I am not so cynical to think that the goal is to drive fans to anger constantly. I think it is a numbers game where it is easier to be financially rewarded for undoing a marriage, killing a character, or face/heel turns.

Now that Marvel is owned by Disney the risk for failure is greater. Sales dwindle and suddenly Marvel looks a lot like Lucasarts, an IP clearinghouse. Of course the opposite may occur and they may get a cash injection. The motives and machinations are hard to discern at this point.

Difference with this and Superior is that superior was anger about the "death" of Peter Parker. This is a reaction to a lack of information causing a change to look like a face/heel turn. The former is useful as it shows attachment to a character. The latter looks like poor or rushed writing.

@andhros:

I guess I'm a bit cynical since I've been burned by cautious optimism a few times. Lucasarts can be very useful if Disney uses them properly. Especially with a new Star Wars movie coming out. I'd personally like another Rogue Squadron game. That being said I'm not sure how much of the comics is Disney's input. As for OMD I'm pretty sure that happened before Disney.

@andhros: I don't think that the goal is total fan anger, just fan tweaking. It's like jabbing the older fans with a stick and then running away laughing. As noted sales were good on Superior Spider-Man so it didn't really matter a darn if a few fans on the net were angry, marvel could laugh all the way to the bank. I think part of the story strategy is to anger the old fans enough to get them talking so maybe newer fans will take a look and hopefully stay, but ultimately I don't think marvel cares about fan reaction on the net so long as sales are good. In fact I think they enjoy a little anger. Certainly stuff like AvX wasn't designed to do anything but divide the fanbase and get us all screaming at each other. I often think that about OMD/BND as well.

Shame we cant say this or we just get labeled haters without a good reason >_>
People don't hate on Slott because hes Slott...if that was the case this board would still just be full of people commenting "har har Dan Slutt"! Get over yourselves we can dislike something and have a valid reason like quoted above

@baneofdemon22: Let me fix that "shes the best addition to the Spiderman universe SINCE ARACELY's introduction in Scarlet Spider"

I know it really sucks that people are labeled haters even when valid criticism's have been made. I know there might be some people who are haters but it seems too be a generalization about anyone who doesn't think Dan Slott is the greatest thing since sliced bread.

I wish people would stop responding to the positive Spider-man sales with the same old, "High sales doesn't equal quality... Justin Beiber, etc, etc, etc." We all know that sometimes things that aren't the greatest artistic quality get the greatest views. But at the same time, just because something sales well, that doesn't mean it doesn't have quality. The one's who usually throw out that statement use it as a blanket statement for popular things they don't like. It's an arrogant stance that says their tastes are far superior to the mortal man. Guess what, some things that sell well are really good. U2, Elvis, The Rolling Stones, and The Beatles are all great musicians that sold a lot of albums. The Avengers, and the majority of other Marvel Studio movies, sell really well and are pretty good movies. @danslott's run on Spider-man is pretty good. It got me back to reading Spider-man. It's lazy and arrogant to say that just because you don't like it and it sales a lot means it's low quality.

@mrgreenlantern: I'm sorry I don't know who that is, so you could be right! I got really bored of that title and dropped it.

Because I haven't seen someone write Spider-Man so poorly since Spider-Man 3. Yeah, I said it.

So, you prefer Sins Past and OMD instead?

@master_of_suprise: Forgive me, those were two disparate ideas I posted. I think that Marvel has a great deal of autonomy post acquisition. Disney makes its profit with the movies and the games. These two mediums could continue long after the comics are ended. I was suggesting that if the overall sales of comics continues to decline then Disney may decide to cut overhead(layoffs). Marvel would then become an IP clearinghouse with minimal personnel and other costs. Maybe they release a movie/game tie-in. Probably they release a super-sized annual and occasional graphic novels. I am not certain of this as Disney could go in a different direction and inject capital.

@mark_stephen:That sounds more or less correct. I disagree that the target is older fans. I think it is passionate fans. I have read quite a few posts from claimed "new" fans that would suggest they are just as vocal in their desires.

He is a mediocre writer imo. His characterization is uninspired and stories are nothing short of special. He sets up interesting events yet fails to keep the suspense in the end. I still can enjoy his writing however. Just my 2 cents.

Might be just me, but Slott interacting with his critics on comic forums is kind of entertaining.

@symbioticspider-man:

This information cost me 12 chimichangas and the source is not exactly reliable, however, seeing as the primary source of information relating to Sins Past is Norman Osborn I think I trust my "mouthy" informant a little more.

Norman was always aware that Harry was weak. Even before the drug fiasco. He had setup a backdoor operation with fertility clinics. They would attempt to implant an Osborn heir into unsuspecting parents throughout the globe. Unfortunately for Norman the success rate was abysmal and they would switch to different donors lest the clinics success rate drop. My merc informant is aware of only one success with 2 implantations.

While Gwen Stacy was in Europe she donated ova to a cousin who had become barren after a battle with leukemia. During one of the extractions a clerical error/human stupidity/hand of fate caused them to insert "goblin seeds." This created problems when it was discovered that two of the zygotes had implanted on the uterine wall. They could scrap their only success, not really an option, or figure out a way to make it work. After several "counseling sessions" they convinced Gwen that she had a rendezvous with Norman and these children were of natural origins. This in contrast to the fact that they gestated closer to 5 months.

