What Spider-Man Comics have you been reading lately!? Version 3.0

[JTait]

I've been catching up on the current volume of ASM recently after losing interest for a few months. I've read the Doc Ock arc, the wedding issue and last night I finished the arc where Spidey gets possessed by the sins of Norman Osborn.

I'm honestly a little baffled at the hate that this run gets. Yes, it sometimes feels a little uninspired. Yes, Paul is a bit of a flat character. Yes, the six month gap, and mystery around everyone hating Peter was contrived, annoying and ultimately really unsatisfying. I don't think its anywhere near the reboot era or the worst parts of the Clone Saga for ineptitude though. It gets nowhere near the highs of Spencer's run, but is never as bad as that was run towards the end.

So, anyway - the arc running through ASM #32-35. I liked it! After being extremely sceptical initially, I am really enjoying 'good Norman'. The idea of his dual persona reminds me of the 90s cartoon and I must say, I think I actually prefer it to the permanently evil Norman that we've had (in the comics at least) since he returned in the 90s.

The core plot of the arc is fine. A little contrived (how did Kraven and Queen Goblin end up together?) and EXTREMELY derivative of JMD. I think we can hopefully put Kraven's Last Hunt to bed now. It's all done relatively well though. Seeing Spidey cut loose is fun from time to time, the fight scenes are great and I thought that Kraven being hunted actually put an interesting new spin on the classic KLH formula. I must admit, I was internally groaning when Vermin showed up however. Gleason's art is terrific throughout though. I loved the cliffhanger ending too - very predictable admittedly, but I still enjoyed it and I'm actually kind of excited to see Norman inevitably turning evil again.

Unfortunately, MJ with superpowers is just a horrible idea. I am really not a fan. And in fact, I'm not too keen on the way that Wells writes her in general.

I had a quick look at the forum thread here for this issue, and I was quite surprised at how negative it was. I really don't think this arc was bad at all, and the last few issues (since the Ock arc at least) have been lots of fun.

My grade would be hovering somewhere around the B mark.

[exile001]

The extreme hate from people who still buy it week in week out is genuinely bizarre. If you're liking it, buy it and enjoy it. If not, move on until a run you do like starts.

Personally, I think the moderators on here should be doing more to create a space for people enjoying it to be able to talk without getting brigaded on every thread. And I say this as someone who quit reading a long time ago because I wasn't liking it.

[Daveismyhero]

ASM is my favorite comic of all time, but this current run is not for me, and that's okay. I pick up the occasional issue hoping it will click, but it hasn't in quite a while. I'm glad there are people out there enjoying it, though.

I am really loving the current Ultimate Spider-Man run, though. It's easily one of my favorite pulls of the month.

[berserkerclaw]

Currently i am reading Amazing Spider-man but collecting Venom and Carnage

[exile001]

Currently i am reading Amazing Spider-man but collecting Venom and Carnage

It's so cool that Spidey currently has a bunch of quite diverse books. A little of something for everyone.

There's room for more, though!

[exile001]

Last weekend I started Miles' latest volume and it's fantastic! Almost caught up already, it just flies by.

[JTait]

Just finished reading ASM #548, the first issue of the Big Time era. Some of you might remember I did a re-read of Brand New Day a little while ago - after taking some time off I've decided to pick up where I left off. I remember at the time that it was released, there was a lot of optimism around Slott's solo run. He was pretty hyped and his ASM issues were probably the best received of all the Brain Trust/Webheads writers. This is a pretty good start to the run, but it's not without its faults.

I had totally forgotten about the Doc Ock/Sinister Six part of the issue. In retrospect it's pretty cool to see Slott sowing the seeds of Superior Spider-Man. It's great to see Ock as the mastermind and I also enjoy seeing the Sinister Six in action, working as a team. I think that - as a collective - they were pretty drastically underused in the first 40 years of their existence. It's kind of ironic that since this issue they've been heavily overused IMO. This issue reads like a Saturday morning cartoon in comic book form, with loads of characters, action and big ideas. I love the way that it sets up loads of intriguing subplots and new characters. Some of the dialogue is a bit much for me though, and I found some of the story beats a bit tired. Peter househunting is one example, and it leads to the lowpoint of this issue - the exchange between MJ and he, where they both end up in hysterics at the idea of them living together. Perhaps Slott is making a point about OMD here but I found this characterisation absurd at best.

I actually really like the Horizon Labs part of the issue. It's a great use of Marla, who has been madly mistreated over the years. Although it reads very similarly to the Peter's ill fated stint at Tricorp during the reboot, Slott does at least (sort of) acknowledge this in the dialogue and it's a logical step for the character. The new characters are endearing and don't feel as forced as the new additions to the supporting cast during BND. I love the end of the story with Peter getting a happy ending - with the Hobgoblin lurking around the corner. Classic Spidey - and I mean that as a compliment.

I was a big fan of Ramos at the time from his work on PP:SM and SSM with Paul Jenkins. His art is a bit rough here and honestly doesn't feel well suited to the flagship Spider-Man title. I do generally like his style though, and the action sequences in the issue are suitably kinetic and intense. This is a pretty good start to the new era and reminiscent of the start of Spencer's run, in that it borrows heavily from prior continuity while also treading its own ground. I'd give it an B+.

[exile001]

This was my first comic back (after quitting with BND), and I consider Big Time through Superior as one of my top 3 Spider-Man runs.

I literally only picked up the TPB because Hobgoblin was on the back cover, and he's a big favourite of mine... I was so pissed I almost quit again. Lol.

Horizon Labs is my preferred status quo for Peter and I really wish it could have become the standard. We're so far beyond the "Pete has normal problems" thing I wish he could actually be allowed to achieve his potential.