Despite the massive train-wreck potential behind Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, most of the news coming out of the production actually sounds very hopeful. The Broadway show about Marvel Comics' webslinging superhero, directed by Julie Taymor and with music by U2's Bono and The Edge recently pulled the curtain back on the production, and a report made it's way to the New York Post.

A few key points to come from the presentation include the fact that the Broadway show (not a musical, according to Taymor, but instead a "circus rock-'n'-roll drama") will draw not from the film franchise, but instead more from the comics. "Our show is going to have a comic-book, pop-up sensibility" the acclaimed director behind the Broadway version of The Lion King said.

Set drawings revealed an enormous, brightly colored set featuring the Chrysler Building, the Brooklyn Bridge and the Daily Bugle building. Most of Peter's supporting cast is present, and he will clash with several classic Spidey villain's, including the Green Goblin, Carnage, Electro, Rhino, Swarm and the Lizard. He will also battle a new villain created for the show - Swiss Miss, whose costume consists of rotating knives and swirling corkscrews. The costume for Swiss Miss was created by Oscar winner Eiko Ishioka (Bram Stoker's Dracula).

Six songs from the show were performed for the crowd, and according to the reviewer, the haunting ballad "Rise Above" is as good as any of the numbers from Rent. The actor who sang that song, Reeve Carney, is said to be the leading contender to play Peter Parker.

While there is still much reason to remain skeptical about Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, most of the early news from the production has been good, and fans of Spider-Man and Broadway have a lot of reasons to stay hopeful.