Amazing Spider-Man #4: a Roundabout Review

Amazing Spider-Man #4

Written by Dan Slott

Pencilled by Humberto Ramos

Spoilers spoilers spoilers

The Long of it...

I always loved the romance between MJ Watson and Peter Parker. I grew up with the flirtations and was rewarded with issue #290, when Peter proposed. Annual #21 was a jackpot issue, with two covers to choose from. I never thought about buying both. 

Joe Quesada changed all that, treating decades of continuity with wild abandon, giving Peter a Brand New Day.  And ever since Dan Slott took over, I've truly enjoyed the title. Superior Spider-Man was exceptional, but having Mr. Parker back is like wearing comfortable shoes. 

Issue #4 of the Amazing Spider-Man never made it home unread. On my public transit commute, I realized I couldn't wait. I pulled the comic out of the brown paper bag and engulfed myself. I was finally getting more than a few pages of a character rumored to change Peter's life forever. I was expecting Silk to be another Speedball or Alpha, but Dan made her so much more. Here was a character who was built right into Peter's origin as Spider-Man. The story was even mixed with another tale from years ago with Ezekiel and Morlun, but don't tell Marvel that, they might start over again with a number one.

Cindy Moon was a classmate of Peter Parker,  and before you ask, "Why are we just hearing about her in 2014 and not 1963?", I will tell you it is because of Original Sin. If Thor could have a sister, why couldn't the radioactive spider bite one more person?

Ezekiel hid Cindy away from Morlun. She practiced her abilities in secret as Peter used his in public. She's stronger, faster, and has even developed a more advanced power set, including barbs in her webs; yes,"her" webs, but it doesn't stop there. Peter's Spider sense reacts to Cindy in a whole different manner; it attracts him to her, much like I imagine his spider tracers do after flicking them on his prey (super-villains). 

I'm going to skip the part about the Black Cat and the part where we find out Morlun is alive. I'm even going to skip where Silk freaks out as Peter mentions that Morlun was killed...and killed again. Silk is so enraged with this news that she quickly lands one on Peter...twice; once with her hand, and on the final page with the final panel, once with her lips!

Suffice it to say, not only was this the best Spider-Man comic I have read in a while, it was the best comic book I have read in a long time, period! I think once I get done at work I'm going to read it again.

The Short of it...

Buy it.

5 out of 5 stars 

 

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Is Superior Spider-Man, Superior?

I have to imagine when Amazing Spider-Man #700 was released, no one expected what happened at the end, myself included. I associate the final pages of this historic issue with page 271 of Star Wars: Vector Prime. What happened was so unexpected; so terrifying that it had to be read again. I couldn't believe what was on the printed page even after reading it the second time. The final pages of ASM #700 had me experience the feeling of What The...? once again. Dan Slott had me riveted with excitement, followed by dread. The impossible was possible, Peter Parker was no more.

Issue seven hundred ended a series beginning back in 1963. This changed to Volume Two with a new #1 right after issue #441 somewhere in the late nineties (Nov. 98') and reverted back to its original numbering with its milestone five hundred (Dec. 03') while becoming volume one, once again. And if that's not confusing enough, Marvel might start over again to make sure the readers aren't thoroughly confused. Oh wait, they did, this time however, instead of starting over in a brand new direction with Amazing Spider-Man #1 (or #701), they started over with something superior.

But is Superior, superior? A CGC copy of Amazing Spider-Man seven hundred in a 9.8 condition has sold anywhere between $18 and $2550 (with a universal label), variants included. To be fair, the $18 price tag had a broken slab; if you do not include that particular copy then $22 was the next cheapest sale price. If I include the signature series versions, the price tags become loftier. I could only imagine if one eventually turns up with Steve Ditko's signature on it. And if the last issue is fetching these prices, did speculation cause the first issue of Dan Slott's re-visioning of Stan and Steve's 1963 creation to be just as successful?

An encapsulated copy of Superior Spider-Man issue #1 sold for $13 while the highest cost was a variant by Joe Quesada (sketch cover) at $450, (once again, a universal label). This is nowhere near the famous issue where Peter Parker dies (?), which was released only a few months earlier. Covers might not make a comic superior, although it could make it somewhat more desirable, look at the recently released Forever Evil #1 lenticular 3D cover. Although the cover might be the reason to pick the comic book off the shelf, I feel it's the writer that keeps you coming back.

