Another Early Look at Spider-Man 2099 in "The Superior Spider-Man"

In "The Superior Spider-Man" #17, The Spider-Man of the year 2099, Miguel O'Hara, will be transported to the present day and have his first run-in with the current Spider-Man, Otto Octavius ( in the body of Peter Parker ). Last week, we were given a first look at the issue with some unlettered preview pages by Penciller Ryan Stegman, Inker "Livesay" and Colourist Edgar Delgado.

Now, Spider-Man editor, Stephen Wacker has posted another preview page for the issue by the same art team, check it out below!

I'm really looking forward to this arc a lot, I've been interested in Spider-Man 2099 since I was a kid, even if it was only because of the games. Anyway, the art looks great and I'm sure Dan Slott'll do a good job on the writing as he always does! Keep your eyes open for Superior Spider-Man #17!

(Source: Stephen Wacker's Twitter)

First look at Spider-Man 2099 in The Superior Spider-Man #17

Today, Marvel have released some unlettered preview pages for The Superior Spider-Man #17, written by Dan Slott, pencilled by Ryan Stegman and with colours by Edgar Delgado. This issue marks the first meeting between Miguel O'Hara, the Spider-Man of the year 2099, and Otto Octavius as the Superior Spider-Man, check out the preview pages below:

SDCC 2013: Marvel show off new images of Lego, Skottie Young and Deadpool variants, Infinity covers and more!

Here are some more images that Marvel have put out from the Retailer meeting at San Diego Comic-Con 2013 earlier today, they seem to be teasing some interesting stuff here!

(Source: Bleeding Cool)

SDCC 2013: Marvel announce plans for Marvel NOW! two

Today, during the retail meeting at San-Diego Comic-Con 2013, Marvel talked about their plans to launch a second phase of Marvel NOW!. This means that several Marvel series still running from before the Marvel NOW! initiative was launched will be getting renumbered and several new ones will be released.

As well as this news, Marvel also showed the reception that the first batch of Marvel NOW! books got:

(Source: Bleeding Cool)

SDCC 2013: First Amazing Spider-Man 2 footage, featuring Jamie Foxx as Electro, released

So, SDCC 2013 has begun and we already have the first Amazing Spider-Man 2 news, the first footage from the film! The video features the film's villain, Electro ( played by Jamie Foxx ), check it out below:

If you're at SDCC this year make sure you go to Hall H at 4 PM ( their time ) on Friday, if you're not keep your eyes open for more ASM2 news from the Con. Although, this is probably all the footage you'll see for a while if you're not there, film studios tend to keep things pretty strongly under wraps outside of these events.

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is released on the 18th of April 2014 and is directed by Marc Webb. It stars Andrew Garfield as Peter Parker/Spider-Man, Jamie Foxx as Electro and Emma Stone as Gwen Stacy.

DC Comics release Superman's 75th anniversary logo

Today DC Comics released the official logo for Superman's 75th anniversary. You can expect this to be on pretty much all of the Superman related merchandise from DC, if not, we know it will be on the comic covers at least, similar to the way Marvel used the logo for Spider-Man's 50th.

Here's the logo, a silhouetted version of  Jim Lee's Superman from the double page ads for the New 52 from the start of the relaunch:

 It's also been announced that Zack Snyder will be making a 2 minute animated short about Superman, also involved in the short film are Geoff Johns, Bruce Timm and lots more.

Comics Catch-up: Avenging Spider-Man #21 ( What you need to know )

Welcome to Comics Catch-up! This feature is where I help to get you up to speed for some of the biggest books out this week. This edition, Avenging Spider-Man! Here's what you need to know before reading #21...

Avenging Spider-Man 21

I'm sure you all already know what's going on with Spider-Man's head right now, but just in case, Doctor Octopus is inside Peter Parker/Spider-Man's head. Basically, Doc Ock is now Spider-Man. Ock has been collecting members of the Sinister Six, he currently is holding Sandman and Electro and is now after the Chameleon. There are a few problems here though, since the Chameleon is being held by S.H.I.E.L.D., in their Helicarrier, a mile above the earth. Oh, and the Chameleon is being targeted the KGB and wanted dead. Not too hard to get to him then....

After taking out an A.I.M. cell, Ock is taken aboard the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier by Nick Fury Jr. , where he meets Agent Coulson, Hawkeye and Black Widow who, after Spider-Man's recent "odd" behaviour ( and by odd I mean killing one of his enemies and brutalising many other ), aren't too happy to see him on the helicarrier.

