POST-OMD - STEVE WACKER ON BRAND NEW DAY, II

[MattBrady]

Late last week, we started a chat with Amazing Spider-Man Editor Steve Wacker about the changes the “One More Day” story has brought to the pages he now manages, and what readers can expect from the upcoming “Brand New Day” era of Spider-Man (Click here for part one).

We wrap up that conversation today, and, with a little bit of luck, we’ll be hearing from Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott before the day’s over as well.

In the meantime, on with Steve…

Newsarama Note: The questions that Wacker is answering in this interview were submitted prior to Marvel releasing the double-page "status quo" spread on Monday.

Newsarama: Okay - looking forward and around a little in Spider-Man’s world - Harry's alive. Last time Peter encountered Harry was as Harry was dying in an amb---

Steve Wacker: Sorry to interrupt, Brady, couldn’t quite hear you over the childhood memories we’re busy waterboarding here at the House of Ideas (hey, I call it the “House of Idea! Get it? No “S”!!) Mmmm…that copy of The Generic Comic Book was tasty! Yo, “Boy Brevoort”, hand me some Shogun Warrior pie and pour me a glass of Crystar the Crystal Warrior. Yum…

Anyway, Matt, don’t ya know I’m only doing this interview for damage control?!?! Why I even had Johnny Jr. and Klaus draw up a two page spread over the weekend just to save face!

Let’s come clean, The lions want to know exactly horrible this is all going to be, so let me address a couple aspects.

First of all, I’ve read through the threads and I’m as disturbed as anyone that a guy named AnalSurprise is on our side.

Second, I learned last night that polls are sometimes wrong.

Third, when I was handed this book upon starting at Marvel, I was told the ending to One More Day and had a decent idea of where were starting. The rules beyond that were going to be up to myself, Brevoort and whatever creative team we got together.

(Now I can already hear the frustrated sounds of typing fingers aching to swear at me on the internet, but give me one more second…)

I admit to you my hate-to-be-called-“anonymous” friends that I came in as probably the weakest in terms of my ready-at-the-drop-of a-hat knowledge of Spidey history. I knew the big stories, I knew Stan and Steve’s seminal work, I knew the issues I happened to read throughout the years (up through around 1988 - and the JMS run), and I knew I had a lot of work to do to catch up.

Between the writing team we put together and Brevoort’s librarical (New word alert! Start collectin’, anglophiles!) knowledge of Spidey’s history, what I lacked in direct knowledge I at least made up for in access to answers. As I prove hourly, you can be a real dope at this job as long as you surround yourself with the right people.

Anyway, all the continuity issues that people here are raising were raised by most everyone at our Spidey retreat. Every piece of the puzzle we picked at opened up more questions and more pieces that also needed picking. And as I mentioned here last week, I was having trouble wrapping my head around a situation where Mephisto had to read 500+ issues of Spider-Man on DVD before casting his magic and deciding who would remember Peter’s ID.

It was around that time that I made the call that the decision had to be a simple one: From this point forward, no one knows Peter’s secret ID. Whatever came before still happened, but as of now no one remembers and any evidence has been modified or erased somehow. To me that was the most direct solution.

Obviously, I knew this would hit up against some back issue logic and interfere with how some stories had played out, so again we picked at the same wounds, going down the road once again.

All of it: Daredevil, Harry and Gwen, Aunt May, Mary Jane. It was discussed and discussed and discussed (more than some folks are giving us credit for. I mean, at the very least do ya think Slott and Brevoort do something like this lightly?).

However, at a certain point it‘s my job to make sure comics come out and stories get told, so once again I made the call that no one remembers Pete’s ID any longer and the chips were going to have to fall. So as far as that particular decision is a crime, I’m the guilty one.

My belief is that it’s not smart to resolve and retell 900 issues of comics before getting to the new stuff. And, before you type, I’m well aware some people…okay many people…okay everybody but AnalSurprise… will disagree with me, feel like it’s too much to bear and have to jump off the book. I’m fully prepared for that...probably because we’ve been preparing for this hubbub for a year while it’s still relatively new to the readers.

We knew full well that this tidal wave was coming and were ready to dive right into it. Breath held. Snorkels on. Goggles over our eyes. A fish swims by. Hello, fish. I love you, fish. What the hell am I talking about?

