I dunno.  If people really want to hit "rewind" I'd almost rather they introduce a new Spider-Man.  Give someone with prior ties to the series like Billy Conners spider powers, keep Peter Parker as a supporting cast member (Billy's teacher maybe), and go from there.  People wanting Peter Parker to "grow and change" get their wish, while people who want a "young high school age" Spider-Man get theirs.

If Billy was use, it would make those Spider-Man/Lizard confrontations even more interesting, at least... :)

(Of course, I can easily see negative feedback from a development like that, too.)

QUOTE: If people really want to hit "rewind" I'd almost rather they introduce a new Spider-Man.

Don't tell me you're into that Spider-Totem jazz.

QUOTE: Don't tell me you're into that Spider-Totem jazz.

Oh, LORD no. 

QUOTE: Oh, LORD no.

Thank goodness.  :)

Reading what's going on here makes Ben Reilly seem like really good idea
for hitting the rewind button.

---

I've said this many times, but I really liked the Dan Jurgens Spider-Man run
with Ben Reilly as Spider-Man. At the time, I thought the Ben Reilly Spider-
Man was closer to the "real" Spider-Man than the late 80s/early 90s Spider-
Man had been. Which is funny because I didn't start reading the comic until
the late 80s.

==========================================================

I remember not liking the Clone Saga that much, but with time and hindsight, I can see what Marvel was trying to do -- get Peter Parker back to the way he was.

I remember reading ASM # 375 where Peter comes to an agreement with Venom which is basically "Leave me alone and vice versa", and literally lets a maniac go free. That was not the Peter Parker/Spider-Man I had been reading about.

On re-reading the Clone Saga awhile back the thing that made me feel Ben was more like the true Peter Parker was the way he felt Venom shouldn't be on the loose, and dealt with the situation going back to the old "Power and Responsibility" theme of the series.

If Marvel had kept Ben Reilly it might have worked out for the better in some cases.

Peter Parker is Spider-Man, period. I don't think most readers would accept it any other way (I wouldn't).

They may play around with Flash and some others, but...

Superman IS Clark Kent

Bruce Wayne IS Batman

Spider-Man IS Peter Parker

Wonder Woman IS Princess Diana

and, yes...

Captain America IS Steve Rogers (Who really believes that Steve won't return at some point?)

Alternate realities, futuristic stories, and "imaginary" stories, aside, this is the way I believe most fans want it, and the only way they will truly accept it for the long term. Fans are willing to play along, such as in the new "Captain America" issues, but if there was a chance that the changes were permanent, there would be outrage.

Hell, look at what happened with Hal Jordan!

I woudn't like Billy Connors as Spider-Man, at all. And I don;t like the idea of two Spider-Men running around. Maybe Billy could be Spider-Boy. I could deal with that.

Maybe Billy could be Spider-Boy.

Hmm, don't give Joe Q any ideas <g>...