Scarlet Spider #1 Cover by Mark Bagley
Earlier today, Marvel Comics hosted a press conference to help spread the word on the upcoming release of the new series, Scarlet Spider, spinning out of the Spider-Man family of books. Present was series writer Chris Yost and artist Ryan Stegman, along with editors Steve Wacker and Tom Brennan. As part of the conference, Marvel revealed some new variant covers for Scarlet Spider #1, including one by Mark Bagley and a Venom version by Mike Perkins, along with some interior art from the first issue from Ryan Stegman.
For those not keeping up with Spider-Man and the events that occurred during the Spider-Island story, Scarlet Spider focuses on Kaine, who readers may remember as the clone of Peter Parker who was introduced in the 1990s Clone Saga storyline. Yost explains how Spider-Island affected Kaine, “Kaine is changed after Spider-Island. He’s no longer crazy, he doesn’t have any scars. He’s a changed man.” As part of that change and as well as the fact that some of his past, bad behavior may get him in trouble in New York City, Kaine decides to hit the road and ends up in Houston, Texas. Yost revealed that while in Houston, Kaine will have a run in with a new villain, The Salamander, a killer from Mexico, as well as the Guild of Assassins, who were first introduced in the pages of X-Men, related to Gambit. Yost also hinted that future villains maybe related to Kraven, in reaction to Kaine’s involvement in the Grim Hunt storyline that took place in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man.
While Kaine and the Scarlet Spider aren’t new characters or concepts, like with Venom earlier this year, this is another move by the Spider-Man editorial office to create new characters and stories from older material. Wacker elaborated, “I like that we’ve made some of the concepts that came out of the Spider-Man book in the 1990s, that have been maligned for so long, we’ve brought them back to the book in interesting ways.”
Scarlet Spider #1 Cover by Mike Perkins
Creating new characters and villains, in a “new to the Marvel U.” city like Houston was one of the things that attracted artist Ryan Stegman to the project. “Getting to design a bunch of new characters is a dream come true to me,” said Stegman, “Nothing is off limits because we get to make it all up.” Yost added that, “With the location being in Houston, we can do whatever we want. We can create a new supporting cast, create new villains…the location really opened the world.”
So how are Yost and Stegman making the Scarlet Spider, set in Houston work? They have a trip to Houston planned for next month to do location scouting, but for the first few issues, they’ve relied on Google and the fans. Stegman explained that by using Google Image Search and Google Earth, he has been able to get 3-D views of locations, such as the Bank of America center where a scene occurs during the first issue, and get the details down. Yost also added that since the book was announced and the location was revealed to be Houston, fans have been writing in with tips and information about Houston. In terms of establishing the city, Wacker compared the book to Starman, and how it made Opal City a character, something he hopes that they’ll be able to do within Scarlet Spider.
When discussing Scarlet Spider as well as the recent Venom series, Wacker explains that what makes the characters and series stand along is the art. Much like putting Tony Moore on Venom, Wacker felt Stegman was the right fit for Scarlet Spider because the look of the character and the book “needed an artist that had a different sensibility.” Yost added that in addition to the over 30 costume designs that Stegman submitted when they started the book, Stegman draws some of the best background characters in all of comics. Wacker sung the praises of Stegman even further, “He’s so good that I’m sure Bendis and Brevoort will steal him from me.”
Scarlet Spider #1 hits comic stores in January, 2012. Here’s a sneak peek at an interior page with art by Ryan Stegman:
Scarlet Spider #1 Interiors by Ryan Stegman
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That Stegman drawing of the original Scarlet Spider costume is amazing. I’m sure I’m in the minority, but I’ll miss it.
no way, man. That blue hoodie is iconic. I’m hoping they’ll throw it in somewhere, somehow, like they did with that point one teaser image!
Ooh, the Salamander. Gotta be honest, that sounds kind of awful. And Kaine is just completely the opposite of interesting. Not for me, I’ll pass on this one.
Stegman is so damned good, I can’t wait for this.
Probably helps I have no history with Kaine or really the Scarlet Spider at all so I can go in without any preconceptions
yea i was like 8 years old when i read the clone saga, so i LOVED it. I’m a bigger scarlet spider man fan, than i am a spider-man fan.. if that makes sense. That hoodie is probably my favorite thing ever!
hope you aren’t going to be disappointed, no hoodie on the new costume.
i will undoubtedly be disappointed, but it won’t stop me from having fun with this book!
Awesome! I’m from Texas so this rocks.
I don’t know anything about this guy or his backstory, it’s all new to me.
But if this guy was originally Crazy Peter Clone, and now he’s just well, Peter Clone, what makes him unique? I don’t see what makes this guy stand out if he lost his one of his defining traits, even if it is pretty reviled.
he doesn’t have the same moral barometer as peter. He will kill if he has to, plus he’s been a nomad ever since the clone saga so he has all that experience he can bring to the table as a character
Hopefully it turns out as awesome as the new Venom, but I won’t be personally offended if it doesn’t. I’m always up for expanding the Spidey-verse.
I lived in Houston Texas for 25 years and I am quite proud of that city. It goes without saying that I am excited for this book.
Why, oh why, do I love the Scarlet Spider so much? There is no logic, only passion.
Yost and Stegman are quickly becoming two of my faves. Definitely looking forward to a fun ride here.
casey, we are best friends. Just thought you should know. HUGE scarlet spider fan. That hoodie! Those big eyes! He is the megablocks to spider-man’s legos… and i will never get enough of it for some reason!
The Hydrox to Pete’s Oreo’s!
oh jeez, i can’t beat that, because i can’t think of a generic for “dunkaroo’s”
Ha! Excellent.
I’m going to have so many copies of the first issue with all of these good variant covers. That Bagley drew one (after drawing the original Scarlet Spider so amazingly well) is spectacular.
I thought the Scarlet Spider was Ben Reilly. Who’s Kaine?
I believe he’s a different clone of Peter Parker. The Jackal’s first failed attempt, according to wikipedia.
@player1 indeed.
I like both of these creators and I’m looking forward to this. The Point One preview was a little heavy on the voiceover, but we’ll see how the series looks. I’m hoping for good things.
Yost won me over on his Red Robin run, so I’m trying the first issue just for him… I’m willing to make the jump if it hooks me in.
Didn’t Kaine die when he disguise himself as spidey while fighting Kraven and was reborn as Tarantula?
Yeah but the events of Spider-Island changed that, he got “cured”.
Story of Spider-Island was great, the art though *turns his head and pukes*…
@kill Thanks for the info man
I don’t know if I am going to pick this one up, the who spider man clone saga was one of the reasons I quit reading comics when I first collected them years ago.
The creative team looks great but the character and concept don’t appeal at all. Sadly for the team, I think this could be an early cancellation.
Not trying to be a jerk, but has Mark Bagley ever seen the moon? Unless he started this drawing as a Moon Knight cover… But seriously, that’s not what the moon looks like. How hard is it to get reference for a giant rock floating in the sky?
must have been the camera he was using! *drums*.. scratch that. No drums.
I see a bad moon rising.
Wow you are right that is an awful moon
This my most anticipated series for 2012 so far.