MARVEL: SPIDER-GIRL ENDS WITH #100

[MattBrady]

After many close calls, reprieves, and last minute stays of execution, May Parker’s luck has finally run out.

Marvel has confirmed for Newsarama that the long-running Spider-Girl series will end with issue #100, scheduled for August.

The character herself was born out of 1997’s What If? #105, which looked at the Marvel Universe’s future, and spawned its own sub-universe full of characters, called “MC2.” Due to strong fan reaction to this future version of both the Marvel heroes and their children (May Parker is the daughter of Peter Parker and Mary Jane Parker) Spider-Girl launched into her own series in 1998, along with J2 (12 issues, 1998 - a younger version/son of the current X-Men baddie/former member, Juggernaut), A-Next (12 issues, 1998 - the next generation of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes: Jubilee, Stinger, J2, Speedball, Thunderstrike, Mainframe), Fantastic Five (5 issues, The Millennium’s Greatest Comic Magazine featuring the adventures of Johnny Storm, the Human Torch, Lyja Storm, Ms. Fantastic, Ben Grimm the Thing, Franklin Richards, Psi-Lord, Reed Richards, Big Brain), Wild Thing (#0-5 in 1999, Wolverine’s daughter), The Buzz (3 issues in 2000, Jack Jameson, grandson of The Daily Bugle’s J. Jonah Jameson) and Darkdevil (3 issues, 2000). All other MC2 titles eventually fell by the wayside, but Spider-Girl continued, and is currently Marvel’s longest-running series featuring a female lead.

For virtually its entire run, the series has been written by former Marvel Editor in Chief, Tom DeFalco, with art by Pat Olliffe, Ron Frenz, and Sal Buscema.

Since shortly after it launched, the series was on the brink of cancellation, and was saved a handful of times (though one save did require a price increase) by concerted efforts by fans. Most recently, the series saw reprints in digest form begin, which, reportedly, helped saved the series from cancellation for a time again, but in the long run, Defalco told Newsarama (see above link) didn't help as much as they could have.

As news of what was thought to be the possible, impeding (though now confirmed) cancellation began to bubble, fans at the Spider-Girl Message Board have again taken the cause to save the series.

[Nightfly]

I would Love if a new series could be born out of the most recent What If? Captain America!

On topic, Farewell Spider-Girl.  I barely knew ya.

[Gear]

What a shame. While not a fan of the character herself, I bought it out of loyalty to Tom and Ron. I love both these creators and would follow them anywhere. Hopefully, either of the big two will have an assignment for both of them, preferably together.

-Jeff

[cjfxxk]

It’s a shame that in a market of big crossovers and sales gimmicks a book like this struggles. Well 100 is very commendable in this era where most new books struggle to make it past #20. I hope Mayday does manage to survive as this really is a gem of a book that always deserved to be bigger than it was!!!

[nietoperz]

This is a shame, but a real testament to the books' fans that it survived to #100.

[Aaron]

Um... this is weird. Ron Frenz is reporting on the Pulse that Spider-Girl's safe until 106... and probably beyond that.

What's going on here?

Aaron

[Benjamin Ong]

Originally posted by nietoperz
This is a shame, but a real testament to the books' fans that it survived to #100.

It's more than 100 issues, IF you count What If? #105, Last Hero Standing, Spider-Man & Araña Special, etc

[jedifish]

Originally posted by Aaron
Um... this is weird. Ron Frenz is reporting on the Pulse that Spider-Girl's safe until 106... and probably beyond that.

What's going on here?

Aaron

I read that the other day, also.

[golgoth]

uh oh, here we go again...

If marvel truely wants to cancel this book, they shouldn't make an announcement and just pull the plug quietly. Otherwise they're going to get hell everytime they try.

[jedifish]

Probably a good thing Marvel never hyped this series liked they did Arana, the BIG HIT of 2004 per Marvel, which was utter crap written by JMS protege Fiona Avery. Nice sales on that one, which should have been canceled after the 4th issue based on sales.

160. ARAÑA: HEART OF THE SPIDER
Nov 04 Amazing Fantasy #6 - 23,913 ( -9.2%)
Dec 04 n/a
Jan 05 Araña #1 - 29,843 (+24.8%)
Feb 05 n/a
Mar 05 Araña #2 - 22,131 (-25.8%)
Mar 05 Araña #3 - 20,002 ( -9.6%)
Apr 05 n/a
May 05 Araña #4 - 18,752 ( -6.2%)
Jun 05 Araña #5 - 16,379 (-12.7%)
Jul 05 n/a
Aug 05 Araña #6 - 15,258 ( -6.8%)
Aug 05 Araña #7 - 14,627 ( -4.1%)
Sep 05 Araña #8 - 13,758 ( -5.9%)
Sep 05 Araña #9 - 12,920 ( -6.1%)
Oct 05 Araña #10 - 11,924 ( -7.7%)
Nov 05 Araña #11 - 11,169 ( -6.3%)

125. SPIDER-GIRL
Nov 01 Spider-Girl #40 - 23,897
Nov 02 Spider-Girl #53 - 24,907
Nov 03 Spider-Girl #66 - 21,864
======
Nov 04 Spider-Girl #80 - 21,146 ( -3.4%)
Dec 04 Spider-Girl #81 - 20,419 ( -3.4%)
Jan 05 Spider-Girl #82 - 20,005 ( -2.0%)
Feb 05 Spider-Girl #83 - 20,382 ( +1.9%)
Mar 05 Spider-Girl #84 - 20,050 ( -1.6%)
Apr 05 Spider-Girl #85 - 19,682 ( -1.8%)
May 05 Spider-Girl #86 - 19,452 ( -1.2%)
Jun 05 Spider-Girl #87 - 19,605 ( +0.8%)
Jul 05 Spider-Girl #88 - 18,983 ( -3.2%)
Aug 05 Spider-Girl #89 - 18,538 ( -2.3%)
Sep 05 Spider-Girl #90 - 18,344 ( -1.0%)
Oct 05 Spider-Girl #91 - 18,159 ( -1.0%)
Nov 05 Spider-Girl #92 - 17,597 ( -3.1%)

From the Pulse

[Benjamin Ong]

Originally posted by Aaron
Um... this is weird. Ron Frenz is reporting on the Pulse that Spider-Girl's safe until 106... and probably beyond that.

