Alas, poor Peter....

Before it even hit the shelves a week ago, Amazing Spider-Man #700 caused quite a stir.

That's not all that surprising: it's not every day that you kill off one of your more popular characters in a particularly horrifying way. Yet that is what Dan Slott and Marvel Comics did to Peter Parker, as they ended the historic series and prepared to launch a follow up, Superior Spider-Man, which hits stores next week.

For those who hadn't heard, the issue opens with Parker's mind trapped in the dying body of his long-time nemesis, Dr. Otto Octavius (Dr. Octopus), while his old enemy is getting accustomed to his body and friends. As Doc Ock, Peter races against time and his own failing body—even enlisting the help of other old enemies—in an attempt to reverse the process and therefore save his legacy.

He fails. Alas, Peter Parker is no more (for now, anyway) and Octavius is left, alive and sound, in Parker's body.

It's quite a bold stroke on Marvel's part and it has, understandably, been met with strong criticism from long-time readers of the franchise.

I'm on the fence with it. I've read comics for about 30 years now, but can't recall ever picking up an issue of Amazing Spider-man (although I did try out the 'Ultimate Spider-Man' series when it first started). I'm familiar with the character, of course, and all he's been through and I have always been fond of him—even if I didn't shell out a few bucks every week to follow his adventures and misadventures.

Slott's story is well done. Even though it is the end of a story arc and I sensed there were nuances I had therefore missed, I had no problem jumping in and following along. There were moments of real emotion that seeped out of the page and, even though I had read all the spoilers and knew what was going to happen, I still thought Parker would make it out in the end.

I have two problems with it. First, I didn't buy Octavius' abrupt change of heart. I understand that, as he felt his way around Peter's mind that he experienced what Parker had experienced, including the tragedies that led to his guiding philosophy of 'with great power comes great responsibility.' I just don't think Octavius would care. I don't think that would be enough to make him want to turn from his past in order to carry on Parker's legacy and become a 'Superior Spider-man.' I think he'd be more likely to be scornful of Parker's ethics and conscience.

I also think it sells Mary Jane a bit short—although one interchange between her and Octavius/Parker made me laugh out loud. She's a smart woman, and, given the history they share together, I think she'd sense something was up right away and seek help.

Perhaps I'm just a bit picky.

All that said, there is tremendous potential for new plotlines and great character building as this story develops. I have no doubt Peter Parker will return and can only hope, when that happens, that is handled in a thoughtful manner. Until then, there should be plenty of drama, excitement and more than a few laughs along the way.

 

Writer stares with glassy eyes; defies the empty page

The email I was half-expecting came last week: Unclaimed, a short story that I had previously sent out under another name, was rejected by Lightspeed Magazine.

The email was cordial enough, considering it was a standard form rejection—as if the editor was worried about hurting my feelings. He didn't have anything to worry about there. I don't think rejections are a sad thing, at all. In fact, the way I see it, a rejection should be celebrated.

They are not indications that you are not good enough. They are not suggestions that you should give up, at all. They're just an acknowledgement that whatever piece of writing you submitted is not suitable for that outlet—whether it didn't strike a chord with the editor or won't fit within the genre.

Rejections are a sign of two things: first, that you have something in common with every other writer who has ever taken quill to ink, pencil to paper, or finger to keyboard.

Second, they are proof that you are out there trying. Both of those things are important to keep in mind, particularly during the early part of your writing career, which can be an exercise in loneliness and futility. It takes as much time to find your audience as it does to find your voice.

I was expecting the rejection of Unclaimed. I wasn't all that happy with it when I sent it out. That may sound like a self-imposed justification now, but it's the truth. I had to cut so much out of it to meet the word count that a good portion of the character and back story had to be sacrificed. As a result the narrative was choppy, the characters undeveloped. I probably would have passed on it, too.

So why send it, when even I didn't think it was good enough? To get things circulating, I guess. A quick rejection from that magazine meant it was okay to send out the longer, better, version elsewhere. Plus, it had been a while since I submitted anything, and I thought I could benefit from a renewed sense of focus.

I think I'm right on both accounts. Keegan, the main character in 'Unclaimed' is a series character. I've only written a few of his short tales, so far, and have only begun to sketch the outline for his life's story in my head—and I already feel sorry for the poor guy. He may make it to his happy ending, but I don't think any of his friends will survive to enjoy it with him.

In the meantime, I will keep plugging away, working at his character and others, undaunted by the little bumps along the way. That's good advice no matter who you are or what you're pursuing: whether it's being published, finding a new job or connecting with your future husband or wife. Keep it up. There are plenty of obstacles in life. You don’t have to be one of them.

 

 

"You can get anything you want..."

"Keep your eyes open to your mercies. The man who forgets to be thankful has fallen asleep in life."

Robert Louis Stevenson

 

Thanksgiving has, for me, always been a time of reflection. I can look back at the year almost done and see what I've accomplished and prepare myself to attack what still needs to be done with a renewed vigor.

 

I can realize that despite my many failings over the previous 11 months, that I still have plenty to be thankful for: a happy, healthy family, home, job, the means to get between the two; friends who can make me laugh, provide a sounding board for my story ideas, bear my illogical rants and pretend my jokes are funny.

 

It's also a time when most of us can say: it's okay to slow down and take that time to reflect. Most of the world shuts down on Thanksgiving Day so we can all get reacquainted with the family members we don't see often enough as we eat too much and watch the Detroit Lions lose. Or it used to be, anyway. Nowadays, too many of us are looking at the clock when the turkey is pulled from the oven and the knives are sharpened—because Thanksgiving is also the traditional start to the holiday shopping season, and that season is starting earlier and earlier.

 

I've never been a part of the 'Black Friday' crowds. I've never even felt compelled to get out of bed at 4 a.m. to do much of anything—let alone push my way through throngs of sleep-deprived people battling for a cheap television. Watching those sales creep ever forward, from 5 a.m. to 4 a.m. Friday morning to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day itself makes me wonder about the priorities we have as a society, and how we are allowing corporations to carve away the sanctity of family for the sake of a few bucks. Black Friday is morphing into Gray Thursday and that makes me feel a little blue. What's next? Turkey carts to serve shoppers as they wait outside the stores?

 

Are we really that desperate for a good deal? Is the economy in such bad shape that these stores need this time to shore up their bottom lines? On both accounts, I hope not.

 

Still, this is something we can only lament and cannot change. To change it, we'd have to change ourselves. We'd have to resist the pull of the good deal—at least for a few more hours—and realize that family is indeed more important. We'd have to stay away from those stores to show them that it's not worth their while to open up that early, to send a message that their employees' time would be better spent at home cooking, eating, talking and laughing. We need to show corporate America that they should put people ahead of profit.