Ock sent his Spider-bots throughout the entire helicarrier and tired to track down what he was looking for, The Chameleon.

Then, everything went wrong. Otto had turned off all of the helicarrier's power ( But kept it in the air ), this allowed a group of armed attackers to board the ship and kill a large number of S.H.I.E.L.D. agents. As well as this, the Chameleon escaped from his cell, murdered his guard and stole the face of his doctor. The two attackers attempted to kill Spider-Man while he was overcome with guilt but he managed to escape, while trying to track down the Chameleon, Spider-Man ended up coming into contact with Bruce Banner A.K.A. the not very happy Hulk.

So Spider-Man, Hulk, Hawkeye, Black Widow, Nick Fury Jr., Agent Phil Coulson, Maria Hill and the surviving S.H.I.E.L.D. agents are trapped on a powerless helicarrier a mile above the Earth with a group of trained and armed killers coming after them. Oh, and one of Spider-Man's oldest enemies is walking around the helicarrier wearing the face of his murdered doctor. Not much to worry about then...

Avenging Spider-Man #21 is released today, Wednesday the 29th of May, written by Chris Yost with interior pencils by Marco Checchetto.

Interview: Ryan Stegman talks Superior Spider-Man, Spider-Man 2099, Scarlet Spider and more!

 
Harry: First off, Thanks for doing this interview, Ryan!

I'm going to start off with a few questions about one of the books you used to draw, Scarlet Spider!

How much of a say did you get in what the character was like,  considering Kaine was changed in a big way from his former villain identity?

Scarlet Spider by Ryan Stegman

Ryan Stegman: Hm...Most of that stuff was Yost. I got to re-design the character's costume and I made the decision to maintain his bulk, so to speak. I wanted him to look more intimidating than Peter. I do think I suggested we cut his hair and get rid of the beard so that he was more identifiable to the reader. But I think I may have suggested that and Yost said, "Oh yeah, I already planned on that." We were really on the same wavelength with everything.

Harry: Even though you don't draw the book any more, you're the cover artist on the series. Do you ever enjoy this more than interiors? Considering you still get to draw the character but you don't have to do as much for the deadline.

Ryan Stegman: No! I don't have anything against covers. I enjoy doing a few of those a month. But I'd lose my mind doing just covers. I like to tell stories. And I like to tell stories panel-to-panel. You can tell a story on a cover, sure, but you only get one image and story is generally subordinated to other aspects like design and making it "pop" of the shelves. 

I am currently in a week where I'm just trying to pump out four different covers and it's really tough because I like to think about a cover for a few days before doing it. Just marinate on it while doing other pages. Maybe I'll think about it when I go for a run, or something will come out of nowhere and hit you. But when you have to do a bunch of covers in a row you don't get that time to conceive and it makes it really, really hard.

Harry: Did drawing Kaine give you more experience for drawing web-slingers when it came to drawing Superior Spider-Man?

Ryan Stegman: Absolutely. I mean, I've kind of always drawn web-slingers in my spare time. But yeah, I really got to learn how to sequence action with Spider-characters throughout that book.

Fantastic Four by Stegman

Harry: You also had a run on Fantastic Four before it's renumbering, do you take a different approach to drawing team books than you do solo books?

Ryan Stegman: Yes. It's much harder! I really think about composition when I'm drawing on interior pages. And the more characters you have the more unruly the composition gets. Because there are so many variables that are difficult to control. So the planning stage takes longer. It all takes longer! 

Harry: Do you prefer any aspects of either type of book? For example, drawing backgrounds, there being less to draw in team books.

Ryan Stegman: I think I prefer doing a single character book because I can really connect with one character. The best example that I can give is that when I did my first issue of Amazing Spider-Man, 665, I felt like I connected immediately. I knew exactly what to do with the character. All my focus was on him. 

In Fantastic Four I felt like I really started to get it in my 3rd issue. Because I had all these little scenes with each character and we had to give each one their own emotional weight. So when I finally figured it out, my run on the book was essentially done!

Amazing Spider-Man 665 interiors
by Stegman

Harry: Onto your current project, Superior Spider-Man, which I'm really loving by the way!

This is obviously quite a controversial book, with one of Peter Parker's deadliest villains, Doctor Octopus, taking control of Spider-Man's body and taking on the role. Do you ever find negative comments distracting or unnerving or do you find it easy to carry on making the book and ignore them?

Ryan Stegman: Well, I only really get down when I read negative comments about my side of the book, meaning the art. Because I read the scripts. I read the book. I've read Dan's run on the book. I KNOW, in my mind, that it's a great story. So it's almost like an outsider looking in. I read negative comments about the story and just have a different opinion.

