Originally Posted by
Alex_Of_X
A soft reboot, a-la HoX\PoX? Sure! A full-on restart? Hell no, not for all the diamonds in the world
The *one* thing the comics universe has that no adaptation--film, cartoon, game--will never have, never surpass or overshadow is 80+ years of fascinating, tangled continuity. The Lee\Ditko\Kirby blood still pumps in the veins of today's comics. It can be a crutch and pull creatives into telling cover-song stories (Heyyyyy Spencer!).
But just as often, it can give us an Immortal Hulk or House of X, works of stupefying magnitude that blossom from the firmament of continuity. A single splendorous story that both honors the past and enriches it through it's greatness.
And some fans think it's best to catapult that foundation because Peter doesn't have grey hair yet.
Let's get into the grist of it. Pleasing the fans is the short path to disaster. No direction will please everyone. You don't want to please Spider-Man fans, if you're editorial
You want to make MORE Spider-Man fans!
It's true for a business sense: more customers=more profit. But it's also true from a story sense. Think back to when you fell in love with Spider-Man: some story must've hooked you, moved you, thrilled you! Cartoon, comic, Raimi film or Webb--you name it. And then you read on and on and on, unlocking the sprawling web that is Spidey comics, from the 60-s to current day. Now you're a fan. You care profoundly.
But in that care for *character* and *continuity*, some lose sight of story. You want a grown-up, fulfilled, married, capable, fearless, adult, victorious, paternal, grizzled Peter. Okay. Cool. What's the story?
The truth is, without story, none of it matters. And for a cool story, anything goes. Bend characterization. Contradict continuity if it's in your way, retcon it away. Kill or resurrect whoever you need. If the story's cool, you're in the clear.
Don't like it? Don't read it. It's probably not written with you in mind. Wait for the next writer's turn. Simple as
Cause you don't make new fans by telling soft stories. You get them by showing them why Spidey's cool. And imho, Spidey's cool because he struggles like no other, but never gives up.
What did Zdarsky say? "Can't, but must." Exactly
It's daring to look at Spidey continuity and say "I can spin gold outta this." Way more daring than starting over. And I'll prefer the daring story route any day of the week