PETER DAVID ON WHAT IF?: THE OTHER

[MattBrady]

by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean

In the tradition of "What if someone else besides Peter Parker had been bitten by the radioactive spider?" (What If? Vol. 1 #7), "What if Uncle Ben had lived?" (What If? #46), "What if Kraven the Hunter had killed Spider-Man?" (What If? Vol. 2 #17), "What if the Amazing Spider-Man had not married Mary Jane?" (What If? #20), "What if the Amazing Spider-Man had married the Black Cat? (What If? # 21), and other "What If?" tales from the past, Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man writer Peter David is presenting an alternative take on his, J. Michael Straczynski and Reginald Hudlin’s controversial epic, "The Other", in November’s What If: Spider-Man: The Other.

The original solicitation copy reads:

WHAT IF: SPIDER-MAN: THE OTHER
Written by Peter David
Penciled by Koi Pham
Cover by Mark Brooks
In "The Other," Peter Parker returned from the dead and embraced his "inner spider.” But WHAT IF the detente that was reached between man and arachnid had not ended there? What if the man known as Peter Parker had been completely consumed by his inner, bestial impulses, and became more spider than man?
32 PGS

Continuing our series of What If?-centered features, we approached PAD for some comments.

Newsarama: Well, there've been speculations that there was indeed an alternative ending to "The Other" on the Newsarama boards and other online discussion forums. Instead of collaborating the whole What If? with other Spidey writers such as JMS and Reginald, you're going at it solo with What If? Spider-Man: The Other.

Was this the story that you'd been itching to tell from the beginning with "The Other"? A chance for you to tell your version of the story now?

Peter David: I'd be lying if I said that was the case. I really hadn't given any thought to alternate directions to "The Other" at all. In fact, when I was contacted about doing it, I didn't have a clue as to what direction to go. For a while there it even looked like I might not be doing it. Then I was sent that fantastic cover that had the symbiote crawling up Spider-Man's body, and I immediately said, "Oh, now that would be cool." That cover suggested an entire story to me, and the result was like something out of an old EC comic, with the Watcher serving as the Crypt Keeper. Easily the creepiest story I've ever written.

NRAMA: Based on this new What If? premise, below are some alternative scenarios that we've come up with. Whether or not these affect the What If? story that you're writing, I'm curious as to what are your thoughts on:

What if Mary Jane had died?

PAD: Peter Parker mourns and then hooks up with Betty Brant.

NRAMA: What if Spider-Man had killed Mary Jane?

PAD: Unable to live with the knowledge, Peter commits suicide.

NRAMA: What if Spider-Man had sided with Captain America instead of Iron Man?

PAD: Then he becomes a hunted outlaw.

NRAMA: What if Spider-Man had killed Iron Man?

PAD: Then he becomes a hunted murderer.

NRAMA: What if Spider-Man had quit the New Avengers?

PAD: What makes you think he never will?

[Newsarama Note: Read Amazing Spider-Man #535.]

NRAMA: What if Spider-Man had led the Avengers?

PAD: I'd probably stop writing the book. Spidey as team leader would be of no interest to me.

NRAMA: What if Ezekiel hadn't died?

PAD: Oh, right, like anyone dies in comics.

NRAMA: What if Ezekiel had been "the Other"?

PAD: It probably wouldn't have sold nearly as well.

NRAMA: What if Arana had been "the Other"?

PAD: Same as Ezekiel.

NRAMA: What if Morlun hadn't died?

PAD: Oh, right, etc.

NRAMA: What if May "Mayday" Parker returned?

PAD: The book would have been cancelled, only to be restarted after fan outcry.

NRAMA: What if Ben Reilly returned?

PAD: What makes you think he won't?

NRAMA: What if Mike Wieringo had drawn What If? Spider-Man: The Other?

PAD: Since EC style comics aren't really his thing, I'd have to think it would have looked really weird.

NRAMA: What if Tracer had come back?

PAD: Then it would be 2007.

NRAMA: Okay, geek mode off now…

Looking back at the original story, the controversial "The Other" storyline led to a series of new and unexpected actions on Peter's part, while also placing him and his family members in danger. Would you have done things differently?

PAD: Yes. I had some fairly drastic notions that I would have liked to see implemented. But not only was much of the story set by the time I came on board, it would have conflicted with all the storylines that arose from Civil War. So it's pretty much moot.

NRAMA: How do you feel about Peter Parker revealing his identity to the whole world?

PAD: I think it makes perfect sense given his sense of responsibility. It's an exciting time to be writing Spidey stories.

NRAMA: So, who's side are you on?

PAD: Cap's.

NRAMA: Why?

PAD: Because the government sucks at keeping secrets.

NRAMA: It was announced at the Baltimore Retailer Summit that Spidey's donning his old black costume early 2007. While there's a guessing game going around to "unmask" the man behind the black costume (and speculations have gone from "Is he Peter?" to "Is Ben Reilly coming back from the dead?" to "Is he Eddie Brock?" to "Is he Steve Rogers, or Tony Stark?"), how are you planning to keep fans and readers interested till then?

In other words, what's coming up next in Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man?

PAD: I'm already doing it. The three-part Mysterio storyline is getting tremendously positive reader reaction.

Following that we're doing a three-part story that brings back the Vulture, not to mention Deb Whitman as the author of a book about how Peter Parker screwed with her head back when they were dating. Plus Betty Brant, who hasn't been seen in a dog's age, makes her return in FNSM and has some crackling good scenes with Deb as we see two very different takes on the revelation of Spidey's identity.

