Looks like Marvel really is getting into the OGN business after all.
Announced over at USA Today, Marvel is following up the upcoming Ellis/McKone Avengers hardcover with a Spider-Man hardcover, featuring a story by Mark Waid, James Robinson (!!!) and Gabriele dell’Otto. The book, entitled “Family Business,” features a woman claiming to be Peter Parker’s sister (and compared to Modesty Blaise, which is neat) and is set before the events of “Amazing Spider-Man” #700, making it new/random-reader friendly (and pretty much solidifying that Parker is only “gone,” not just not forgotten). The book will feature a variety of familiar characters like Cyclone and the Rhino, but will mostly focus on Parker’s relationship with his mystery new sister and how that reflects on his parents.
It’s hard not to be excited about this for a multitude of reasons. This is Robinson’s first Marvel work post-DC life, Waid is a noted Spidey storyteller and dell’Otto is one of the most fantastic artists around (that he doesn’t do more interiors seems somewhat criminal). Now we get a full graphic novel featuring their talents combined, starring one of the world’s best comic book characters? The chance for this being stellar seems very likely. Waid even describes it as purposefully putting Peter in a situation where he’s out of his depth in order to make the tension more interesting, which is definitely an intriguing angle to try and exploit for the purposes of a graphic novel.
Here’s the trailer that was attached the announcement:
The book is set to debut in May 2014. Expect stylish Hawaiian shirts to be in by then as well.
