Spectacular Spider-men 2 Preview

[Huntsman Spider]

It doesn't quite match up to The Boy who Collected Spider-man, but it justifies its existence in a world that already has The Boy Who Collected Spider-man. (Also, points for trying to emulate The Boy Who Collected Spider-man rather than Nobody Can Stop Kraven's Last Death of Jean de Carnage.)

True enough, yeah.

[Frontier]

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."

end of spoilers

[Rob London]

I like Detective Stebbens better too, and it's good to see a Spider-man writer who has clearly read and taken note of Taylor's run; but I think Spencer's run did a decent job of turning Carlie Cooper into a workable member of the supporting cast.
(I do not think that in the real world a doctor with Jane Foster's specialisms would be called upon to talk about forensic pathology, but that's comics for you. Everyone with a scientific background is a multidisciplinary genius.)

As per her last solo book, Jane Foster was working in the morgue, so it makes perfect sense that she'd be attending to the mystery skeleton here.

[GamerSlyRatchet]

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:

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.

end of spoilers

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.

[jsg2295]

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.

[Vegan]

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

[Kaitou D. Kid]

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 felt like Peter had a comeback for every quip Miles said. They seem to balance each other well.

Also, I think all the jabs are meant to be playful. Like, I don't see Miles as a character being serious about the patriarchy-speak joke.

[Frontier]

Honestly I wonder how differently Weisman would write Peter if Miles wasn't there.

[Huntsman Spider]

Honestly I wonder how differently Weisman would write Peter if Miles wasn't there.

Having someone to banter and goof around with does make a difference, even for those of us who are more serious.

[GamerSlyRatchet]

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 felt like Peter had a comeback for every quip Miles said. They seem to balance each other well.

Also, I think all the jabs are meant to be playful. Like, I don't see Miles as a character being serious about the patriarchy-speak joke.

I actually want Josh Keaton and Zeno Robinson to dub over that conversation. Maybe the playfulness of it will be more obvious.

[Frontier]

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.

That really wouldn't work out naturally in 616.

[GamerSlyRatchet]

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.

[Frontier]

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.

It's funny when writers bring up stuff from runs you read that even you forgot about.

[Huntsman Spider]

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.

It's funny when writers bring up stuff from runs you read that even you forgot about.

Funny and cool. Really shows he's doing his homework.

[Batman Begins 2005]

Honestly I wonder how differently Weisman would write Peter if Miles wasn't there.

I'd prefer without and I like Miles Morales. I didn't like this issue as much as the last. I agree with jsg2295.