got to see his Soul and made peace with Kraven.

To return Kraven to life really shows me just why I all but quit reading the books after Brand New Day.

This type of return shows how their is no true character development in the Spidey books anymore. Because the rug will be pulled out from you eventually and status quo returned.

I guess I’m at an age, in my 30’s and have outgrown comic books of this nature. Comic worlds where nothing of value lasts or is maintained. And relating to characters gets tossed out the window.

I already know what’ll happen and that at some point Kraven returns to status quo as just a Spidey villain. With the usual hate for the hero.

Yet the point with how he died was to show he had the ultimate victory and their was no point fighting Spidey anymore. The feud was over.

I guess Marvel will say he will forget all that.

Sony Spider-Man 1 image found on google with my caption

Just read the news that Sam Raimi and Tobey Maquire are out and will not be part of Spider-Man 4 and a reboot is in the works.

There were script troubles and NO DOUBT Sony was not happy at all that they had to miss their intended movie date. For a studio to not make a movie date they planned and set out years in advance is kind of unforgivable in that business and they don’t forget it.

I think missing the planned date is a big reason why they let Sam Raimi go. And credit to him, Tobey Maquire probably left out of loyalty to Sam Raimi.

The problem was the script and creative difference on who the villain would be. Raimi wanted the Vulture but the studio wanted someone else. I think the studio was not happy because of the age issue with the Vulture. An old guy is not exactly marketable to a young buying crowd and audience now is it?

Raimi also probably learned his lesson about bowing to the studio for their villain needs after the Spidey 3 disaster with Venom. A character he never wanted in the film.

Overall I’m HAPPY Sam Raimi, Tobey Maquire are GONE and a Reboot is in the works!

While Raimi was great in the first film and the second film. And Mcquire was also good in both.

I think Maquire is too old for the role now and they need someone younger. I also think it showed he had no real passion for the role or character. It was just a job to him. I hope the next one cast actually reads comic books or has a passion for Spider-Man.

Raimi has passion for the property. Much more then Maquire, but I think he lost balance and focused to much on Peter Parker and his life outside the mask.

Raimi did not give us many moments of Spidey in costume in action.

People go to superhero movies to see the Superhero in costume doing things.

Look at the Dark Knight and the GREAT BALANCE between the Bruce Wayne and Batman action.

I think this is just what a new Spidey or any superhero film needs.

Raimi in the last Spidey 3 film featured Peter Parker way too much. And Spider-Man in costume way too little. With his Spidey 4 he’d probably feature Spidey in costume for less then 20 minutes again.

Let’s get the balance right in the next Spidey movie.

Also with the news already mentioned, I think it goes without saying that Kristen Dunst is gone as well. I haven’t heard official word yet but please say it’s so.

I hated Kristen Dunst as Mary Jane. She had no passion or interest in the roll. See the Spidey 3 news for how little she cared. And she never fit the look or was in my opinion particularly hot, beautiful, or attractive enough for the roll.

It’s been enough years, and three films is usually it for a cast in movies. I just hope they get a good director who likes the property.

And though the Spidey costume was great enough as it is. Why not upgrade it as well? Change the eyes to make it more spider like, and though it probably won’t happen I know, but make the under the arm webbing as well.

I’m all for a Spidey reboot and seeing what happens.

Amazing Fantasy 15 cover with my caption

Kirby Estate Going After Spider-Man

Unpacking The Kirby Reclamation Case

Wow what a news surprise!

What a bunch of crap in my opinion!

Having read a lot about the creation of Spider-Man. It’s clear to me, that a Lee/Kirby Spider-Man WOULD NEVER have been the same as the Published Lee/Ditko version of Spider-Man that we got.

The Spider-Man we know today is a creation of Lee/Ditko.

THIS VERSION is the successful one. THIS VERSION is a creation that the Lee/Kirby version never would have been.

Read the Ditko paperback “The Avenging World”. It has various articles about Spider-Man and comic book creation.

Did Lee/Kirby make an undeveloped Spider-Man idea? Yes.

Was the Lee/Kirby Spider-Man idea the same as the Lee/Ditko idea? No.

