 UPDATED: Marvel Comics held a conference call Thursday afternoon with the comic book press to discuss the recent "Unmasking" of Spider-Man in the Civil War storyline.
The press conference kicked off with Marvel's Jim McCann introducing the panelists: Peter (Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man) David, editor Axel Alonso, Roberto (Spectacular Spider-Man) Sacasa, and Joe (Amazing Spider-Man) Straczynski.
"I have a problem with my audio," JMS began with a joke, "No mater what I do, I can still hear Peter [David]"
McCann then set the stage for the current status of the Spider-Man titles, following through from the events in Civil War #2, where Peter Parker unmasked.
Asked to start off with his "War at Home" arc in Amazing, Straczynski explained that he'll explore Peter's world as he becomes more and more uncomfortable with his decision, to the point where Peter and Tony Stark have a confrontation and a dissolution of the trust they shared.
This will, according to JMS, lead to Peter asking the major question as to whether or not he's made the right decision and thrown in with the right side.
In speaking of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man, Peter David said that he decided to steer clear of the main revelation, and will be picking things up slightly after the revelation, and will be focusing mainly on Peter working at school.
The feelings toward Peter from parents and the kids will hold real-world resonance, David said. Issues #10-#12 will feature "several Mysterios" appearing at the school and looking to take on Spider-Man.
This will all lead to a difficult decision for Peter Parker in regards of the school and his job, as to whether or not he should leave his teaching position or leave, considering that, if he leaves, villains may still show up at the school and put the kids in danger.
Additionally, an old flame of Peter's will resurface, having written a tell-all book that does not cast Peter in a positive light. David said fans will get a kick out of this as it will a character not seen in a while.
Speaking of Sensational, Sacasa explained that his initial exploration of the reveal will also focus on the school (in a single issue with art by Clayton Crain, art below) which will also feature Doctor Octopus showing up and threatening the school.
The following arc will be called "The Deadly Foes of Peter Parker" and will see a collection of rag-tag villains gathered together to attack Peter Parker.
Moving on to questions, the writers said that all three series are coordinated through editor Axel Alonso's office. "JMS is providing the macro story," Alonso said, "And Roberto and Peter are telling the nooks and cranny stories."
Asked about Spider-Man's "criminal" past, JMS said that he would be surprised if many former claims don't come back to haunt him, as before this, the claims had no way to come back and haunt him.
Sacasa agreed, saying that Peter's friends will have many questions for him, not just about his double life, but why he trusted some people to know his secret, but not others.
David added that when looking at it, he found it compelling to look at the people in Spider-Man's neighborhood (excusing the pun) rather than watching him served with endless court papers.
In closing, JMS added that many of Peter's closest friends are feeling hurt, due to the betrayal of trust. "The anger will come later," JMS said, "But for now, they're just hurt."
Asked if, by casting Spider-Man as the everyman hero, there's a temptation to recast Reed Richards and Tony Stark as bad guys, JMS said, "The monster never sees the monster in the mirror" explaining that these individuals think they're right - as do Captain America and those who stand against Registration.
David concurred, adding that it would be a disservice to the characters to slant any of the heroes as "bad guys." "This is quite possibly the most 'gray area' event in the history of comic books that I've done...with Civil War, it's really, really difficult to figure out who's side you're on, and who's right, because they're both right and they're both wrong."
Further explaining the differences between the characters, JMS reiterated his story from Heroes Con about an upcoming scene between Spider-Man and Reed when Reed tells Peter about his uncle who was brought up on charges of being un American, ultimately losing his job and going to jail because of his beliefs. In telling Reed he must have been proud of his uncle, Reed counters Peter by saying that his uncle was wrong, and the law is the law, and his uncle was wrong for going against it.
"I always feel that any comic book story that has its basis in the real world is going to be more interesting than something that is totally fictional," David said, in talking about the relation between the storyline and the real world.
Alonso, in speaking to the division between the characters, noted that this is war in the Marvel Universe, and both sides will make Faustian pacts as needed. The Editor also noted that Marvel is extremely aware of its readership's tendency or desire to cheer the underdog and throw in on one side or the other.
