In a lengthy interview with Comic Book Resources, Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott has talked about both "Spider-Island" and the future of the book now that the story has come to a close. Below are a few excerpts, but be sure to click on the link below to head on over to the site where you can read about where "Spider-Island" sits in the Marvel Universe timeline as well as some new details on the future of Eddie Brock, Kaine and Madame Web and get a behind the scenes look at the creation of many elements of the story arc.
On The Survival Of The Jackal At The End Of "Spider-Island": I'd say he's just as cautious as he is crazy. Look, if you've got cloning technology, why not? If you were the Jackal, would you ever send the real you to hang out with other super villains? These are very touchy guys [Laughs]. Doctor Doom might kill you if he had a bad sandwich that day. So if I'm the Jackal, I never send the real me. I stay back at home and catch up on all my episodes of "House."
On The New Status Of Spider-Man's Secret Identity: It gave the book a way to restore Spidey's secret identity after he revealed it during "Civil War." Basically, when the "Brand New Day" team came on "Amazing Spider-Man" what was going to happen in "One More Day" and what Mephisto was going to do was explained to us. The BND team was all of one mind that our take on that was that Mephisto was basically tugging one thread and all the other things that happened all happened for different reasons; reasons that could happen within the framework of things we already knew about Spidey's world.
We then tired to figure out the exact way in which the spell worked. We also tried to make a list of all the characters that would still remember that Pete is Spider-Man after Doc Strange's spell went into effect. But the list just went on and on and got really confusing. It included several heroes, some of Spidey's villains, and anyone who went to "House of M" and saw Peter Parker as a wrestler in an alternate universe -- and on and on and on...
It was Tom Brevoort who suggested, "No one remembers." That was clean, simple, and a lot easier to explain to all the readers -- both old and new. Then you had to work out what happens next. Like the second you do the spell the Watcher knows. Madame Web has to instantly know. If you're someone like Jackal and you're still alive and growing all these clones, of course you know.
The spell did force us to ask some questions though. Like can people figure out Spidey's identity and what are the limitations of the spell? So it became confusing and we wanted to made things simple and easy to understand again. So now the rule is simple again: No one remembers, but now they can learn.
On Whether We'll See Peter Parker And Mary Jane Rekindle Their Romance: Hmm...That's all I'm saying. [Laughs] There are so many people who want them back together and so many people that don't. It's fun to see them all go, "Augghh!" And remember, she didn't tell Peter she loved him. She whispered it on the wind -- while fighting giant spiders that were climbing up the Empire State Building. That's how you tell someone you love them in the Mighty Marvel Manner!
On The Next Big Spider-Man Event: Our next "big" Spidey story is in 2012 and it's an adventure with Doc Ock titled "Ends of the Earth." It's the big Sinister Six story that we've been building and building and building. We saw hints of it all the way back at the start of "Big Time" in "Amazing" #648 and recently Doc Ock has been on a massive victory lap in the Marvel Universe. He's bested Iron Man. He totally punked Reed Richards. He broke into the Baxter Building and stole some things while making everyone in the FF chase fake zombie pirates. Plus he pulled one over on Hank Pym in "Avengers Academy." So right there you're looking at three of the biggest brains in the Marvel Universe who all just got pantsed by Otto Octavius -- on his way towards his biggest master plan ever.
Back in "Amazing" #600, we learned that Otto is dying. In "Marvel time" he was given months to live. We're reaching the point where he's only got weeks. So he's got one last shot and Otto isn't going to be content at taking over New York or pulling one over on the scientific community. He's making the BIG grab. He's got one shot at a master plan with the Sinister Six and he's going for THE WORLD! And to stop him Spider-Man will have to take their fight to... "THE ENDS OF THE EARTH!"
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