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.

[JTait]

I've continued with my re-read of the Big Time era.

The rest of the Hobgoblin arc was pretty good, although I find Phil Urich quite annoying as a villain. Coming into this as someone only really familiar with his portrayal during the Clone Saga and DeFalco's Green Goblin series, it's a bit strange seeing him written as a sociopathic lunatic. His design is a bit over the top too. It's all good fun though - the interplay between Kingpin and Hobgoblin has 90's Spider-Man TAS vibes and the Horizon labs stuff is great. I found it surprisingly gratifying seeing Peter get a win, and the scene where Aunt May takes him to work is genuinely emotional.

Revenge of the Spider-Slayer is a pretty solid arc, that is notable for being Stefano Caselli's first work on ASM. His in-costume scenes are spectacular, but I am less keen on his civillians. There are some really great ideas in this three parter, but it feels badly overstuffed and a few of the plot points are quite undercooked. The angle of Smythe turning people wronged by Jameson into vengeful Spider-Slayers was interesting but felt underwritten and after a lot of fanfare about his new costume and powers, I didn't feel like Scorpion and Spider-Man got a proper showdown. I'm not overly keen on his new design either. Even Smythe felt a bit underdeveloped. It all fizzes along nicely though and Slott's work with the supporting cast is generally great, although everything with MJ in this run so far irritates me. I do not buy the 'MJ and Peter are platonic best friends' dynamic at all and the scenes with her interacting with Carly are tough to read.

Marla's death makes sense in that she has never really been much of a presence in the series. Although the moment itself and its immediate aftermath are relatively well written, it's more about what comes after.

The .1 issue is more of a showcase for Flash as Venom. It's fun though and Slott and Ramos working on the character has novelty value. As a trailer for the Remender series it works well and made me want to re-read my copies.

The next arc is No One Dies - now we are talking. This is a truly brilliant arc. Marcos Martin is peerless - in my opinion he is up there with Romita Sr as a Spider-Man artist and it is a great shame that he has only illustrated a dozen or so issues. He brings so much to the table and pretty much every panel in this two parter has a richness and depth that few modern comics artists can offer.

The story itself is terrific. It feels taught, tense and emotionally charged. Even though I've read it before I was on the edge of my seat. I love the way it pivots from a surreal dream sequence straight into an intense action sequence. Just enough detail is given on Massacre's backstory is given to make him a compelling character, and the climactic sequence is brilliantly written. I remember the loss of Spidey's spider-sense getting quite irritating, but in this two parter it is a novel idea and makes the action sequences immediately compelling.

Much better than I remember and one of my favourite modern Spider-Man arcs. I think this merits an A+!

[exile001]

I absolutely LOVED Spider-Man putting "No One Dies" on himself. It is so on brand for the character!

I also feel it's a little commentary on how a lot of heroes at the time were more about mopping up the aftereffects of villain rampages/campaigns rather than actually getting out and protecting/saving people. This was particularly egregious at DC at the time.