Art courtesy of Eric Canete, Marvel Comics 2009
It seems the debacle known as Amazing Spider-Man #611 has really picked up momentum over at the Comic Book Resources board. Note the response from Eric Canete, the book's artist, says about it on his blog:
And I can't tell whether or not the love/hate split for #611 goes right down the middle, but I wonder if there's any way I can cajole Marvel's editorial offices to just alienate the remaining 50% by letting me do just that - 13 issues back to back.
Let's ask, shall we?
In the mean time, here's 11 pages of the issue in black and white for your viewing pleasure. For the full effect (the AWESOME and HILARIOUS plot by JOE KELLY, word balloons, colors, etc.) *and* in order to support my plight in making every Spiderman fan nervous for a year, please pick up the issue out on your local comic book stores' stands now. Then do me a huge ol' favor and write an e-mail to Marvel's Stephen Wacker telling him how you're part of the progressive/forward thinking 50% and how ecstatic you'd be if I could go on a year-long tear regarding the Sinister Six.
And to those who have already bought the issue, thank you SO MUCH for your patronage and for all the kind, supportive, and congratulatory e-mails. I am genuinely appreciative and I owe you folks a ton.
Have a great week.
PS - Are there really people boycotting the Spiderman books because of some event that's happened like Marvel did a whole rewind on Spiderman's history or Aunt May is now a super-spy? Really?! A boycott?! Wow, you guys are hard core.
It also includes eleven pages of black and white art from the issue.
Well, from his obviously pedestrian response to the "core" audience, I can only say that if Marvel let's this guy do any additional "art" the numbers for this book will sink faster than a lead zeppelin. It seems he simply doesn't get why the "real" audience is upset. I know Marvel doesn't get it, and they haven't for years now, but to flippantly berate the readers in the way this guy did - good luck with him Marvel! Scale pay looks really good right now, I suppose. The fact that these people on his personal blog are rooting him on and chanting to the heavens about "Making mine Marvel" again if he does more issues is utterly laughable. These wandering nomads Marvel covets like nickels and dimes do NOT support your books! They'll support Canetes' art for the 13-issues, then leave the title in the comic book dust that fast! Are you really that concerned with momentary numbers, Marvel Comics? Don't you care about the history of this character being absolutely raped over and over and over and over? Oh, wait, yes, you do only care about numbers, hence the silly zombie books that have far outlived their stay (with issue 1) and 50 variant covers per subpar comic. There's where Marvel's numbers are, folks - that's why they manage to top DC in sales! That's not an opinion, that's a fact!
I passionately love these characters and it hurts me when I see what fast-and-loose care is being given to them. We're a floundering medium now, folks - do you really want our books to die a painful, quicker death? Don't we have enough distractions keeping readers away without the books becoming jokes within themselves? My LCS, All-American Comics, has literally had six people drop Spider-Man because of this being the straw that broke a dying camel's back! Sorry, but my buddy Carl shouldn't have to worry about losing more subscribers because Marvel forgot that the little guy exists!
I can personally guarantee that if he does a 13-issue arc the resounding noise of drop lists for Spider-Man will deafen the populous! It may not show in the initial run, but watch the numbers after the deluge and see where the sales numbers stand then. What has happened here? This all seems like a large joke over at Marvel.
Hey Disney...um, help? Marvel is the proverbial elder care patient that can no longer care for itself.
Related links:
Comic book review: Amazing Spider-Man 611 - Deadpool is comic-book poison
Spider-Man strips finally arrives after two-year delay
Steve Ditko: Comic-artist-enigma-supreme
All-American Comics is Chicago's finest for comic books
Comments
I was wondering what all the fuss was about! Thanks for clearing things up Chris.
The use of words such as 'outrage' and 'debacle' over a comic that came out just 24 hours before this article was posted is very suspect.
Also, Marvel does 'get it,' it's actually you that are in the dark here. Editor in Chief Joe Quesada has gone on record that if you don't like something, tell him with your wallet. If you don't like big crossovers, don't buy them and whine about it, just don't buy them. The problem is that fans are pathologically buying titles out of habit, whether they are good or bad while critically acclaimed series like Captain Marvel and MI-13 and Agents of Atlas get canceled due to poor sales.
Additionally, those 6 guys at your local comic shop are paying an average of $12 a month (with the occasional $4 special) for a title that is, in your words, one straw from breaking. That is also a glaring problem. In this poor economy if they really have that kind of cash to throw at something they grind their teeth at every week they need to re-prioritize pronto
Hola! I'm the "Spider-Man Examiner". Just wanted to say great article and I echo your opinions on the Marvel's current PR problems.
Daily P.O.P.:
Joe Quesada doesn't get it, and I'm far from in the dark, thank you. And yes, outrage and debacle are perfect words for this "event" since it's already reached the top floor at Marvel, but thanks for your interest. And I don't buy many Marvels anymore for just this reason: they don't get it and don't care! The demographic is NOT there!
The number of people that moan and "whine" online is not NEARLY the number of TRUE comic book fans; those fans don't have time to sit and troll boards, so here's your math: The backlash over this books is supposedly split 50/50. From that, the actual NON-BLOGGING community, the 50% that hate the book truly make up about 90% of people that hate it that Marvel NEVER hears from because they don't care about the older guys buying the books. The article was less about Spider-Man and more about Marvel's inept handling of the core audience.
Joe Quesada has been a cancer since day-one; I feel for anyone that can't recognize that!
But obviously you DO care otherwise this article has no real point.
"The article was less about Spider-Man and more about Marvel's inept handling of the core audience. " - I don't see this at all given that your examples are extreme online outrage - which you discount since it makes up only 90% of readers and 50% of those are openly hating the new6 issue plus 6 guys at a comic shop who have been buying a book they openly hate who have now dropped it. How do either of those things add up to Marvel being inept?
If there are some readers who are not interested in the online community, they should find other ways to make their opinion heard. That is hardly Marvel's fault. Calling Joe Q a 'cancer' is just as over the top as calling one issue of Spider-Man a 'debacle.'
Additionally, Disney has made it plain that they are not getting involved in the publishing arm of Marvel, so I'm not sure what that call to action means.
"The demographic is NOT there!"- huh??? What does this eve
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