Yes, the book that even we at Marvel have started calling “F’n Spider-Man” has its fourth issue–and second one by me–out this week.
Whad’ja think?
PAD
Yes, the book that even we at Marvel have started calling “F’n Spider-Man” has its fourth issue–and second one by me–out this week.
Whad’ja think?
PAD
• 
This is no slight towards you, Mr. David, but I’m hating The Other. And really, trying to “head us off at the pass” by making fun of the crazy stuff (spider-stingers) in the book before the fans can do it really doesn’t make it any better for me.
I’m undecided on whether I’ll follow F’n Spider-Man, or just stop reading all the Spidey titles.
Peter, While I have to admit I am not enjoying the overall storyline of “The Other”, I am completely enjoying your writing on Spider-Man. The overall feel of your writing brings me back to my favorite stories of the mid/late 70s and early 80s, which i consider to be the best Spider-Man stories written. In the little sample I have seen from you, I feel as if you completely understand the nature and personality of all the characters in a way I have not seen in years. It is a very fun read, and I really hope this book does well so you can stick around on it a good long while.
Mike
Agreed. The Other storyline has made me call it quits again and I’ve stopped all orders from my supplier. And that was just from the issue where they took Spidey’s eye out. That was enough for me and I haven’t even seen the issue with the costume change yet. The purported image is horrible. What happened to just good stories?
I like your writing on the title. Spider-Man’s a funny guy, and he goes along well with your style. I have to say, and as with others, it’s no slight towards you, PAD, that I’m not a fan of the changes brought about with “The Other” storyline, though. — Matt
and I haven’t even seen the issue with the costume change yet.
I’ve seen it, and I can’t say I care for it in the least.
I wonder if this one will last as long as the new one Superman got a few years back.
TypeKey seems to be stuck, so I’ll do this without signing in…
I haven’t ever really read comics, at least not the way we’re talking about here. I do have a number of comics, mostly trades but some individual issues, but that’s usually outside-the-norm stuff–not part of the major lines or even characters. Watchmen, Sandman, V For Vendetta, etc. I’ve certainly never followed a story issue-by-issue before; the hallmark of wanting to get backstory first, I suppose. I have what I’m sure qualifies as a slight obsessive tendency–I can’t handle starting in the middle of a story. Every time I’ve considered starting to follow a comic issue-by-issue, I’ve run into the problem of the enormous history. (Neither of the Big Two Companies has much claim to sanity in that department–though Marvel’s DVDs of the backstory for some of its series might do the trick for me. Or I could just get over it.)
The upshot of all of this is that I was planning to start following F’n Spider-Man, but then I saw “The Other.” I was already torn on that–big crossover events are a mess, and then there’s the backstory problem, but on the other hand…two of the writers are Peter David and J. Michael Straczynski. I’m nothing if not loyal. External forces made the decision for me: the combination of being broke and never being able to find all the issues at once adds up to I haven’t started reading F’n Spider-Man; indeed, any of “The Other.”
Assuming my brokeness stops, I’m considering waiting for some form of trade PB for the “The Other” story and then going with F’n Spider-Man issue-by-issue, but I wonder how long the trade will take. (Any idea?)
My other concern is that after this crossover, I don’t know how the three lines will interact. Are they the same world? Different? How will whatever stories you tell interact with Marvel Knights and Amazing? Will I need to read them all? How does this work in these circumstances?
Assuming I don’t need to read everything (well, after “The Other” is over), and assuming I won’t feel there’s important backstory I’m missing because I haven’t been reading, then I might be able to get “The Other” somehow and then keep going with F’n Spider-Man…once I have some money coming in, of course.
This is a longwinded way of saying I’m hoping to start F’n Spider-Man, but have some reservations, and maybe getting some answers from the PADnoscenti.