Believe it or not, no disrespect is intended to any of the great stories that people are afraid they’re losing and I think the character and the stories are strong enough to survive anything we may do on our time with the book. The Death Of Jean DeWolff doesn’t stop being an incredibly compelling story; Kraven’s Last Hunt isn’t any less groundbreaking (and my own personal favorite); Revenge Of The Sinister Six isn’t any less exciting. Heck, in a few years, someone could come along and play fast and loose with what we’re doing too.

Spidey is a strong enough character to survive it all…and those particular stories…along with many others…stand among Marvel’s best.

I believe that no one in the history of message board arguments has convinced anyone to enjoy a comic that they don’t want to enjoy. That’s out of my control. I can control getting this team to put out a good Spider-Man comic book every month (even Guggenheim, who promises me a good one is forthcoming). Beyond that, no amount of marketing means anything. In my opinion, Spider-Man does his own marketing (Our Marketing guy, Jim McCann, will be thrilled to hear that.).

We just have to try and keep you coming back three times a month.

The folks above and around me here at the House of Joe-deas! (that’s a new one! You can have it for free, Newsarama!) like the first issue a lot. But they’re most likely telling me what I want to hear, so I’m not suggesting it proves anything. The real test comes in a few hours. (Hell, we’ve released enough pages as promos, you could probably put the whole issue together yourself, ya little copyright infringing faux-publishers, you!)

After that, it’s one week at a time.

NRAMA: Got that out of your system, did you?

SW: I feel refreshed, yes.

NRAMA: Okay – while that will take some steps towards the larger picture and motive, still - Harry's alive. Last time Peter encountered Harry was as Harry was dying in an ambulance, but now, he seems to be a swingin' single, with no Normie. Can you sketch out Harry a little and tell us about the role he'll be playing in Peter's life?

SW: Pete is Harry’s best friend and Harry no memory of his time as the Goblin. Exactly what happened on the night he supposedly died and the status of Normie is a story that we’ll get to.

NRAMA: Will the larger, outstanding issues in regards to Peter and Mary Jane's shared past as well as Peter's continuity be addressed?

SW: Eventually and as necessary. We’ll fill in details when it’s important to the stories we’re telling, but we’re not going to go into a retelling Death of Gwen Stacy just to make a continuity fix. Other editors may disagree...

I did speak to an artist on Monday about the possibility of telling the story of what happened on the day Pete and MJ were supposed to be married, so that may be coming.

NRAMA: And Jackpot? Speculation is obviously running rampant that she may have some connection to another redhead in Peter Parker’s previous life…

SW: She’s a newly transexualized Bart Hamilton. Hey kids! Comics!

NRAMA: Fair enough, given that her identity is most likely an upcoming plot point…but still…let's do a little lightning round of recent events in Spider-Man's life that readers will remember vividly, but Peter may or may not...

a) Super-Hero Registration. Which side did Peter come down on?

SW: Unregistered.

NRAMA: The public unmasking at the end of Civil War #2 - did it still happen?

SW: People seem to remember something, but there are no records.

NRAMA: Aunt May getting shot, and the resultant angst - still happen?

SW: Yes.

NRAMA: The Other and the acquisition of the organic shooters - still happen?

SW: Yes. But Pete’s back to his classic powers now (except his newly acquired Sinestro ring.).

NRAMA: Is Spidey still with the Avengers?

SW: Yes. See #555 in April.

NRAMA: Did he have a period where he was in the Black Costume?

SW: Yep.

NRAMA: Are Spider-Man and Tony Stark/Iron Man still at odds?

SW: Yes.

NRAMA: How much of JMS' run is untouched by the changes of OMD?

SW: It’s a real Catch-22, but you needed all those stories for OMD to take place. As for what’s remembered…most of it.

NRAMA: Does Aunt May know Peter is Spider-Man?

SW: No.

NRAMA: Will Mary Jane's whisper to Mephisto ever be revealed?

SW: Well, the whisper at the end of Lost In Translation has been revealed, so I’m sure this will too at some point. But not for a looooong time.

