Nerd Rage:Who is the new Spider-man?

Now that Ultimate Peter Parker is dead one would expect that Ultimate Spider-Man is over.  It would seem that the fat lady has not sung quite yet. Marvel has a new Ultimate Spider-man waiting in the wings, ready with a black and red costume.  In every interview I’ve read the writers seem dedicated to treating the character’s death with respect. I’m usually not a fan of legacy characters and Spider-Man isn’t a “mantle” like Captain America, or the Flash, but I’m willing to give it a shot. This story’s success all depends who is under the mask of the next webslinger.

Bendis has said that the readers will love the new Spidey as much as they loved Peter. If you ask me that’s a pretty tall order. He’s also stated that Peter’s death will mean as much to new Spider-man  as  Uncle Ben’s did to Peter. So my theory…

 

The new friendly neighborhood web slinger is going to be Kenny “Kong” McFarlane. Why Kong? Well Kong has had an

He may be chubby but web swinging burns calories fast.

interesting role in the Ultimate Spider-Man Mythos. In the origin issue he actually killed the spider that bit Peter. Although initially a bully he notices the changes in Peter and figures out his identity. He comes to respect Peter and befriends him, while idolizing Spider-Man to the point of hero worship.  The character wishes Peter would confide his identity to him so he could help Spider-Man. His most notable act is when he starts a fight with federal agents who want to arrest Kitty Pride for being a mutant. That the last time we see Kenny, and Kitty states his parents moved to another state to get away from mutants. Its a rather unceremonious departure for a character who may or may not be an author avatar. (I swear he looks just like Bendis!)

If the new Spider-man is just some random dude than it will be harder for readers to invest in him emotionally. Imagine it. Kong is miserable shipped away from all of his friends and than sees his buddy die on television. He wishes he could have helped, so with a fair amount of survivor guilt he takes up the motto “with great power comes great responsibility” and fights the good fight.  I’d read a Spider-Man comic staring Kong. You could still use the same supporting cast. Kong could fill the role of plucky underdog every man hero well. I don’t know how he’ll get powers. Maybe he will use mutant growth hormone, or find Peter’s old equipment. Thus is my prediction make of it what you will.

In any situation it beats a clone.

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