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Post by Ozymandias on Apr 3, 2015 18:54:12 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man #17 review. This is clearly the strongest part of the plot, this month. I read it as Slott's way (or is it Cage?) of adding to a long tradition, of comic-book writers, who like to point out just how stupid, their predecessors have been; although you have to grant him, the subtlety others have lacked in the past (Byrne comes to mind). Also, the specific points raised via Maria's dialog, are mostly valid. You're getting it backwards! The cliffhanger is about the possibility that Spidey will ruin the slaying, the crowd is clearly rooting for Ghost, here. Or maybe this is, in fact, a cliffhanger no one cares about. And a robot, which is supposed to be loyal to "the doctor", at that. I also found the wording to be less than fortunate, in this instance. But maybe it was okay, because I mentally substituted the words, for the same ones you propose.
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Post by stillanerd on Apr 4, 2015 8:01:32 GMT
That's pretty much what I thought, too, except for the part that involves the Black Cat. He could either be gaining experience, or he could be lying low, because he found himself outclassed. This could end with him gaining some "real" power now, and going back into the fray. Yep. And the reason why I'm thinking he could get tied-up with working for the Black Cat is because it not only brings their stories together, but it highlights something in common: in their minds, they've both been spurned and rejected by Spider-Man. Black Cat, of course, used to be Spidey's lover and her whole motivation for, apparently, becoming a crime boss is due to how she feels rejected by him. Clash used to be one of Spidey's biggest fans to the point he tried to emulate him, until he, too, was rejected by him. Hmm...it just occurred to me that, given how Clash as (deliberate) similarities to Spidey, whether Slott will go as far as to hook both Black Cat and Clash up? This must've been pointed out before, because I find Spider-Verse to be a clear Crisis-like attempt, at cleaning house. And, given the announcements out of the NY comic con, it's also, paradoxically, an expansion of the Spider-Man family of comics, and it's apparent only those with ongoing books, or soon to have ongoing books, will survive. I don't agree with the "as usual" bit. He has looked decent when inked by John Dell, and with Cam Smith he looks worse, but still better than what he did, say, when Janson finished his art. To each his own. Still, that is a good point about the inkers and how much of difference that can really make. My guess is that her actions, could indeed be explained, from the perspective of someone who doesn't reads comics. Only if you haven't done that, can you actually expect the police scanner to just report minor crimes. Indeed. My words on the subject exactly. Although the update, could also be read as an admission of failure on Peter's part, something he might want to address at some point? Sure, but at the same time, it does read like Slott is using a throwaway reference in order to tell folks. "Yeah, we know this happened, but were moving on and were not going to talk about it again." After all, Slott has publicly stated on various message boards that pairing Spidey and Carol Danvers up as a couple would be a bad idea in the long run because it reduces Carol to being just another supporting character for Spider-Man instead of being a superhero in her own right. And it's a sentiment I totally agree with. Just look at what happened with Black Panther and Storm's marriage. Or, IMO, what's currently going on with Superman and Wonder Woman's romance. Or it could be a veiled critique to The Department of Sanitation's cleaning habits.
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Post by stillanerd on Apr 4, 2015 9:09:53 GMT
I'm not entirely sure about this. Peter points out that their "death", was followed with "turning to dust". This time, due to Octopus using a stasis charge, Daemos body didn't follow "proper" procedure. If they wan't to explain how they transfer consciousness to other bodies (Cylons much?), they wiil also have to account for this deviation. Something tells me I won't be satisfied. Perhaps, the Inheritors have multiple clones "on-line" and all mentally linked to each other, so that when one dies (and yes, the only reason Daemos didn't crumble into dust was because he was put into "statis" by Doc SpOck after death, I guess. You know, "SCIENCE!") a clone becomes active. My gut-feeling, however, is that how the Inheritors cloning process actually works will be explained in the Scarlet Spiders mini instead of the Amazing Spider-Man "Spider-Verse" story. Also, this reminds me of a very good point which was brought up by Alex Widen in his excellent joint review of Spider-Man 2099 #6 and Scarlet Spiders #1: This issue was marginally better, and generally ok; if not for Silk's presence, Slott's handling of a Gwen's presence, and some commonly misplace sense of humor here and there. It could've been good. I'd also add that the other big problem "Spider-Verse" is showing is that it continues the trend of making Spider-Man come off like a bystander in his own comic. Or as one blogger put it, "Spider-Verse" first two parts has essentially turned Amazing Spider-Man into a version of "Where's Waldo?" I'm afraid they'll go now, with either the Master Weaver or some sort of steampunk character. Sadly enough, because JMS original rip-off "Parliament of Spiders", was way cooler. If you have to copy, at least copy from the best What was the "Parliament of Spiders" again? It's been awhile since I read all of JMS' run, so I need a refresher. The "Spider-Sense" as a form of low-level precognition does make sense, especially when you factor in Kaine. Remember, the original concept was that Kaine, as a flawed clone, had enhanced levels of Peter's powers. The "Mark of Kaine" for instance was essentially Kaine using his wall-clawing abilities to rip the flesh off his victims, while his visions of the future, particularly Mary Jane in mortal peril, was an enhanced "spider-sense." Of course, as Glenn Greenberg stated in the Life of Reilly blog, this was implied but never explicitly stated in the comics themselves. However, time and time again, we've seen that Peter's spider-sense does not react to anyone who shares his DNA, which includes Ben Reilly, Kaine, Spidercide, etc. since they're his clones, nor can it be triggered by Venom since the symbiote replicated Peter's powers. It also, apparently, wasn't triggered by Ezekiel since they, too, had similar, near identical powers. And since the Superior Spider-Man is Doc Ock in the body of Peter, from Peter's past no less, then logically Peter's spider-sense shouldn't be triggered by Doc SpOck, either. I guess Slott just wanted to emphasize the drama of the moment of Doc SpOck declaring how he's in charge to set up the inevitable fight between him and Peter, but even so, it's not as if Slott had to have Peter's spider-sense go off it order to accomplish this.
