amazing spider-man: sins past & in general

[manwithnoname]

i've visited this site many times to see questions asked of jms, some interesting and others really interesting. reading jms' responses regarding the "sins past" storyline in spider-man angered me enough to register on the site. i thoroughly enjoy & love what jms has done with spider-man. i first started reading spider-man in grade school (1980's); i stopped reading spider-man and all comic books in late 1992. why? the writers and editors lost sight of peter parker/spider-man. jms started writing spider-man and i jumped on board. why? read rising stars. read midnight nation (have original issues & needed to buy trade also, i love this book; actually made me cry). i can't believe the response jms is receiving about sins past. as long as jms is on spidey i'm right there with him. he understands the characters and, i believe, treasures them. i think gwen's actions with osborn makes total sense.

[Jan]

Re: amazing spider-man: sins past & in general

Originally posted by manwithnoname
i thoroughly enjoy & love what jms has done with spider-man.

Hi manwithnoname!

I moved your post down here to the Comics forum but I wanted to let you know that I agree with you. I'm enjoying the latest Spidey story *bacause* of the depth JMS adds to the characters.

Do you read any of the other JMS comics?

Welcome aboard!
Jan

[travisturchi]

The Spectacular Spider Writer

I just wanted to comment on how pleased I am with the current "Sins Past" storyline. I have been collecting Spidey since 1985. The best Spiderman series I had ever read was Roger Stern's run on the original Hobgoblin arc. I must say, I haven't been quite as excited about the "next" issue of Spiderman since then.

Thankfully, I stopped collecting comics during most of the "dreaded" 90's and came back a few years ago to find quality writers and storylines. Bendis, Paul Jenkins, Mark Millar, and Warren Ellis have written some thought-provoking stories and IMHO are very good writers. With all of the quality writers out there, I had a difficult time picking my "favorite". I must say, between Amazing Spiderman, Rising Stars (probably my favorite Super Heroes Story ever!), Midnight Nation, and Supreme Power (Great!), I can now say with confidence JMS is without a doubt the best writer I have ever read!

For all of the negative comments I have seen regarding the "Sins Past" storyarc, I say, "Keep up the great work!" I will coninue to gobble-up everything written by JMS.

[Garibaldi's Hair]

I think Sins Past is great ... the rest of this post was in the wrong place and I have moved it.

[Jan]

Originally posted by Garibaldi's Hair
What was the reason behind the numbering and if #500 was the 500th issue of ASM, why was JMS' first issue #30 in any case?

Anyone know?

Well, I found this by googling:

Okaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy............. In a nutshell,

Amazing spiderman started in 1963, and carried on until 1999, where the issue numbers hit the mid 400's. And then somone made the moronic decision of, "let's end the current series and call it volume one. Now we can start amazing Spiderman from issue one again and call it volume two." They didn't even start new continuity, the story just carried on from the last issue of volume one onto the start of vol. 2. Many found this confusing, irritating, and just a plain disgrace to Spiderman history. Bill Jemas (new Marvel president) and Joe Quesada knew this, so next to the volume 2 issue number (57 in your case,) they put the issue number of what volume 1 would be (498,) if this irritating relaunch never occured. This has seemed to catch on with many fans, even Wizard magazine uses the vol. 1 numbers. Hopefully after issue 500 (59 in your case) we will only see the vol. 1 issue numbers.

Don't guarantee the accuracy, but it seems to make sense. As much as most corporate decisions ever do <g>

Jan

[Garibaldi's Hair]

hehe, sorry guys - I asked this question about the numbering and Jan managed to answer between my realising it was in the wrong thread and moving it to a new one - here is the text of the original post ..


Aside from a foray into the UK Collector's Editions of Spider-Man, I only started on ASM when JMS began to write it and now I'm hooked.

Just one brief question ... JMS started writing it at issue #30, and continued #31, #32, #33 etc. and at some point (I can't remember exactly when) it morphed into issue 500, and now stands at around #514 or so.

What was the reason behind the numbering and if #500 was the 500th issue of ASM, why was JMS' first issue #30 in any case?

Anyone know?

Cheers,



And thanks Jan for the info.

[manwithnoname]

thanks, jan.

it's great to hear (read) others are supportive of jms' spider-man. i'm currently reading everything he's writing. i have the original issues to midnight nation, i recently bought the trade paperback (it fell apart on me...ugh!) because i don't want to ruin the originals. i know i will be reading this story many, many times over the years.
does anyone know of a midnight nation hardcover? any help would be greatly appreciated. the afterword by jms is incredible. my girlfriend thought the afterword was awesome. i tell ya, so much heart & compassion in midnight nation.

