spoilers:end of spoilers
Weisman doing what he does best weaving characters and elements from different runs/eras into one cohesive whole. Like we've got Stebbens from Tom Taylor's FNSM, Carlie from BND, and even Shift from Miles' book. Oh, and Jane Foster appears too I guess.
Miles definitely took the lead in this issue, getting chummy (and possibly chummier than Peter) with all the Coffee Bean regulars, dragging Peter to investigate what's going on with his friend, Shift showing up, and in general just being on top of things. Peter...comes off just kind of okay by comparison.
Seymour being The Jackal would be kind of too obvious, but I wonder if Aracade is involved in "Arcadium."
I liked this issue a bit more than the first one. Peter's opening scene makes it clear he's more prone at being immature around Miles than in general, while Miles is both picking up on Peter's bad habits and is nowhere as mature he pretends to me. Their banter felt better as well. The "elsewhere" intersections also feel less random now that the overall story is becoming increasingly clear.
I'm glad we got an explanation as to why everyone at the Coffee Bean was shouting Peter and Miles's names in the Web of Spider-Man segment. That probably takes places after this arc.
spoilers:end of spoilers
It seems like Arcade and his mysterious associate are putting people in VR simulations, which allows them to live out their fantasies at the cost of their sanity, as we see with poor Cedric. Turk besting the courtroom and Daredevil, the lesbian couple in Italy, the actor singing "The Will to Love" from W.I.T.C.H. to an outstanding ovation, etc. I actually don't think all of that is related to the plot with the corpse and Jackal. And Raymond pointing out that Seymour ordered his brother's drink seems significant.
My favorite part of the issue is the discovery of Shift helping the Vermin clones adapt to society by having them protect and assist the homeless people in the sewers. It's a sweet sentiment and it kind of reminds me of what Weisman did with the Labyrinth in Gargoyles where the mutates and the gargoyle clones join a homeless society underground.
My only issue is Ramos's art. I felt it wasn't as strong as the previous issue. Cedric makes a particularly questionable face. I also didn't find the sole fight in this show as exciting as the Jackal one in the previous issue.
My blog. Latest entry: November 5th, 2022
I guess I’m being picky …it was an ok issue though I’m getting tired of miles being portrayed as the smart mature one to Peter.
Case in point the mutated cloned rats(vermin) that were in the sewers that were blamed on Peter not following up from a previous encounter and allowing them to roam freely.
I really feel bad for old Peter. Looks like a doofus in his main book and is portrayed as a lesser older not as hip or good as Miles in this book. Miles always correcting Peter for some faux pas Peter seems to commit.
I don’t read miles comic so I don’t know how the writer portrays him but judging from this book I imagine he is written a lot better than Petey.
I definitely understand the quibbles about Peter’s maturity level, but I’m mostly equating it to him feeling more relaxed and able to goof off with Miles being around, since he knows he’s with another capable hero. But honestly I’m just loving the fact that we got a whole fight where Peter doesn’t look like a moron who couldn’t punch his way through a wet paper bag. He looked pretty competent and cool. Taking down a bunch of Vermin isn’t an easy task even with help, so it’s very gratifying seeing him pull off being cool for the first time in like a year and a half
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Honestly I wonder how differently Weisman would write Peter if Miles wasn't there.
I like the idea of Peter and Miles bringing opposite qualities to each other, but the execution is a little iffy. It's better than just making Peter and Miles mentor and mentee again.
I actually want Josh Keaton and Zeno Robinson to dub over that conversation. Maybe the playfulness of it will be more obvious.
My blog. Latest entry: November 5th, 2022
There's a podcast series for this comic titled Spectacular Spider-Men: Between the Lines that provides commentary from Greg Weisman for each issue. It has some interesting information. For instance, I didn't know the homeless people (Miguel, Gracie, etc.) were also from Tom Taylor's Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man run.
My blog. Latest entry: November 5th, 2022