Posted in: Comics | Tagged: Comics, HRL, london super comic con

The Marvel Legacy "Tantrums" Over Renumbering And More From Slott And Bendis At London Super Comic Con

Published Sun, 27 Aug 2017 12:30:55 -0500

Brian Michael Bendis and Dan Slott finished off the London Super Comic Con today, with a panel with Duncan McAlpine, ostensibly about Spider-Man but web-spinning off in all manner of directions.

They talked about the innate joy people have for Spider-Man and his costume, even from the youngest eyes for the first time, how the character and the look just grabs people.

They discussed meeting and talking to Stan Lee, and how the very idea that this would happen came as a surprise to both of them. Bendis likened writing Spider-Man to dating Stan's ex. He had asked Bendis why Norman Osborne was an Avenger now, while during Superior Spider-Man, Lee asked Slott if he was bringing Peter Parker back from the dead. Lee was only one of the very few people Slott was willing to confirm that to.

They talked about the themes of fathers and sons at Marvel Comics, with Slott talking about putting his own science teacher father into Max Modell, Spider-Man's "science father", while Bendis talked about his own poor relationship with his father, and how he saw that reflected in Lee's work – expressing a wish to ask Lee about his own father, since it's a theme that often occurs.

They playfully played off each other's length of time on Spider-Man and number of issues written starring the character. Slott saying he was about eight issues behind at this point, but Bendis countered with 45. And as to which Spider-Man should have dominance in the Marvel universe now, Bendis said, "I have hinted very strongly that it would be very nice for Peter to f-ck off." The banter was in full force.

No more was that true than when it also brought out a tale of what was described as the "tantrums" at the Marvel writers retreat, in response to the recent Marvel Legacy renumbering of series by adding up all the previous issues in a variety of volumes to create the new Legacy numbers. Slott and Tom Brevoort were on the side of only single issues of the main series counting when totting them up, Bendis preferred to add specials, mini-series, and even annuals — and his Spider-Man Activision series.

So when also discussing Bendis' recent weight loss, which he puts down to eating less and exercising more and losing "69 pounds; I'm calling in 70," getting the cheeky response, "This is how he counts numbers," from Slott.

Mary Jane and the Spider-Marriage came up, and was deftly avoided by the pair. Instead, they discussed how Bendis took her for Iron Man, when she was offered up at a Marvel Retreat, only for Slott to want her back straight away. "For one issue!" Slott defended. As we later learned, they saw these events as very much "Guard your turf…hold onto your shit." So Bendis plans to never let her leave Iron Man…

Bendis talked about when Mark Millar tried to prank him by pretending to be his favourite playwright David Mamet, congratulating him on his work. Bendis at the time knew Millar was pranking people, but humoured the conversation until "Mamet" pitched Bendis his own Spider-Man idea that involved each of the different Spider-Man titles having their own Spider-Man, and that the clone saga had never ended, eliciting one response: "F-ck you, Mark."

Slott also shared his experience having dinner with Steven Moffat and his wife, during which the waiters lost Moffat's credit card, making the dinner suddenly very awkward with waiters walking up and down looking for it. The management was profusely apologetic and comped the meal — until the credit card was found, and they suddenly felt able to charge the full amount to it. Slott put Moffat's reluctance to complain down to his Britishness, but got a laugh from Moffat by then telling him, "Sir, your card has been declined," only for Slott to keep going, pressing Moffat on a continuity glitch in Doctor Who. Slott still cringes from the memory of choosing to go there, with a "Really?" response from The Moff.

But that's the thing — what came over most from this panel is that these guys are still 100% fans at heart. And in terms of attitude and enthusiasm, there was little to separate them from the audience at London Super Comic Con this afternoon. One fan talked about crying when reading the Death Of Ultimate Spider-Man, and Bendis shared that he cried as much writing it, too.

And, no, Dan Slott is not leaving Spider-Man. He was very keen to underline that 10 years on, he will keep writing the character.

Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!