Marvel Brings Back Long Dead SPIDER-MAN Character

Welcome to your mid-week edition of Comics Relief, comics fans! To start our collection of comics news off this week, we have the scoop on a long gone character from Spider-Man’s past that I’m not entirely sure anyone was really clamoring to have back. But they are back anyway, like it or not. Read on for all the details!

Proving that absolutely no one stays dead in comics forever, even characters no one really liked in the first place, Marvel Comics revealed Wednesday as part of their ongoing Spider-Man-centric >Clone Conspiracy storyline that the mastermind villain behind Peter Parker’s current drama is none other than Ben Reilly, the infamous Spider-Clone who also once went by the name the Scarlet Spider.

Dan Slott’s The Clone Conspiracy has had Spider-Man dealing with a medical tech company called New U, which was producing “miracles”, bringing people who were once believed to be fatally sick or gravely wounded back from the brink of death. Peter naturally thought this all too good to be true, and he was right â€" turns out the people “saved” go a wee bit crazy.

But the leader of New U wasn’t Peter’s old nemesis Miles Warren, AKA the Jackal, as he once thought. Turns out it’s none other than Ben Reilly, the Spider-Clone was was once thought to be the real Peter Parker himself. Last time we saw him was 20 years ago, where he literally melted away in front of Peter. But what’s a little disintegration between clones? The new Clone Conspiracy story is only half over, so we’ll see if Ben Reilly sticks around this time. If he does, I hope he gets a better costume and name than “the Scarlet Spider.” [Comic Book]

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Another Marvel event coming soon is >Monsters Unleashed, a five-issue miniseries which hits stores in January, which features Marvel’s heroes fighting off the giant monsters who ruled at the publisher before the era of super-heroes. Now Marvel has released a special behind-the-scenes video detailing the event, and giving fans a sneak peek at the artwork. You can watch the full video above.

Frank Miller is still knee-deep in >Dark Knight III: The Master Race, but it seems he won’t be done with DC Comics once that story has concluded. During a panel featuring Miller at the recent Brazil Comic-Con Experience, the >Sin City creator revealed plans for what he hopes will be his next DC project, saying “I have a fixation by World War II and I’m talking to DC on a project with their heroes at that time.” Could this be the big >DC Rebirth version of the Justice Society of America relaunch that’s been hinted at? Or a Superman story set in WWII? Only time will tell. [CBR]

Aside from the JSA, another missing team from DC’s history that might be making a comeback soon is the Legion of Super-Heroes. Although the team has always had strong ties to the Superman family, they are now being teased by writer Tom King in the pages of >Batman.

In recent issues of Batman, we see Legion founder Saturn Girl is, for some reason, in Arkham Asylum. In an interview, King said “We saw one of the pieces in Batman #9 with Saturn Girl, who was also in DC Universe: Rebirth #1 and plays a role in the story going forward. She’s in Gotham City, and she is in Arkham Asylum… We’ll see what that means both to her and the Legion of Super-Heroes.” [CBR]

Last week, Valiant Comics released a teaser image for their new >X-O Manowar relaunch, and now we have the details on this new series. According to the official description, writer Matt Kindt will begin this new iteration of the character “by separating Aric from his armor and sending him to a far-flung alien planet and continue into a yearlong science-fiction epic split into different arcs.”

Each of these arcs will be drawn by a separate rising star artist, with each artistic interpretation meant to reflect the different stages of Aric’s latest journey. We’ll go  from “Soldier” to “General” to “Emperor” to “Visigoth.”  X-O Manowar #1 is set to hit stores March 22, 2017, and for more info on the new series, be sure to click on the following link: [Entertainment Weekly]

When most people hear the name Jack Kirby, they think of the man who co-created the bulk of the Marvel Universe icons, like The Fantastic Four, the X-Men, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, etc. And while he did work at DC for a time, and created their vast New Gods mythology, he isn’t known for any significant runs featuring their iconic characters like Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman.