But when it's my art, that is harder for me to be objective about. Because I can't say definitively that what I do is good or great. That's for others to judge. So if somebody hates it I take it into account. Possibly to a fault! 

Harry: Are there any specific changes you make to drawing Spider-Man between Peter Parker and Otto Octavius?

Ryan Stegman: Only in his mannerisms and facial expressions. I draw Ock/Peter exactly as I would Peter just with arched eyebrows or maniacal smiles etc. 

Superior Spider-Man by Stegman

Harry: Do you prefer drawing the Superior costume or Peter Parker's costume?

Ryan Stegman: Both are cool. The Superior costume isn't different enough for me to really have much of an opinion. I will say that we did away with the webbing on the triceps that Parker had and that makes it way easier to draw!

Harry: On this series, there is a team of rotating artists, consisting of you, Guiseppe Camuncolli and Humberto Ramos. Are there ever times when you think "I would've loved to draw that issue" etc.?

Ryan Stegman: Well I'd love to draw every issue! But no, I am a huge fan of both artists and I love seeing how they do their issues. I'm really happy with the issues I got to do.

Harry: How is it decided which artist draws which issue?

Ryan Stegman: That's a question for Wacker! But I think he does a good job with that. He knows what our strengths are.

Harry: The writer of the series, Dan Slott, obviously starts setting up major storylines a long time before they happen. Does he usually tell you the things he's leading up to so you know a long time in advance?

Ryan Stegman: Yes. I'd like to take a journey through Dan's mind someday. It would be fascinating and terrifying. Dan will call me on the phone and just machine gun idea after idea and it's amazing. I could listen to him ramble on about this stuff all day. But yeah, I probably know what the plans are for the next two years or so right now.

Harry: (SPOILERS AHEAD) Now, the most recent issue of the series was #9, this was probably one of the biggest issues in the series and involved Otto Octavius erasing Peter Parker once and for all. Obviously this will have a major impact on the series, how do you think it'll change the tone of the book?

Ryan Stegman: Well, I drew the next issue so I don't want to give too much away. But you can rest assured that Ock is going to spread his wings and really be himself.

Inside the head of Peter Parker and Otto Octavius

Harry: This issue was mostly set inside Peter Parker/Otto Octavius' head. Was it fun to get to draw in such an odd setting?

Ryan Stegman: Oh yeah. It was awesome. I love drawing stuff that isn't real. Anything that will let me be imaginative and go nuts. And that was definitely an issue where I got to do that.

Harry: Will this change the way Otto acts in the series?

                                                                                Ryan Stegman: He will be more Ock-y than ever!

Harry: Onto some questions about a recent piece of news for the book, the return of Spider-Man 2099. Was it fun to draw such a classic character or was it a little bit intimidating?

Spider-Man 2099 convention sketch by Stegman.

Ryan Stegman: Well, if I was going to be intimidated by anything it'd be drawing Amazing Spider-Man. So no, this is just fun! I love his costume. And I just can't wait to get into the story and draw him in action. It's gonna be too much fun.

Harry: What can you tease about his upcoming appearance?

Ryan Stegman: Really, all I can say is that I hope we can bring him back right. I hope that it is so well received that we see a lot more of the character in the coming years.

Harry: One last Superior related question, is there anything you can tease for the series?

Ryan Stegman: No! Haha. Everything is under lock and key!

Harry: And just one general question. If you could draw any character or series from any publisher, who/what would you choose?

Ryan Stegman: My own characters! I love to create. Spider-Man is the gold standard at the big 2 for me. It's what I always wanted. Beyond that, the only thing that's really left is my own characters. In a perfect world I'd somehow alternate between Spider-Man and my own characters!

Harry: Thanks again, Ryan!

Ryan Stegman is one of three rotating artists on Superior Spider-Man, issue #9 is on sale now!

You can also catch him on his twitter page.

Review: Superior Spider-Man #9

Well, a lot of people are going to be upset with Dan Slott today. I'm not one of them, however, and I loved this issue.

I've loved every issue of Superior Spider-Man from the beggining and have loved Slott's whole run, and I've not been one of the "You ruined my childhood!" people.

Superior Spider-Man #9

Now that I'm done with that, let's get onto the full review!

The writing in the issue is very clever, as it always is with this series. It's an interesting plot and it had me hooked from the first page. Slott really writes these characters well, and comes up with some of the most unexpected twists in comics. I'm not going to spoil the story, you should definitely read it for yourself, but, obviously, people have already spoiled it.