Dan Slott has completed almost two years with an exceptional title, I speak of Superior Spider-man and not the amazing title that preceded it. Even after death threats and hate mail (aplenty) he chugged away to tell a story. It might not be Peter Parker's story, but it is Spider-Man's story, which once again begs me to ask, is Superior Spider-Man superior? With the recent annual released, written by Christos N. Gage, I had the chance to find out. Ever since the first New Mutants Annual was published I always believed the extra issue added to the overall story. This favorite tale of mine, “The Cosmic Cannonball Caper” was written by X-Men scribe Chris Claremont, the same writer of the first fifty four issues; two more in the sixties, one in the eighties, and the first three annuals. Superior Spider-Man could not say the same. 

Christos N. Gage started writing comics in 2004. Dan Slott started in the early 1990's as an intern at Marvel until his big break with his first monthly title, Ren and Stimpy. After his first successful title, of which number one was a scratch-N-Sniff polybagged issue (and yes I bought two), Dan cut and sharpened his teeth on many titles before landing the "big comic book". Although Christos has co-writing credits on a few Superior Spider-Man issues (11, 12, and 13), it was Dan's creativity that filled in the slot. (I am so sorry, I couldn't pass that up.)

With great power comes great responsibility was not only Ben Parker's greatest advice, it was also Peter's greatest crutch, which is what made him Amazing. Otto Octavius wasn't the first Superior Spider-Man. That credit goes to Kravenand J.M. DeMatteis. Otto isn't even what makes Spider-Man superior, as the unexciting annual that was recently released ascertains. 

I perused through the copy at Fat Jack's Comicrypt in Philadelphia and decided against its purchase. The money would be better off spent in other ways, but at least it helped me answer the question of "Is Superior Spider-Man, superior?" Yes it is, but only because of Dan Slott, much like the reason why Spider-Man was so amazing when it was written by Stan Lee.

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Amazing Spider-Man #700: A Roundabout Review

I have been collecting Amazing Spider-Man since issue #251,titled “Endings”. I do have a few other books before that one, but it was thegloved hand coming through the water holding up Hobgoblin’s mask that enticedme.  I followed Peter Parker when he wastransported with hero and villain alike to participate in the Beyonder’sexperiment throughout the 12 issue Maxi-Series, Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars.His own series with issue #252 was sold out before I got out of school topurchase it. I didn't even realize I missed its release. Remembering back, itall started with a very well read copy of Issue #181, the origin of Spider-Man.I have an idea how I got that issue, but that's a story for another time.

Over the years I collected the adventures of Peter Parker. Ifollowed as he asked Mary Jane to marry him. I watched as he took on newvillains and old ones alike, each time reciting what he believed in "WithGreat Power Comes Great Responsibility". At times he was beaten, but hefought back. He never gave up, he never quit, a real life lesson.

SPOILERS AHEAD

I am a huge Star Wars fan and ever since Vector Prime by R.A.Salvatore killed offa vital character to “its” universe, I was shocked. I understood the reasoning,how could you fear for the characters you love if they would always survive in the end. A line from The Never EndingStory rings truer than anything else at the moment when the old man in thebook store told Sebastian "You're books are safe". Spider-Man issue#700 was not safe.

The comic book is packed, but after reading the first portionof the book, the important portion consisting of the first fifty pages wasenough to destroy any thought of being safe again. The Ultimate Universe wasfun to be part of and when they started to kill off major characters likeSpider-Man, I’m considering if it was just a test run. I mean seriously, howwould the media and the fans actually accept the death of Peter Parker, theAmazing Spider-Man?

Dan Slott has kept fans riveted with his story telling prose.As other artists joined Peter on his journey none I felt were as strong asDitko and Romita Sr and Jr. Many characters were slain, most by villains, andmaybe none as well known as Gwen Stacey by either the hands of the Green Goblinor Spider-Man himself in an effort to save her, by the superior skill of GerryConway, nothing against the legend and creator himself, Stan “The Man” Lee. 

Marvel is trying to capture the magic that DC initiated withthe New 52. Their attempt of rebooting their universe reminds me of a band aidbeing pulled of wounded skin. The only Marvel Now book that I thought wasworthy was Indestructible Hulk, a book I was hesitant to collect. Both Avengers#1 and Cable and X-Force #1 I found lacking. Thor I have heard good thingsabout but I think it's going to be The Superior Spider-Man that is goingto be pivotal in my monthly rotation of comic books. Mark Waid, you have beenwarned, please keep Daredevil my favorite title.

R.I.P. Peter Parker, you deserve it.

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