Spider-Man and His Henchmen

Marvel has decreed this week to be 'Superior Spider-Man' week and as such has been releasing all kinds of information on some up and coming Spider-plots. Today's announcement (which you can read here) says that OttoPeter debuts a new look while going after the remnants of Shadowland utilizing new methods that Spider-Man has never ever used before. It comes with this image:

It doesn't take a brain surgeon to gather from this picture that Otto is going to get entrepreneurial and hire some assistants. On the surface, I really dig this idea. I mean, of course a supervillain turned hero would fall back on his old tricks, including and not limited to, hiring lackeys to do his bidding; He'll be like his own street-level SHEILD. Honestly, I'm surprised more heroes don't try doing this. Seems like something Iron Man would have done a few years ago around Civil War when he was trying to save everyone.

Anyway. While I like the possibilities inherent in this idea, it makes me even more concerned about what's going to happen with Peter. Especially considering that at the beginning of the week, the big tease was a more near-future story in which Peter and Otto fight it out to see who will control the body that is Peter Parker.

So... If this happens first and then Spider-Man is hiring help with matching uniforms, I think we can surmise that this is a battle that Peter doesn't win (Also this headline doesn't help). So what happens to him?

My cynical, paranoia addled brain came up with this insane scenario: It all leads to a new clone saga.

Crazy, I know, but hold on. The way I see it, the way to expel Peter would be to give it a psyche for it to exist: cue clonage. What with the Jackal running around again in the books and an emphasis on 90s storylines (I'm looking at you Scarlet Spider!), it's not that big of a leap to consider that happening. Then, Original Recipe Peter exists in a new cloned body while Otto runs around in the old meatsuit which allows for all the neat storytelling of OttoPeter to continue while not totally ruining Peter.

So then, after the story has run it's course, you can have Peter wake up in his cloned body and go fight Otto. I see it ending something like this:

Admittedly, most of this crazed idea comes exclusively from Otto's new suit looking like Ben Reilly's, but who's to say that makes it any less valid?

I could go further with my crackpot theories involving the age of this supposed cloned Peter, but it makes so much sense that it scares me. Also, we seem to be at our limit for crazyness today. Maybe later... if you're lucky.

Armor Bros.

Two of the Earth's greatest heroes bonding over their secret shame.

Shameless stolen like Jim's super suit from Chris Gerringer. See more of his stuff at his website

Don't Go To Sleep

Checking the Marvel Solicits for April, I saw this:

I can't tell you how excited I am for this. Between Darkhawk's big supporting role in Avengers Arena, rumors of the return of Spider-Man 2099, and this, 2013 looks to be the year the 90s returns in force.

I only hope this means a return of The Slingers by January. I mean, I know it doesn't, but a man can hope, right?

Previously on X-Men

Once upon a time, I loved watching this show every Saturday morning; It was the highlight of my week! It was this big serious show that dealt with all the stuff I loved about the X-Men, even if it didn't feature any of my favorite characters (I was an X-Force kid through and through).

That said, watching that video, I'm surprised I still like the X-Men. I don't remember that show being quite that wacky...

The Deathlok That Could Have Been

Lately I've been on something of a Deathlok kick, so color me excited when I saw this image while scanning the internet:

And then imagine my disappointment when I discovered it was from a cancelled series from 2003 by Daniel Way and Darick Robertson. Apparently it was going to be about another new Deathlok (move over Luther Manning, Michael Collins, and Jack Truman) in a new hyper violent future ruled by corporations or whatever. Also, given the art that was released, it seemed to feature some kid controlling my favorite future cyborg, so I'm guessing that would have been a story point too.

Oh what could have been...

Although, given the year it would have been released and Way's penchant for decompressed non-action (see his new Thunderbolts series as an example) I could see this series being all promise and no follow through. I guess we'll never know.

Now, if Marvel would just get off their ass and let Jason Aaron write a Deathlok series, I could stop pining over this thing.

Hey Hawkguy!

I'm sure he gets that a lot.

My favorite exchange from a book full of great exchanges, via Hawkeye (or Hawkguy) #6 from Fraction and Aja.

I'm Officially Jealous of Franklin Richards

Now if I could just figure out where to get my own...

From the pretty stellar FF #1 by Matt Fraction and Mike Allred.

Venom is a Slut Part 11

Worse, now there's more of them. It's like four times the slut.

It's Daredevil Time!

If only he came with a magic dog that looked like Foggy...

The X-Force That Could Have Been

Can you imagine a world where Shatterstar had a logical hairline? Where Magik was part of Cable's Crew? Or where Feral doesn't exist? Well, prepare for a glimpse:

Now, I can't decide if this was used as a pitch for the first X-Force book or if it was just tease designed to excite readers to something new from the New Mutants book. Could go either way, I suppose. All I know is that I'm glad I live in a world with Feral.

This Fringe-Like 'over there' look courtesy of New Mutants Annual #6