'Spider-Island' to improve classic villain

Amazing Spider-Man writer Dan Slott has said that fans will be pleasantly surprised by the return of much-maligned villain The Jackal this summer.

The character served as one of the main antagonists in controversial '90s crossover 'The Clone Saga', and is set to return in this summer's 'Spider-Island' event.

"He's going to be very true to character," Slott told Newsarama. "He's one of the wonderful mad scientists of Spider-Man's world, and we're going to play him for all he's worth."

Slott suggested that those who dislike the character because of his role in 'The Clone Saga' would see The Jackal in a completely different way by the end of 'Spider-Island'.

"If you're not a fan of the 'Clone Saga', there have been other controversial Spider-Man stories over the years with many villains, and they've come back and had fan-favourite stories," Slott argued.

Slott, who took over as sole writer on Amazing Spider-Man in November 2010, said that he was originally intimidated by the idea of taking on such a big storyline.

"This is the biggest thing I've ever worked on. It's very intimidating. But at the same time, whenever I'm feeling really scared, when I'm looking at the size of it all I get pumped up about it, because a new page of art shows up from Humberto Ramos!"

'Spider-Island' launches this August in Amazing Spider-Man #667.