Except once. In 1984, as a tie-in to their >Super Powers toyline, DC produced a series of mini-series featuring the Justice League under the Super Powers banner, and drawn by the legendary Kirby. This is the only time Kirby drew characters like the Flash, Green Lantern or Wonder Woman, and they are all now finally being collected in hardcover format after thirty years. The collection will come out on August 29th for $34.99, and it will collect Super Powers Vol. 1 #1-5, Super Powers Vol. 2 #1-6 and Super Powers Vol. 3 #1-4. [Bleeding Cool]

Brian Michael Bendis’ current crossover epic >Civil War II got an extra issue to wrap up from Marvel, but artist David Marquez is getting some help to wrap this sucker up. Seven additional artists are joining Marquez to complete the delayed final issue.

Civil War II #8 will now have 32 pages by Marquez with eight additional pages, which are being described as a “special top secret interior sequence”, will be drawn by artists Esad Ribic, Leinil Yu, Adam Kubert, Alan Davis, Mark Bagley, Marco Rudy, and Daniel Acuna. The release date for Civil War II #8 remains set at December 28, an eight-week delay from the originally solicited November 2 release date. [Newsarama]

Images: Marvel Comics / DC Comics / Valiant Comics 

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Thank U Very Much for Read this News

Marvel pulls no punches in 2017 with new Iron Fist comic

Don’t let your guard down next year, because there’s a brand new hard-hitting solo series coming for Danny Rand, also known as the immortal Iron Fist. As announced this morning by The Hollywood Reporter, the new series â€" simply titled Iron Fist â€" will be helmed by Ed Brisson, writer of The Violent and the upcoming Bullseye, and veteran artist Mike Perkins, best known recently for his work on Captain America and The Stand.

The first issue will drop in March, and will take heavy inspiration from 2006’s Immortal Iron Fist and from the character’s most recent series Iron Fist: The Living Weapon, which left Danny and the mystical city of K’un Lun in very tenuous positions. Writer Ed Brisson talked to THR about where readers will find them as the new series begins:

“As for where K’un-Lun is and how that affects Danny … That’s going to be a large part of what this first arc is about. K’un-Lun is the source of his powers and now that the city lays in ruins, Danny’s connection is severed. This affects his ability to actually be Iron Fist. His whole identity seems to be slipping away from him and he doesn’t know how to hold onto it.”

This will run concurrently with the current Power Man and Iron Fist buddy book, and is obviously meant to pick up readers that come into shops after their interest is piqued by Marvel and Netflix’s live action Iron Fist series, which is set to release on March 17. But this announcement left many fans wondering what this news meant for Iron Fists, a series by Kaare Andrews and Afu Chan announced back in July. The series was to feature Danny training the next Iron Fist, a young girl named Pei, but there has been no news since. Luckily, Andrews confirmed on Twitter this morning that the series is still coming.

I’m a huge Iron Fist fan, so I will take all the Danny Rand Marvel wants to dish out, and Iron Fist has a top-notch creative team that looks set to build upon the wonderful mythology that has already been established for the character. Does the new series have you ready to punch a dragon in the heart? Check out the awesome first issue cover by Jeff Dekal, then let us know in the comments below.

