COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Last “Thwipp” for 2013 Edition

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #700.1

With Amazing Spider-Man #700.1, David Morrell accomplishes the remarkable feat of writing an enjoyable Spider-Man yarn that has practically no elements of humor in it at all. At first glance, it would perhaps be easy to dismiss the story as one that could easily be told with a different character. However, at its very core, it’s a tale about Peter Parker – what makes him tick, what he has to deal with on a regular basis, and what happens when he decides he’s tired of being the selfless superhero his Uncle Ben helped him grow up to be. There’s a very heavy theme of sickness, cold, and death in this story, which was originally pitched by Morrell as a two-issue limited series called Spider-Man: Frost. A previously untold tale set in the character’s past, it’s especially powerful and moving, considering that Peter is currently dead and Otto Octavius is busy masquerading as him in the “main” Spider-title. Handling art duties is Klaus Janson, whose work looks like what you’d get if you were to take the best elements of the Romitas’ art styles (Sr. and Jr.) and put them together.

VERDICT: 10/10

 ———————————————–

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN #24

The Superior Venom makes his presence known to the Marvel Universe in Superior Spider-Man #24. Dan Slott takes just the right amount of action, drama, suspense, and humor, puts them all in a blender, and slathers the frothy results all over the Spider-verse. Otto-Peter continues to be a Superior jerkwad to everyone Peter Parker cares about, and now he has taken it a step further by arrogantly and forcefully assuming control of the Venom symbiote. Humberto Ramos’s energetic characters and dynamic poses make this comic a rollercoaster of a read, and with the Avengers slated to face off against the Superior Venom in the next issue, it looks like we’re in for a succession of large, thrilling loops. Slott and co. are certainly building up momentum for the upcoming Goblin Nation storyline, which promises to be THE Superior Spider-Man story. For the meantime, though, this story arc certainly seems to be the Darkest Hours in the Spider-verse, though maybe not for the Superior Spider-Man himself.

VERDICT: 10/10

———————————————–

SUPERIOR SPIDER-MAN TEAM-UP #8

Just when the Superior Spider-Man finds himself humbled (and ponders doing the right thing by revealing his deception to the Avengers), the equally haughty Namor shows up to accidentally (and effectively) undo the lessons that the web-slinging pretender learned during the last two issues of the title. Chris Yost writes an entertaining issue that shows exactly why Otto Octavius is beyond redemption. Will Sliney draws a youthful Namor and a slightly stockier Spider-Man, and the dark colors in the book combined with the sometimes stiff poses of the characters elicit feelings of dread and hopelessness that become fully apparent on the last page. Whereas Peter Parker typically swings off leaving hope and sunshine in his wake, whenever the Superior Spider-Man slings his webs, you just know that something sinister is underfoot. Overall, this issue is a satisfying epilogue for the Superior Six two-parter.

VERDICT: 8/10

———————————————–

SCARLET SPIDER #25

He tried to be a hero, but in his own mind, he failed. Kaine says goodbye to Houston, as Chris Yost and David Baldeon bid farewell to the Scarlet Spider ongoing series with issue #25. The Scarlet Spider’s final solo adventure has him facing off against mystical Spider-villain Shathra, who inadvertently causes him to reveal his Other form in front of a stunned crowd that included his friends and allies. Kaine’s superheroics aren’t over yet, though, as he and protege Aracely are set to join the New Warriors in an upcoming ongoing series. In fact, the last page of this issue has been confirmed to occur during the first few pages of New Warriors #1, making Scarlet Spider #25 less of a farewell and more of a transition.

VERDICT: 9/10

———————————————–

FlipGeeks and Druid’s Keep wish you a happy 2014 full of more new comics! Visit DK at the Fort Strip Mall in Bonifacio Global City to get your weekly comics fix.