NEWS: I have had enough of 'Amazing' Spider-Man

So there I was, comic in hand, poised to read the latest issue (560) of Amazing Spider-Man (pictured below), when I had a feeling that hardly ever hits me. A feeling of utter boredom. A feeling I got - before I even opened the cover.

I'm sorry - I just couldn't bring myself to review this book. I can't do it - I hate the concept with a passion, and I despise its execution. Brand New Day is truly awful.

Therefore - as of today - Amazing Spider-Man has (very sadly - I am a big Spidey fan) come off my pull list.

And I feel compelled to urge you to do the same. Don't waste your money - it's just not turning out anything like a decent storyline.

For those new to the blog - click here to read how life could have been if Keith Planit had have been given a shot.



So no more Brand New Day for me. Off to The New Avengers for my Spidey fix now instead.

REVIEW: Amazing Spider-Man - 559

Oh dear. Those of you who read the Amazing Spider-Man issue 558 review will know that I wasn't overly impressed with it. In fact - I thought it was downright terrible.

And sadly - this comic doesn't go a great way towards making me feel better about Spidey's future. In fact - I'm just plain worried about it now.

Any Spider-Man book from Marvel should be, without question (at the very least), a four star book. Fans are crying out for good storylines, memorable characters, and resonating moments. Brand New Day has none of these. In fact - Brand New Day, practically eliminated the possibility if any of these, by wiping the slate clean.

Before I carry on - let's just remember the last time that the slate was wiped clean. Ben Reilly anyone? It took a lot of balls to tell the world that the Peter Parker we'd all been reading about for so many years, was in fact nothing more than a clone. Gutsy just doesn't describe it.

And possibly - it could have been good. It had a recipe for success (Peter and Mary Jane were still in the book, the comic world was 'accepting' him slowly, etc), but it got buggered up with poor standards.

If I take a step back from my previous comments about Brand New Day, and look at it objectively, this was another gutsy move by Marvel. It could gave been great. But instead, because of terrible delivery - it's becoming the bane of the Marvel Universe.

***SPOILER ALERT***

All this aside, this issue is a minor improvement on the last - focusing on Spider-Man's pursuit of ScrewBall (a villainess who streams her crimes over the internet), Peter Parker's choice to take a paparazzi assignment, and the introduction of yet another new throw away character - Paper Doll.

The scriptwork from Dan Slott is sadly anything but memorable (which is truly sad - as I am a fan of Dan's work on She-Hulk and The Thing), and the art offered by Marcos Martin leaves a lot to be desired.

Pete's Score: 2 out of 5
(if you're a fan, you might get something out of the book - but if not, this won't make you turn cartwheels)

REVIEW: Amazing Spider-Man - 558

Right - now, this review will make a whole lot more sense if you take two things into consideration. One - I'm skipping all the pages with adverts on them, focusing only on the story. Two - this review would probably work best with a copy of the issue - but I'd be surprised if you bought it after reading this.

But anyway...

--four pages into the book--

You know something bad is going to happen in a comic, when after only four pages you feel compelled to put the book down and post about how much you don't like it already. I did consider for a moment not writing this - but then I thought "nah - sod it - you're all probably thinking it too". I will however, carry on...

***SPOILER ALERT***

--five pages into the book--

Good lord, Curt Connors - GROW A SPINE! This has to be the most whiney version of Curt seen in a long time. Were he next to me - I'd be reaching for some sort of clubbing instrument right about now. Yes, you made a mistake, yes, there's nothing you can do to fix it, yes, you are useless, yes, you should take the Lizard formula and eat Aunt May to save Brand New Day...

--six pages into the book--

So you'll allow us to skip Spidey's costume change, but not the senseless recapping of a redundant storyline? Sounds like a plan Batman...

--eleven pages into the book--

'Menace' is back in town. And looking less 'menac-ing', and more 'return of the king' than ever before. If I may be so bold as to say so - what an utter waste of a character appearance.

--sixteen pages into the book--

Great. 'Freak' appears to have 'evolved' into something. I'm sure that'll spruce the story up some.

--twenty-two pages into the book--

Nope. Didn't.

--end--

What a steaming pile of @£$%. The best thing about this book? The promotional artwork on the ery last page, showcasing John Romita Jr's return to the book this summer. Please God let it be to the normal 'Same Old Day' and not this twisted mess.

Pete's Score: 1 out of 5
(no redeeming qualities whatsoever - avoid it and read Keith Planit's alternative instead)

FEATURE: Web Comic Wednesday Presents... 'Undoing Brand New Day'

I think if you've read any of my previous Amazing Spider-Man reviews, you'll have picked up on my distaste for the recent 'Brand New Day' concept. So when I stumbled across KiLLer WRiTer on myspace (actually Keith Planit), I was intrigued to hear that he'd been repairing the world of Spider-Man, undoing the damage issue by issue.

Now - I won't lie - I was pretty skeptical at first, but having read his alternate Amazing Spider-Man 547 - I have to say that this man knows Spidey, and should be given a shot at repairing the damage done.

Keith isn't trying to wipe the Civil War from the Marvel Universe's eyes - he's dealing with it just like Spider-Man should have - one step at a time.

So if you have a chance - check out 'Undoing Brand New Day' by clicking here, and signing up to Keith's blog. You won't regret it.

