BY Led Black (@Led_Black)

Photography by Paul Lomax (@PaulLomaxPhoto)

Did you know that your friendly neighborhood superhero Peter Parker was killed last year? And no I am not trying to make a cheap joke about the Broadway play. No, the web-slinger that has been around since 1962 is no longer with us. Well, sort of. The Peter Parker of the “Ultimate” series of Marvel comics, which exists in a parallel universe and made it’s debut in the year 2000, met his demise after a heroic face-off with the Green Goblin.

Not too worry though, soon after a phoenix rose from the ashes named Miles Morales. The half-black, half-latino new Spidey is very similar to his predecessor; he is a super smart teenager bit by a radioactive spider trying to come to grips with his newfound powers. This is classic Marvel updated for a new generation. While Miles Morales has been widely accepted, some in the far right have been screaming bloody murder. The pathetic provocateur, Glenn Beck, even had the temerity to insinuate that Michelle Obama was behind the changing of the guard.

Recently, Marvel’s Editor-in-Chief, Axel Alonso, sat down with us and talked about comics, change and the first lady.

Q: So the question I have is….how did that call with Michelle Obama go?

A: (Laughs) I wish I were on Michelle Obama’s speed dial. Contrary to what Glenn Beck reported, I have never had a conversation with anybody in the White House.

Q: So none of her people called you and made you do this?

A: No but my number is, if she wants to call me… No but we’re really sort of above politics at the end of the day. We’re not in the business of selling politics, we’re in the business of selling entertainment and at the end of the day, Marvel always functions best when a character reflects the world and its diversity. Yes this was a risk but it was a risk to find an audience, a larger audience and a new audience. That’s why we did it.

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