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Post by stillanerd on Apr 4, 2015 9:44:57 GMT
I liked the double crossing, Otto wanting Peter to believe he was a future version of himself, Peter letting him assume he was from the past. Two disagreements with your quoted text, though: - Peter didn't outwit Otto, he simply had more information, because he actually was from the future.
- In western movies, the guys beating themselves are usually good (both of them), I'm not sure we can say that about Otto at this point in the story.
And then we have the resolution of the fight, which was short and gave us a too compliant Superior in the end, at least for my taste. I can't say I was very satisfied with it, maybe because of the build-up. Well, that does qualify as outwitting, in my opinion, because yes, while Peter did have more information than Otto, he did use Otto's ego (especially how Otto couldn't imagine Peter ever getting his body back) against him by calling his bluff and telling him to kill him, but I understand your point. Also, I was being a little snarky about my Western/Action/Wrestling analogy in that, in spite of the fact Otto is a super-villain, how quickly they put their differences aside even though, as you note, Otto doesn't seem like the type of person to let bygones be bygones after losing (again) to someone he considers his inferior. That said, it does make sense, from a storytelling standpoint, that Peter and Otto would be forced to work together against a common enemy. I was actually expecting him to be lured out of his refuge, so he could be killed, because given his power level, there was no way for him to enter the fight without ending it rather swiftly. I wasn't counting on Slott's shameless and crude try, at giving us the undefeatable foe. At least this fight was visually attractive, up to the end, when Cosmic Spider-Man had to utter those last words (anyone else well past tired of hearing the mantra?). I thought the same thing, since the text made a point of fact that Cosmic Spidey would lose his Enigma Force powers if he ever left his dimension and how, when it came time for the final battle, he would join them even though it would mean the loss of the those powers. But nope, it was all about showing how "badass" Morlun's big bad dad was in the cheapest way possible in order to "raise the stakes." Never mind that when Spidey had cosmic powers, he was capable of sending the Incredible Hulk into orbit with one punch. That, and it breaks the narrative and artistic uniformity of the comic. Precisely. As an all time Gwen fan, I can say this scene meant nothing to me. I found it superficial, just something Slott wanted to get out of the way. Well, I thought it was okay. So long as you didn't think about their apparent age difference, what with Peter being in his late-twenties and almost 30, while Spider-Gwen is just barely out of high school. Him taking charge felt quite imposed. This is a war, and Otto's approach made more sense, but we'll see how Peter's different take on the situation, will be what ultimately means the difference between victory or defeat, I'm sure of that. Agreed. And yes, I, too, thought Peter's sudden surge of testicular fortitude came out of nowhere based on how Slott himself has characterized him up to this point.
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Post by stillanerd on Apr 4, 2015 9:58:18 GMT
Having read more than 1500 Spider-Man comics in the last year and a half, it's difficult to say where, but I'm certain I've seen it before. He looks for trouble because he's an adrenaline junkie, and that's also what we could see reflected on his face, in that last panel. In the context of the story, though, it does look like he just wants an excuse to get away. I do think you're correct that Peter is somewhat of adrenaline junkie, Ozy. Or at the very least that being Spider-Man is way for him to release, cut loose, and blow off some steam. So in a sense, I suppose Peter using Spidey as an excuse to avoid doing the drudgery of being a corporate CEO is an extension of that same idea. If you really want to find a provocative thought in this issue, how about "Teenage me would have been all over this"? I loved that one, from when he finds out the phone's locked. That and his comment about how "Maybe I could take it to Iron Man. He knows everything." This could be the common theme of both stories. No jokes. In the first one he's in a hurry, so the Menagerie doesn't get his "top-notch material", in the second he has a sore throat. And you know what? It's better to get no jokes, than lame ones. Speaking from personal experience, that's definitely true.