Key Question: Are there ENOUGH DIFFERENCES from the Lee/Kirby idea to qualify and say that the Lee/Ditko Spider-Man idea Qualifies as a Separate Creation, that stands on it’s own merits? YES!

Bottom Line: What Lee/Kirby made of Spider-Man was an idea that was never fully developed.

The Spider-Man we know today is a Lee/Ditko creation that went a separate way, and stands as it’s own creation.

A Lee/Kirby Spider-Man WOULD NEVER have become the icon we know today.

I find this latest claim to be Kirby Heir GREED and Hubris.

They assume that the Kirby Spider-Man idea is the same, and would have become the same thing. Reach the same fame. Become the same character we know today.

Anyone can talk. But I want them to back this claim up with proof, facts, documented evidence. Not hearsay, and just throwing allegations out there.

The Overall Conclusion looking at the evidence from articles I’ve read and researched is this:

Kirby with Lee developed an initial Spider-Man idea that Lee rejected. What Lee developed and created with Ditko was a Spider-Man creation that stands as a separate creation.

The Ditko/Lee Spider-Man idea became the success we know today. Became the character we know today.

If the Kirby Heirs are so right in their allegations. Let’s take Ditko out of the equation. Would a Lee/Kirby Spider-Man idea BE ANYTHING like the character we know today?

I think it’s fair to say: NO WAY! It would be MUCH DIFFERENT!

And that very FACT that it would indeed be MUCH DIFFERENT, all but proves the case that the Lee/Ditko Spider-Man is a separate creation that stands on it’s own merits.

If anyone deserves compensation for Spider-Man it’s Ditko and Lee.

And some facts I’d like to lay out of what Kirby “created” in terms of Spider-Man.
1. Possibly brought Lee the Spider-Man name idea. Yet the Spider-Man name in some variation (without hypen) had been used before. The word itself was already out there. Kirby never really created it. Just like the word Batman was already out there before Kane/Finger created Batman.

2. An Aunt and Uncle. Yet no reference for names. But in a previous published comic story Lee/Ditko created similar looking characters who by coincidence were named Aunt May and Uncle Ben. Also just mentioning characters with no description or character development. Well, it’s generic enough that anyone can have an idea. Yet it’s not enough to claim the idea as your own.

3. Amazing Fantasy #15 cover Kirby penciled. EXCEPT for that FACT that it’s based on a cover Ditko already made. Kirby just made the cover from a different perspective.

Facts that Ditko CREATED for his Spider-Man.
1. Designed the Spider-Man costume and visuals of the various characters and villains in Spider-Man’s world.

2. Designed the web shooters and out of the wrists idea.

3. Designed the spider sense and other various powers. As Ditko mentioned in his article. Lee gave him no specific powers to use. But using a power like clinging to walls for a Spider themed character is just a natural progression. It’s what spiders do.

4. Designed the way Spider-Man moves. His visual nature in poses and movements. All have which been associated with the character ever since.

If the Kirby Heirs win money for Spider-Man, it would be one of the big screw jobs in comic history. The CREATION and money should go to Ditko.

As I mentioned, what Kirby brought was an unfinished idea that was rejected.

While I’m for the Kirby Estate to get his Marvel co-creations. This case is really pushing it and in my opinion is definitely not justified. A Lee/Kirby Spider-Man WOULD NEVER be the same as the published Spider-Man we know today. It’s just wrong to assume that a Kirby Spider-Man would be the same thing as the Ditko Spider-Man.

The Lee/Ditko Spider-Man version is a separate creation. This idea went in a different direction and became the success we know today.

As I heard mentioned: Like Mickey Mouse, everyone is claiming a hand in that they created Spider-Man. As if whatever ideas they had, would equal the Spider-Man we know today. Facts and evidence prove otherwise though.

Had Spider-Man just been a failed concept, no one would be talking about the character. Much less wanting to claim credit.

Yet have a successful idea, and everyone wants a piece of it.

Various Kirby co-creations with my caption

Kirby Estate Goes after Marvel

This news is a surprise! It appears that Jack Kirby, or rather his Heirs in the form of his Estate are going to sue both Marvel and now Disney. They are going for the Copyright ownership of the characters Kirby created or that he co-created.

