HEROES CON/WW PHILLY '07: STEVE WACKER ON AMAZING SPIDER-MAN THREE TIMES A MONTH

[MattBrady]

So – what comes after One More Day?

Sting knows: “Brand New Day.”

Answering a lot of questions about what’s to come with Spider-Man, Marvel has announced that “Brand New Day” will be the overarching title for the storyline following the upcoming One More Day storyline, and – on top of that, Amazing Spider-Man will move to shipping three times a month, starting later this year.

But – if you follow Amazing editor Steve Wacker’s comments on Newsarama, you already knew that, didn’t you?

We spoke with Wacker.

Newsarama: Let's start at the start Steve - basically, just define this for us - when we've talked to you in the recent months about what your future looks like at Marvel, your usual refrain was "Amazing, Amazing, Amazing." You were chuckling to yourself about how witty you were when you'd write that, weren't you?

Steve Wacker: Matt, you have long been the dog to my Pavlov. Nothing makes me happier at the end of a long day “editing” then to sit with my children and invent new ways to lead you and your internet-ian lackeys through my mental hula hoops.

So yes, "Amazing. Amazing. Amazing." was my big clue to the 3-times per month shipping.

Here’s a clue to my next big project: Heart attack. Heart attack. Heart attack.

NRAMA: Health concerns aside for a moment - let's talk about the larger picture here - the viability of increasing the frequency of a series. Obviously, there's a lesson from 52 here, what is it? Just simply, that the audience will support a weekly, or "increased frequency" series?

SW: This idea of upping the frequency on Spidey predates me or 52 (and as most everyone knows, it’s pretty much how the Superman books were run from the late ‘80s to mid ‘90s). From what I understand, implementing this plan on Spidey began getting talked about a few years back. Apparently it didn’t get too far beyond a suggestion since people were so happy with JMS on the main book. So the idea sort of simmered for awhile.

With the creative change on Amazing, I suppose it just seemed like the right time to give it a shot.

NRAMA: What do you think is key in the appeal of increasing the frequency? The pace of the storytelling can't be the same as a monthly series, can it?

SW: No way. It’s a weird conundrum (and thank you to comic books for adding that word to my vocabulary in 1981!): you have more pages than you can reasonably fill in time allowed and you still end up with not enough pages! Plus you’re never as far ahead as it seems because every solicitation cycle eats up three more issues in your drawer. From an editorial standpoint, I hate these things!

Pacing wise, it allows you to deal with subplots differently because while you may not see a supporting character for 5 issues, it’s really only a little over a month of actual time.

NRAMA: Let’s hit the basics of what this entails - what does this entail? Amazing Spider-Man is moving to three times a month shipping?

SW: Yes. We already have three Spider-Man monthlies, so the page amount is the same if you’re reading all the Spidey books already - and if you’re not, we’re going to work our Axels off to make it worth your while.

NRAMA: Who are/how are the creative teams organized?

SW: The new creators have laid out about a year’s worth of story arcs for Peter Parker and the cast. Over that, they’re coming up with stories that will move the uber-plot along, so that each story has the same writing and art team and no one is left writing Part 3 of some else’s story.

In other words, if I gather where you’re headed, (which believe me ain’t too tough, Bob Woodward!), it’s not the same way 52 was set up with everyone essentially working on every issue.

NRAMA: Got it. But what happens during that four, or sometimes fifth week in the month?

SW: I edit She-Hulk, Ms. Marvel, World War Hulk: Frontline, Iron Man: Mandarin, Captain Marvel, several Spider-Man specials, and a another still-secret Spider-Man book. Plus several not-announced projects and trying to take credit for any other good stuff coming out at Marvel I may not be aware of.

Oh, and then I read Newsarama to get a quick overview of everything I’m doing wrong.

NRAMA: Are Friendly Neighborhod Spider-Man and Spectacular going to continue with this change?

SW: Nope. Like Shogun Warriors, like Defenders, like Camp Candy before them…all good comics must end.

I was skeptical, but the numbers bear it out that Amazing is the “main” book to most readers and the feeling is that the important Spider-man stuff happens between its covers. Certainly history backs that up too, from Peter Parker to Team-Up to Web of…… No matter how good the creators and stories might be on the supporting books, when forced to choose, most readers lean towards Amazing.

NRAMA: You've always contended that you didn't come to Marvel to start up a weekly comic after being involved with 52 at DC - but was this something that was mentioned as a carrot of sorts (if producing weekly comics are a carrot to anyone, that is...) when you were in early discussions with Marvel?

SW: I knew it was Spider-Man that I’d get, but I don’t believe I knew about the publishing plan. I may be wrong though, at the time I was caught up in a great Newsarama thread about what a tool I am!

This is such a different creative set-up and Marvel makes books so differently, that I’m not sure if my prior experience helps or not.

