Ultimate Spider Man: Peter Parker is dead, long live Spider-Man

[Nique]

I know we've got a Spider-Man thread going but that's about out of steam and was more about the upcoming film until Fifth brought this up. I figured we could have a discussion proper about Marvel's 'Ultimate' universe death of Peter Parker and introduction of a new Spider-Man in Miles Morales - a half-Black half-Latino kid who, also has Spider-Powers, I guess?

On one hand, I kind of understand if some people are hesitant to accept a change like this becuase in order to really enjoy comics from the big two these days you are basically ok with the state of their continuity. This means a constant return to the status quo i.e. superhero dead = not really dead. I guess I can also see a slightly more rational argument about it not really being Spider-Man unless it's Peter Parker or something too, so I don't know if it's entirely fair to label everyone who has a problem with it as a racisms (although a lot of people are being hella racisms about this).

As far as complaints that the race of the character is motivated solely by some kind of affirmative action based quota filling... I mean, it seems like comics have gotten by for quite a long time having primarily white characters and quota filling by transforming third tier characters into ethnic stereotypes. Add to this that Peter Parker as Spider-Man is probably the most popular comic book character of all time means killing him off and replacing him with anyone else is going to be a controversial move anyway, so that doesn't seem to be a likely motive.

Black Nerd Comedy has a perspective on this also.

[Amake]

I've always liked Ultimate Spider-man. Not Brian Bendis' best work, but probably the best indefinitely ongoing comic I've seen. Which is largely due to Bendis bending the ongoing format as far as anyone's ever dared. USM never settled in a definite status quo in the ten or so years before Peter Parker's death and replacement, and that move in particular gives me hope it never will.

If they bring him back I'm out, though.

[Kim]

This isn't the first time there's been a non-Parker Spiderman. It's just the first time someone's taken over the role for a dead Parker. As for the whole continuity excuse a lot of idiots like to hide behind, there've been like three Green Lanterns, two Batmans, three Robins, thre Flashes, a couple Batwomen, and those are just the ones I, a guy who does not read comics except for special exceptions, knows about. A superhero having their role filled by another character is nothing new at all to comics, and people need to stop acting like this change is an excuse for their terrible behavior.

BEYOND THAT there is still a comic book series with Parker as Spiderman that will continue to be published even as Ultimate Spiderman is, so it's not even like they've lost Parker either.

With all this in mind, it's REALLY REALLY HARD to not think, "Hmmm, maybe the folks complaining are just racist."

[Viridis]

I like the idea of the character, but I'm just wondering if he has the same powers and, if so, how. Any word on that yet?

[Nique]

Originally Posted by NonCon

thre Flashes

Actually the Flash is a perfect example of why this should basically be fine. A mainstay character being replaced by a new character or sidekick like, multiple times?

With all this in mind, it's REALLY REALLY HARD to not think, "Hmmm, maybe the folks complaining are just racist.

I prefer to think that the majority of them are manifesting their ignorance - either about social issues or good taste in the realm of comic book writing. The biggest tell is the people who say something along the lines of 'It's just a comic book, why do they need to affirmative action it all up and RUIN IT FOREVER'. Like it either matters or it doesn't you cannot have it both ways.

[Sky Warrior Bob]

I don't follow comics, but how did he gain his powers? Also, how soon after Peter's death was this other Spider Man already in webs?

SWB

[Premmy]

I totally tweeted in support of Donald Glover's run for Peter Parker in the movie. So I feel responsible for this and someone should thank me for it.

[Nique]

Originally Posted by Premmy

I also Said Lil Wayne was the Green Goblin,

Duh.

[Magus]

Hmm, intriguing. Who's Little Wayne and why does he make a good Green Goblin?

I think I already pointed out in the other thread that most of these random people on the internets are probably continuity nerds. It is your Glenn Becks who are the real racists because they complained about Nightrunner, a completely original new character.

[Nique]

I think I already pointed out in the other thread that most of these random people on the internets are probably continuity nerds.

I would agree with this - Comic fans lean towards more liberal viewpoints like most nerdlings and are not exclusively white either. But then the discussion becomes that they are backing a bloated unchanging continuity for flimsy reasons which ultimately amount to the fact that they don't like change.

Nick Fury is black in the Ultimate universe, which means there is no relation to his 616 counterpart except by name and role. It isn't 'mirror universe' star trek episodes here so Spider-Man could just as easily been a totally different character in the Ultimate universe to begin with.