The Mangaverse version of Spider-Man first appeared in the Marvel Mangaverse: Spider-Man one-shot in 2002. However, unlike Mangaverse X-Men, this version of Spider-Man was consistent in the spin-off five-issue limited series by Kaare Andrews, Skottie Young and Khary Randolph later that same year.

C.B. Cebulski, then editor of the mini-series, re-teams with Young for the next web-tingling adventure of this version of Spidey in this month’s Spider-Man Family Featuring Spider-Clan #1.

Newsarama.com spoke with both writer and artist for their views on Marvel Mangaverse and Spider-Clan.

Newsarama: What made this version click with fans then? I remember that fans and critics weren't too receptive to the idea and the issues at that time…

C.B. Cebulski: Looking back at it now, the first Mangaverse event was not what we originally envisioned it to be. Not that it wasn’t a success, it’s just the end result wasn’t what we set out to create when it was conceived. But even though we were working under several conflicting directives and time-constraints, Brian “Smitty” Smith pulled all the writers and artists together for something we all still look fondly back on. Out of all the Mangaverse one-shots, the Spider-Clan one was always the most well-received and buzzed about. That’s why it was the one that got the greenlit for Kaare and Skottie to do as the spin-off mini. It was a concept that just worked, it struck a chord with people. Remaking Spider-Man and his cast of characters into a modern day martial arts adventure was truly inspired.

Also, what Kaare did with the original art and designs, and then what Skottie took and ran with and developed further was a big factor in Spider-Clan’s appeal, in my opinion. It was such an inventive take on the characters and the universe. It was unique. You’ll notice that after that original one-shot, we never really referred to it as “Mangaverse”. It was always just Spider-Clan from then on.

Skottie Young: I think that it was a mixed bag of responses. Over the years since the mini, I've been flooded with fan mail regarding the series. 10 or so of those emails were accompanied by photos of tattoos featuring the characters from the book I think fans gravitated towards the different kind of story wrapped around a character they have always loved.

CB: Yeah, it even spawned an action figure!

NRAMA: The Marvel Universe consists of other multiverses, alternate realities and all that. Bring us back to the creation of the universe formerly known as Mangaverse. Why Marvel Mangaverse? Why did it make sense to do a Mangaverse?

CB: The Mangaverse was originally imagined as a What If? event. It was supposed to be “What If Japanese Creators Had Invented the Marvel Universe?” With that in mind, I reached out to several Japanese creators to participate in it and offer their takes on our characters. There was definite interest on their parts, but the scheduling given their commitments at the time in Japan made their involvement impossible. So we went ahead using Western creators who were influenced by Japanese art and storytelling in their own artwork.

NRAMA: The X-Men had seen various incarnations in their Mangaverse forms over the years. While the Marvel Mangaverse started with the Marvel Mangaverse bookends by Ben Dunn and a series of one-shots starring the X-Men, Spider-Man, Avengers, Fantastic Four, Punisher and Ghost Rider, only the X-Men and Spider-Man have had limited series and one-shots over the years. And C.B. had most recently revisited the Mangaverse with the New Mangaverse limited series. What went into the decision to bring this version of Spider-Man back again with this special one-shot in November?

SY: C.B. and I were talking while I was finishing New Warriors and I told him about all fan mail over years regarding Spider Clan. Spiderman: Legend of the Spider-Clan was my first mini series in the industry, and like most rookies, I had a lot to learn about a lot of things. I did my best, I am proud that people still like the work that we all did together.

But, years and a million hours of art and story telling study later, I feel that I have a better grasp on how to tell a story visually. I always thought that Spider Clan had the sickest visuals to play with, and I just wasn't good enough at the time to really pull off the ideas I had in my head. So, C.B. and I bribed a few people and asked them to let us take another crack at it. I feel like this is me coming full circle in a small way. I think a lot of artists would like to go back and tinker with old works, and this is my chance to do just that.

CB: As an editor, it’s not often that you get complimented on projects you worked on. But Spider-Clan was just one of those projects that stuck with people. I would be at cons and go to panels or be having drinks at a bar, and fans would come up and ask, ‘When are you doing more Spider-Clan? That book kicked ass!” It was unexpected, but the book has a strong and supportive fan base. Their loyalty helped get us another shot.

SY: Working with C.B. was also a draw for me. C.B. has been a close and dear friend for years (even before his debut at Marvel) and we always wanted to do a project together. I think we come from similar places as far as influences go. At the same time, we bring our own ideas to table. This was a chance for us to work together very close on the story and art, so that the outcome is exactly what both of us envisioned from the start.

CB: If you could see me, I’m blushing! But seriously, what Skottie says is all true and I feel the same way about him and his art. He and I have been friends for years and have been trying to get something rolling together forever, but our careers have always taken us on different paths. The timing finally worked out in this project though.

I’m a big believer in the fact the best comics are produced by a close collaboration between the writer and artist, when they’re friends and on the same page about what they’re working on. And the fact that Skottie and I are tight makes this project all the more special to me as that’s the spirit we went into it with. We spitballed and came up with all the ideas together, going back and forth on everything until we were happy with it. This is just as much his story as it is mine. I had input in some of the designs and layouts. We shared every step of the way. What you are going to read is a true team effort between us. I could not have done this without him.

NRAMA: According to the solicits, it looks like Peter is not the sole surviving Spider-Clan member now?