NRAMA: Production and scheduling-wise...is this similar to how you ran 52? What's different? What's the same?

SW: Here’s one difference: the 52 gang pretty much already knew each other by time I got involved. The new Spider-Man writers were all pretty much strangers, I believe. Not sure if one s better than the other, but it’s different.

How I run my desk is pretty similar. I have my three ring binders and 3-hole punch at the ready to put any script or art that comes in so I can look at stuff at a quick glance. My assistant Tom Brennan just started, but he’s learning how to traffic stuff around the office electronically which was (and is still) a huge learning curve for me.

The writers and I (with Brevoort) have a phone call every few weeks to see where we are.

Ahh who we kiddin’, Brady. No one cares about the nuts and bolts! They want to hear about the sexy stuff like why Andy Schmidt really left or Peter David’s 4th nipple. (S’true)

NRAMA: Okay – some of that sounds truly disturbing…but pulling you back to production…in terms of a mechanism and "machine," once this is started, there's no...stopping it, really, is there? That is, to do this, you're committed all or nothing, right?

SW: I sure as hell am. Marvel is already setup to work close to the bone, so I don’t know that anyone’ll notice we’re doing a book three times a month. The efficiency of the in-house production crew here can’t be overstated. They’re already set up for war, so this hasn’t fazed anyone yet.

Will it end? Who knows? We’re going to do our part to make sure no one wants it to end.

NRAMA: In your view, why now for this? Is there something going on with Spider-Man that makes this time work best for this change in frequency than another?

SW: There’s nothing inherent to One More Day that makes this a necessity, if that’s what you mean. In other words, Peter doesn’t come out at the end swearing to only appear in Amazing or anything like that.

I think, given what the Joes are doing in their story coupled with the fact Joe S. is leaving, it probably just smelled like the right time to try something big. The spotlight moves around the different families of books a lot at Marvel, and since the unmasking Spidey’s gotten a good share of it. Before the spotligh moves to other areas, we think it’s a good idea to take a chance.

I guess you could just go back to the regular books, but it feels to me like it would have been a missed opportunity.

Oh and plus after OMD, with a newly de-aged Aunt May rooming with Pete and Weapon MJ being tracked by Tigertooth…oops I’ve said too much.

NRAMA: Perhaps you have…

Obviously, for readers and fans, they're getting the biggest upside here, in terms of more Spider-Man. What's the upside for you/Marvel? Obviously, and ideally, increased sales, but from an editorial point of view – what’s the benefit of more stories?

Speaking for me, the best part is more room for Peter Parker. Everyone involved in the new stuff feels that this is really Peter’s story, not Spider-Man. Seems like a crazy distinction, but it’s really the secret to the character. We could go an entire issue without seeing Spider-Man and I’m not sure anyone would notice.

With the increased frequency, we’ll get to see more of him and still get plenty of Spider-Man vs. Weapon MJ action.

NRAMA: Stop that.

SW: Never. Additionally, I’m getting to work with a slew of Marvel’s best artists (who we’ll announce later, impatient ones). Like Batman, Spider-Man is such a great character to interpret and the creation lends itself to a vast variety of styles. I like comics for the constant variations in flavors I can get in any one month. This is going to scratch that itch for me a lot.

NRAMA: What are the pitfalls? From your experience, where are the places that you already know need to be watched for signs of weakness/scheduling, etc?

SW: It all starts falling apart if the scripts fall behind. Those 22 pages of idea-mortar are your first line of defense and if it goes away, staying on schedule is like climbing Jacob’s Ladder (if Jacob’s Ladder is what I think it is: one of those annoying wooden things where the top keeps flipping down…I could look it up , but wow, look at the cool ad for 40% off my comics! I need that! Plus look at that Mary Jane statue!! Don’t worry, Newsarama, I’m stayin’!)

NRAMA: Okay. So - what do the storylines look like for the first few weeks? Will the FCBD issue's story be followed up upon in Amazing?

SW: Mums the word for now, but look for a lot of new challenges for Pete and his family.

And, yes, some elements of the FCBD story will be followed up on in Amazing.

[Alex DeLarge]

Summary: Sensational Spider-Man and Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man are CANCELLED and are being replaced by Amazing Spider-man shipping 3 times a month.

This is the way it should be done for all titles/characters of this nature and something I have been screaming about for years.

THANK YOU!!!!!

[rwe1138]

I remain non-commital until I know who the creative teams are.

[jedifish]

Steve Wacker is a funny guy.

[Alex DeLarge]

This is exactly how I wanted Marvel to do it from the beginning.

[FrostyFrog]

So if Amazing ships twice more a month but FNSM and Spectacular is canceled ... there isn't really that hug a difference then what was happening is there ?

[BillReed]

...Er.... okay.....

I guess we've now managed to completely reverse the creator-driven Marvel of five or six years ago into an editorial machine.