I absoloutely love Ryan Stegman's art, I always think it's a shame with the rotating art team whenever he takes a break from the book. I do like Guissepe Cammuncoli and Humberto Ramos' art a lot, but I feel like Stegman's is a perfect fit for the book. Put together with the colours from Edgar Delgado, the art really adds to the book.

And because letterers never get any recognition in comic books, Chris Eliopoulos did a great job on the issue!

Altgether, another great issue in the series! Unexpected ending and a brilliant story, 10/10!

Comics Catch-up: Superior Spider-Man (What you need to know)

Welcome to Comics Catch-up! This feature helps to get you up to speed on some of the biggest books coming to the shelves. This week I'll be getting you ready for Superior Spider-Man #9!

Superior Spider-Man #9

As you've probably heard, Doctor Octopus is Spider-Man.

A few months ago Doctor Octopus swapped minds with the original Spider-Man, Peter Parker. Otto was placed into the body of Spider-Man and Peter into the dying body of his greatest enemy. Pete had only a few hours to live and had to move fast to defeat Ock. He escaped from Otto's prison cell and into one of his secret hideouts. He broke into Avengers tower with one of Ock's gold Octobots, which the villain used to complete the brain swap.

A final fight between Ock and Spidey took place, Parker tried to use the Octobot to get back into his body but failed. Ock was about to win, but Pete did all he could, he forced his memories into Octavius' brain and made him learn that with Great Power comes Great Responsibility. This supposedly turned Ock into a "hero". And with the Superior Spider-Man you should take the word "hero" very lightly.

Ock as Spider-Man

Although Peter Parker supposedly died in Ock's body, there was still hope for him, he was left as a "ghost" following Ock through his life, able to affect some of the former villain's actions. But he couldn't be heard or seen by anybody.

Since he became Spider-Man, Otto has brutalized most of the villains he's battled and killed Massacre, a man
who's killed hundreds.

Recently, Otto's been able to hear Peter's voice and has, obviously, been getting suspicious, And he's not the only one. The Avengers battled him and did a full brain scan on him to check what had suddenley happened to their team-mate. Ock thought he'd been found out andthis was game over for him, but to his suprise they didn't find anything wrong with him.



Otto kills Massacre

Looking over his brain patterns, Ock found an anomaly. This anomaly went by the name of Peter Parker. It was Pete who'd been found out, and Doc's preparing to get rid of him once and for all using the invention that allowed Ock to control his robotic arms
.

Get ready for a major story that's apparently going to make you angrier than when you read Amazing Spider-Man #700!

Superior Spider-Man #9 hits the shelves on May 1st, written by Dan Slot and with pencils and inks by Ryan Stegman. Also with colours by Edgar Delgado.

Interview: Joshua Hale Fialkov talks Alpha: Big Time, I Vampire, Ultimates and more!

CrimsonSquire: First off, Hi, Josh! Thanks for doing the interview!

We’re going to start off with some questions about one of your current books, I Vampire,

Now, the lead in your book, Andrew Bennet, isn’t an extremely well known character, does it feel more difficult to write a book about a character who’s not a household name?

I, vampire #19, the final issue in the series.

Joshua Hale Fialkov: It has it's pros and cons.  The mainstream superhero comic market is always somewhat resistant to books that don't have Bats or Spiders or Avengers on the covers, and I think that a mainstream superhero horror book is something that hasn't really broken through in thirty years or so, with the exception of maybe the Marvel Zombies stuff.  So from that standpoint it was a bit of an uphill battle.  But, the benefit is that people know less about these characters and their expectations are much less set in stone.

CS: With the series coming to a close soon, do you feel you’ve accomplished what you wanted to with these characters, or do you feel there are more stories you’d want to tell?

JHF: To some degree.  Once we knew we were cancelled, we'd already started a storyline that I didn't want to abandon, but, at the same time, didn't really have room for it and the ending.  But, y'know, even having any forknowledge at all is a lucky thing, and, I'm certainly proud of what we did in these last few issues, particularly in the final one.

CS: Do you feel more of a sense of creative freedom when writing a book like I vampire, considering there’s more to explore in that corner of the DCU?

JFH: Work for Hire comics are always that, work made for hire.  So, it's DC's book, just like Alpha is Marvel's book, or Echoes is my book.  So, there's going to be restrictions and guidelines you are expected to follow.  I think I, Vampire certainly flew under the radar frequently, but, there was still editorial oversight, like there always is.  Again, I think considering all of the things the book had against it from the jump, DC did stand by it, and we got to do a comic that at the very least is completely different from anything else in the New 52. 