TypeKey seems to be stuck, so I’ll do this without signing in…
I haven’t ever really read comics, at least not the way we’re talking about here. I do have a number of comics, mostly trades but some individual issues, but that’s usually outside-the-norm stuff–not part of the major lines or even characters. Watchmen, Sandman, V For Vendetta, etc. I’ve certainly never followed a story issue-by-issue before; the hallmark of wanting to get backstory first, I suppose. I have what I’m sure qualifies as a slight obsessive tendency–I can’t handle starting in the middle of a story. Every time I’ve considered starting to follow a comic issue-by-issue, I’ve run into the problem of the enormous history. (Neither of the Big Two Companies has much claim to sanity in that department–though Marvel’s DVDs of the backstory for some of its series might do the trick for me. Or I could just get over it.)
The upshot of all of this is that I was planning to start following F’n Spider-Man, but then I saw “The Other.” I was already torn on that–big crossover events are a mess, and then there’s the backstory problem, but on the other hand…two of the writers are Peter David and J. Michael Straczynski. I’m nothing if not loyal. External forces made the decision for me: the combination of being broke and never being able to find all the issues at once adds up to I haven’t started reading F’n Spider-Man; indeed, any of “The Other.”
Assuming my brokeness stops, I’m considering waiting for some form of trade PB for the “The Other” story and then going with F’n Spider-Man issue-by-issue, but I wonder how long the trade will take. (Any idea?)
My other concern is that after this crossover, I don’t know how the three lines will interact. Are they the same world? Different? How will whatever stories you tell interact with Marvel Knights and Amazing? Will I need to read them all? How does this work in these circumstances?
Assuming I don’t need to read everything (well, after “The Other” is over), and assuming I won’t feel there’s important backstory I’m missing because I haven’t been reading, then I might be able to get “The Other” somehow and then keep going with F’n Spider-Man…once I have some money coming in, of course.
This is a longwinded way of saying I’m hoping to start F’n Spider-Man, but have some reservations, and maybe getting some answers from the PADnoscenti.
Well I’ve just read all the responses above and I guess I’ll extend the unanimity.
I like Peter David’s writing. And I like the return of Flash Thompson. But this whole spider mysticism is not Spider-Man’s kind of story. His origin is quasi-scientific not quasi-magical. That and the whole eye-gouged out, beaten to death, cocoon metamorphosis thing has all the trappings of another clone saga that will need to be discarded in a couple of years.
Just write good stories.That doesn’t mean altering everything beyond recognition.
A great issue even with PAD being forced to wade through the Other storyline that was handed from above. The snappy and enjoyable dialogue that makes PAD work exellent is there, this is the Spider-Man that I know. Stingers and whatever else Marvel has in the works will be cast off in due time like the whole Clone Saga snafu. I am not worried.
I’ve waiting long for PAD to come back to the Hulk, X-Factor and Spidey. And with each return to these titles, I have YET to be disappointed in his work. Just disappointed in Marvel’s grand scheme of things.
Nice issue, I’ve liked “The Other” a lot so far. Previous month was great, hopefully this last month can top it.
Haven’t read the issue Hudlin wrote yet, but the final month is off to a good start.
PAD + Spidey = goodness.
JMS’s mysticism fetish + Spidey = godawful
Therefore, I’m looking forward to Peter David, post Other
When JMS first introduced this “totem” storyline it was a breath of fresh air to stale Spidey books and I fell in love with the character again after Byrne & co had driven me away. So, it’s no wonder I had high hopes for this storyline… and well I wasn’t disappointed.
Okay, I didn’t exactly love the middle three issues written by the BP writer Reggie Hudlin but the rest of the story has been very entertaining.
Hopefully whatever changes Spidey is going through will be addressed in every Spidey book after this event is over, I didn’t like how the story where he got the organics was pretty much forgotten afterwards. Maybe it wasn’t a good story (I certainly didn’t like it) but when you make a big change like that it shouldn’t be (almost) totally ignored.
So, good work with The Other – I’m sticking with FNSM after the event is over too, as long as Quesada’s “second genie” doesn’t turn out to be “unmarrying” Spider-Man. In that case not even PAD and JMS can keep me reading.
I have to agree with the previous opinions about The Other storyline. Personally, I’m not sure why it’s needed, ut I tend to subscribe to the ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ school of thought. I’ve read all the issues, buying the David and JMS issues and just reading the other ones while in the local Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc. That way I can keep up with what’s going on, but not getting soaked for the price of several issues I don’t want.