Following that will be a multi-parter featuring Sandman because, hey, he's in the upcoming movie, so why not?

Related article: JEFF PARKER ON WHAT IF? AVENGERS: DISASSEMBLED

[tralfaz]

what would have been better would be The Other never happening at all

[dwiese]

This seems more like the route I would have liked "The Other" to go. In the end, nothing really changed in "The Other" and I wondered why they even bothered (especially with it running over far too many issues). Maybe they will expand on it in the future, but right now it just seems rather pointless.

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http://www.pulllist.com

[Adm_Snackbar]

I have a feeling this will be better than the other 'Other' story. And much more affordable.

[John Berger]

"what would have been better would be The Other never happening at all"

The Truf.

[Skyrider]

I would've liked The Other had it actually had a third act. It just kind of pitters off after the first introduction of "The Other" and then everything IMMEDIATELY gets swept under the rug to make way for Civil War. It's nearly impossible to get any good Spidey stories when every six months, we get six months of tie in issues.

[Cyphon]

Originally Posted by tralfaz

what would have been better would be The Other never happening at all

Can't really disagree with that. There are very few comic stories that I really feel were a waste of money, and The Other is at the top of that list.

[Ken B.]

Originally Posted by tralfaz

what would have been better would be The Other never happening at all

Very rarely is the first post right. This one is. I approve

[El Argentino]

What happened to the "Spider-claws" or whatever?

[Spaz_Monkey]

What If... Marvel Comics didn't change because of the movies?

organic web shooters, Bullseye tattoo/brand, Blade looks like Wesley Snipes.....

[Snowspinner]

I dunno... I thought The Other was... interesting. Not great. But interesting. There definitely wasn't a good synergy among the writers, and there were definitely flaws, but I was at least curious where it was going.

The only real problem was that the answer to "Where is this going" turned out to be "into Civil War, which has nothing to do with it."

Lame.

[Sims]

That is some really amazing artwork! Can't wait to read the book. Oh, the artist's name is spelled incorrectly: it's Khoi Pham, with an H.

[Slayton]

I NEVER bought a Spider-Man comic prior to the Other. Now I buy all of them. I'd say, at least with me, Marvel accomplished exactly what they set out to do.

[TCJohnson]

Originally Posted by MattBrady

NRAMA: What if Mike Wieringo had drawn What If? Spider-Man: The Other?

PAD: Since EC style comics aren't really his thing, I'd have to think it would have looked really weird.

What does EC style comics mean?

[Ian]

Originally Posted by tralfaz

what would have been better would be The Other never happening at all

what he said.

[AlexLothos]

That cover is AMAZING!

I like the sound and look of this issue and will probably pick it up.

[j2lepew]

EC refers to EC Comics, a company known back in the heyday of comic books for its creepy stories and titles like "Tales from the Crypt." (An actual title that became a tv series in the 90s, of course.) So, when PAD makes the EC reference, he is referring to a creepy storyline.

Of course, I'd like to know how much of the creep will be in the creepiness in the story. Will it be creepiness that is before the Comic Code Authority took over and butchered disgusting storylines in comic books? Or is it a watered-down creepiness because it's Spider-Man and we can't traumatize the kids?

[cncoyle]

Originally Posted by Spaz_Monkey

Blade looks like Wesley Snipes.....

Blade is on the lam for tax evasion, TOO?

[SanityOrMadness]

Hmm... I would have thought PAD would have done the one with Peter being reborn unrecognisably - different face, voice, DNA, etc that he had been talking about before. Oh well.

[skeletorjr]

Originally Posted by cncoyle

Blade is on the lam for tax evasion, TOO?

I know, as if all the property damage and smoldering corpses weren't enough.

[TheFoo]

C'mon Marvel, just get it done with and offically make "What If..." a monthly title.

[Jason Green]

Originally Posted by tralfaz

what would have been better would be The Other never happening at all

Well, if you've read any post "The Other" Spider-Man comics, as far as Spidey is concerned, "The Other" never DID happen, so you've already got your wish. A more appropriate phrasing would be "What if I could get my $36 back?"

[StevieCool]

I can't help but shudder and yet hope that the Other is the real Peter Parker (Earth1? Kidding) and the current guy is just a red shirt.

Real Pete comes back, wears black, and as the Electric Company song goes, "No one knows who you really are".

[spiderseppy]

I agree with Slayton, I enjoyed The Other a lot. Was it perfect? No. But it was a really interesting story that i'm looking forward to actually seeing the results of once Civil War is finally over. I think it might have even been better received if there were a few more regular Spidey issues to continue with the revelations before back burnering them for CW.

[dantebk]

I haven't been reading Marvel U. Spider-Man titles in quite some time (only Ultimate Spider-Man) but it all sounds very confusing.

Spider-Man becomes a high school teacher, then joins the Avengers, then lives his dream life in House of M only to have it taken away, then becomes The Other (or something), then reveals his identity in Civil War. Is that accurate? This is why I'm not reading them. It might be interesting to have a year or two of Spider-Man at high school or Spider-Man with The Other or whatever... but they keep leaping from event to event at such a breakneck pace that there's no time for any of it to resonate or be important. Feh!

At least Ultimate Spidey is only in one title that's tightly controlled by one writer, even if I don't always agree with what he does, at least he has a plan.