They are using the same law firm that is representing the Superman case in court.

They are also going to go after the various movie studios that produced recent films.

I thought this change in copyright law only took effect if it could be proven a character was made before and that a publisher bought what was already created?

Such as the Siegel case. That is why in the Superman case, the Siegel family won something back.

BUT this is a case where a creator made Work For Hire material, on the job. Which is what appears to be the case with Kirby and his 60’s Marvel work.

This is a whole other matter to me. And not legally, anything like the Superman case that is going on.

Also I wonder to what extent this copyright law was changed? How many years are covered? Because if Kirby, or rather his family is able to gain come form of copyright and character ownership. What of Ditko, Romita Sr., and other creators from that era? Is it all going to be open game now? Can they sue for Copyright ownership?

I’m no lawyer, but just because Kirby helped make a lot of characters, this doesn’t mean his case is more valid then any other creator from that era. Can and will other Marvel creators ask and get copyright ownership back?

I also can’t help but think greed is a factor on why the Kirby Heirs are suing now. Why not earlier? I think they waited for others to start the hard work. And now they are riding the coattails.

The Superman case is going on and DC appears to be losing. Plus now, with the recent Marvel and billions deal. Is it any wonder that now this case is brought up?

While I think hiring the same lawyers as the Superman case is a good idea. I can also smell those lawyers just being sharks and wanting to get millions. Which is what they will get paid if they win their cases.

Overall Kirby at least did okay financially. And didn’t end up poor like other creators. As I read in a post, poor people don’t leave Estates.

I also wonder the fact that didn’t Kirby sign away his characters in later contracts? This is in regards to the 80’s art controversy and what What For Hire meant legally. If he signed away his rights in contract. How can his Estate get back what was already signed away?

And don’t forget most are co-creations. And not his characters outright. So exactly what percent of ownership is his family due?

For example Iron Man is mentioned. Yet Kirby had little to do with the character. He only designed the original armor, which is no longer used. He did not create the Tony Stark face, or the first issue. He did not create the origin. At least as far as I can tell in evidence.

So is Kirby really a co-creator of Iron Man? Sure he had a hand in it. But in my opinion, not much of a hand.

Wouldn’t Ditko deserve as much Iron Man co-creator status? After all, it was Ditko who made the classic slimmed down red and gold armor that has been the characters trademark.

And legally speaking I don’t think there is much documented evidence to back up any cases from back then. Without clear evidence for your case, how can you win? You can’t just say you co-created a character. Their should be clear evidence beyond reasonable doubt that you can backup your claim. I ask where is such legal evidence?

I’d be real interested if Ditko could get some Spider-Man and Dr. Strange ownership back? As a creator, I think he lost out far more then other creators. He co-created an icon that the world knows. And never was justly compensated for his work.

Other then questions, I’ll wait to see if this develops and more news on the subject.

I don’t think this case will win, if you had to prove you made the characters before the company hired you.

But if they win back some control of the character, then I think this could open a door to many other creators.

Legally this could also be one major problem for Marvel.

The ironic thing is a few weeks ago I posted an article wondering just this topic. What if other creators from Marvel could get their characters back?

Read the article by clicking the link below.

Work For Hire Copyright Ownership Laws Time For A Change

Spider-Man and Captain America by Joe Quesada with my caption

Comic Book Resources

I took the above images from the Comic Book Resources link above on his Cup O’ Joe art.

Spidey was a One More Day Wizard picture. Cap was from the Reborn story cover art.

I put my text in both and found Both Images to well represent my feelings about the Disney Takeover of the Marvel characters and company.

Basically like an old chant I heard of “You Sold Out”. Meaning someone sold themselves out just for money. I changed it to disparage Marvel.

As I mentioned in my post before this one, once Disney Takes Over. The Marvel property as you know it is forever theirs. A corporation like Disney knows the long term value of these characters, and will not let them go. I think they would rather go bankrupt, then to lose a property like this.

Not much to say after that. I think the images and my captions speak for themselves.

Marvel Characters image found on Google with my caption

I’m sure you heard the news by now. That Disney plans to buy Marvel and all their characters.