What's going on here?

Aaron

Well, Ron posted a clarification after the interview was published. Here's what he said:

Originally posted by Ron F
Hey Gang,

I just wanted to clarify a few things from the "Pulse" interview.

First off, May is NOT getting a new costume in issue 100. The design I was refering to was the design of the cover itself.

Secondly, this news is hot off the press....."Spider-girl" is NOT renewed through 106. Her future after issue 100 is now being considered by the "Powers that be". Naturally, when we know anything definite you guys will probably know it first.

Beleive me "Spider-girl" continues to NEED your support. That's it for now. Thanks for your interest and your kind words on issue 96!

Hugs and Kisses,
Ron

[jedifish]

Edit - Never mind. See Benjamin's post above.

[Spider-Bob]

I would guess one reason that this title has never excelled is because it existed in a universe of its own. I gave it a try when it first came out and it never really interested me. On another note, I can never recall seeing it on the shelves of comics shops, but it could be that it just got lost in the sea of other Spider-Comics.

[Unknown]

Tick, tock, tick tock.

Ten years, folks.

[scarlettspiderg]

It would be a shame to see this title go, Spidergirl is an old school title with modern day storylines and a cool female lead.

[evilelvis696]

I'm torn on this one. I love Spider-Girl (the character), and Defalco's scripts (real, old time Silver Age fun), but I hate Frenz' art.
Maybe if they had put a better artist on it (after Pat) it could have worked.

[algertman]

There goes the only good Spidey title

[Winteriscoming]

The fans of Spider-Girl have worked their tails off time and time again to save this title. They should be proud that it has lasted to #100 and I wish them luck if they plan on trying to save the title again.

[Jed Saxon]

R.I.P.

SG was and is one of my favorite series. One that I loved so much that I did a lot to support the book.
I'm quite sad to see the cast go.

Originally posted by MattBrady
For virtually its entire run, the series has been written by former Marvel Editor in Chief, Tom DeFalco, with art by Pat Olliffe, Ron Frenz, and Sal Buscema.

That's not quite correct. Sal Buscema came on board after Al Williamson chosed to retire from the business 1 or 2 years ago.

[stvnhthr]

Originally posted by Spider-Bob
I would guess one reason that this title has never excelled is because it existed in a universe of its own. I gave it a try when it first came out and it never really interested me. On another note, I can never recall seeing it on the shelves of comics shops, but it could be that it just got lost in the sea of other Spider-Comics.

Same here. I loved the writing and the artwork and bought maybe twenty issues of the series, but I just couldn't get into the fact it was not the "real" Marvel Universe. Familiar characters like the Fantastic Four were altered enough to be different from their main universe counterparts, so the series always felt like a Marvel Universe knock-off. That was its only shortcoming really; it was one extended What If? story, and as silly as it sounds I couldn't emotionally connect with a bunch of characters who I knew were not Marvel canon. Once a comic company starts the multiple reality plot-line I just start dropping books.

[CitC]

Its a shame to see it go. 100 issues is a pretty good run (hope 100 bullets makes it), but its too bad. It looks like there is enough of a fan base for one shots and specials.

comicsintheclassroom.net

[Twigglet]

You'd think with the inevitable bump for the 100th issue, that this would be able to continue for at least a few more issues.

Oh well, congrats to Marvel for keeping it going this long, I hope Runaways can make it!

[Edward J Cunningham]

Originally posted by stvnhthr
Same here. I loved the writing and the artwork and bought maybe twenty issues of the series, but I just couldn't get into the fact it was not the "real" Marvel Universe. Familiar characters like the Fantastic Four were altered enough to be different from their main universe counterparts, so the series always felt like a Marvel Universe knock-off. That was its only shortcoming really; it was one extended What If? story, and as silly as it sounds I couldn't emotionally connect with a bunch of characters who I knew were not Marvel canon. Once a comic company starts the multiple reality plot-line I just start dropping books.

But how could this series be anything else? The very premise is founded on the idea that Peter had a daughter with super-power who grew up to be a young woman. They are NEVER going to let Peter become a parent again in the MU for fear he will become old and alienate younger readers, and even if they did, May would never be allowed to grow up. What you consider liabilities, most Spider-Girl fans would consider strengths.

Eddie Cunningham

[Michael P]

Regardless of how it ultimately goes, the readers and creators of Spider-Girl should be proud it's gone as far as it has. I salute you all.

[Zeitgeist]

Originally posted by MicroZone
You guys just can't stop screwing over the Spider-family titles these days, can you? Lousy worthless @$$holes! There's no excuse for this. The title sells well and the digests are great sellers. F##@ You, Marvel. F##@ you.

I checked the latest sales chart and spider-girl wasnt in the top 100 suggesting it sold about 20.000 copies at max. That is not doing well, most other titles dont last anywhere near as long as Spider-girl with those sales. But dont let facts stop you from your angry rant.