Back To Full-Tilt Fistfights In Spider-Man

by Vince Brusio

It’s been one of the biggest books of the year, and now it's collected in The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 1: Back To Basics TP (SEP181008) from Marvel Comics. Read what writer Nick Spencer and Executive Editor Nick Lowe have to say about the new series in this PREVIEWSworld Exclusive interview!

The Amazing Spider-Man Volume 1: Back To Basics TP (SEP181008) is in comic shop November 28.

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Vince Brusio: So what is it about YOUR vision of Spider-Man that’s going to make him so amazing? How are you putting your footprint on this legacy? Or is that tinkering the farthest thing from your mind because you’re too caught up in all the trouble you can make with such a wide-ranging rogues gallery?

Nick Spencer: Yeah, I think you always have to be careful with that “putting your footprint on the legacy” stuff. This is the best character in the history of comics, and arguably one of the best in all modern fiction. This title in particular has a long and proud tradition of great stories. So I don’t need to come in here and break things left and right —  I just need to focus on telling the best Spidey stories I can come up with, big and small. It’s still me writing, it’s still got that voice and that filter— but really, my first goal is to honor what’s foundational and lasting about the character.

Nick Lowe: Nick and Ryan’s Amazing Spider-Man has a manic energy that feels so new and yet classic. One of the things that thrills me about this run is how mischievous it is. Nick continually sets up and knocks down Pete in surprising ways, and Ryan just nails each high and low in such great ways. They do it in little funny ways that are going to make you forget when the big holy #&@& moments hit, and your stomach drops. The best rogues gallery in comics certainly helps, but Nick and Ryan aren’t going to sit on their laurels, as they introduce a new villain that is going to have a very intense impact on Spidey.

Vince Brusio: Keeping the history and the continuity straight is a big part of what the editor does, but nevertheless for you to take over the reins of one of Marvel’s biggest flagship character means a lot of work was done on the front end of this project so that you could have your ducks lined up in time for production. How did you wrap your head around putting out this series? How did you prepare yourself so that you could sign off on such a big commitment?

Nick Spencer: It certainly is a big job. Thankfully I’ve gotten some practice at this with Captain America and Secret Empire — that was the most aggressively shipped Marvel summer event ever, and also the biggest in terms of page count in a long time. And I’m very proud to point out we finished that on time, even as Captain America was essentially triple shipping all year. No small feat. Luckily, there’s a great editorial team in place that does fantastic work keeping everything running smoothly. That’s just a part of the job and we all work very hard to bring you the best book possible, on time.

Nick Lowe: Nick did a full re-read of Amazing Spider-Man, all 801 issues of it over the last 8 months or so and you’ll see what parts of it inspired him. You’ll see hallmarks from each era pop up, with one particular era having big impacts. But don’t think he’s retreading ground. Each thing he pulls from the past, he and Ryan put a new spin on and push this book into the future in awesome ways.

Vince Brusio: Spider-Man’s living in the aftermath of an alien invasion that hit New York City. How did you capitalize on this crisis?

Nick Spencer: The wake of that invasion, and the consequences of it, certainly do a lot to impact Pete’s life. We really use that story to capture and illuminate some things that I think are absolutely vital to the character-- then we move him forward from there.

Nick Lowe: Well, issue one kicks off knee-deep into that invasion, and you aren’t going to believe where it goes from there. But it’s not all about big alien stuff, as this book sets up a new status quo for Peter and the people around him.

Vince Brusio: Did you have a hand in Ryan Ottley being tapped as the series artist, or did the planets align by themselves? What’s it like to work with Ryan? How do you two interact with each other as you plow the same field of dreams?

Nick Spencer: I think we all feel incredibly lucky and excited to have Ryan on board. He’s a terrific collaborator and teammate on the book — and his Spidey is just gorgeous to look at. He draws everything with so much energy and life. When I suggested to Nick Lowe and the folks at Marvel that we try to get him for this, they were all for it and we were off to the races from there. It’s been so much fun working with him so far, I hope there’s a lot more to come.

Nick Lowe: Getting Ryan on this book was Nick [Spencer]’s idea. We were trying to figure out just who would fit what Nick was trying to do and he noticed that the timing MIGHT JUST WORK to get Ryan here. And boy was Nick right as Ryan is KICKING SO MUCH BUTT!!! There’s a lot of give and take in how Nick and Ryan work together that’s fun to watch as an editor.

Vince Brusio: Would you agree that the most fun you can have with Spider-man is not in the battles he fights in the costume, but the battles he fights because of the costume? Meaning, the burden of living a double life. Do you think such a life itself could be labeled as the ultimate infinity war?

Nick Spencer: Hah! Well, those are your words not mine. But yeah, the endless cost Pete faces for being Spider-Man is a key part of what makes the character great. The best stories are the ones where his two lives are intertwining and colliding all the time, forcing him to make those difficult choices. It reminds us that he’s just a normal guy trying to do what’s right — unique qualities that make him both relatable and aspirational at the same time.

Nick Lowe: To me, the most fun is the interplay between Spider-Man and Peter Parker. How what he does as Spider-Man effects the life of Peter and vice versa. Even in saving the world, the guy can’t win! I don’t know that I’d dub it an Infinity War, but it makes me infinitely nervous and on the edge of my seat, and feeling for the best character in all of fiction. And Spidey’s in good hands.

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Vince Brusio writes about comics, and writes comics. He is the long-serving Editor of PREVIEWSworld.com, the creator of PUSSYCATS, and encourages everyone to keep the faith...and keep reading comics.