You know, when "One More Day" and "Brand New Day" happened, I was really PO'ed. Joe Quesada said he didn't think fans would be able to identify with a married Peter Parker. At the time, my own wedding was just around the corner. And up until then, for almost four years I never missed an issue of Amazing Spider-Man.
I stopped reading ASM soon after that. I hated that Joe Q was perpetuating the negative stereotype of comic book readers as loveless ne'er-do-wells.
But every once in a while I see a guy like this. And I realize Joe Q's argument might actually hold some weight.
When you target a certain type of person it's not surprising to find a certain type of person enjoys your product.
There's exactly as much weight to Quesada's argument as has been given to the argument by Quesada and people like him. That's what we call a self-fulfilling prophecy.
spider-man's early success was rooted firmly in the male adolescent wish-fulfillment formula that has dominated the superhero genre since its beginning. a lot of young men don't have marriage very high on their wishlists. i doubt that's unique to comic book nerds. teenaged superheroes growing up & getting married is just "fixing" what ain't broke. the writers of the stories end up being totally unprepared to write superheroes as proper grownup characters, or to address the oxymoron of the thrill-seeking costumed vigilante who also has a stable & happy marriage at home, so they find that they've painted themselves & their successors into a corner.
and if it isn't a creative dead end, then what is the next logical development for the character, after he changes from the lonely nerd superhero into a happily married superhero? old age, retirement, and death? or is it NOT OKAY for a superhero to be a 16 year old nerdy peter pan who never grows up; yet somehow TOTALLY FINE for him to forever remain a 30 year old husband who never grows old, retires and dies?
Well, since Spider-Man had a job from the time he was like 16 years old, I would have to disagree here.
ReplyDeleteNo, Peter Parker had a job, Spiderman just kicks ass all day like this kid.
DeletePretty sure you just explained the joke. Well done!
ReplyDeleteSomeone please shoot this kid before he wastes any more of our tax dollars.
ReplyDeleteYou know, when "One More Day" and "Brand New Day" happened, I was really PO'ed. Joe Quesada said he didn't think fans would be able to identify with a married Peter Parker. At the time, my own wedding was just around the corner. And up until then, for almost four years I never missed an issue of Amazing Spider-Man.
ReplyDeleteI stopped reading ASM soon after that. I hated that Joe Q was perpetuating the negative stereotype of comic book readers as loveless ne'er-do-wells.
But every once in a while I see a guy like this. And I realize Joe Q's argument might actually hold some weight.
When you target a certain type of person it's not surprising to find a certain type of person enjoys your product.
DeleteThere's exactly as much weight to Quesada's argument as has been given to the argument by Quesada and people like him. That's what we call a self-fulfilling prophecy.
spider-man's early success was rooted firmly in the male adolescent wish-fulfillment formula that has dominated the superhero genre since its beginning. a lot of young men don't have marriage very high on their wishlists. i doubt that's unique to comic book nerds. teenaged superheroes growing up & getting married is just "fixing" what ain't broke. the writers of the stories end up being totally unprepared to write superheroes as proper grownup characters, or to address the oxymoron of the thrill-seeking costumed vigilante who also has a stable & happy marriage at home, so they find that they've painted themselves & their successors into a corner.
Deleteand if it isn't a creative dead end, then what is the next logical development for the character, after he changes from the lonely nerd superhero into a happily married superhero? old age, retirement, and death? or is it NOT OKAY for a superhero to be a 16 year old nerdy peter pan who never grows up; yet somehow TOTALLY FINE for him to forever remain a 30 year old husband who never grows old, retires and dies?
No "dopes" tag?
ReplyDeleteNo 'entitled little shit' tag?
DeleteWait, ... he has a friend?
ReplyDeleteI suppose this not-even-qualified-to-be-a-carny thinks Parker just lives off of his Aunt May.
ReplyDeleteThe only "greater thing" this git's destined for is a rag and a can of paint thinner.
Shouldn't this guy be of Occupying something?
ReplyDelete