Peter, I still find it difficult to offer an objective opinion about the book until The Other storyline is over. The characters are very well-defined and the dialogue is up to your usual standards, but I’ve got to say, the artwork does nothing for me. I’m sure this is completely subjective, but I don’t really care for that simplistic Manga-esque style that seems to be filling a lot of the Marvel books lately, and unfortunately Wieringo’s work seems to fit that category. The facial expressions are not all that compelling, and I wouldn’t have been able to identify several characters if not for the dialogue identifying who they are, and I’ve been a Marvel reader since comic books cost a dime.
As for all this fuss about a new costume, none of it’s going to last for very long, for reasons that have nothing to do with creative concerns. In the end, Spider-Man is a tremendous cash cow from a merchandising point of view, and Marvel isn’t about to compromise the licenses by changing the costume permanently. Unless they gave Spidey’s costume the silverized webbing of the films that it, but even then, the basic silhouette is the same. So all this new costume discussion is just a lot of fuss about nothing. Superman’s basic costume will never change. Neither will Batman’s and neither will Spider-Man’s. There’s just too much corporate money riding on the status quo.
…Wait, someone GOUGED OUT SPIDEY’S EYE?
He has Ben Reilly’s stingers?
He’s gonna look like Iron Man?
AUNT MAY was Iron Man for an issue?
Did some smoke weed around me or something?
Peter, is Spider-Man going to get organic webshooters? I hope he does, because I’m more into that development than I am “spider-stingers.” Other than that I’m loving this title. It’s by far the funniest Spider-Man comic out there (well, at least issues 1 and 4, respectively). Keep ’em coming.
-Nathan
He all ready has organic webshooters. They were introduced in the Spider Man Disassembled story arc in Peter Parker Spider Man.
I’m in the same boat as several other people here. I like your writing, but I’m glad that The Other will be over soon. I’m also hoping that there won’t be another crossover after this one. I don’t want to buy 3 Spidey titles a month just to follow the story. I just want to buy F’n Spidey.
The one thing that worries me is Flash. I see that he’s lost the memories of his interactions with Peter since High school. He referred to Peter as “Puny Parker”, which is antagonistic, but he seemed like he might not mean it that way. I’m really hoping this doesn’t regress to him being a jerk to Peter.
From how it read, it could be that Flash doesn’t remember how their relationship changed over the years, but he’s still matured and might be a good guy to Peter now. If that’s the case, then I look forward to reading it.
You know, I don’t really mind Spider-Man’s powers having a mystical or quasi-mystical origin, although you really would think Dr. Strange would have noticed and mentioned it to him during one of their many, many team-ups.
However, I do think Marvel (not you, Mr. David, in particular) really missed a bet by making the Spider-spirit or Spider-god so deadly serious and so focused on hunting things. There’s a perfectly good Spider deity in real world mythology and folklore who could have been behind Spidey’s powers and explained a lot of things, including his tendency to crack wise while in costume and the many strange coincidences that constantly intrude on his life. I speak, of course, of Anansi, the trickster Spider of West African origin. And no, I doubt Gaiman would have accused anybody of plagiarism, considering that myth and folklore are public domain, so long as he didn’t call himself Mr. Nancy…
Oh, well. Maybe in another decade or two when somebody decides Spider-Man needs another makeover as an African-American teenager or something of the sort…
Anansi was mentioned earlier in JMS’ ASM run and if I recall correctly he was mentioned again during “The Other” too.
>He has Ben Reilly’s stingers?
I wish. He has big bone-like stabbers that come out from under his wrists, Wolverine-style.
“Over 38,000 species of spiders have been identified, but because of their great ability for hiding, it is believed that about 200,000 species exist.”
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiders
Storylines galore await the inquisitive.
Haven’t read any of The Other yet.
I just read through the 10 volumes of JMS’ Spidey in TPB and have overall quite enjoyed them; I’ll be picking up The Other HC when it comes out in, what, six months or so?
