Who is the American Son? That's the first question that arises after scanning the teaser cover for a forthcoming three-issue story arc of The Amazing Spider-Man, due May 27, that Marvel Comics floated to the fanboys Wednesday.
Who cares? Well, that's another question.
The two questions sometimes go together in the world of comics fandom, where teasers often turn out to be teases and not much else. At least that's what we told Amazing Spider-Man's amiable editor, Steve Wacker. But he didn't budge.
"Look," he cracked in an e-mail after the teaser photo broke, "you tell me when the new Kindle is coming out and I'll tell you who's in the costume. You'll get your answer in issue No. 595."
What would DC Comics' superhero detective Batman say? That it looks like Captain America got into Iron Man's suit? That Iron Man's evil doppelganger, Iron Patriot, visible in the background, is none other than evil mogul Norman Osborn, otherwise known as Spidey's nemesis Green Goblin, who is spearheading a
Dark Avengers unit? He'd probably say stuff like that.
So would Wacker.
"Basically, he's Iron Man-meets-Captain America via Glenn Beck," the editor said.
Whoever it is, it seems legit to say that Amazing Spider-Man's
"American Son" story arc is yet another fine exploration of geopolitical power and pop culture from Marvel Comics, filtered through the critical yet always cool medium of eye-candy graphics. Given our current global economic and geopolitical tangles, analyzing the real slippage of American empire through head cases like Norman Osborn suits
Wacker's unit just fine. As long as it suits the readers.
"The main story of 'American Son' will look at what one man can do to stand up against a system built to destroy him," Wacker said. "Whether or not, it's a timely story is up to the individual readers. Come for the Spidey action, stay for the political metaphors!"
Image courtesy Marvel Comics
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