Spider-Man: Chapter One
Encyclopedia
Spider-Man: Chapter One is a comic book
limited series
starring Spider-Man
published by Marvel Comics
for 13 issues (#1-12, with a #0 added between #6 and #7) from December 1998 to October 1999. The entire series was written and drawn by John Byrne.
and Steve Ditko
and complained that the original 1960s stories did not require any updating at all. For his part, Byrne has said that the series was intended to be more along the lines of the Heroes Reborn
event, in that it was supposed to be a new interpretation of the character designed to draw in new readers. According to Byrne, when criticism of the series began, Marvel started insisting that it was, in fact, intended to replace the original Lee-Ditko stories, fueling the controversy.
The series disregarded the then recently finished Untold Tales of Spider-Man
series, rendering its stories non-canonical. In some ways similar to Chapter One, Untold Tales also featured stories from Spider-Man's early career, but instead of replacing the original comics they added to them, telling stories which occurred at the same time. Untold Tales was popular with many of the same fans who criticised Byrne's limited series.
However Chapter One was a modest sales success (possibly because it was sold only through the direct market
, which limited its exposure to potential new readers), and it finished out its run as planned, even adding a #0 in April 1999 between #6 and 7.
Since Byrne left the Spider-Man titles, his successors have shied away from making any references to the series, and according to the Official Index to the Marvel Universe it is now Marvel's stance that the original stories have regained their canonical status.
A postscript of sorts to the series can be found in the success of the Ultimate Spider-Man
series Marvel launched a year later in 2000. Yet another attempt to retell Spider-Man's origins, the newer series sidestepped the canon
/non-canon continuity question by setting its stories in an entirely new universe. Ultimate Spider-Man by Bill Jemas
, Brian Michael Bendis
and Mark Bagley
was a critical sales success which continued to be published until the year 2009, at which point it was replaced by a "sequel" series, Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man
written by Bendis with art by David Lafuente
.
Yet another retelling of early Spider-Man stories came in 2004 with the launch of Marvel Age
Spider-Man (later retitled Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
). This title, which is aimed at younger readers, also retells many of Lee and Ditko's stories (as Chapter One did), though the series is clearly meant to be set outside mainstream Marvel continuity.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
limited series
Limited series
A limited series is a comic book series with a set number of installments. A limited series differs from an ongoing series in that the number of issues is determined before production and it differs from a one shot in that it is composed of multiple issues....
starring Spider-Man
Spider-Man
Spider-Man is a fictional Marvel Comics superhero. The character was created by writer-editor Stan Lee and writer-artist Steve Ditko. He first appeared in Amazing Fantasy #15...
published by Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
for 13 issues (#1-12, with a #0 added between #6 and #7) from December 1998 to October 1999. The entire series was written and drawn by John Byrne.
Reception
The comic was controversial. Some fans objected to Byrne's perceived tampering with the classic Spider-Man stories produced by his creators Stan LeeStan Lee
Stan Lee is an American comic book writer, editor, actor, producer, publisher, television personality, and the former president and chairman of Marvel Comics....
and Steve Ditko
Steve Ditko
Stephen J. "Steve" Ditko is an American comic book artist and writer best known as the artist co-creator, with Stan Lee, of the Marvel Comics heroes Spider-Man and Doctor Strange....
and complained that the original 1960s stories did not require any updating at all. For his part, Byrne has said that the series was intended to be more along the lines of the Heroes Reborn
Heroes Reborn
"Heroes Reborn" was a 1996-1997 crossover story arc among comic-book series published by the American company Marvel Comics. During this one-year, multi-title story arc, Marvel temporarily outsourced the production of several of its most famous comic books to the studios of its popular former...
event, in that it was supposed to be a new interpretation of the character designed to draw in new readers. According to Byrne, when criticism of the series began, Marvel started insisting that it was, in fact, intended to replace the original Lee-Ditko stories, fueling the controversy.
The series disregarded the then recently finished Untold Tales of Spider-Man
Untold Tales of Spider-Man
Untold Tales of Spider-Man is an American comic book series starring Spider-Man published by Marvel Comics for 26 issues from September, 1995 to October, 1997....
series, rendering its stories non-canonical. In some ways similar to Chapter One, Untold Tales also featured stories from Spider-Man's early career, but instead of replacing the original comics they added to them, telling stories which occurred at the same time. Untold Tales was popular with many of the same fans who criticised Byrne's limited series.
However Chapter One was a modest sales success (possibly because it was sold only through the direct market
Direct market
The direct market is the dominant distribution and retail network for North American comic books. It consists of one dominant distributor and the majority of comics specialty stores, as well as other retailers of comic books and related merchandise...
, which limited its exposure to potential new readers), and it finished out its run as planned, even adding a #0 in April 1999 between #6 and 7.
Since Byrne left the Spider-Man titles, his successors have shied away from making any references to the series, and according to the Official Index to the Marvel Universe it is now Marvel's stance that the original stories have regained their canonical status.
A postscript of sorts to the series can be found in the success of the Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man was a superhero comic book series that was published by Marvel Comics from 2000 to 2009. The series is a modernized re-imagining of Marvel's long-running Spider-Man comic book franchise as part of its Ultimate Marvel imprint...
series Marvel launched a year later in 2000. Yet another attempt to retell Spider-Man's origins, the newer series sidestepped the canon
Canon (fiction)
In the context of a work of fiction, the term canon denotes the material accepted as "official" in a fictional universe's fan base. It is often contrasted with, or used as the basis for, works of fan fiction, which are not considered canonical...
/non-canon continuity question by setting its stories in an entirely new universe. Ultimate Spider-Man by Bill Jemas
Bill Jemas
Bill Jemas is an American media entrepreneur, writer and editor. He is a former vice president of Marvel Comics, and a founding partner at 360ep, a media management firm.-Early life:...
, Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis
Brian Michael Bendis is an American comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim for his self-published, Image Comics and Marvel Comics work, and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics, with his books selling consistently highly for over a...
and Mark Bagley
Mark Bagley
Mark Bagley is an American comic book artist. He has worked for Marvel Comics and DC Comics on such titles as The Amazing Spider-Man, Thunderbolts, New Warriors, and Ultimate Spider-Man.- Early life and career :...
was a critical sales success which continued to be published until the year 2009, at which point it was replaced by a "sequel" series, Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man
Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man is a comic book series published by Marvel Comics that debuted in August 2009 as part of the relaunch of Ultimate Marvel under the new "Ultimate Comics" imprint. It serves as a continuation of Ultimate Spider-Man, as well as an all-new series...
written by Bendis with art by David Lafuente
David Lafuente
David Lafuente is a Spanish-born comic book artist. As of 2009 he works for Marvel Comics as the artist for Ultimate Comics: Spider-Man. He currently resides in London.-Career:Lafuente was discovered by Marvel Editor C.B...
.
Yet another retelling of early Spider-Man stories came in 2004 with the launch of Marvel Age
Marvel Age
Marvel Adventures is an imprint of Marvel Comics intended for younger audiences, including small children. Unlike the standard comics published by Marvel, which often take place in story arcs spanning several issues, each Marvel Adventures comic tells a standalone story.The idea was initially...
Spider-Man (later retitled Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man is a Marvel Comics comic book series intended for all ages, especially children, that ran for 61 issues from May 2005 through May 2010. The Marvel Age Spider-Man stories were based on early issues that Stan Lee wrote in the 1960s...
). This title, which is aimed at younger readers, also retells many of Lee and Ditko's stories (as Chapter One did), though the series is clearly meant to be set outside mainstream Marvel continuity.