What the–
Are you people insane? This is a FREAKING AWESOME storyline! I rarely even GLANCE at the Marvel section (aside from Astonishing X-Men), much less buy their stuff. “The Other” has me completely hooked. I’m all for the “totem” aspects being brought into Peter’s nature…dealing with the “spider” in the “man.” And it makes me anxious to see how Peter deals with these changes in himself – and what his reaction will be when MJ finally tells him about his whole Jeffrey Dahmer routine on Morlun.
I haven’t bought a Spider-Man title in years and years, and I was still able to follow this storyline, so I don’t get the bìŧçhìņg there.
I DO agree that the new costume is just godawful, though. I mean…no. Just…no. I give it four months, tops. Besides, Spidey’s a franchise. They can’t screw with the outfit forever.
Oh, I just noticed one other thing about the comic. It was dense. Really dense.
When I was reading it, I got about 3/4ths of the way through and thought it was running long. It must have extra pages.
I just flipped through it and counted. Nope, 22 pages. Even though it was regular size, it felt like a lot happened. I like that.
>I haven’t bought a Spider-Man title in years and years, and I was still able to follow this storyline, so I don’t get the bìŧçhìņg there.
That is possibly the reason that you don’t get the “bìŧçhìņg”. I have been reading the character nearly non-stop for over 30 years and he is unrecognizable to me under JMS’s tenure. That is my biggest area of contention with the current incarnation of the character. The story is not hard to follow and JMS’s skills at storytelling has never been in doubt to me. His take on this particular character has come across as shoehorning his story ideas and character responses into a fictional universe with a cast of character in which they don’t fit.
Jeez. I enjoyed PAD’s issues! And I’m of a wait and see approach. I wait till I read the whole darn story before making comments. Good lord PAD I’m not suprised you stop posting at comicboards.com/smb SHEESH! I’ll admit I’m not a fan of the well to paraphase Spidey from MK “Wolverine talon/stinger envy” but I’m willing to give it a chance. Wow guys you come off well mean.
Just to add one more to the yays. Here’s mine.
I loved this ish. From Stark cracking wise, “A little attention is all…” to Aunt May taking a stand, I was basking in Spidey goodness.
See, I still don’t get why you’ve never written Iron Man, PAD. I think you’d write a really fun Iron Man comic, something that book has been missing for years. I’m not saying Stark should be Peter with the quips, but he’s a smartass, and I miss that aspect of the character, which you seem to get.
I really don’t have a problem with the Other storyline either. I think it’s been well written, aside from the Reggie issues, which I only flipped. Can’t stand that guy’s writing. Iron May being a great example of why. And Ringo, man. I absolutely loved the last splash page of that issue where Peter died and Iron Man carried him off. Just gorgeous stuff. I’m in for more FNSM. enjoying every page. And I agree with Jason Bryant. This issue seemed long on story, and I was shocked to see that it was only 22 pp. It seemed like so much happened. Of course, I had just read a Bendis comic right before that, so maybe that’s my problem. I like the guy, but he sure does make with the talky.
Keep it up PAD. And maybe reconsider throwing a Stark pitch to the powers that be. I think you’d write a killer IM.
LOVE PAD’s fn spider-man!
Love your writing of the Peter/MJ relationship. So excited to see Flash in the book again – please show more of Peter’s time at school than has been shown over the past couple years in other titles. Great to see jj and robbie – i would love to see them more involved in future stories.
I am impressed with how all-ages you have made this book – something both my 10 year old son and i can enjoy.
Wieringo’s art was terrific – i think it really fits the tone of the book well – also liked his FF stuff.
I have really enjoyed the Other storyline (except the Hudlin’s Aunt May and MJ in iron man armor, and peter getting his hair braided with his death any minute). I think that the new developments on the origin are great – I mean he has been around for 40 years – without any change things get a little stale.
Anyway loved the book – hoping that you will stay with this title for a long time!
This issue has convinced me of at least one thing.
A JMS-PAD Aunt May series would get my money.
So far, I am enjoying your series quite a bit but, like some of the others here, I am not enjoying the Other storyline. I enjoyed the “Tracer” storyline (not including the Peter going to die part, and I enjoyed this issue, except for the changes to Peter’s powers/anatomy.