[Jan]

Re: thanks, jan.

Originally posted by manwithnoname
it's great to hear (read) others are supportive of jms' spider-man.

I think the ones over at r.a.c.m.u. are the vocal few. It's just that they keep repeating themselves over and over and over....

i'm currently reading everything he's writing. i have the original issues to midnight nation, i recently bought the trade paperback (it fell apart on me...ugh!) because i don't want to ruin the originals. i know i will be reading this story many, many times over the years.
does anyone know of a midnight nation hardcover? any help would be greatly appreciated. the afterword by jms is incredible. my girlfriend thought the afterword was awesome. i tell ya, so much heart & compassion in midnight nation.

I haven't seen anything about a Midnight Nation hardcover. I think it might be a good idea, though. I know that JMS has said it's one that he's most proud of. I like reading the trade paperback more because the story just blends together without distraction.

As for the afterword....Man, that JMS fella can sure write, can't he? It's an insight into just how much of himself JMS puts into his stories. If you ever run across his "Tales from the New Twilight Zone" book, I recommend it. He has forwards to each story.

For myself, I wish I had a case of the issue where he and Laurel join the people sitting around the campfire afraid to go anywhere or do anything. The page showing that they were surrounded by a bunch of other campfires with people all afraid to go anywhere or do anything was impressive. There are *so* many people I'd like to give that issue to....

Jan

[vacantlook]

I need to get on the ball; I haven't read any of jms's comic work other than the first two trades of Rising Stars.

[Jan]

Originally posted by vacantlook
I need to get on the ball; I haven't read any of jms's comic work other than the first two trades of Rising Stars.

Oh, my. Well, I envy you your first reading of Midnight Nation. And getting caught up on Rising Stars. Not to mention Supreme Power. And Doc Strange is just on it's second issue.



Jan

[Slither]

I have thoroughly enjoyed JMS' Spidey run.... UNTIL Sins Past.

I'm sorry, but I just need to ask ONE question.

WHY was this necessary?

PLEASE explain why a masterpiece like the Death of Gwen Stacy needs to be belittled by turning her into a trollop.

[Jan]

Originally posted by Slither
I have thoroughly enjoyed JMS' Spidey run.... UNTIL Sins Past.

I'm sorry, but I just need to ask ONE question.

WHY was this necessary?

PLEASE explain why a masterpiece like the Death of Gwen Stacy needs to be belittled by turning her into a trollop.

Oh, dear. I strongly and firmly disagree that this has any negative impact on Gwen at all. One impulsive and yes, out of character, action doesn't irreparably damage her. Plus, remember the time at which it took place. Real time, not Marvel time. Sexual Revolution wasn't just a term then, it was actually happening (I was there....<g>).

But I never saw her death as a masterpiece either. Though it may have been the point in my life where I got my taste for fiction that surprises me.

To answer your question, though...my personal opinion is that this will force Peter to take 'Saint Gwen' off of her pedestal and finally get over her. Which will relieve MJ's mind no end. She still fears that Peter can never love her as much as he did Gwen and that's got to eat at her. Hopefully this will strengthen the relationship.

Jan

[Slither]

Doubtful when he was saying "I'll always love you" to Gwen's memory and MJ thought he was talking to her.

Sorry, but Gwen was fine as she was. Showing her as someone who'd jump so easily in to bed with Norman and then still tell Peter she loves him demeans Gwen unnecessarily.

And it did NOTHING to make Norman appear more the villain either.

[iamsheridan]

Originally posted by Slither
Doubtful when he was saying "I'll always love you" to Gwen's memory and MJ thought he was talking to her.

Sorry, but Gwen was fine as she was. Showing her as someone who'd jump so easily in to bed with Norman and then still tell Peter she loves him demeans Gwen unnecessarily.

And it did NOTHING to make Norman appear more the villain either.

I'm sorry to barge in on this, since I haven't read the stories you talk about (but I have read JMS's comments to the comments), but I have a question:
how easily DID Gwen jump into bed with Norman? On the first date? After a week? A month?
And what amount of time would have been ok with you, Slither?

Just curious.
/IamS

[Slither]

NEVER woulda been a good start.