My reaction? Utter Surprise!

For all the comic news gossip / journalism sites, I never saw or read about this coming. Yet, wouldn’t their be news of this happening for at least a few weeks? Things like this just do not happen out of nowhere. The information had to be out there in the business circles.

Yet I heard nothing on the comic book news sites. At least until like everyone else, it was after the fact.

I think this shows that the comics news people, may know a lot about comic creators and about books. But when it comes to actual business issues, most comic journalists know nothing. Or at least very little.

My further reaction?

THIS IS TERRIBLE!

I think this really ruins Marvel for the reasons I’ll list:

1. I’m not a big Disney fan, and for all the talk of ‘Well this will help get more exposure for the Marvel brand. And no one brands better then Disney?’

News item: Marvel is already a popular brand and has exposure. Look at all the movies, animation and merchandise. They have been a POPULAR brand for DECADES.

This really is not needed. You need a brand, if you are something like an Independent or Small publisher.

If they bought say: Dark Horse or maybe IDW, then the branding idea would have a point. It doesn’t in this case.

2. I fear since Disney DOES NOT understand how comic books work. It will only be a matter of time before some executive is put in place and at some point Marvel characters will be watered down.

I fear an overall watering down process will happen. It’s just a gut reaction and feeling I have.

Remember Disney bought CrossGen comics, and did nothing with the property. Why did they buy them and not use it? I feel characters and items that are not seen as immediate money makers will be pushed to the side.

If a corporate suit does not understand the product. Or really care to understand the product. Then they will only stick to the money makers. And push others aside. And demand changes to other characters to make them more friendly. Even if these changes go against what that character is all about.

3. Marvel always seemed a place that had an edgy appeal to it. Marvel was not a stuffy shirt, like corporate DC Comics. Now like DC Comics, it will only be a matter of time before Marvel seems like a stuffed shirt and corporate puppet.

4. I hear a bunch of talk about ‘This is great. Now Pixar can make Marvel movies!’ Well, I guess I’m too old but Pixar movies do not appeal to me. And not everyone is a fan of CG movies.

Besides, is it not the goal to get Live Action movies with actors? And not animated movies?

And if you look at what Pixar makes, any Marvel movie would be watered down. I have yet to hear of a Pixar movie that deals with serious themes. The Pixar movie company works in only one movie genre, and that not a genre that is really compatible with Marvel.

5. Joe Quesada you can kiss your job goodbye! Prepare for it. When big corporations buy out smaller companies. It is only a matter of time before the buyer, REPLACES the top staff of the company they bought.

They do this for a general clearing out, and fresh start. Also the people buying a smaller company, want to put their own people in place. They do not want the old people in place.

You can be sure, within two years you are out as EIC and you are done. Well it’s either that or at the very least being demoted. And do you really want to be demoted? Most people would rather quit then suffer that humiliation.

So if you have book ideas, stories and things you really want to do Joe. I think you had better plan on doing them soon. While you can still call the shots.

6. Marvel will become a property FOREVER owned by Disney. It will be game, set and match. Marvel is done.

By this I mean, Disney once they own it, will never sell Marvel Comics. This will be a Disney property and then forever remain a Disney property.

Just like Time Warner will make sure their DC property will never be sold.

Disney will make sure they never sell their Marvel property.

First off, with what Disney is paying. You can be sure they plan to use the Marvel property for decades, and have absolute zero interest in selling the property.

This is not one of those, buy and then you flip it for a better price, short term thinking ventures.

This is a very long term property they plan to use. In the end, Disney will benefit more then Marvel. The main reason is Disney will eventually at some point make their money back on this purchase. And then, they will be profiting from that point on.

Also the Marvel brand is firmly established. You know these icons are reliable properties. And that means you know it will sell for you.

Their really is no risk on Disney making this purchase. They know Marvel is a money property. And it will keep making them money regularly. All they have to do is wait long term, and eventually they will make their money back.

As I mentioned, Disney will have no plans to sell this property to anyone. And if their were an exception, it would only have to be a Bill Gates type of guy or company. And that just won’t happen.