What saddens me is the fear that even after The Other ends, the series is going to be bogged down in JMS’s machinations. Is he going to be in the new costume by next issue? Everything I hear online indicates that the new costume thing is JMSs story to steer, even though it is going to be in all the books. The idea of Spidey in a Stark-made, gizmo-equipt super-suit does not appeal to me, but then, neither does the idea of Spider-Man living in Avengers mansion and having only MJ, May, and a buttload of superheroes as supporting cast.
What bugs me (no pun intended) is that… Marvel has three major ongoing Spider-Man books, so the opportunity exists to let each of them be different, have it’s own focus or flavor. But instead, they all seem to be steered into the same area- Spidey the Avenger, living in Avengerland. I already read New Avengers, I don’t need them in the Spider-Man books. Let Peter get his own place again, and bring back Jonah, Robbie, Betty, Glory… you know, the normal human people Peter can interact with?
Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man #4 is the perfect example of why I’m sticking with this title while dropping AMS and just about every non-Slott, non-PAD comic being produced by Marvel.
This issue was filled with so many great moments and you managed to touch on, in just one issue, almost all of Peter’s friends and family. Flash is going to be teaching at Pete’s school! Tony, Hank, and Reed are all geeking out over Pete’s new DNA! Aunt May throws her weight around! Mary Jane confuses Wolverine! Pete and MJ go webswinging! MJ makes a concealed gensture at JJJ! Creeeeeepy spider powers! Crazy cannibal pirate ninja spiders taking over Stark Tower!
Now, I’m interested in what changes you have in store for Peter and MJ after The Other concludes. I can take or leave the whole business with the Spider-Totem or the New Avengers or this new costume design. They’re not why I pick up FNSM, and I don’t suspect they’ll detract from the stories if they’re included. I read for the character moments and interactions, of which you’ve supplied an abundance. Thanks for a great issue.
Matt Rigdon
“bring back Jonah, Robbie, Betty, Glory”
No, I’d really rather that the Bugle staff stay in the past.
Mainly, I think J.J.J. is completely drained dry. I think I’ve seen everything that character could ever do at least 4 times.
Also, Peter’s just moved on. Being a photographer was fine as a part time job in high school and college. To still be doing your high school part time job after all these years would be kinda sad.
I *like* that he’s teaching school now. Sure, it gets into the usual super-hero problems of always having to duck out of work, but it’s *progress*. He’s got something that he can really treat as a career. Something that actually uses his intellect. I agree that some more non-super supporting cast is necessary, but the school is the best place to focus it. Flash as a coach and Peter as a science teacher, that sounds like it has more potential than going back to the Bugle again.
I remain extremely excited about Peter David writing a Spider-Man book. However, I think that the current storyline has been extremely poor, and trying to explain it to other comic fans has resulted in disbelief on their part. I know that sales have been good, but I’m not sure if this storyline will hold up in the future. I think it’s pretty likely that there will be a long-term backlash. Right now, it reminds me way too much of all the things that were bad with the 90s comic scene.
I am greatly looking forward to seeing Peter’s work on Spidey once things stabilize. For now, I’m just waiting for all of this to be over.
It is kind of weird to add a mysticism element to the Spider-Man mythos, but I dig yours and JMS’s issues. Reggie Hudlin on the other hand makes my eyes bleed. (Although nothing was as bad as the SM HoM crossover)
And since Venom/Eddie Brock isn’t around, I’m glad to at least see something kidn of fill that void of an opposite/equal to Spider-Man.
I would also like to chime in with the fact that i’ve enjoyed some aspects of the storyline (even reggie’s issues – the first i’ve read of his because I can’t stand Pat Lees art)but overall it has left me feeling majorly underwhelmed.
I too have been reading spidey for about 30 yrs (i’m 34!) and have to say that he’s not been written so well at all since PAD left in the 80’s-90’s. The one thing I always loved about spidey was his rich supporting cast and the best runs have involved them in suprising ways. Tom DeFalco, Roger Stern,PAD, Gerry Conway’s 80’s-90’s run, J m DeMatties, they have all picked up on the fundementals of a great spidey run, great supporting characters and above all else MYSTERIES!