NRAMA: Not so much lighting round, but…did Peter get a better deal out of the bargain with the devil than most do? I mean, Peter didn't get a shiny fiddle made of gold, but he seems to have come out of this deal with far more in his column than Mephisto has in his...he still has MJ's relationship in his past and can still reunite with her, Aunt May doesn't know, the world doesn't know, he seems to be relieved of the physiological changes of The Other, his best friend is back from the dead, his high school friends seem to be revitalized...and Mephisto got...a marriage? Where’s the O. Henry ending, the downside for Peter? Is the turkey dry?

SW: On the surface you’re right, but the devil doesn’t always reveal his plans on Day One. He plays a much longer game.

For example, I clearly made an ass out of myself in a previous life.

NRAMA: No comment on that last part, but on the previous, have we seen the last of Mephisto in Amazing Spider-Man for a while?

SW: Who do you think Pete is kissing?

NRAMA: So wrapping up - Dan's first issue hits this week – any teases for those who’ve yet to hit their shops?

SW: You want a tease? I’ll do you one better – how about a tease for next week? Face it, Tiger…you just kissed a guy with a Hitler moustache!

[cyberv]

They make a lovely couple.

But really, Mr. Wacker, a lot of us DO feel betrayed and a lot of us ARE disgusted that Spidey would every willingly make a deal with the Devil.

Give us a GOOD reason why we should read about Spidey after all this. Tell us why we should care anymore. Peter GAVE UP. He quit being a hero when he look that deal... It was cowardice, plain and simple.

[Snake2k9]

Can't wait to see the devil break them up.

[Kevin T. Brown]

Brand New Day indeed.....

Nothing like a man on man kiss to sell more books.

[DAV!S]

Originally Posted by cyberv

Give us a GOOD reason why we should read about Spidey after all this. Tell us why we should care anymore. Peter GAVE UP. He quit being a hero when he look that deal... It was cowardice, plain and simple.

psst...it's fiction. Try not to take it too seriously

[HazMatMan]

So what will this do to the daily strip? Like anyone here even reads a newspaper. It's that thing for which Parker used to be a freelance photographer. Sadly, it's the dinosaur that employs me. And don't tell me you don't want to see science clone a Wooley Mammoth.

Hopefully there's a Dallas / Newhart twist to all of this.

[Matt Linton]

Clearly, I need a clever name like, "AnalSurprise".

[musclebound]

What was this guy on during this interview??

[DarkJared]

Way to puss out Newsarama - this interview did not address anything that the 2-page spread didn't already tell us.

I would have prefered you actually take some of the concerns liste din the millions of posts here and have Steve address them.

Still not buying.

[Dave Phelps]

And as I mentioned here last week, I was having trouble wrapping my head around a situation where Mephisto had to read 500+ issues of Spider-Man on DVD before casting his magic and deciding who would remember Peter’s ID.

Why not just make it so that anyone who found out because of the events of Civil War #2 forgot and anyone that knew before remembered? What's so complicated about that?

[Supremeo]

so the other arc did still occur and he has his spider totem powers but he probably doesn't use them.

[Punchy]

I bet that Peter/JJ kiss splash will be captioned the same as the kiss splash in #546, 'This isn't what it looks like'.

[KoozyK]

CONFUSION FOR EVERYONE!!!

BWAHAHAHAHA

[Matt Linton]

These interviews aren't for the hardcore folks who've made up their mind about OMD and BND (before even reading the latter) - the folks who've sworn off all things Spider-Man. It's for folks who are either positive about it, or on the fence and a little curious. Some of us would rather read the answers to a lot of these questions in the books, rather than having him spell everything out in an interview.

And for the folks who've sworn that they aren't going to be reading Spider-Man anymore, what's the point of still clicking on these interviews and stories, and coming up with a laundry list of complaints and questions, when you've already made up your mind? Do you really expect to read anything here that's going to convince you to buy the book?

I'm not trying to attack anyone, but I honestly wonder what the point is.

[BAD MOO]

KILL ME NOW - Mary Jane is Jackpot?!!? "Mephisto you can make all this happen, but when you do, can you make me a super-hero?"

The creative team for BND gets a buy from me for the bad writing in OMD, so I tried to read as "an alternate reality book, or a fan fiction" my thoughts:

Peter still feels like he's older than 20 something. "I'm too young to get married" was just stupid... "I'm not in a good place in my life to get married" better writing.