Get rid of Brand New Day - bring back Same Old Day.

REVIEW: The Amazing Spider-Man - 557

As I write this blog, after a (very) hard day's work - I find myself slumped in my chair, reflecting on the finer things in life.

Finer things such as the smile on my girlfriend's face in the morning, or the smell of freshly cut grass.

And this evening, one of those finer things - is this comic.

Readers of my Blogger posts will have already seen my opinions on issue 555 and 556 of The Amazing Spider-Man - but to summarise them quickly - I liked 'em a lot. Which surprised me greatly, as I hate the idea of Brand New Day (it just doesn't cut the mustard for me, especially as it left so many unanswered questions).

But - having had a quick rant about the overall story-arc - what of this particular book?

***SPOILER ALERT***

When last we left Spidey, he'd realised that Dr. Rabin had pulled the old 'bait and switch' on him - not in fact sending him to rescue the 'kidnapped' researchers - but rather lead a Mayan God of mischief directly to them...

Oh - and let's not forget that Carlie was in a pretty pickle, having just watched Rabin sacrifice one of three good Mayans - trying to avert catastrophe. 

Issue 557 nicely ties up this particular storyline with Spidey bouncing around a snow covered New York, desperately in search of help to defeat a God who can bend space and time to his advantage (there are a couple of particularly well drawn moments where a fist or a staff carry from one moment in time [or panel] to another).

Suffice to say - Spidey gets help and (kind of) saves the day - but it doesn't come from anyone you'd expect...

So - thoughts about the comic. Damn good - no - excellent artwork from Chris Bachalo, with a spotless script to match by Zeb Wells. Reading the book was a joy from start to finish, and has certainly been the best thing to come from Brand New Day so far.

Get shot of Brand New Day, bring in Same Old Day and get Zeb and Chris on it. It'd be brilliant.

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5

(fantastic book - the best Brand New Day work so far by a mile)

REVIEW: The Amazing Spider-Man - 556

***SPOILER ALERT***

Great news! This issue didn't suck either! Two issues in a row of quality Amazing Spider-Man. After the past couple of months (see my previous post) - I feel positively spoilt.

Again - Chris Bachalo's artwork was perfect for the story, the script was well written by Zeb Wells - and I even found myself letting out the odd chuckle as old Spidey bounced his way through the book.

Aside from picking up just where the last issue left off (Spider-Man braving the cold to search for kidnap victims tied up in a van), we meet a homeless man who's certain that S.H.E.I.L.D. are out to get him, bump into another creature of the cold, and meet up with Carlie Cooper, who advances the 'Peter Parker's new life' sub-story. Carlie alsomanages to stumble across someone she shouldn't have while working late - giving us the book's cliffhanger ending (which will lead into 557).

Overall - I hate to say it - but I'd be hard pressed not to recommend both this book and the one before it to new Spider-Man readers.

However. My opinion on Brand New Day totally stands. Get shot of the Brand New Day. Give me Same Old Day instead!

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5

(I want to despise it - but I just can't - they've done too good a job on it)

REVIEW: The Amazing Spider-Man - 555

***SPOILER ALERT***

Well it's about Bl**dy time. I've been following the Spider-Man line of books since Civil War (and on and off way before that) - but one thing has really been bugging me of late.

There's just no direction whatsoever to Brand New Day. Well - let me correct that - there's no obvious direction to Brand New Day. For the past two months I've read some of (and this may seem harsh - but remember - it's just my opinion) the worst Spider-Man stories in years.

The 'Back In Black' storyline that followed hot on the heels of Civil War was (at least in the Amazing book) - gripping. What was going to happen to Mary Jane and Aunt May, now that Peter was an outlaw? Would their lives be forever shaken? How could he keep his family safe, after fighting to hide their identities from his enemies for so long?

It truly was wonderful to read. And a hugely bold step for Marvel - doing the unthinkable in permanently changing the life of their most popular character. Or so it seemed.

In reality - it appears that Brand New Day was planned all along. Which I suppose is okay - but I can't help feeling as though I (and everyone else reading Amazing Spider-Man) have been cheated out of what could have been the defining era in Spider-Man history. A man with his family on the line - a roster of evil villains after them from one corner of the Marvel universe to the other - Peter Parker, unable to protect them.

But no. Instead, the Marvel universe (seemingly) got mind-wiped by Mephisto - we're back to year zero, Harry Osborn is alive, Mary Jane isn't married to Peter, the Daily Bugle has been bought and turned into the DB - and I'm about ready to put my fist through the next thing I see.

Not because it's a bad concept. Not because I've been cheated out of good stories. Because the past two months have all been passable attempts at Spider-Man stories - worth of 3 out of 5 scores - at the very most.

But anyway - that brings you up to speed on where I am with Spider-Man at the moment.

This particular book however...

This book - is good.

And I think it's good because it's a story that could have existed in either universe. It's just a damn good Wolverine and Spider-Man story - with funny one-liners and great artwork. And that's exactly what Spider-Man has needed to be for the past two months...! A damn good read. I just hope the next issue keeps it up.

Zeb Wells and Chris Bachalo - I tip my cap to you both.

Pete's Score: 4 out of 5

(very surprised at how much I enjoy the comic - want to dislike it because of the Brand New Day link - but can't)