I loved all those “who is the new bad ášš villian behind the mask – which of peters friends was it this time?” I don’t think that ever gets tired.
Also the great thing is with having such a rich supporting cast is the fact that we care about them as much as spidey himself, and when it gets tough to do anything new with peter himself – the writers can rely on the other cast to make lasting changes too. This helps enormously with keeping things fresh and that ever elusive illusion of change.
Now Peter I have high hopes that you can bring these elements back to spidey – i think we are on the same wavelength, now go do it already??!!
Please.
And don’t get me started on that god awful new costume……..(although it does look better in that latest drawing).
I never read Spider-Man regulary, but I followed the series now and then, as I grew up with the character, and everybody likes Spider-Man. I was very interested in JMS take on the character, but I left pretty fast as it disappointed me dearly. I tried to go on board now and then again, but no, this isn´t stuff I enjoy.
This whole mystizism thing is plain out wrong for the character. It makes PP everyman into PP the Chosen one. From It could be you into In every generation there will be a Chosen one *g to borrow a line. This is so a fundamentally change in the character, and it is a change I have absolutly zero interest in.
I am not against change. And I don´t say these are badly done comics. Of course they are not from a craftsman point of view. And if new generations of readers enjoy this take and buy the stuff, good for Marvel. But as an old time reader I am permanently out for the time.
Same goes for the Gwen Stacey story. It was horrible misconceived. I don´t have a problem with the concept per se, such things happen, yes, but Gwen and creepy old Norman Osborn? With Flash, with Harry, with the nice neighbour, yes, but Osborn? I can´t muster enough suspense of disbelief for that.
I was very tempted to go an board again with FNSM, but after reading about the planed arc I lost interest, and it was the right thing to do. Why buy stuff which I won´t enjoy?
Very often nowadays you as a consumer of the Big Two have to make a decision. Will I enjoy a favorite creators work despite hating the overall direction of the character? I know PADs writing and I do enjoy it, hëll, he even sold me Hulk, a character I always had zero interest in and never ever bought before his run. But is it enough to make me forget company enforced concepts which I don´t enjoy for even a second?
Sadly the answer in most cases is no, not any longer.
iron spider-man …
yeah it caught me. Ðámņ those marvel think tanks! I’ve been spider-man comic free since todd! Ðámņ all you dirty web crawler to hëll!!
ps: i’m getting two issues before of and after this new custom
pss: i’m still saying dámņ you under my breath
Add another vote for “Love PAD’s writing, despise the current Spider-Man creative direction.”
Normally I would pick up anything written by PAD sight unseen, no questions asked, no dollar amount too much.
But, sorry PAD, I won’t spend money on “The Other” – and it’s doubtful whether I will buy a Spider-Man book again until the current powers that be leave.
I did flip through the issue and, as great it was to see your trademark wit at work and return of the forgotten Flash, it’s not enough to make up for the fact that the current books have completely lost sight of who Peter Parker is and why Spider-Man is such an unique, resonant character.
But I look forward to your other projects.
The other is great, your issues are the best of the story.
I can’t wait to finally see the clone killed in the 12th chapter.
Thanks for a great story peter.
I don’t mind the mysticism – I thought it was interesting to have scientist spidey have to deal with this twist on What He Always Knew. I don’t mind this Other stuff, assuming it’s fleshed out in a decent way and not a one-note villan with incomprehensible motivations – “magic” or “balance” is NOT a motivation. I don’t even necessarily mind crossovers, though I am always assume they’re marketing garbage rather than necessary for the story. When I’m proven wrong it’s often a pleasant experience.
However I’m completely unhappy with how this “Other” storyline has been handled between the books. The back and forth and uneven schedule would have made pacing tough to begin with, what with some weeks having 2 books and others having none, but the jump back and forth between writers has made it just flat-out horrible in my opinion. I like both PD and JMS’s work on their own, but the back and forth between them and Hudlin (who I find pretty forgetable) has been completely uneven. The whole thing has managed to seem both drawn-out and rushed at the same time, no small feat.
I’m sorry PD, if I could view the issues completely independently they’re quite well done. As a stew, however, this Other stuff has been inedible. To quote “The State,” two great tastes that taste WEIRD together.
