For decades, comic books have gone through major shakeups, with varying degrees of fan support and outrage as popular characters’ fates are revealed. The social media age is only enhancing the controversy over Spider-Man’s alter ego, Peter Parker, over whom a firestorm has erupted in recent days. Why? SPOILER ALERT: Be warned, major details ahead … Marvel revealed that Parker will die, and the role of Spider-Man will be taken over by his archenemy, Doctor Octopus, after “Amazing Spider-Man” #700. This chapter marks the end of one of the most popular comic book series of all time after 50 years, and Parker’s death is not sitting well with some fans. All parties involved maintain that the changes are permanent, and next month, the saga begins anew with the release of “The Superior Spider-Man” #1. Doc, Otto Octavius, will step into the Spidey suit then. Otto believes that with the combination of his intelligence and Parker’s inherited memories and spider powers, he can be an uber-Spider-Man. He can live Parker’s life better than Peter could – from fighting crime to getting back together with on-again, off-again girlfriend Mary Jane Watson. When issue #700 was leaked early, fan reaction went into overdrive, with a few posted death threats directed at the issue’s writer, Dan Slott. Slott reacted on his Twitter and Facebook, writing: “Reality check: There is NO such thing as a ‘funny death threat.’ Especially if you TAG someone in it.” CNN spoke to Slott, who did say fans have become more civil over time, and to Marvel editor Stephen Wacker about the controversial comic. Follow the link to read their interview with Slott .
The lifelong Spidey fan picks which of the hero’s foes he favors. By Josh Wigler, with reporting by Josh Horowitz Andrew Garfield in “The Amazing Spider-Man” Photo: Marvel / Columbia Pictures Spider-Man does not have it easy. Web-slinging, wall-crawling and spider-sense aside, all of the gifts in Peter Parker’s utility belt have to come together perfectly if he’s ever to stand a chance against his adversaries … and believe us, he has many of them. In his film career alone, your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man has gone web to who-knows-what against the likes of Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus, Sandman and Venom. “The Amazing Spider-Man” adds another baddie to that storied list: the Lizard, the reptilian freak of science played by actor Rhys Ifans in the Marc Webb-directed reboot. Though Ifans and others involved with “Spider-Man” would caution you not to label Lizard as a villain — in fairness, he’s born from a good place, as his human alter-ego Doctor Curt Connor becomes the scaly menace only after attempting a revolutionary breakthrough in regenerative medicine — there’s no doubt that the clawed creature has it out for the kid swinging around Manhattan in red and blue tights. But whom will Spider-Man go up against when the inevitable “Amazing” sequel flies into theaters in 2014? Speaking with MTV News, star Andrew Garfield kept his lips sealed as far as revealing any information, but the lifelong Spidey fan was considerably more forthcoming when it came time to name his favorites of the hero’s sinister enemies. “I love all of them. I like Elektro, he’s one of the ones I’m very into,” said the actor. “I really like the [Green] Goblin, obviously, and I love Doc Ock. I think I like Doc Ock especially because of what Alfred Molina did [with the character in ‘Spider-Man 2’]. I don’t know; he made that so memorable and kind of profound, somehow.” One Spider-Man villain that Garfield has a harder time swallowing is Kraven the Hunter, the big game hunter who comes after the arachnid-friendly hero for sport. “Oh man. Kraven, that campy lion hunter,” he laughed when the villain was brought up, before finally confessing, “I like Kraven. I like Kraven a lot.” Check out everything we’ve got on “The Amazing Spider-Man.” For breaking news and previews of the latest comic book movies — updated around the clock — visit SplashPage.MTV.com . Related Videos MTV Rough Cut: ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’
Breaking Sports Video
