USA TODAY is partnering with Marvel to launch “Spider-Man TODAY” exclusively on USA TODAY PLAY on June 16, starting a 48-week weekly Infinity Comic run with 1,000 curated archival Marvel comics.
On June 16, a new kind of comic—built to scroll vertically and delivered weekly—arrives inside USA TODAY PLAY. The debut is “Spider-Man TODAY,” an exclusive Infinity Comic series tied to a long-running newspaper tradition of Spider-Man making regular rounds.
The series begins with new issues every Wednesday, running for 48 weeks starting June 16. USA TODAY PLAY will also host 1,000 curated archival Marvel comics, spanning old-school classics and modern favorites.
Marvel’s Spider-Man editor Nick Lowe will formally introduce “Spider-Man TODAY” on USA TODAY PLAY with a creative digital comic performance in New York.
The partnership is positioned as a natural fit: USA TODAY as the largest news publisher in the country. joined with Marvel Comics. the company Lowe called “the greatest comic-book company in the world.” In his view. the collaboration brings together “chocolate and peanut butter. ” and he described the project as “the new incarnation of the Spider-Man funnies” that ran in newspapers going back to the 1970s.
“This is us trying to take up that baton and run the next part of the race,” Lowe said.
“Spider-Man TODAY” is designed for a broad audience, including readers who may never have picked up a Spider-Man comic before. Lowe said the new series is intended to be “the easiest springboard” possible. especially because Marvel has been publishing Spider-Man stories since 1962. He pointed to the upcoming “Amazing Spider-Man” No. 1000 coming this September, but framed the entry challenge around how newcomers can feel “intimidated.”.
With “Spider-Man TODAY. ” Lowe said the series aims to make sure a new reader can “pick this up. start here. and not feel left out.” He described the approach as guiding readers through Spider-Man’s origin in each issue while also introducing origins for other characters as the story moves beyond the first arc.
The series will lean on a “dream team” of artists. Al Ewing, known for “Venom,” and Todd Nauck, associated with “Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man,” are set to bring the story to life.
Lowe said the plot is built to “span the entire Marvel universe” and is intended to work for fans of all ages.
The first cover for “Spider-Man TODAY” features Spider-Man along with familiar faces from across Marvel. The first arc includes a guest appearance from the Hulk. while Hell’s Kitchen’s blind superhero Daredevil appears in the second arc. Later, the series will feature Wakanda and its heroine Shuri, along with X-Men including Cyclops, Jean Grey, and Storm.
Lowe also emphasized that the character lineup is built to reach “the entire country – really. the world. ” with characters “everyone knows and loves.” He said Spider-Man serves as the connective tissue for that cast. pulling out strengths in other heroes—even as he joked about why “everyone hate[s]” Spider-Man.
The timing is also part of the pitch. Lowe contrasted the cadence of “Spider-Man TODAY” with how most comics are released. “Most comics come out once a month,” he said, and noted that “Amazing Spider-Man” comes out every two weeks. For “Spider-Man TODAY,” Lowe said, “that’s too long a wait,” and the series runs “on every week for 48 weeks.”.
By the end of its first year-long stretch, the message is plain: the next chapter is meant to arrive before readers lose momentum—and to bring Spider-Man into people’s routines on a weekly rhythm again.
USA TODAY PLAY Spider-Man TODAY Marvel Comics Infinity Comic Nick Lowe Al Ewing Todd Nauck Amazing Spider-Man No. 1000 Daredevil Hulk Wakanda Shuri X-Men Cyclops Jean Grey Storm
So it’s just Spider-Man comics inside the news app now? Kinda weird but ok.
48 weeks?? That’s a long time to scroll a comic. I didn’t even know USA TODAY had a play thing, thought it was sports and ads. Still gonna try it though if it’s every Wednesday.
Wait, they’re launching Spider-Man TODAY on June 16 but it says 48-week weekly Infinity Comic run with 1,000 old comics… so is it 1,000 new ones or just mixed library? Also “editor Nick Lowe” sounds like a real person but I’m not sure if that’s even confirmed.
This is probably gonna be paywalled like everything else. I saw “1,000 curated archival” and thought it meant like free classics, but then it’s “exclusively on USA TODAY PLAY” so yeah… I’m confused. I’m glad they’re doing the vertical scrolling thing though because who has time to hold a comic? Also Spider-Man since 1962?? He’s been around forever, no idea.