Haven’t read all the comments yet, but it seems like it was a good idea on my part to skip reading F’N Spider-Man until after the ‘Other’ storyline is complete.
PAD on another icon like Spider-Man is a great idea, I just wish he could have started with his own stories from day one. As for the costume change I’ve read about: Of course it won’t last. Again, certain character’s costumes are just too iconic to mess with in any large manner; Captain America, Superman, and Spider-Man being perfect examples. It seems like changes like this last a year maximum, then go back to ‘normal’.
Count me in with those who love your writing, but aren’t sure yet just where this whole storyline is going. ‘Wait and see.’
To those who complain about the changes in his life, I think it’s great that he’s now with the Avengers, living in Stark Tower. He’s grown up. And with his friends and his intellect, housing problems really should be a thing of the past, even for Spider-Man in New York. It would be nice if he had occasion to visit the Bugle from time to time for whatever reason, but that part of his life really is behind him. I do concur that he and MJ splitting up again would just about kill it for me. They are too great together to part yet again.
May and Jarvis? OK, didn’t see that coming. I doubt they’ll dare take it to a permanent thing, but I certainly wouldn’t mind.
A new costume design? Gods, so many changes have begged to be done over the years. Incorporate a breath screen for example. Peter’s been gassed so many times you’d think he’d have done it years back. Night vision? Light armour – not heavy as this would interfere with his trademark speed and agility – would work for me. Since he’s now part of a team, communications gear is a must. With Stark’s tech behind him, I can imagine a lot of other things he could build in, but should he is the question? He could well wind up figuratively tripping all over himself trying to handle those all the while using his long-ingrained fighting style.
As for the art, “…simplistic, Manga-esque…” is not being entirely fair to the manga genre. Sure, there are some fairly simplistic artists (look at popular Takahashi Rumiko), but there are also popular, ultra-detailed and realistic artists such as VIDEO GIRL AI and I”S(sic)’ Masazaku Katsura. But, yes, the art isn’t what it could be. That’s the trouble with all the titles Marvel, DC and others are putting out. Not enough really good artists to go around.
Here’s my big question about the costume changes. After the Iron Spider costume goes away, will the costume go 100% back to the original? If it went back, but the changed the back logo to the one the movie uses, I wouldn’t be surprised. Making a minor change after such a major change wouldn’t cause *near* the outcry as if they’d changed to the movie version immediately.
I have to say, I’ve enjoyed this storyline for the most part. I’m siding with the folks who point out that the character needs to move forward; 30 years of housing problems is getting old, for example. As for the new costume, I would ask how long the symbiote costume lasted. If memory serves, it was over a year or so, wasn’t it? Personally, except for the colors, I think the new look is pretty good. I’d prefer blue where the yellow is, just because that’s such a spidey trademark, but otherwise, why not change it some? In the end, though, I think the other Jason above probably has the inside track, and we’ll see another costume change right around the release of the movie next summer to bring the comics and movies together. And that’d be a good thing, because the more they tie the movie and comics together, the more people will pick up a comic and the more the industry will prosper.
I’m with the… ummm…. others. “The Other” totally blows. The Peter David Spider-man bits you’ve managed to work in around the edges are chicken soup for the Spidey-Lover’s soul.
I love the humor in the book, it fits in perfectly with Spider-Man’s smart-áršë persona. I mean, sure, MJ flipping JJJ “the bird” was total cheese, but dammed if it wasn’t FUNNY cheese.
I rolled my eyes at the “Puny Parker” crack, but you know — upon reflection — I sort of look forward to the prospect of the jock/nerd conflict growing up into the coach/sciene teacher conflict.
I can’t wait for this ‘other’ nonsense to end, and for you to be able to get back to straight-ahead, web-balls-to-the-wall spider-mantics.
I mean, stingers? That’s just dumb. Spiders don’t even have freakin’ stingers (god, this isn’t the return of The Hornet, is it?).
Are you going to have to use the new Spidey suit? I’d rather see Mike drawing the classic read and blue than this silly red-and-gold nonsense.
