Marvel reports that filmmaker/comic writer Kevin Smith will appear on NBC’s late night staple on June 24th, and he’ll be there specifically to promote his upcoming Marvel mini-series, Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do. Marvel says this will be the first time in the show’s “legendary run” that a panel guest will appear not to plug a movie or a TV show, but will instead “go on camera with the express purpose of promoting a comic book.”

“I’m as proud of my work in comics as I am of anything I’ve done on film, so I thought ‘Why not call up the folks at The Tonight Show’and see if I could talk about Spider-Man/Black Cat on the show as a guest?” explained Smith. “Thankfully, Jay (Leno) and co. were really up for it and found me a slot on the show two days before the book hits the stands. What better way to call more attention to comics than by waving one around on late night’s most-watched talk show? It’s going to be a real kick to run a clip of Terry and Rachel Dodson’s awesome artwork for the approximately six million folks who watch Leno each night. And the fact that it’s a historical first as well makes it kind of fun.”

“This is just one more step in our attempt to take the world of comics to the masses, and Kevin is the perfect ambassador,” stated Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada. “Kevin has been a regular on The Tonight Show’ these last few months, with his ‘Roadside Attraction’ bits and the ‘Clerks’ short, The Flying Car,’ and Jay is a big Spidey fan. So when Kevin called me and said that he wanted to book himself on the show just to promote Spider-Man/Black Cat, my head nearly exploded! This is a giant step for our industry and I hope retailers take note and plan accordingly for the traffic that this event will drive to their stores!”

“Wow… and all I was hoping for was a promo poster,” added Spider-Man editor, Axel Alonso. “Kevin’s done so much to keep comics on the pop culture radar, and this is just another feather in his cap. I couldn’t be happier.”

Spider-Man/Black Cat: The Evil That Men Do is a four-issue miniseries that according to Marvel, “puts the web-slinger on a collision course with his old flame, the red-hot Black Cat!” It also serves as the launching pad for the new Black Cat ongoing series that will also be penned by Smith. Illustrated by the team of Terry and Rachel Dodson, Spider-Man/Black Cat will debut on June 26th, and Marvel wants retailers to know issue #1 can be ordered from Diamond Comics Distributors until June 6th.