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| Marvel | pulls | punches | 2017 | with | Iron | Fist | comic | Don’t | your | guard | down | next | year | because | there’s | brand | hard | hitting | solo | series | coming | Danny | Rand | also | known | immortal | announced | this | morning | Hollywood | Reporter< | simply | titled | Fist < | em>â€" | will | helmed | Brisson | writer | Violent< | upcoming | Bullseye< | veteran | artist | Mike | Perkins | best | recently | work | Captain | America< | Stand | em>< | p> The | first | issue | drop | March | take | heavy | inspiration | from | 2006’s | Immortal | Fist< | character’s | most | recent | Fist: | Living | Weapon< | which | left | mystical | city | K’un | very tenuous | positions | Writer | talked | about | where | readers | find | them | begins:< | p> “As | that | affects | That’s | going | large | part | what | source | powers | lays | ruins | Danny’s | connection | severed | This | ability | actually | whole | identity | seems | slipping | away | doesn’t | know | hold | onto | ”< | p> This | concurrently | current | Power | buddy | book | obviously | meant | pick | come | into | shops | after | their | interest | piqued | Netflix’s | live | action | release | announcement | many | fans | wondering | news | Fists< | series by | Kaare | Andrews | Chan | back | July | feature | training | young | girl | named | there | been | since | Luckily | confirmed | Twitter | still | p> < | p> I’m | huge | wants | dish | notch | creative | team | looks | build | upon | wonderful | mythology | already | established | character | Does | have | ready | punch | dragon | heart | Check | awesome | cover | Jeff | Dekal | then let | comments | below | p> |

Thank U Very Very Much for Read this News

Marvel pulls no punches in 2017 with new Iron Fist comic

Don’t let your guard down next year, because there’s a brand new hard-hitting solo series coming for Danny Rand, also known as the immortal Iron Fist. As announced this morning by The Hollywood Reporter, the new series â€" simply titled Iron Fist â€" will be helmed by Ed Brisson, writer of The Violent and the upcoming Bullseye, and veteran artist Mike Perkins, best known recently for his work on Captain America and The Stand.

The first issue will drop in March, and will take heavy inspiration from 2006’s Immortal Iron Fist and from the character’s most recent series, Iron Fist: The Living Weapon, which left Danny and the mystical city of K’un Lun in very tenuous positions. Writer Ed Brisson talked to THR about where readers will find them as the new series begins:

“As for where K’un-Lun is and how that affects Danny … That’s going to be a large part of what this first arc is about. K’un-Lun is the source of his powers and now that the city lays in ruins, Danny’s connection is severed. This affects his ability to actually be Iron Fist. His whole identity seems to be slipping away from him and he doesn’t know how to hold onto it.”

This will run concurrently with the current Power Man and Iron Fist buddy book, and is obviously meant to pick up readers that come into shops after their interest is piqued by Marvel and Netflix’s live action Iron Fist series, which is set to release on March 17. But this announcement left many fans wondering what this news meant for Iron Fists, a series by Kaare Andrews and Afu Chan announced back in July. The series was to feature Danny training the next Iron Fist, a young girl named Pei, but there has been no news since. Luckily, Andrews confirmed on Twitter this morning that the series is still coming.

I’m a huge Iron Fist fan, so I will take all the Danny Rand Marvel wants to dish out, and Iron Fist has a top-notch creative team that looks set to build upon the wonderful mythology that has already been established for the character. Does the new series have you ready to punch a dragon in the heart? Check out the awesome first issue cover by Jeff Dekal, then let us know in the comments below.

"

| Marvel | pulls | punches | 2017 | with | Iron | Fist | comic | Don’t | your | guard | down | next | year | because | there’s | brand | hard | hitting | solo | series | coming | Danny | Rand | also | known | immortal | announced | this | morning | Hollywood | Reporter< | simply | titled | Fist < | em>â€" | will | helmed | Brisson | writer | Violent< | upcoming | Bullseye< | veteran | artist | Mike | Perkins | best | recently | work | Captain | America< | Stand | em>< | p> The | first | issue | drop | March | take | heavy | inspiration | from | 2006’s | Immortal | Fist< | character’s | most | recent |  Iron | Fist: | Living | Weapon< | which | left | mystical | city | K’un | very tenuous | positions | Writer | talked | about | where | readers | find | them | begins:< | p> “As | that | affects | That’s | going | large | part | what | source | powers | lays | ruins | Danny’s | connection | severed | This | ability | actually | whole | identity | seems | slipping | away | doesn’t | know | hold | onto | ”< | p> This | concurrently | current | Power | buddy | book | obviously | meant | pick | come | into | shops | after | their | interest | piqued | Netflix’s | live | action | release | announcement | many | fans | wondering | news | Fists< | series by | Kaare | Andrews | Chan | back | July | feature | training | young | girl | named | there | been | since | Luckily | confirmed | Twitter | still | p> < | p> I’m | huge | wants | dish | notch | creative | team | looks | build | upon | wonderful | mythology | already | established | character | Does | have | ready | punch | dragon | heart | Check | awesome | cover | Jeff | Dekal | then let | comments | below | p> |

