So here we are, a pretty Saturday morning, heading out for
Free Comic Book Day. Westfield Comics has two posters up that my daughters are
looking at as they get excited about picking up free comics. One poster is the
cover to this issue, with a very happy-looking Peter Parker joyously swinging
over New York, reveling in being a super hero. The other poster is Batman
Eternal #1, showing the dour Dark Knight splashed in blood brooding on a
rooftop. Now, I admit the Batman image is striking, and well within the
expectations for the character. But I asked my daughter, “who’s blood do you
think that is?” and she couldn’t answer. I can’t either. At this point, I
honestly don’t know which is more likely, that Batman would be posing on
rooftops after getting the crap kicked out of him, or if he’s stand around
showing off the tremendous about of blood he managed to wring out of some
criminal. Either way, I know which comic I want to read.
Dan Slott has clearly been waiting to bring back Peter
Parker. There are multiple things in this issue that simply would not have
worked with Doc Ock in the webs. The silliest part is Skein (formerly Gypsy
Moth) dissolving Spidey’s costume. Spider-Woman’s response to this is
absolutely perfect, and nails the tone Slott wants in this issue. Peter Parker
has crazy adventures, folks, and he’s got bad luck that won’t always hurt him,
but he isn’t going to come out looking good.
Slott takes time to check in with most of Pete’s supporting
cast, and they all seem pretty OK with the returned Spidey. I’m one of those
older readers that will always pine for a return to the Pete & MJ dynamic,
but it certainly doesn’t seem imminent here. That’s OK, at this point most new
readers wouldn’t even recognize that as an acceptable status quo. I also love
that the cliffhanger comes from a Peter Parker relationship, not from a
super-villain. If that doesn’t scream “Spider-Man” then I don’t know what does.
I LOVE the villains used in this issue. I’m not the world’s
biggest Humberto Ramos fan, but he does draw striking ladies, so giving him a
team of cute animal gals (and the Hippo) is a good choice. White Rabbit is fun
as always (maybe Marvel should start treating her like Harley Quinn?), and
Skein is always interesting. Although I have to say, I don’t know how to
pronounce her name. The newest member of the Rabbit’s Menagerie is a panda
villain with the type of too-clever pun name that makes comic books work.
One other comment on Ramos’ art; my daughter didn’t says he
disliked it, but she did comment that Spidey looked awfully skinny to have such
huge muscles! She also commented that the art looked a lot like one of her
other favorites; Nova.
This is a fun, entertaining comic and a GOOD sign that
Spider-Man’s continuing adventures are still in good hands.
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