Peter Parker is returning to his roots in a second ongoing series entitled, “Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man,” a familiar title to many fans of the webslinger. “Spectacular Spider-Man” will have a lead-in on Free Comic Book Day, sharing the issue with “Secret Empire,” before launching in June from Chip Zdarsky and veteran artist Adam Kubert.
Zdarsky, who has risen in recent years illustrating titles like “Sex Criminals” for Image and writing books like “Howard the Duck” for Marvel, said in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that this book will be a return to the more classic Peter Parker we all know and love.
The main book, “Amazing Spider-Man,” has kept things fresh by stretching the character and his situation. It’s still classic Spider-Man at its core, but transposed into new settings. With this book, we’re using the same Spider-Man in-continuity but shifting the spotlight back to his NYC environment and supporting cast. But even though we’re pushing to make it a more personal book, we’re still going to have big adventures with ramifications that’ll be felt in his other books. If I had, like, a true mission statement for the title though, it would be: “Have fun, have heart, have stakes.” My personal mission statement going into the book is “With great power comes something something I don’t know I’ve never had power before.”
Zdarsky went on to praise the Spider-Man of the 80’s and 90’s and said he hopes to bring that energy to this title and bring things “back to basics.” This run will also introduce new character Rebecca London, a stand-up comedian who just moved to New York, who meets Spider-Man and is a possible love interest for the character.
This is the first time that Peter Parker has had a second, in-continuity, solo ongoing since “Brand New Day” relaunched “Amazing Spider-Man” in 2007 and made the title thrice-monthly (“Spidey” wasn’t quite in continuity, and “Avenging Spider-Man” was a team-up book). Peter Parker in recent years has been a CEO of his own company, trapezing around like Tony Stark over in Dan Slott’s “Amazing Spider-Man.” We ran some rumors in a Rundown last week that Marvel looks to be moving towards a renewal and return to the core of their characters (much like DC’s ‘Rebirth’). This looks to be a step in that direction. In his interview, Zdarsky gives credence to that theory in his description of Spider-Man.
He’s misunderstood and underestimated, either as Pete or Spider-Man. He’s the mascot for New York City, and, like a sports mascot, that means he’s beloved by children and endured by adults. He’s the only street-level superhero who could beat a herald of Galactus in a fight. He feels things stronger than any other hero and covers that up with jokes. He’s Spider-Man!
The FCBD issue of “Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man” drops May 6 from Zdarsky and Paulo Siqueira (“A-Force”) before rolling out full force in June.
