I’m Assuming There’s A Point

EDITOR’S NOTE: This story was updated 10/1/2011 with details about the fifth teaser. You can read more after the jump.

Earlier this year, Marvel rolled out the concept of a “Point One” issue of their books – an issue outside a book’s normal 12-issue run that would be written as a one-and-done book that wasn’t heavily tied into ongoing continuity to act as a jumping on point for new readers. Meaning that they’re old-school annuals, for all intents and purposes, but I’m guessing somewhere along the line Marvel realized “.1” is more attractive than “Annual”… or at least it is when you’re paying the printer by the letter.

Apparently the Point One initiative’s been pretty successful, and I tend to agree – we’ll probably be reviewing Black Panther 523.1 later week, and while we didn’t get a chance to review X-Factor #224.1, it was a tight story that was one hell of a way to get into the best X-Book you’re not reading. And it seems it’s been successful enough that earlier this week, Marvel announced a 64-page Point One issue for the entire Marvel Universe, where they’ll be teasing their events for 2012 and “the return of fan-demanded characters.” (But Marvel doesn’t reboot! Because Marvel makes no mistakes! And pay no attention to the fact that Bucky Barnes has been dead twice since 2005 while still co-headlining his own book!)

All week long, Marvel’s been rolling out teaser images for the one-shot, including stuff you’d expect for an event teaser, like Brian Michael Bendis’s and Bryan Hitch’s upcoming Ultron arc in Avengers and Matt Fraction’s already-announced Defenders book with penciller Terry Dodson… but they’ve also teased a return of Nova by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness… and yesterday they teased, well… THIS:

That, my friends, seems to be the Scarlet Spider. Also known as Ben Reilly. Also known as (Dun-dun-DUUUUUNNN!) the Spider-Clone. From the infamous Spider-Clone saga, representing amongst the worst excesses of comics in the 1990s.

You know, the story where Marvel tried to convince us that the Spider-Man we’d been reading since the early 70’s was a filthy skin job? The story and character that were so hated at the time that Marvel finally revealed that Peter Parker was Peter Parker all along, then stabbed the Scarlet Spider in the chest and had him disintegrate into a fine paste to make the story never-was (But that wasn’t a reboot! Marvel doesn’t reboot! Marvel is infallible! Marvel is the Alpha and the Delta! …wait – )?

We were at the Marvel panel at SDCC where they teased that Scarlet Spider might be returning, and they even showed an image of that Godawful hoodie, but I think I had blocked it out, much like an inveterate smoker blocks out the health risks. Which means that this teaser feels less like an announcement than it does a diagnosis.

I will buy this book to check out Hitch’s Ultron art, and because I’ve got a soft spot for Nova (Nova and DC’s Firestorm stand out as new characters the Big Two tried when I was a kid, when comics were available at the convenience store and the Big Two would, you know, try new characters). But between the return of Rob Liefeld to Hawk & Dove and the potential return of the Scarlet Spider? We’re possibly a pouched leg belt and a Spawn reboot away from chromium covers and a resurgence of Vertigo comics.

Marvel tends to release their teasers in week-long chunks, so check in to see if they have anything new for today. Point One drops on November 2, 2011.

UPDATE: Marvel released the fifth teaser poster yesterday afternoon:

Marvel put out a press release along with this one:

[Point One] is the starting point to what’s in store for the world’s most iconic characters and startling events. Point One serves as the launch pad for dynamic new series – including one that spins directly out of the smash hit Uncanny X-Force’s ‘Dark Angel Saga’, and a shocking teaser that will have everyone talking. See how all it comes together in one gigantic epic!” – Tom Brevoort, Senior Vice President, Executive Editor

Okay, the fifth image teases something spinning out of X-Force – that explains why I have no fucking idea who any of those characters are! But considering the book’s by David Lapham, who did Young Liars and the killer current Crossed: Psychopath, this one get’s a day in court.

But only one day. After all: I count no less than ten pouches on that fifth teaser…