Thank You Very Much for Reading this Article

Marvel pulls no punches in 2017 with new Iron Fist comic

Don’t let your guard down next year, because there’s a brand new hard-hitting solo series coming for Danny Rand, also known as the immortal Iron Fist. As announced this morning by The Hollywood Reporter, the new series â€" simply titled Iron Fist â€" will be helmed by Ed Brisson, writer of The Violent and the upcoming Bullseye, and veteran artist Mike Perkins, best known recently for his work on Captain America and The Stand.

The first issue will drop in March, and will take heavy inspiration from 2006’s Immortal Iron Fist and from the character’s most recent series, Iron Fist: The Living Weapon, which left Danny and the mystical city of K’un Lun in very tenuous positions. Writer Ed Brisson talked to THR about where readers will find them as the new series begins:

“As for where K’un-Lun is and how that affects Danny … That’s going to be a large part of what this first arc is about. K’un-Lun is the source of his powers and now that the city lays in ruins, Danny’s connection is severed. This affects his ability to actually be Iron Fist. His whole identity seems to be slipping away from him and he doesn’t know how to hold onto it.”

This will run concurrently with the current Power Man and Iron Fist buddy book, and is obviously meant to pick up readers that come into shops after their interest is piqued by Marvel and Netflix’s live action Iron Fist series, which is set to release on March 17. But this announcement left many fans wondering what this news meant for Iron Fists, a series by Kaare Andrews and Afu Chan announced back in July. The series was to feature Danny training the next Iron Fist, a young girl named Pei, but there has been no news since. Luckily, Andrews confirmed on Twitter this morning that the series is still coming.

I’m a huge Iron Fist fan, so I will take all the Danny Rand Marvel wants to dish out, and Iron Fist has a top-notch creative team that looks set to build upon the wonderful mythology that has already been established for the character. Does the new series have you ready to punch a dragon in the heart? Check out the awesome first issue cover by Jeff Dekal, then let us know in the comments below.

"

| Marvel | pulls | punches | 2017 | with | Iron | Fist | comic | Don’t | your | guard | down | next | year | because | there’s | brand | hard | hitting | solo | series | coming | Danny | Rand | also | known | immortal | announced | this | morning | Hollywood | Reporter< | simply | titled | Fist < | em>â€" | will | helmed | Brisson | writer | Violent< | upcoming | Bullseye< | veteran | artist | Mike | Perkins | best | recently | work | Captain | America< | Stand | em>< | p> The | first | issue | drop | March | take | heavy | inspiration | from | 2006’s | Immortal | Fist< | character’s | most | recent |  Iron | Fist: | Living | Weapon< | which | left | mystical | city | K’un | very tenuous | positions | Writer | talked | about | where | readers | find | them | begins:< | p> “As | that | affects | That’s | going | large | part | what | source | powers | lays | ruins | Danny’s | connection | severed | This | ability | actually | whole | identity | seems | slipping | away | doesn’t | know | hold | onto | ”< | p> This | concurrently | current | Power | buddy | book | obviously | meant | pick | come | into | shops | after | their | interest | piqued | Netflix’s | live | action | release | announcement | many | fans | wondering | news | Fists< | series by | Kaare | Andrews | Chan | back | July | feature | training | young | girl | named | there | been | since | Luckily | confirmed | Twitter | still | p> < | p> I’m | huge | wants | dish | notch | creative | team | looks | build | upon | wonderful | mythology | already | established | character | Does | have | ready | punch | dragon | heart | Check | awesome | cover | Jeff | Dekal | then let | comments | below | p> |