Anyway, keep making with the whoopee and the wisecracks and I’ll be there.
Starwolf, I certainly wasn’t dismissive of the Manga style as such in my earlier post, which is why I said ‘Manga-esque’ to indicate that maybe it’s the style that certain Marvel artists are trying to emulate. While that style isn’t necessarily my bag, I can understand there’s an obvious following; otherwise we wouldn’t be having this discussion when talking about a Spider-Man book.
I realize these things go in cycles, depending on what is popular at the moment, and what kind of influences the artists of the moment have. I still remember the Liefeld-esque period, in which every other character seemed to have huge legs, huge torsos and tiny heads, so I suppose we should be thankful for small favors. Personally, I come from the Kirby era of the sixties, a period that lasted to extent, into the nineties, dovetailing with the aforementioned Liefeld period, although none of them were ever as good as the King at his peak.
Going back to the new costume discussion, I can just imagine the boardroom discussion with Joe Quesada, Avi Arad and some big-name licensees, where Marvel was probably saying, ‘Don’t worry, we’re just doing this costume thing for a few months to goose sales figures a bit, but we promise, everything will be status quo by the time Spider-Man 3 comes out!’ Mark my words.
Like’s Peter’s characterization, liked MJ’s characterzation. Liked them as a couple’s characterzation.
Didn’t like..knowing all of that is going out the window.
So Peter is now displaying abilities and characteristics of different spiders…I assume he’ll be killing and eating Mary Jane durring Civil War?
I liked it. I was a bit ticked that the second and third issues of the book were not by Peter, and thought I’d abandon the entire “Other” storyline and resume with Friendly when it was over, but I picked up this ish at the store and leafed through it, and decided I liked what I saw enough to buy it. It was a good read.
A couple of things, though:
-I’m still getting used to the (to me) new status quo of Peter, MJ and Aunt May living in a huge-ášš tower, with Peter’s civilian ID known to everyone else, yadda yadda yadda, but why is Wolverine there? I mean, I gather that the X-Men have outed themselves and are now publicly known to live at the X-Mansion, so they may no longer be outcast renegades and stuff, but is Wolverine now an Avenger? When did this happen?
-Flash says he probably hasn’t seen Peter since high school. I was a regular reading of Amazing and Spectacular during the Michelenie/McFarlane/Larsen run on the former, and the Gerry Conway/Sal Buscema run on the latter, and Peter was friends with Flash as adults. Was this all retconned, or something? If so, when did this happen?
Thanks.
Luigi, a couple of answers.
Yep, Wolvie is an Avenger now. It’s Captain America, Iron Man, Spidey, Luke Cage, Spider-Woman, Wolverine, and the Sentry. So there are several people who we don’t usually think of as Avengers.
Flash doesn’t remember Peter after high school. If you’ll look one page earlier, the principal was asking Flash about brain damage that he had received. Flash tells him that chunks of his memory have been lost.
I enjoyed the issue – there were a lot of funny moments (including the slightly subtle one with Mary Jane and the pigeon), and it moved the storyline along nicely.
When Flash Thompson turned up, I did get a feeling of “my continuity sense is tingling!”, but the coma does explain that. (I wasn’t reading the Spidey titles when the coma itself happened, so I don’t know the details involved.) So, I guess this is analogous to the Hulk/Nightmare situation, where the holes in his memory are vague enough to account for any glitches. Or like Hypertime, for that matter, although that’s not a term I’ve heard used in the last few years (despite the initial controversy).
I don’t have any strong feelings about “The Other” as a whole. My main concern was that I wouldn’t get much out of the individual issues if I didn’t read the whole thing, but that’s turned out not to be a problem. So far I’ve read all of PAD’s issues (which were good), all of JMS’s (reasonable), and the first of Hudlin’s (pretty dire – how do you screw up a Hulk appearance when your co-writer knows the character inside out?). I gave up on Hudlin’s “Black Panther” after the first 6 issues, which seemed like a reasonable trial period, so I wasn’t inclined to give him the benefit of the doubt by buying 3 more of his issues in this crossover, but I’ve still been able to follow the story as a whole – congratulations to PAD/JMS for that.