Joe Kelly: Spider-Man in Two Worlds & Challenges in Animation

Word Balloon Comics Podcast

Joe Kelly and I unpack a lot in this one on one at Terrificon
Part 1: Back to Spider-Man—"Amazing Spider-Man" Relaunch & Multidimensional Stakes

• Kelly explains why relaunching Amazing Spider‑Man with a fresh #1 isn’t a reset—it’s the next natural chapter in Peter’s journey
• He teases bold new arcs that pull from Peter’s adolescence—pre‑high school—to recalibrate how we see him, emotionally and psychologically
• Kelly gets real about the dual storyline hitting in September 2025, where Spider‑Man splits across two frontiers: one grounded on Earth, the other traversing the cosmic reaches—frankly, “there are two Spider‑Men now,” he confirms

Part 2: Animation Landmark—Man of Action & The Evolution of the Medium

• He reflects on the early days of Man of Action Studios and the wild success of Ben 10: co-creating universally beloved characters and building stories that bridge generations.
• Kelly doesn’t sugarcoat how different today’s landscape is—from the golden age of cable to today’s streaming-dominated, content-saturated ecosystem. He talks about how creative freedom has evolved, from strict network pitches to the flexibility—and fierce competition—of streaming platforms and short length content.