User blog:Nausiated/Superior Spider-Man: Actually Really Good (Seriously)

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So when I heard that Marvel was going to "kill" Peter Parker and replace him with Dr. Octopus as Spider-Man, I knew that fanboys out there were going to royally s*** the bed, because if there is anything I've learned about fanboys is that you never give change a chance. Ever. You will crap on an idea that changes the status quo at the drop of the hat without even reading a single issue, or at least reading one and then dropping it. There is a litany of angry fanboy letters that will proclaim that you are dropping the title and never buying it again, and talk about how that it is going to ruin the franchise, you curse the writing staff, and otherwise just complain.

It's all so very tiring.

Trust me, I've been reading comics for just about 30 years and this is nothing new.

Case in point: Superior Spider-Man. I've got myself caught up to date, and quite frankly, I don't know what you people are getting in such a snit over.

But here's the thing: On top of being a 31 year old a****** who has been reading comics just as long, I have also studied literature. Comic books are basically serialized storytelling, and are the offshoot of pulp magazines and movie serials from the 30s and 40s. When it comes to storytelling there is only so far you can write about a single character, single subject, single -- whatever -- before you run out of ideas. With comic books, they've made a business of selling you stories about characters that are (at times) over 70 years old. Eventually, they have to adopt new writers to give the title a fresh take and a new direction. However, the other thing is that these are franchises and eventually things will ultimately go back to the status quo the biggest changes being the least lasting and are inter woven into the long running continuity to (maybe) be brought up when a new writer can give it a fresh take.

The thing about Superior Spider-Man is that the formula has been done before not even 10 years ago. During J. Michael Strazynski's run of Amazing Spider-Man. The formula was all very much the same: Spider-Man goes back to basics, a bunch of tragedies happen, he gets some breaks, moves on up in the world, reconnects with Mary Jane and then something tragic happens and it's all back to the status quo. That's basically what Brand New Day was. Something tragic happens (One More Day), Peter goes back to basics (Brand New Day), some more tragic things happen (Siege, Dark Reign, the Gauntlet etc) then he gets some breaks (back on the Avengers, joins the Freedom Foundation), begins to hook back up with MJ when something tragic happens (Doc Ock takes over his body).

Why is Superior Spider-Man a good read: Because it takes the character into a new direction, it takes a look at some what if elements and explores some amazing story telling potentials. How much more interesting could a story about a super-heroes greatest villain taking over the life of said hero? The idea of a villain taking on the identity of their nemesis has been done before, body swaps, sure... But those sort of stories don't tend to last more than 3 issues... This is an entire SERIES based on the concept. No, it's not Peter Parker, BUT THAT'S THE POINT. As far as I'm concerned Slott is a brilliant story teller, and he took the clichéd concept of the villain taking over the heros body for some hairbrained scheme and made it "permanent" (I say that in quotations as we'll get into that in a moment). Nobody knows that Doc Oct switched bodies with Peter (but some of them are finding out, this is a story device to create DRAMA in a title! This makes it INTERESTING!), you have the spirit of Peter trying to force Doc Ock to follow his code of conduct... And then you have a great villain trying not to pose as the hero, not to ruin their career -- but to prove that they are the superior hero.

And people are crapping on this? Over something as trivial as title character is dead and he was replaced by someone else?

Get a grip people.

Because this has all be done before. DC Comics kills off their title characters all the time and replaces them with new individuals. Just because the guy under the costume is different doesn't mean you can't have interesting stories to tell.

Also on the Peter Parker death thing: Ultimate Spider-Man Peter Parker died a few years ago, people HATED that also, but now the new Ultimate Spider-Man is a liked character. If you get over the initial shock and give a NEW idea a chance, you might find yourself liking it.

On top of that: Do you really think Peter Parker is going to stay dead? Really? How many other heroes in recent history, in the Marvel Universe, were killed only to be brought back? Captain America, the Human Torch, name any member of the X-Men. With a new Amazing Spider-Man movie coming out in the next while, do you really think that Peter Parker is going to stay dead?

I'd say that's as likely as Superman staying dead when they killed him in the 90s.

Here's another prediction I have as well: Like any controversial storyline that has this much fan rejection, in about 10 years time there will be a huge revival and everyone will be claiming how awesome it all was. Don't believe me? Marv Wolfman/George Perez/New Teen Titans = When it was announced fans HATED it. Now it's regarded as a classic. Want more? Secret Wars. Spider-Man's black costume. Fall of the Mutants. Age of Apocalypse... F**** the Spider-Man Clone Saga is now being regarded as cool (and EVERYBODY HATED THAT back in the day).

So I'll posit this to you fellow Marvel readers: If they can revive the clone Saga with revivals of the Scarlet Spider and the Jackal and you all rushing out to buy it... Give Superior Spider-Man a go.

Seriously, pick it up now, get over your damn expectations and just sit down and enjoy a good read. Because that's all it is: A comic book. I am tired of these whiny complaining fanboys who complain about something without even bothering to read it.

Evolve past that. Get your head out of your a** and stop taking a comic book so damn seriously. Take a deep breath and enjoy it for what it is. If you give it a shot and don't like it, don't waste your energy complaining about it either. Because really, its a waste of energy. Especially with this whole Spider-Man thing. They have storylines projected for the course of an entire year, no amount of shrieking and yelling is going to change the course of where they're going to go with the titles.

Even saying "Oh I won't buy the title" doesn't work any more, you're not driving their sales down. So just accept things for what they are. If you're not buying titles there are hundreds more who are filling the void that you left.

Also take solace in this: Peter Parker will be back. Just be patient.