SY: Well, I'll let C.B. decide what to tell you here.

CB: What Peter knows and has been told about the Spider-Clan and its legacy might not have been the truth.

NRAMA: How much has the Mangaverse changed since the early days?

SY: This might be completely wrong of me to think, but [like what C.B.’s said, and I agree with him that] I don't really think of it as "Mangaverse". That's really just a tag line, or product title for me. I really just concern myself with the world of Spider-Man that Kaare started, and C.B. and I are adding to. It's just and alternate spidey universe to me, and I think that's the best way to look at it. C.B. and I decided during the development of this one shot, that we should keep the idea streamlined and focused on Spidey himself and not confuse ourselves and readers by trying to elude to every detail of the previous "Mangaverse" history. We wanted people to read a action packed Spider-Man story, and not get lost in novelty cameos from the "Mangaverse' books that came before.

CB: Yup, pretty much what he said. Mangaverse was just an event from which this was launched. Spider-Clan has taken on a life of its own. If you want to get technical, yes, it’s still set in that universe and continuity, but these stories are built to stand alone.

NRAMA: Will other characters who first appeared in the original one-shot and the subsequent mini be making a comeback appearance, be it a flashback or cameo?

SY: Just a few, but only the important people. Aunt May, of course Again, we wanted this to be a new story. We worked with the characters in the past, and now want a chance to write some new ones.

NRAMA: Okay, running down the list (and bear in mind that nobody remains dead in the world of comics)… Daredevil?

SY: Nope.

CB: He’s dead.

NRAMA: Cybernetic Black Cat?

SY: Nope.

CB: She’s hot.

NRAMA: Mary Jane Watson aka Ninja Spider-Woman?

SY: MJ will be there briefly, but not as Spider-Woman. If she is, or is not Spider-Woman, you don't know in our story. That was different tale, and this is a tale of Spidey on its own. The only history that we are really staying true to is the previous mini and one shot of Spider-Man.

CB: She’s hot too.

NRAMA: Kingpin?

SY: Nope.

CB: He’s fat.

NRAMA: Obi-Wan Ben… er, I mean, Uncle Ben?

SY: In a way.

CB: He’s ashes.

NRAMA: And as Skottie’s said earlier, Aunt May is still alive and well…

SY: Yep.

CB: She’s alive. Phew, at least we have one character to work with.

NRAMA: Let me guess. Peter's brother, Venom, is still dead?

CB: Yeah, Skottie killed him. You bastard!

NRAMA: Skottie, what's it like to have a go at this version of Spider-Man again after working on the first mini-series in 2002?

SY: I think a lot of what I said before answers that. But, it is incredible. I've had the time of my life working on this. This is what I always thought drawing comics would be like. The scope, pace and size of this one shot is just amazing. I've had a chance to really push myself on this one, and hopefully people will see it in the finished product.

CB: Just wait until you see his double-page spreads!! Holy sh*t!!

NRAMA: Are you redesigning any of the characters?

SY: Yeah. Everyone will get a new look, even if slightly.

NRAMA: Art-wise, how different will it be this time around? Are you tweaking your style after having worked on new projects like Human Torch, Venom, Iceman, X-Men Unlimited, New Warriors, X-Men/Runaways Free Comic Book Day since the first Spider-Clan experience?

SY: Over the years I've worked a lot in animation design, and if that has taught me anything it's that every project and story deserves it's own look and feel. So, yes, I'm changing my art a little from my last project. New Warriors was a funny, TV-style book, so my art matched that tone in making it look like a Sat. morning cartoon. This is darker, bigger, heavier, so I'm trying new things. Unlike New Warriors where the art was very linear and open, Spider-Clan will be heavy in spotted blacks and textures. Again, in New Warriors, I stuck to the grid as far as the page layouts go, and this time around I'm letting loose a little with the breakdowns to help move to the story in different ways and paces thru out. Like New Warriors, I, along with my friend Jean will be coloring this as well. So, handling the pencils, inks and colors myself really lets me bring a different vision to this version of Spider-Clan.

CB: Everyone I know who has seen Skottie’s Spider-Clan pages from Joe Quesada to John Barber to Axel Alonso as been commenting on the level to which Skottie has raised his game in this story.

NRAMA: C.B., there's no denying that manga is a huge phenomenon right now. Even back in the 1970s, there was Ryoichi Ikegami's manga version of Spider-Man with Yu Komori in the lead instead of the fan-favorite Peter Parker. Now that you’re back being an editor at the House of Ideas, do you have an idea of what Marvel's upcoming plans are for manga versions of Marvel super-heroes?

CB: I’m not really sure what’s planned for the Mangaverse. But hey, if they want to do more, I’m game. However, I do know that you’ll be seeing more Japanese creators coming to do work at Marvel in the very near future. We’ll leave manga to the experts at Viz, Dark Horse and Del Rey as they do an amazing job with it. Marvel has had its share of hits and misses over the years with the use of the word “manga” but we’ve learned and grown from our experiences. We’re one of the few companies that has direct access to Japanese artists and we’ll be using these relationships to develop new material with them soon. Expect a few surprises coming your way!

Spider-Man Family Featuring Spider-Clan #1 is scheduled to be in stores on November 29. Priced at $4.99, the 104-page special will also include reprints of Spider-Man 2099 #3, Amazing Spider-Man #252 and “The Date” from Marvel Shadows & Light #2.