I think Disney would rather fail and go into bankruptcy, then to give up any of their reliable purchases. And with that said, they will never give up Marvel. They would rather go out of business, then let that happen.

That’s kind of sad when you think about. Forever to be bound and never free to move around or be purchased by anyone else ever again.

7. 70 Years of Marvel, has led to this? ‘Nuff said.

I mean why really knew or thought this would ever happen? Back when Marvel and all these heroes were being made. Whoever thought it would eventually lead to this?

I always saw Marvel as the cool place to hangout. It always seemed to have an edge to it. And I ALWAYS appreciated the fact that it was it’s own company.

That it never really was just a branch of a corporation.

Now Marvel will be nothing more then a cog in a corporation. Marvel will just be a branch on a tree. It will not be a tree itself anymore.

That’s my point and I hope you can understand what I am trying to say.

Overall

I couldn’t come up with more reasons and I didn’t want to drag on a list and fill it with needless points. What I said so far sums up my feeling on the situation.

Basically as I mentioned, my gut reaction and feeling is that this is bad news for Marvel. I’m talking about the big picture here, and projecting way into the future.

I’m not talking about the short term, but the long term.

I think in the overall view that this is really bad. And quite frankly sucks. I’m not happy about the idea.

Marvel will become nothing but a branch in a tree, or a cog in the machine. Not the machine itself, or tree itself anymore.

Also as I mentioned, I just don’t see Disney ever giving this property up. Like Time Warner will never sell DC Comics. Disney will never sell Marvel Comics. Disney would rather crash and burn as a corporation, then to give up their properties. Especially one like this.

If a corporation were to buy Marvel, I’d rather it be Time Warner so both universes could be together.

And in particular, I think the news blindsided me. It literally dropped out of nowhere. As I mentioned at the start of this article. I didn’t see this coming. I go to comic book news / journalist sites to get the inside word so that something like this does not happen.

News this big HAD TO be circling the business news wires in rumors for weeks, if not months.

Yet where were the comic news journalists to cover this story before the fact? I think this demonstrates, as I mentioned, that comic news sites only are good with dealing with the creator end of things. But when it comes to the real world, business end of the industry. Most of these comic news sites know nothing about real business news.

Finally, even though the news was announced.

I’d like to know the technical details and business aspects.

It was announced, but when does the legal paperwork get signed? When does it become real and official.

I’m talking about the official takeover.

What we have here is a plan to purchase, but correct me if I am wrong here: But the purchase has not happened yet? At least technically and legally right?

I’d like to know the details and when the transaction officially takes place and Marvel Comics as we know it becomes no more.

And Marvel then changes and becomes nothing but a Disney owned property.

If you have or know the details, shoot me an email at: comicbookblogger@gmail.com If I use the news, and unless you tell me otherwise, I’ll give you full credit for the news provided and whatever link you want to promote.

Thanks

Thor and Dr. Strange image with my caption

Looking over the Marvel Comics characters of the 1960’s, very few Heroes wore capes on their costumes.

Of the group only Dr. Strange and Thor wore capes. That’s it. Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, X-men, Hulk, etc. no one else got a cape.

Was it Stan Lee who approved the character design, while keeping out what he didn’t like? Or was it random chance that it ended up that way? I can’t say either way.

But it looks like if you were a Marvel hero then, you had to earn a cape!

Thor had a cape probably for a very obvious reason. A cape can give a quality of being regal and noble. By having a cape, it played up on Thor and his grandeur. Which is very fitting for a character.

Dr. Strange in his first appearance did not have a cape. Then he wore a blue cape which went with the rest of his blue costume. It did not stand out, and it really wasn’t that interesting. I guess they noticed that, because then Dr. Strange got his classic red with yellow trim cape. I must admit that cape look is very unique and stands out in a good way. It was not a generic cape of one color just thrown on. This cape enhanced the look of the character.

Why did Strange get a cape? Probably because he deals with magic, and in real life the so called magic act, the people always use capes. It is just a natural pairing, so it fit for the character. And having a cape as I mentioned really did enhance his look.

A lot of villains like Dr. Doom and Magneto had capes. But it’s very common for a villain because it can add a sense of arrogance and grandeur. Which is very fitting for a villain to have.