The rest of the story plays out the same. My source is not sure how long the program lasted or if their are other Osborns created later. I can not reveal the source for fear that he's "gonna do somethin' horrible to me."

@andhros: Check your PM. I left a message for you.

Dan Slott's shitty Amazing Spider-Man run makes OMD and Sin's Past look like masterpieces. The Amazing Spider-Man #5 is one of the worst comics ever. Like, of ALL time.

@spideyivydaredevilfan26 Just read your review man, it was really good, spot on.

@zarius: Because everyone who disagrees with you or limes what you don't like is what, subpar? Because I like what you don't I'm just one of the classless sheep out there liking what the zeitgeist tells me to like? But if I fell in line with you I would be one of the elite, right? Next time, why don't you continue a discussion with logic and common sense and not using crass language and imagery... It makes you come across as angry, small, petty, and not capable of coming up with decent arguments.

I'll leave you with a quote from Tommy Boy, one of the funniest movies ever (unless you disagree, then it's stupid). "You are a smug, unhappy little man. I don't like you and I probably never will."

People each have their own opinion, but the impressions I got based on the reviews and the comments is that, for the most part, those who don't like anything Slott writes possess at least one of the following characters:

- Lack imagination and long-term thinking

- Are unable to accept any change to the status quo and anything that differs from "their ideal" portrayal of Spider-Man

- Are overzealous, overreacting and overcritical just for the sake of it instead of having compelling arguments

- Hate on Slott because it's Slott and nothing else

Obviously there are exceptions and there are some solid arguments here and there, but nothing to justify all the overreactions and the hate. No offense to Slott detractors, I don't mean to offend anyone or sound like I'm a big Slott mark (i'm not) but this is the conclusion that I have come to based on all the comments that I have seen, and while as they say, they are each entitled to their opinions, me personally, these types of opinions, when backed by the above mentioned attributes, are types of opinions that I will never take seriously or ever take into consideration, and neither will Slott himself or Marvel.

Sales aren't an indicator of quality, some people just buy his stuff to complain or because they want the entire spidey collection or they're just checking it out.

@knightsofdarkness2: Most people buy comics to collect; not to read. And a lot of people buy comics to look at the artwork and let their imaginations run wild. As long as the artwork is great, people will buy whatever they want, and the sales reflect. While I can't say too much about the dialog Slott's produced, I will respect that he knows how to direct the artist to create a visual that captures the readers interest. Storywise, I just wished that he would have used Betty Brant and Jennifer Walters(Human form) in place of Mary Jane and the Black Widow and Jessica Drew in place of the Black Cat as alternates rather than to make time out of character, which gets to be very depressing. Considering that Carlie Cooper is now gone, I would love to see Slott use Tigra in her place as Greer Grant: NYPD Crime Scene Investigator and close friend of Peter Parker/Spider-Man.

I don't hate him, In fact his stories are fun to read.
It's no masterpiece, though.

But I guess we need variation. He has been at this for too long, and it's always the same thing.
"Oh spidey's life will never be the same after this bla bla"
randow story, and then team up story (I do like those, though), some spider event, randow story again, team up, and so it goes. I And ramos art. Urgh... At first I thought it was even kinda nice, but after seeing it soo much it just gets... Ugly.
Again, I think we need variation. I'd take any other artist that worked on slott run over ramos.

My opnion is that his run was reeeaaally great until Spider-Island.
After that It kinda lost quality.
And this first arc of ASM sucked a loooot.

And as much as I love trolling, I think he goes too far sometimes, but ya know, whatever.

I prefer Yost, though.
But whatever, my Spider-Gwen is getting her own book! :p

It seems that opinions on Slott's ASM are very polarizing. He really doesn't deserve the hate he gets with that being said I do have problems with it. There are definitely things I like with the direction he took with Peter's character. I haven't read everything from slott, just from Big Time to the current storyline. But I like the idea of Peter being well off financially working in a job that actually suits his scientific mindset though I liked Peter Parker as a teacher more, though that's just personal preference.

Also he provides engaging action-packed stories. What I don't like is that a lot of Peter's essential supporting cast seems to be replaced or has had very limited panel time. The thing I loved about SPider-man was his personal relationships and close ties to his family and close friends. Characters like Mary Jane, Aunt May, Harry Osborn were great. A lot of the new characters I did not care for and the only ones that stand out for me are Max Modell and Anna maria.

I'd actually like it if Dan eventually made May, Mary Jane, and Flash have more prominent roles in future spider-man arcs. All in all I have had mixed reactions with his asm stories. The only arcs that I really enjoyed were Spider-Island and Ends of the Earth. Superior Spider-man was great and thought the issues were consistently very good and for the most part a very satisfying ending.

I did not care for the direction with these most recent issues and will most likely wait for the next arc.

Idk what's goin on here?!! YAAAAA KE KE KE KE!1!

LOOOOL the first half of Spider-Man's page is all about Slott. Makes sense though, he's a hack with no imagination, has no understanding of peter and his cast.