Posted in: Comics | Tagged:


Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

When Marvel Comics first began publishing Spider-Man, the story played out in real time. A year for Peter Parker was a year for the readers. Soon he was graduated from high school and off to college. At this point, his timeline slowed down to a crawl, the more traditional suspended time for telling comic book stories. But what if it had not?

Also at the time, Stan Lee was asking questions as to how much of the world Marvel comics should reflect in its comic books. Such as the Vietnam War. It was certainly mentioned but it did not become integral to the character's lives.

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

Decades later, in a 2011 fanfic comic, James Stokoe would wonder what if Spider-Man had gone to Vietnam…

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

Well maybe not entirely unpublishable. In tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 by Chip Zdarsky, he seems to take the cudgel up, with a Spider-Man living his life in real time, set in 1966. And a Peter Parker wondering if his great power/great responsibulity credo means he needs to sign up…

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

This is is marked difference to the way Parker was originally portrayed by Diko and Lee in the earliest of days.

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

One of the cleverest tricks here is using Mark Bagley as artist, who instantly brings back a post-McFarlane nineties Spider-Man – and Ultimate Spider-Man – flavour to the comic book, makingvthis reinvention of Spider-Man fit right in line with other stabs in that direction.As Iron Man also gets involved with the war…

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)Vietnam being the original source of tension that created Iron Man back in the day.

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

Notes of Civil War emerge with the idea that all superheroes should be drafted for Vietnam.

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

And even a cynical stab at Captain America – which gets a lot more cynical by the end of the first issue.

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

We also see Flash Thompson going to Vietnam play out rather differently than the original version too…

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

Although not everything changes…

Would Superheroes Be Drafted in the Vietnam War? Tomorrow's Spider-Man: Life Story #1 Asks the Question (Spoilers)

This is looking like it may turn out to be one of my favourte Spider-Man stories ever. Because if, with great power comes great responsibility, there should always be great consequences as well. One issue in, it's looking good…

Spider-Man: Life Story #1 is published tomorrw by Marvel Comics.

 

SPIDER-MAN LIFE STORY #1 (OF 6)
(W) Chip Zdarsky (A) Mark Bagley (CA) Chip Zdarsky
In 1962, in AMAZING FANTASY #15, 15-year-old Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider and became the Amazing Spider-Man! Fifty-seven years have passed in the real world since that event – so what would have happened if the same amount of time passed for Peter as well?
A special high-end limited series that's a part of the celebration of Marvel's 80th anniversary, SPIDER-MAN: LIFE STORY combines the talents of Chip Zdarsky (SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN, MARVEL 2-IN-ONE) and Mark Bagley (AMAZING SPIDER-MAN, ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN) to tell the entire history of Spider-Man from beginning to end, set against the key events of the decades through which he lived!
In this first oversized issue, when Flash Thompson is drafted to serve during the Vietnam War, Spidey must weigh the question of where his responsibility truly lies! Rated T In Shops: Mar 20, 2019 SRP: $4.99


Enjoyed this? Please share on social media!

Stay up-to-date and support the site by following Bleeding Cool on Google News today!

Rich JohnstonAbout Rich Johnston

Founder of Bleeding Cool. The longest-serving digital news reporter in the world, since 1992. Author of The Flying Friar, Holed Up, The Avengefuls, Doctor Who: Room With A Deja Vu, The Many Murders Of Miss Cranbourne, Chase Variant. Lives in South-West London, works from Blacks on Dean Street, shops at Piranha Comics. Father of two. Political cartoonist.
twitterfacebookinstagramwebsite
Comments will load 20 seconds after page. Click here to load them now.