But of all the Spider-Man villains of the 1960’s only Mysterio had a cape. That’s it for the Spidey villains. Why him? I have no idea. Why does he wear a fishbowl over his head?

Now look over at DC comics and almost everyone their has capes! It looks to me like they just followed the Superman mold, and gave their heroes capes with no thought put into it. With the exception of Batman, most of the other heroes wear capes that are not functional or have a reason for being their.

A list of some of the DC heroes who wear capes are:

Superman, Batman, Spectre, Dr. Fate, Hourman, Martian Manhunter, Golden Age Green Lantern, Red Tornado, Supergirl, Robin, Captain Marvel, Power Girl

I started this post asking why did few Marvel heroes wear capes? I don’t have any inside information or know the answer. I just know that the Marvel heroes as a group look really cool together, whether they wear capes or not.

Feel free to share your views about capes, do you like them or not?

Amazing Spider-Man One More Day covers with my caption

Since One More Day and the issue of Marriage is an important issue. I can’t help but think about it again.

I recently saw the movie Fireproof DVD (click this link to read about the DVD), and it was quite good. But if you do not like to see religion in movies or ones with good morals, you won’t like this movie. It provides some good laughs, deals with marriage problems, and no profanity. Mainstream films don’t know how to make movies like this anymore.

One of the themes of Fireproof is about the bonds of marriage and how it is sacred.

And I was thinking in comic book terms how basically Peter Parker dammed his eternal soul to hell by making a pact with a demon. Any pact with such an entity will have consequences on your soul. Especially if you made the pact of your own free will and it was your choice.

I was thinking about a 3 part comic book saga, with a story about 8 pages each.

Since I can’t draw, plus I can’t legally make stories about the character, this is the plot I would have wrote.

Issue 1, The Legacy of Peter Parker’s Deal with a demon
Takes place after Peter Parker / Spider-Man has already died. His soul is in hell.

He is being tortured and the devil, or Mephisto in this case is laughing at Peter. As the past is played about him, Peter wonders why he is in hell after all the good he has done?

The demon laughs at a chained Peter Parker and mentions the deal that was made. How Peter Parker and also Mary Jane made a deal with him. A contract that Peter choose of his own free will.

As Peter inquires about Mary Jane, Mephisto says she is in hell also. Then flashes an image where both can see each other chained. They look at and call for each other, but Mephisto let’s the image fade saying that is the last time they’ll ever see each other again.

She is in hell because she also took part in the deal. But being an ordinary woman, she was no challenge and easy to tempt. He turns to Peter and say’s it’s his soul that interests him and was the prize to catch. The soul of a Hero. To corrupt someone of noble stature and to make him fall from grace is always a prize in hell.

Peter wonders about Aunt May. Mephisto says with dissatisfaction, she is one that has escaped us. You’ll never see her again because she went to the good place.

Then the demon shows Peter a vision of a timeline that would have happened had Peter rejected his deal. Aunt May would have died but gone on to the good place. His exposed secret identity would have eventually been covered up again by other means. As Spider-Man, Peter would have accomplished more good. Then raised a family with Mary Jane, and their children would grow to be heroes and have grandchildren who would also be heroes.

By making a deal with a demon, Peter Parker erased that probability and the generations of heroes that would have been. All the good and the lives they would have saved, now they never happened.

Peter upon realizing this, his pact that he made, and his soul in hell cries and yells in pain upon hearing this as he is tortured. Mephisto laughs and says how Peter’s cries of pain are like music to his ears, and to the ears of his master. This being the biblical devil of which he is but a servant. Mephisto never would have believed the day would arrive when Spider-Man was his.

The End

Issue 2, Can the Silver Surfer save Spider-Man ?
This plays on the notion that the Surfer has always been a noble Christ like figure that Mephisto could not corrupt in past encounters. And how the Surfer with Adam Warlock ventured to hell to rescue the soul of Shalla-Bal.

The Surfer goes to hell to try and rescue Peter’s soul. But Mephisto stops the Surfer and shows him the past and the pact made with the demon. How Peter of his own free will made the choice. And that the Surfer has no power over this bond and the consequences of Peter’s actions.