Thank U So Much for Reading this Article

Benedict Cumberbatch Just Proved That Marvel Is an Unstoppable Force

There was an unusual amount of pressure on Doctor Strange, Benedict Cumberbatch’s introduction to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The second film after the star-studded Captain America: Civil War to usher in Marvel’s so-called “Phase Three,” Strange placed a lot of expectations on Cumberbatch’s crimson-cloaked shoulders and, as if by magic, he’s exceeding every one of them. Cumberbatch’s Sorcerer Supreme has now surpassed every other single Marvel character introduction at the box office. Not bad for someone whose yet to be drafted into the Avengers. If Marvel is planning on slowing down, it won’t be any time soon.

Deadline reports that in only its third week of release, Cumberbatch’s Strange has conjured up $616 million worldwide. That’s certainly more than previous origin stories like The Incredible Hulk ($263M), Captain America: The First Avenger ($371M), Thor ($449M), Ant-Man ($520M) and Iron Man ($585M). (To be fair to Tony Starkâ€"the original, arrogant, goateed geniusâ€"Iron Man was released before the Marvel brand packed such a punch.) At this rate, Doctor Strange could potentially even catch Marvel’s ensemble origin Guardians of the Galaxy ($773,328,629 after 25 weeks) and Fox’s Deadpool ($782,612,155 after 18 weeks).

How did Doctor Strangeâ€"a surreal, spiritual film plagued by early controversy and featuring a superhero that, frankly, was not even that popular with readersâ€"soar to such enviable economic heights? Well, the fact that the scene’s final showdown was set in Hong Kong couldn’t have hurt. There is no Chinese Sanctum in the comics and the splashy battle for Hong Kong was only the latest way a major 2016 studio release pandered to Chinese audiences.

Thus far, Strange has earned $102M of its $411M foreign gross from China, but Cumberbatch has more than Chinese dollars to thank. The reviews for director Scott Derrickson’s first foray into the world of comics were more glowing than even Marvel’s usual thanks, in large part, to some fresh visual flair and an alluring, unconventional performance from Tilda Swinton. Even those suffering from superhero fatigue couldn’t resist her serene, art house charms.

And the bigger-than-expected reception for both Cumberbatch’s Strange and Paul Rudd’s Ant-Man means Marvel’s future is looking much more secure than it was even a year ago when Avengers: Age of Ultron failed to dazzle critics. Though no official announcement has been made, conventional comic book wisdom dictates that Stephen Strange, Scott Lang, Chadwick Boseman’s T'Challa, Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, and Brie Larson’s Carol Danvers have been/will be introduced in order to replace the Avengers line-up we’ve come to know and love. The Avengers team is forever changing in the comics and factors like Robert Downey Jr.’s enormous sticker price and other Avenger actors’ increasingly busy schedules means that the films will likely follow suit.

That means Rudd, Cumberbatch, and the rest have to be at least as popular as Scarlett Johansson and the Chrises Evans and Hemsworth in order for the franchise to survive a changing of the guard. If dollars equal popularity then, well, recent box office wins mean that Marvel has nothing to be worried about.

Full ScreenPhotos:

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The Cover Shoot: Benedict Cumberbatch Bends Minds

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The actor rolls up his sleeve. Photo: Photograph by Jason Bell. Styled by Jessica Diehl.

