'Scarlet Spider' to show off 'dark' side of Marvel

Marvel Comics artist Ryan Stegman has promised that the new Scarlet Spider series will give fans a glimpse of the "edgier" side of the Marvel Universe.

Scarlet Spider was confirmed earlier this month and will see Chris Yost and Ryan Stegman launch a new ongoing series starring the much-maligned '90s character.

Despite criticism of the character during his debut in controversial crossover 'The Clone Saga', Stegman claimed that Marvel shouldn't be ashamed of the Scarlet Spider's origins.

"Now looking back, to me it's a fun, interesting story," Stegman told Comic Book Resources. "But at the time it changed things so dramatically that it got people upset.

"Doing Scarlet Spider right now is exciting because people can look back and enjoy it for what it was rather than as the earth-shattering story of the Spider-Man universe."

Marvel has yet to confirm who is actually under the mask of the Scarlet Spider, with many predicting either Ben Reilly or antihero Kaine.

"Scarlet Spider is a much darker, edgier, broodier book than any of the other Spider titles," editor-in-chief Axel Alonso promised.

The new Scarlet Spider will be introduced in Marvel's anthology one-shot Point One before the new ongoing series launches on January 11, 2012.