The Surfer is about to leave in defeat when Mephisto says he’ll release Peter’s soul if the Surfer will agree to take his place? The Surfer says it’s a trick. If he exchanged his soul for Peter’s then he in fact would then be making a pact with the devil and both their souls would be trapped. The Surfer because he would have made a deal. And a demon can never be trusted to keep his word on a contract. The original contract between Peter and Mephisto would still be in place, and how the Surfer’s actions cannot change that. Mephisto says well played and laughs. He mentions how the Surfer’s soul has always been noble.

Mephisto then says how corrupting most men’s souls is very easy. Most men fall for the vices of ego, money, power, sex, addiction. They are easy prey and of little challenge or sport. But to get the soul of someone noble, to corrupt a hero. Well that is worthy of his attention, and always a valuable prize in hell.

In the last panel Mephisto laughs and says, Spider-Man’s soul is his for eternity. The last panel is Peter Parker on his knees, his wrists chained, his chest out and head back screaming in pain. Above him, Peter’s shadow mimicking his pose with his wrists chained is the image of Spider-Man echoing that scream of pain.

The End

Issue 3, The Watcher’s Vision of Spider-Man’s Deal
This issue starts with the Watcher telling us the audience, how their are parallel worlds and dimensions. That the Peter Parker / Spider-Man you know was the only parallel world that took Mephisto up on his offer.

The Watcher then shows us other worlds, the ones where Peter Parker rejected the demon and the consequences of those actions. How Aunt May died, but Peter Parker matured into a stronger individual. The Watcher tells us about the laws of nature and life. And how the Peter Parker we saw can serve as a reminder of our consequences. And how our actions effect not only us, but those around us.

Had that Peter Parker not made a deal, he would have been like all the others in the parallel worlds.

Such as people who met because when his identity was exposed they talked about Peter Parker being Spider-Man. These people now did not meet if Peter’s exposed identity never happened. And their children now never happened.

How people who would have been rescued by Peter’s children now died because he had no children.

His family and their legacy would have changed the world for the better. By not letting natural law take place, he not only dammed his soul. Peter Parker’s actions effected other countless lives.

Finally the Watcher tells us that for the Peter Parker who made a deal, their is no longer any hope for him. But luckily he was the only one in the countless parallel worlds to suffer such a fate. The Peter Parker / Spider-Man of the other worlds rejected the deal and lived good lives, their souls going to Heaven.

Learn from the mistakes of the one Peter Parker who suffered a deal with a demon and realize no good will ever be accomplished by making a deal with such an entity. And to learn the lesson that marriage is a sacred covenant “What therefore God has joined together, let no one put asunder”.

The End

If you liked reading this please leave a comment.

Marvel Legacy The 1960s Handbook Cover with my caption

I was thinking about 1960’s Marvel and what made that foundation of a universe great, why those characters and books got popular, and I came up with 3 concepts which I will expand upon:

1. Community
2. Lack of Space Alien Origins
3. Relatable Heroes

1. Community
The Marvel Heroes lived mostly in the same real world city and connected together and ran into each other.

With DC for example, it seems that every hero lives in their own fictional city made just for them.

With Marvel, most of them occupied New York. For readers, this made for a relatable setting. Where you as a reader could believe such meetings could take place. And even better was, as a writer setting up a situation to make heroes living in the same city meet is not that difficult.

2. Lack of Space Alien Origins
This was a key factor overlooked by most anyone I hear mention Marvel’s success.

Outside of the Silver Surfer and Thor, EVERY Marvel hero made then was just a human. They did not get their powers from some outer space creature, or some other unrelatable idea.

I think the whole “alien origin” aspect dilutes a character into that of “just another silly comic book character” from the mainstream public viewpoint. A regular person on the street can’t relate to that. And having an alien origin just seems silly to a non comic buyer.

Now sure you can say: Is getting hit with a gamma bomb? Or a bite from a spider more relatable?

I hear what you are saying, and you are right, but also wrong. I think the elements like the above are more plausible and believable for a comic book setting. The whole “suspension of disbelief” thing. But something like an alien origin is too over the top.