Really? A stolen web shooter? And the Amazing Spider-Man can't run faster than a common thug? Really?

And the biggest lame piece of the story...A HEART ATTACK? Really? We already KNOW that you're not gonna kill JJJ so there's no emotion, no danger, no big deal.

I liked the "stalker" idea trying to get in with the party crowd. But does Peter really need a new love interest in the brainy but awfully HOT forensic cop.

Does every female character drawn have to look so hot? Can't someone draw an average looking girl. It's like when hollywood takes a stone cold hottie and puts glasses on her to try to convince us she's ugly. Otherwise the art was fun.

OVERALL I GIVE BND a Same OLD Stuff rating. It's got a nice beat and I'll read it next week.

[J. Dincauze]

I'm a little miffed that the unexplored Other storyline seems fairly undone, but otherwise I'm not too upset. Everything done in OMD can obviously be undone, can be counteracted. But why, this seems like fun, for the most part.

But I will ask, did he ever use that damn arm-spike outside of the Other?

[red-maverick]

Way to puss out Newsarama - this interview did not address anything that the 2-page spread didn't already tell us.

I would have prefered you actually take some of the concerns liste din the millions of posts here and have Steve address them.

Still not buying.

What are you talking about? He fully said that the new continuity and whats been changed and stuff like that will be adressed in the story. Just not at once. They don't want to just have pages upon pages of explanations they also want to tell their new stories.

Anyways Wacker's a funny guy and the more interviews i read from him, the easier it is for me to look forward to Brand New Day. It looks like the magic will in fact be explained and besides there have been enough pieces of the old continuity left to allow this new continuity to be gone if it doesn't work.

[Erik Larsen]

Sigh.

Here we go again...

[superfishguy]

I think that the people behind OMD either just don't get it or are trying their best to pretend like nothing is gone wrong. We've had the spider-man we know and love traded in for the spider-man our parents or in some cases our grand parents grew up with.

And I hate to say it but those stories don't fly with me and many other people. I'm at the point where I'd love to get together and create my own spidey book that takes off right before one more day begins. We could pass it around for free and noone would have to buy Amazing Spider-man ever again!!

I can write -- does anyone know how to draw?

[Lars]

Originally Posted by DarkJared

... this interview did not address anything that the 2-page spread didn't already tell us.

And the two page spread just said it's the early 70s all over again... Everything mentioned is OLD. BND needs to be called SOS (same old sh-t).

[Frag it]

They revealed the whisper in Lost in Translation????

When? Where? What did she say?

[Shadowcards]

Originally Posted by Kevin T. Brown

Brand New Day indeed.....

Nothing like a man on man kiss to sell more books.

"Mephisto.. if I can't have Peter..fix it so that no woman can.. then you have a deal."

-- Mary Jane to Mephisto

"Done."

[theNameless]

Jesus. What a logistical nightmare.

Glad I'm not a spider-man fan.

[aceatkins]

Perhaps I read this through the Annoyed Filter I seem to be wearing all the time with all things Spidey now, but Wacker comes off as kind of a dick in this interview. He may have been trying to be cutesy or...I don't know, manic. But instead the attitude is, "Shut up, little fanboys, we know what we're doing. Deal with it."

Like I said, could just be my interpretation; his brand of "humor" is a little much to parse accurately. But if that is the case, might I offer that a way to smooth over a public opinion nightmare is not to give those offended the middle finger? Or dismiss their feelings? I'm not saying anybody should be begging forgiveness, but making what I took to be clearly pissy remarks about fandom's overwhelmingly negative reaction to this seems beyond juvenile. This isn't fourth grade, darling. It's a business. And we're your customers. Why piss us off more?

[Nemonixon]

Originally Posted by cyberv

They make a lovely couple.

But really, Mr. Wacker, a lot of us DO feel betrayed and a lot of us ARE disgusted that Spidey would every willingly make a deal with the Devil.

Give us a GOOD reason why we should read about Spidey after all this. Tell us why we should care anymore. Peter GAVE UP. He quit being a hero when he look that deal... It was cowardice, plain and simple.

Slott writes an awesome Spiderman.

That's all I've got and as much as I don't like the OMD stuff, I'm willing to give the first issue a shot.

I still think MJ's a Skrull.