Tracie & Robb Emailed Comic Banter

Sometimes Tracy and I will have Comic discussion that gets pretty in depth over email. Last week's reveal of Spider-man joining the Fantastic Four sparked quite a conversation.

Tracie: It makes sense for Spider-Man to join the Future Foundation. Especially with Johnny's death. I do find it unnecessary that he's on 2 of the 3 Avengers teams, though. I was hoping that would be addressed in the otherwise wonderful membership issue (New Avengers #7). I prefer having him in New just because he's so adorable playing off of Luke Cage but his scenes with Spider-Woman in Avengers are also delightful. (it was perfect when New Avengers had all of them together) I think if they took him out of Avengers, it would be fine. I'm unclear why he and Wolvie have dual membership other than due to popularity (and the fact that JRJR draws a great Spidey). I think they're membership spots that could be taken up by characters like Black Panther (and write him like he is in EMH) and, I dunno... bump Mockingbird from New to Avengers so she and Hawkeye can be together and Avengers can have more than one female on the team.

Robb: Oh, I totally agree its logical to have him in Future Foundations. I have no issue with that whatsoever. I think he's a cousin to the FF family and is welcome at all Thanksgiving dinners anyway, why not give him a room in the club house? I really like this move. And I really enjoy him in New Avengers. I'm good with him on the "regular" Avenger team too. Its just... Weird. I know his popularity is a driving force. And there no disputing that his dialog makes both Avengers books, but is it "character" appropriate to have him on technically 3 teams? I guess I'm conflicted, (not being a huge Spidey fan myself, but I respect the character and understand he's the most recognizable hero in comics) My worry is, does this hurt his loveable loser... Loner feel? DON'T get me wrong... I don't want him to leave ANY team. But it does feel a little like stripping him of MJ. Maybe it's the next logical step in Spidey lore. Maybe this is "THIS" generations Spiderman now? I'm cool with that. But it does make "my" Spider-man different. (Not bad... Just different)

Tracie: I don't know if "loner" is all that imperative to who Spider-Man is. It always felt weird to me that in the very first issue of his comic he tires to join the Fantastic Four and then he gets rejected and then for decades he's not on any superhero teams (not counting a handful of issues pitching in for the FF, Avengers or New Warriors--cept that was Ben Reilly... I think) even though he's one of the Friendliest characters in the Marvel Universe. How does the wise-cracking Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man get branded as a loner? Wolverine has WAY more of a loner attitude--yet is in more teams. Because the dynamic he adds is fun. The dynamic Peter adds is wonderful and I'm surprised it's taken this long for Marvel to realize how great he is as an Avenger. I think the loner aspect came from Peter wanting to keep his identity secret to protect his family... but it just seems like overkill. Like I can't join the biggest, most powerful superhero team in the whole world because I might have to take my mask off around one of my teammates during lunch and then my aunt will get murdered by Dr. Doom/Kang/Fin Fang Foom/M.O.D.O.K. And there's obviously nothing about being an Avenger that has stopped him from being a loveable loser. And if anything, it makes all the time he has to ask for help/team-ups make more sense than when he hooks up with these other superheroes and they banter and have a good time and then when they're like "hey how come you don't just hang out with us all time time?" and he's suddenly like Bi-polar Man and swings away. And now I'm just picturing Spider-Man quoting Pee-Wee. "I'm a rebel, Dottie. A loner."

Robb: Well we do have to face the possible fact that we've liked Spider-man on the Avengers is because Bendis really nails that dialog. He's written perfectly and his interaction with (like you pointed out) Luke and Spider-woman and all others, is so comical, yet realistic. I honestly feel like he's a tangible person when he's bantering away. That being said... Will we lose that if Bendis leaves, or will Hickman not write Spider-man well in the FF? (I seriously doubt it, with his track record, I totally trust Hickman). Time will tell. But I suppose this discussion is moot, because the bottom line is, we both love having him on these team books. Lets just hope he stays an Avenger as well as a Fantastic Four-er.

Tracie: But it's not like we're being tricked into liking him. He IS likable! That's always been Spider-Man's appeal. And if Spidey as an Avenger wouldn't have worked under previous or future creative teams, I don't think that's confirmation that he's not meant to be a team player and more just a testament to the strength of the creative teams that get him. Bendis gets him and that's why it works. I would go back to Black Panther in the Earth's Mightiest Heroes cartoon. I think he's completely badass and actually has a sense of humor and I would totally read about this guy as an Avenger-- and I haven't had any interest in Black Panther since Christopher Priest revamped him when Joe Quesada created Marvel Knights. But now I want his action figure and I want them to take him on more missions. He's wonderful. Dan Slott has done a really good job of incorporating Peter's Avengers duties in Amazing Spider-Man but sure it still stands to reason that when Bendis ever steps down from Avengers, the writer that takes over won't "get" Spidey as well or he won't figure into his team configuration. Just depends on the person writing it. Some people aren't good Spidey writers just like some people have no interest in writing Jack of Hearts so they blow him up in their first arc on the book. ;) UNRELATED: Gosh if DC couldn't get me even more disappointed in Superman, they had to go and drop the ball on him visiting Omaha. AND I WOULD'VE SO CAVED FOR THAT. Great Rao, DC, get your shit together.
Robb: I hope I'm not coming off as anti Spider-man... So not. And yeah many other writers has nailed the perfect Spider-man voice. My fear would be... What if Ed Brubaker or Matt Fracton were to start writing Avengers, would Spider-man sound the same? I think Bendis really honed his Peter Parker Muscles on his years at Ultimate Spider-man that Avengers was just a natural move to have him join, all those years ago. Compare like whats going on in JLA. Robinson, who has some great work in his portfolio using many characters that I really love, in a title that I love... And he's totally missing the mark. His is so off on his Supergirl take. Grayson is stale and flat and basically talks what his thoughts should be. Whats my point? (HA not sure.) But Sometimes a writer just nails a character. Bendis' take on Spider-man is wonderful to read. Robinson's take on Cyborg, and the Crime Syndicate is just awful. Just saw the article in the OWH about Superman forgetting to stop in Omaha. WHAT A LOAD. Missing the Superbowl ad space, JMS's ego, many missed shipping dates, and now this. I'm with you. DC is yanking our chain... And really dropping the ball.