Asked if the three titles are going to be bogged down with "heavy" stories due to the reveal, David said no, given that all three are different writers. "I don't think the material is going to overwhelm the sense of identity of the books."
All three writers said that when they were told of the change, they adapted and rolled with it relatively easily, but as JMS noted, part of the fun is the "Oh my God" aspect of rolling with changes that are presented to you.
Asked about the larger change in stories that can be told with Spider-Man given the unmasking, David said that, as he sees it, the change in Peter's life is similar to what we see when someone finds instant celebrity in the real world - their private life is virtually gone, and "You're on 24/7" David said, "And every single move you make gets put under the microscope."
Sacasa pointed out that the reveal also humanizes Spider-Man, given that he said how old he was when he started, and that its well known that he's a family man. In that fashion, Doc Ock, Sacasa said, knows that he was taken down by a 15 year old kid, or, when his villains go up against him, they know they're trying to kill a family man.
In speaking of fan reaction, David pointed out that, in listening to the fans, you get a mixed message – in that they call for change, yet tend to complain about it when change does come. "Fans may say they don't want things to change, but if you don't change, they drift away in favor of something exciting and different."
When asked about Peter's relationship with Mary Jane, and if the now duel-celebrity nature of their marriage will be addressed, David said that the marriage will be approached in all three titles, given the importance of Mary Jane in Peter's life.
An upcoming scene in Sensational with Mary Jane arguing with Peter on her cellphone was pointed out, and it was noted that after the argument, MJ notices that everyone is staring at her, and people ask if she was arguing with Spider-Man.
JMS noted that in some instances, the added stress something like increased scrutiny brings, brings couples closer together, rather than driving them apart, and that may just be what is seen with Peter and MJ as a result of the reveal.
When asked why Peter didn't merely reveal his identity to S.H.I.E.L.D., JMS pointed out that Peter was backed into a corner by Tony Stark, and, as time goes by, Peter will come to resent both Tony and the decision he feels he was forced into. As Stark saw it, JMS continued, he needed to send a message to the heroes to come in under the Registration Act, and who was better (and more visible) than Spider-Man to send that message?
Asked by JIm McCann if the revelation of his identity goes against his maxim of “With great power comes great responsibility,” Straczynski took the floor, saying that the revelation fits perfectly within his worldview.
“This is a guy who torments himself over what is a responsible thing to do. If you look at his stories, it’s been him agonizing over ‘what should I do in this situation?’ When you have this kind of crisis going on, his agony will be that much greater in trying to find what is responsible. Is responsible obeying the law, or is responsible opposing the law? Is responsible staying in the country and fighting from the inside, or is responsible leaving the country in protest? Responsibility is the core of what the Civil War story is about. Where do ones responsibilities lay? With the country, with the laws, with right and wrong, or with oneself? I think that, in a way, has pulled the Marvel Universe into that paradigm of Peter’s. All these heroes have great power, now what is their responsibility. It made the Marvel Universe into a mirror of Peter Parker.”
“What he said,” David added.
“Yeah, he’s the Hamlet of the Marvel Universe,” Sacasa added. “I completely agree.”
“He leads with his heart, which is why he went above and beyond the requirements of the Super Hero Registration Act,” Alonso added. “Captain America and Iron Man, represent the opposing sides of this war, and they tend to see things as more cut and dry. They can see some of the nuances and arguments, but Peter, who ultimately is the heart of the Marvel Universe, can see all the shades of gray. As a result, he’s sort of our tour guide through the whole story.”
Asked if Spider-Man's identity is revealed in Spider-Man 3, JMS and Sacasa said they didn't know, but David pointed out that he couldn’t not comment, as he is writing the novelization of the film.
Alonso said that the comics are not beholden to the movies, and they are free to maintain the comic line's identity in light of the developments shown in the film.
Asked if there is an exit strategy for the reveal, McCann said that the revelation will play a major role in the Spider-Man comics through next year.
End of call...
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