Check out the Spider-Man movie or the X-men movie for example. Their origins sound plausible enough on the surface that the public can accept it.

Now say in the above movies, a space ship drops down and zaps a guy who then becomes Spider-Man. That sounds rather silly doesn’t it?

Or a space ship drops down and zaps a guy turning him into the Hulk. Not as cool an origin right?

And that’s my point. Whether by planning or random luck, Stan Lee and company avoided the alien origins idea.

As for Thor and the Surfer, they didn’t spoil the whole thing because it was just a few that had alien origins and therefore can still fit in.

Also Thor was made very human first by Stan Lee. He was really a human who acquired Thor’s power. That human base really anchored Thor as a character.

And the Surfer brought about and was used as an outside observer of humans. Looking at us from a viewpoint that we could never see. Telling us how basically how our world was a paradise. If only we would stop destroying each other and live in peace, could we see this world for the gift it really is.

3. Relatable Heroes
This is why those Marvel heroes got popular as well.

These Marvel heroes had problems and situations we could relate to. Despite their fantastic powers and battles, they were also down to earth.

They had anchors that made us relate or feel sorry for them. These were not invincible heroes, like DC comics had. The DC Heroes being mostly perfect and in essence rather shallow when you peeled back the layers.

The Marvel Heroes were given a depth and understanding that DC did not have.

For example, with the exception of Iron Man, everyone else had financial problems. And you really did not want to be Iron Man, who had to suffer in secret.

Spider-Man had relationship, financial, and school problems.

The X-men had trouble fitting in with society, yet at the same time an obligation to protect us.

In Closing
I think these three factors were the keys that made Marvel Comics the successful universe that it is today. And the reason why back then readers picked up the books in the first place.

Even today I notice many creators DO NOT use these same rules. For example when I read Image Comics Savage Dragon and the Pitt with their alien origins. My feel for them as a character got disappointed. They just lost a relatable factor with me.

Or you have generic Punisher knock offs, who are blood thirsty heroes. Yet their is no emotional origin for these heroes to make me care for them or their situations.

Making a successful comic book universe today is difficult, if not all but impossible. But I think if you stick to the above three principles, you won’t be steered far wrong. Just feel free to give me a plug and URL website mention so I can get more readers to this website.

Amazing Spider-Man #601 cover with my caption

I must admit J. Scott Campbell does have his moments as an artist. And this is one of his best covers. I like how subtle it is. It has a picture of Peter and MJ together in a photo above her. There is a Spider-Man mention in a newspaper on the table. And Spider-Man swing outside the window. Plus taken at face value, you would think they are still married.

Now let’s look back at Brand New Day once again. The choice Peter had was to save his Aunt, at the cost of his marriage and future with Mary Jane.

1. First off Peter did not take Aunt May’s opinion and consideration at all. Don’t you think May would choose to go instead, knowing that Peter is in good hands with someone who loves him?

2. If a devil, or at the very least a demon makes you an offer. Don’t you think whatever he is offering should be an automatic NO on your part? Especially for someone calling himself a superhero? Especially for someone who claims to be so very responsible?

3. Furthermore if a demon wants your marriage and says it’s basically a small victory over god if he gets it. Doesn’t this first off mean their is a god to consider, after all look who mentioned it. And then acknowledging that, do you really want to side with a demon, whatever his offer may be?

4. What about considering what his wife wants? Peter was so selfish and disregarding his future and life with his wife. Is a person claiming to be in love with their spouse really going to take a demon up on his offer?

And this was all a conscious decision. The demon did not trick Peter into accepting this offer. He accepted it of his own free will.

On all regards, this characterization is not the Peter Parker we know. We had here a very selfish, self centered, egotistic, who dammed his soul by making a pact with a devil.

He put saving his Aunt over the natural law of the universe, above regard of what his Aunt wants, above regard of what his wife wants, above regard of what god wants and of his own free will chose to make a deal.

And the question I ask is would you ever consider making such a deal if you were in the same situation?

Plus looking at Mary Jane in that cover, if that was your wife, would you give up a marriage with her? Are you freaking kidding me? No way do you let that go!