[skaly]

This... is a really great idea. Kudos.

[Switch625]

We'll see what comes out of One More Day before I commit to anything beyond that.

[nietoperz]

So people who only read one or two of the Spider-titles now have no choice but to pick up more books? Sneaky.

[von Doom, M.D.]

Remember what happened when Action Comics went weekly?

I just hope this isn't a throwback to the 90's, where if you missed 1 week, you're completely screwed.

[0bsessions]

If they announce the writing squad as Slott and David with someone decent as the third, I am beyond sold on this.

Remember, they said Peter David was leaving FN:SM, they never said he was leaving the Spider-books, did they?

[Inferiority]

Originally Posted by FrostyFrog

So if Amazing ships twice more a month but FNSM and Spectacular is canceled ... there isn't really that hug a difference then what was happening is there ?

Except that people that only want to spend $2.99 per month on Spider-Man comics no longer have that luxury and are forced to either buy three books a month or none at all.

At least that's the way I'm understanding the motivation and execution of this plan.

[Twigglet]

Boo.

I don't think I'll be picking this up, unless the creative team are amazing.

JMS got me to pick this up, i loved his run

Three times a week is to much money, oh well.

[PeregrineReviews]

Hmmmm. I'm a little dubious about this plan. Might work, might not.
Remember Action Comics Weekly? Yeah.
What would people really, truly rather have? Amazing churned out almost weekly, or several different flavors of series?

I hate to be pessimistic, but I honestly don't give this experiment more than a year, tops. I wonder how long before it starts missing shipping dates, or goes biweekly instead of weekly. And how long before Marvel quietly tries to relaunch a second Spidey title.

We'll see.

[prddad]

As rwe1138 put it, i'll wait for the creative teams to be announced. But even when they are announced, what is the guarantee they'll ship on time?

[qnetter]

Of course, now it will only get one slot on the shop rack, and an issue will only be exposed in the new books area for a week or two instead of a month. Fine for fannish fetishists, not so good for browsers and occasional buyers.

[Dreighton]

Originally Posted by FrostyFrog

So if Amazing ships twice more a month but FNSM and Spectacular is canceled ... there isn't really that hug a difference then what was happening is there ?

I for one have a huge run of Amazing, as to me it is THE Spider-man book. I can easily ignore the others. Oh, sure they try the cross overs, but when those are done, their sales go down, so I'm thinking I'm not alone with this view.

NOW...they sale you 3 Spider-man comics per month as before. But if you think Amazing is the main title, you will now be picking up 2 more, thus bumping up the sales of the lower 2 to the amount per Month that Amazing sales (in theory anyway)

I'm not sure what I think of this. Really want to see the creative team (s)

[Jmd211]

Here’s a clue to my next big project: Heart attack. Heart attack. Heart attack.

Is Cardiac finally coming back to Spider-man????

Seriously this is great news, focus on one main title and have it shipped 3 times a month

Can't wait to find out who are the writers and artists.

To all the new writers, PLEASE BRING BACK THE ORIGINAL HOBGOBLIN!!!!!!

[Inferiority]

What I find particularly sad is that, I WANT to read Amazing Spider-Man. I enjoy the comic, and I like Spider-Man. But I live on a very limited comics budget, and I cannot afford to purchase three Spider-Man comics a month. It doesn't help that this decision has NO creative impulse behind it, it is purely a scam to get more people to effectively buy "three" ongoing series in the disguise of one Amazing Spider-Man title. However, while Marvel will enjoy milking more money out of Spider-Man devotees and people with larger budgets, they are going to be FORCING people with a financially-minded pull list to not be able to read ASM unless they want to drop two other books and end up reading more Spidey books than non-Spidey books.

[Punchy]

Dude! Steve McNiven art!

[Jed Saxon]

Interesting idea. And Wacker is right - Amazing IS "the" continuity books and since a lot of readers prefer to buying books that are "in continuity" (no matter how crappy they are) instead of buying the maybe superior "second rate" or "out of continuity books"... yep. He's right.

So... Uncanny twice a month and adjectiveless going the way of the Taek-Won-Dodo?

[Rich L]

I kind of like this idea (and I'm one of the few who loved the old Superman triangle system back in the 90s) and it makes little difference to me as I collect all the Spiderbooks anyway.

BUT... I can see people who dip in and out being put off a little.



Have to see how it plays out.

[s*p rules]

"weapon MJ" might not be a joke, based on the FCBD Spiderman issue.

[Varrus]

So, in essence, they are merging the three Spidey titles into one but we still get the same number of issues per month. Sure, that sounds good! I'm all for it! It'll be interesting to see how this little experiment goes. Of course, it also hugely depends on who the new creative team is and as usual they're rather quiet on that front. I suspect that's one of the standard "San Diego" answers that we get at any convention other than SDCC.