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Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot

Marc Guggenheim has written for TV, including co-creating Eli Stone, as well as for comics including super Zombies (Dynamite Entertainment), and at marvel he’s written young X-Men and is one of the writers for incredible Spider Man. This month, he’s writing the new mini-series incredible Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot. Westfield’s Roger Ash caught up with Guggenheim recently to learn more about this book.

Westfield: For people who may be unfamiliar with the original Jackpot, what should they know about her coming into incredible Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot?

Marc Guggenheim: Well, they should know that Jackpot is a unique character in the marvel Universe. She’s really two people – Sara Ehret, who was the original Jackpot, who offered her super-hero license and identity to Alana Jobson, a super-hero wannabe. Sara was the one with powers who didn’t want the responsibility and Alana desired the responsibility – wanted to be a hero – but didn’t have any powers. So she compensated – overcompensated, really – with drugs, including Mutant growth Hormone and steroids. Unfortunately, the drugs ultimately killed her and Spider-Man returned the Jackpot identity to Sara Ehret, basically reminding her that with terrific power comes terrific opportunities for super-hero stories. Oh, and responsibility.

Westfield: There is a new Jackpot in this mini-series. Is there anything you can tell us about her?

Guggenheim: I think I just did. ;^) The “new” Jackpot is really the old Jackpot. Basically, the tagline for this series is “meet Jackpot again for the first time.” This Jackpot has a legacy that she’s trying to live up to.

Westfield: What can you tell us about the story in incredible Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot?

Guggenheim: It’s basically Jackpot’s attempt to be a super-hero, to pick up the gauntlet of responsibility that Spider-Man throws down at her feet. (Hint: The “gauntlet” actually looks like a costume.) In the process, she’ll learn about the black market sale of body parts belonging to a super-villain and that investigation will lead her to cross paths with all-new versions of classic villains the rose and Boomerang. but what happens during that confrontation should be very surprising to readers used to conventional super-hero fare.

Westfield: Are you enjoying your collaboration with artist Adriana Melo on the book?

Guggenheim: I’m loving it. Adriana draws babes, action, and babes in action like nobody’s business. Her page structures are dynamic yet clean and her action sequences are incredibly visceral. She’s a major talent.

Westfield: how much does this story tie into incredible Spider-Man?

Guggenheim: It’s pretty free-standing, though there’s a reference to the “flagship” book in issue #2. However, I really desired this book to stand on its own two feet. It’s designed to be 100% new reader friendly.

Iron man vs. Whiplash #3

Westfield: are there other jobs you’re working on that you’d like to mention?

Guggenheim: Well, I’m also writing Iron man vs. Whiplash with Brannon Braga, and that’s proving to be a total blast. I’m also writing my creator-owned series for Oni press called Resurrection which is about the world after an alien invasion. bill Clinton just joined the cast as a series regular. fun stuff.

Westfield: any closing comments?

Guggenheim: Jackpot’s a fun character to write because she’s such a blank slate. It’s not typically you get to write a character in the marvel universe who has virtually no continuity baggage. That freedom has enabled me to do some things you simply can’t make with a more established character. It’s a total blast.

Purchase

Amazing Spider-Man Presents: Jackpot #1

Iron man Vs. Whiplash #3

Resurrection Vol. 1 SC

Resurrection Vol. 2 #8

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