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| Benedict | Cumberbatch | Just | Proved | That | Marvel | Unstoppable | Force | There | unusual | amount | pressure | Doctor | Strange, | Cumberbatch’s | introduction | Cinematic | Universe. | second | film | after | star-studded | Captain | America: | Civil | usher | Marvel’s | so-called | “Phase | Three,” | Strange | placed | expectations | crimson-cloaked | shoulders | and, | magic, | he’s | exceeding | every | them. | Sorcerer | Supreme | surpassed | other | single | character | office. | someone | whose | drafted | into | Avengers. | planning | slowing | down, | won’t | time | soon. Deadline | reports | that | only | third | week | release, | conjured | $616 | million | worldwide. | That’s | certainly | more | than | previous | origin | stories | like | Incredible | Hulk | ($263M), | First | Avenger | ($371M), | Thor | ($449M), | Ant-Man | ($520M) | Iron | ($585M). | fair | Tony | Starkâ€"the | original, | arrogant, | goateed | geniusâ€"Iron | released | before | brand | packed | such | punch.) | this | rate, | could | potentially | even | catch | ensemble | Guardians | Galaxy | ($773,328,629 | weeks) | Fox’s | Deadpool | ($782,612,155 | weeks). How | Strangeâ€"a | surreal, | spiritual | plagued | early | controversy | featuring | superhero | that, | frankly, | popular | with | readersâ€"soar | enviable | economic | heights? | Well, | fact | scene’s | final | showdown | Hong | Kong | couldn’t | have | hurt. | Chinese | Sanctum | comics | splashy | battle | latest | major | 2016 | studio | release | pandered | audiences. Thus | far, | earned | $102M | $411M | foreign | gross | from | China, | dollars | thank. | reviews | director | Scott | Derrickson’s | first | foray | world | were | glowing | usual | thanks, | large | part, | some | fresh | visual | flair | alluring, | unconventional | performance | Tilda | Swinton. | Even | those | suffering | fatigue | resist | serene, | house | charms. And | bigger-than-expected | reception | both | Paul | Rudd’s | means | future | looking | much | secure | year | when | Avengers: | Ultron | failed | dazzle | critics. | Though | official | announcement | been | made, | conventional | comic | book | wisdom | dictates | Stephen | Lang, | Chadwick | Boseman’s | TChalla, | Holland’s | Spider-Man, | Brie | Larson’s | Carol | Danvers | been/will | introduced | order | replace | Avengers | line-up | we’ve | come | know | love. | team | forever | changing | factors | Robert | Downey | Jr.’s | enormous | sticker | price | actors’ | increasingly | busy | schedules | films | will | likely | follow | suit. That | Rudd, | Cumberbatch, | rest | least | Scarlett | Johansson | Chrises | Evans | Hemsworth | franchise | survive | guard. | equal | popularity | then, | well, | recent | office | wins | mean | nothing | worried | about. Full | ScreenPhotos: 1/5 The | Cover | Shoot: | Bends | Minds The | actor | rolls | sleeve. Photo: | Photograph | Jason | Bell. | Styled | Jessica | Diehl. PreviousNext The | sleeve. Photograph | Diehl. HERO | RECLINE Benedict | photographed | Metropolitan | Building | Long | Island | City, | York. Photograph | Diehl. DARK | SIDE A | contemplative | City. Photograph | Diehl. WALKING | LINE Cumberbatch, | beneath | elevated | subway | tracks | Diehl. Photograph | Diehl. |

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Marvel and ABC’s online series could solve a lot of problems over the midseason hiatus

Every winter, the networks take anywhere from two weeks to a month for a hiatus.

The idea is to not compete with holiday programming, but it also allows the writing teams to take time off and return with new ideas. The midseason hiatus also allows companies to focus on scheduling episodes during “sweeps,” the months in which Nielsen spends more time collecting and reporting ratings. If networks schedule bigger episodes during those months, they can report higher numbers to advertisers.

Networks want to make as much money as possible, so it doesn’t make sense to have the hiatus in the sweeps months of November or February. The networks would lose out on potential advertising deals and face other financial risks. Having the biggest episodes air at the end of November and the first week of December, however, allows the networks to work within Nielsen’s reporting schedule while also getting ahead of the Christmas rush. What’s the point of pitting The Flash against Rudolph, for example?