CS: Josh, in a few months you’ll be taking on the writing duties on the Ultimates, is this an intimidating task, considering the history this title has?

Ultimate Comics Ultimates #25,
Fialkov's first issue.

JHF: I love being challenged, and Ultimates has definitely been one.  It's certainly the most iconic of the Ultimate books other than Spider-Man, and has a pretty rich history of great creators.  But, I can't really think about that.  I get to tell stories with some of my favorite versions of some of my favorite characters on a canvas that's far bigger than anything I could ever have hoped for.  Almost nothing is off the table, and in my first couple of issues, the status quo of both the team AND the Universe as a whole get tossed on their ear.

CS: Do you feel like you have more control over the Ultimates than other Marvel characters since they’re not part of the 616 universe?

JHF: Oh yeah, we get to have semi-regular conversations with EVERY one of the creators working in the universe, for a start.  So, we all know what each other are doing in far more detail than I think is even possible in the 616.  I like to think of the Ultimate Universe as a bit of the test kitchen for Marvel characters, too.  We get to really experiment and upend expectations in a way that's really liberating and exciting.  Honestly, it's been better than I ever could have dreamed.

CS: Do you take a different approach to writing characters that are household names like Thor compared to someone like Andrew Bennet?

JHF: To some degree, because established characters have more clearly established wants and goals driving them.  With Andrew, I pretty much kept the bulk of what JM DeMatteis had established, but, had a free hand to write the character from scratch.  Here, people know what Ultimate Thor or Ultimate Hulk or Ultimate Cap sound like, and how they think, so, you have to be true to that.

Hulk. With two Infinity Gauntlets.

CS: Is there anything you’re aloud to tease about your run on Ultimates?

JHF: Well, if Hulk with two infinity gauntlets isn't enough to bring you, I don't know what is.

CS: Onto some questions about one of your current books, Alpha: Big Time (which I’m really enjoying By the way!)

JHF: Thank you!

CS: Alpha started off his comic book life as a bit of a jerk, by the end of the series do you think Andy’ll become less jerky?

JHF: I dunno, the path from being a teenage jerk to being an adult not-jerk (or adult less-of-a-jerk) is a pretty long one.  I hope people understand him more by the end of the miniseries.

CS: Alpha: Big Time is over half way through it’s run, when it’s done do you think Alpha will still have a lot of story potential, any more that you’d like to write?

Alpha, Big time #5, the final issue.

JHF: Both Nuno and I are heartbroken that it's ending.  It's bar none the most fun I've had writing a book in so long.  He's so brash and foolish and self-centered, that it taps into all the worst parts of my personality (or, some would say, personality problem), so getting to exorcise that part of me is liberating in a very big way. 

CS: Andy’s obviously still learning to be a good superhero, how does it feel to tell the story of his journey?

JHF: My real background is in coming of age stories... If you look at, for example, ELK'S RUN or ECHOES, those are both stories about people growing up by the force of the circumstances around them.  This is very much in that vein.  And again, I spend so much of my time writing dark, twisted stories, that getting to tell something that's light and fun is really, really exciting.  Although, it gets pretty twisted before it's over. 

CS: In the last issue of the book, Andy developed a new power, or powers, Super senses. Can we expect this change to play a big part in the last two issues, and for Andy’s future?

Alpha, Big time #4. Guest starring Thor.

JHF: Oh yeah.  One of the big things Thomas Brennan and Steve Wacker tasked us with was really clearing up his powers and his purpose in the Marvel Universe.  So, the idea of giving him super senses to go with his other powers just seemed right for where he's going. 

CS: Can we expect anymore established Marvel characters in the book?

JHF: We've got more Superior Spider-Man, obviously, and, issue 4 has Thor show up to give Alpha some 'God to God-like powered teenager' advice.  It's awesome.  Verily awesome. 

CS: What can you tell us about the final two issues of the series? 

JHF: They're a really, really fun ride, and Nuno Plati is doing the work of his career on the book.  I really hope folks give it a look, cause, it's honestly one of my favorite things I've ever worked on

CS: Thanks, Josh!


I, Vampire #19 is out in stores now, Alpha: Big Time #4 is released May 8th and Josh Fialkov's run on Ultimate comics Ultimates starts with #25 in June.
You can also catch Josh on his website, thefialkov.com , and his twitter, @JoshFialkov .