Marvel Comics explains media spoilers

Marvel Comics has explained its decisions to reveal certain spoilers to the mainstream media.

Last week, the publisher released the details surrounding the climax to the 'Death of Spider-Man' in Ultimate Spider-Man #160 to the Associated Press and USA Today.

Some fans have reacted unhappily to the revelation of major plot points by Marvel before the publication of its comics.

"First and foremost, the goal of any mainstream media push like this is to help retailers increase sales and get new fans into their stores," Arune Singh, Marvel's director of communications, publishing and digital media, told Comics Alliance.

"The 'Death of Spider-Man' news is news all over the world from here in the US to India to Japan - it's a big story. This is news being read not only by comic fans, but lapsed fans and a lot of people who have never read comics before."

Singh further explained: "We're entirely understanding of fans who feel that we've 'spoiled' something for them and wonder just why we had to do it now - it's certainly a fair question.

"But the answer comes from - and hopefully this doesn't sound too blunt - looking at this in a larger business sense."

Singh said that these major events would be reported on as soon as the books are released, and to ensure the best coverage, it is in Marvel's interest to break the news first.

The 'Death of Spider-Man' is to launch a refreshed Ultimate Comics line spearheaded by Jonathan Hickman.