In recent years, however, networks have started rethinking this strategy as viewership numbers tank. One, ABC, is revisiting its midseason strategy. Last year, ABC kept eight of dramas off the air for 11 weeks â€" with four of those weeks coming during the midseason hiatus. Fox, NBC and CBS brought the majority of their series back around the first week of January, but many of ABC’s shows didn’t return for another week or later. ABC saw huge losses in return viewership, with one of its biggest series, How to Get Away with Murder, dropping 20 percent overall.

The question for ABC â€" and other networks â€" is how to give creative teams their winter break, retain good ratings and not compete with holiday programming?

ABC and Marvel seemed to have found a solution to the viewership problem: a digital series that will air for a limited time.

On Wednesday, Marvel and ABC announced that it will be launching an online-only series, Slingshot, with Agents of Shield star Natalia Cordova-Buckley in the lead as Elena “Yo Yo” Rodriguez. Each episode will be three to six minutes long, and although it’s not a full television show, it seems like it may accomplish its goal: keep audiences engaged while Agents of Shield is off the air.

The idea is so brilliant in its simplicity its a wonder networks didn’t try it sooner. Firsst, It’s cheaper for a big network to make a six-minute web series. Consider some of the biggest, most extravagant web series â€" like RocketJump’s >Video Game High School, which cost the studio around $636,000 an episode â€" as well as some of the smallest â€" like Andy Gets Dumped â€" which doesn’t even come close to that budget.

For a three-minute film using equipment and sets already available to the studio and actors, the costs would remain relatively low, but the show could generate a decent amount of advertising revenue. In a 2015 study from Turner Broadcasting and Horizon Media, researchers discovered that “premium online video from broadcast and cable networks outperforms video content from other publishers,” according to AdWeek. That means advertisers are more likely to give money to networks like ABC, NBC and CBS over other platforms because their content is better. ABC and Marvel teaming up for a web series doesn’t just make sense in terms of appeasing fans hungry for new content, but it also may generate income in the long run.

The other reason â€" one that’s more important to audiences than networks â€" is that it gives back to fans who tune in every week. Gary Newman, co-chairman and CEO of Fox Networks Group, told AdWeek that unless shows are airing on a premium network like HBO or Showtime, it doesn’t make sense to have 10 to 13 episodes in one season and go without a hiatus. Newman added that networks had to start doing more to keep audiences entertained and engaged.

“The alternative is the old-fashioned preemptions and repeats, and let's remember how frustrating that was to the audience," Newman said. "There's no perfect answer, so we're going to still continue to do that.”

Reruns have always been a complaint, but in a pre-streaming world, there wasn’t much that could be done. Now, when services like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Video are accessible anywhere for a relatively cheap price, a three or six-week hiatus drives audiences to streaming platforms to watch new shows. Magna Global analyst Brian Hughes told Ad Age in March that fans weren’t necessarily upset with the lack ofnew content on network TV, but they’ve grown accustomed to having more to choose from because of streaming platforms.

“I'm inclined to think any impact the midseason breaks have on audience has more to do with how fans want to watch than being frustrated with a delay,” Hughes said.

Retaining viewership remains the most important goal in planning the midseason hiatus. Keeping audiences engaged leads to higher ratings, more conversation in the press and a generally more enthusiastic fan base. It’s, again, what makes Marvel and ABC’s plan to bridge the midseason hiatus with a new web-only series not only a good decision but also a necessary one.

Agents of Shield is also the perfect show because of its target audience. More than How to Get Away with Murder or Scandal, Agents of Shield appeals to a much younger demographic that is more likely to go online to catch up with a series or start a new one. According to Statista, more than 65 percent of Netflix users are between the age of 16 to 24, the same audience that ABC targets with Agents of Shield.

Whether the series will work the way the network wants is yet to be seen. But it’s the first step in addressing a problem bothering networks for years, and has only worsened in the streaming age.

Slingshot kicks off Dec. 13 on ABC.go.com.

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