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Post by stillanerd on Apr 4, 2015 10:09:50 GMT
If only that comic were any good, it could at least give readers the chance to establish that connection with the characters. As it stands, it doesn't really matter whether you read it or not. Yeah, Scarlet Spiders purple prose certainly didn't help. But unfortunately, since Spider-Verse as a story hinged on the Inheritors' clone facility being destroyed along with Ben Reilly's sacrifice in order to advance the plot, it would up being required reading in order to understand what was going on in Amazing Spider-Man. Which supposedly readers were told wasn't necessary. Then again, when has that ever been the case where readers were promised they didn't have to read the tie-ins to follow the main series only to turn out that they did? Truer words were never spoken. Indeed. The irony part I enjoyed, but I knew it was being told only for the attitude to be refuted, further down the line. Agreed, and it wouldn't surprise me if this scene was something Slott wanted to have for his original script for Spider-Verse seeing how it was supposed to have originally been a story for The Superior Spider-Man Could be, it was good, and the rest has been such a lackluster… Sad, but true. Oh yes, the geo-political ramifications weren't lost on me, either. Not to mention, and this something I think might have been commented on the Crawlspace podcast (I'm not sure since I was absent for their discussion of ASM #13) by suggesting that every Spider-Man from every other dimension was special, it actually lessened Peter Parker. In general, I was positively pleased with Camuncoli's performance in this issue, but that child… wasn't it an infant? It looks more like a tiny person with a giant head. Yeah, when I saw that I was like "Jezz! Either Solus is supposed to be that big, or Camuncoli hasn't been around many babies.
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Post by stillanerd on Apr 4, 2015 10:11:38 GMT
You're being far too kind with the man. The scene with Gwen, as all previous iterations of the theme, was emotionally empty. Mayday's final decision, apropos her planned and vociferated vengeance, was so predictable I was actually surprised to see the events unfold that way. As for Peter finally showing leader material, I'd be remiss to grant him much credit; if it weren't for his lieutenants proficiency, his "plan" wouldn't have progressed very far. Perhaps, but given how dreadful the rest of the issue was, I had to look for some silver linings. The scene with Spider-Gwen is a matter of personal taste, although it definitely does require one being familiar with The Night Gwen Stacy Died. And I would say that if Mayday hadn't come to her senses as she did, that would've surprised me. Then again, her wanting vengeance for the death of her father was such a misfire from the start because the basic story beats for her revenge-driven story arc were so transparent from the start (seriously, that vow of hers had more ham than Spider-Ham) something which I think I made mention of back in my review for ASM #8, although I didn't acutely predict the exact scenes. For example, the Solus "Kryptonian" crystal being introduced for the sole purpose that Mayday would have a foothold over Daemos. And yes, that is a good point about Peter. The Chasing Amazing review for the issue made a great point of just how inane Peter's "Everything is going according to plan" really was. Because what was his plan? Have everybody just rush into the Inheritors stronghold en masse and overwhelm them with sheer numbers, which they've could've done this whole time? Distract them long enough to get Benjy and switch him with a naked Spider-Ham, which they never actually had to do? If you think about it, it really wasn't much of a well-thought out plan at all. Agreed on both accounts. Finally, I'd mention how convenient it turned out to be, for Silk, Morlun's changing the ritual, when it was her turn. He stabs already-dead-Kaine, was also about to stab the baby, but Silk he only cuts in her hand. Great point. In previous issue, Morlun made the point that all they needed from The Other, the Bride, and the Scion was their blood, hence why he decides to kill Kaine regardless. Which, I guess, is supposed to be the justification for why he doesn't kill Silk. But then, he decides to kill Benjy when, technically, he doesn't actually have to to complete the ritual? Just further underscores the false, easy drama behind the Inheritors abducting Benjy in the first place.
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Post by Ozymandias on May 7, 2015 9:42:39 GMT
The Amazing Spider-Man #18 review. Repeated a hundred times, supposedly. I must've been sleeping while reading this whole ASM run, because I don't recall anything of the sort. Of course, I guess I should be excused for my narcolepsy, as I blame Slott for inducing it, he's clearly a better writer than what he's been showing of late. In this case, I don't see faulty logic, on Slott's side (via his characters). Peter told everyone that he had severe ties with Spidey, because the building had already been nearly destroyed by his enemies. Not keeping both aspects of his life really compartmentalized, IS a mistake. The part where Anna tells him her secret, is to show that she still resents the fact, that she had to figure out his double identity (although this was more Otto's fault). And speaking of blame, what was he was blaming his rescuers of? A little gratitude wouldn't have been misplaced here. Agreed on the first part. The second part, on the other hand, offer promise of redemption. Let's wait and see where he's going with this. That was indeed my line of thinking, ASM #479 (one of the all-time best) became pointless after OMD. Maybe someone will rectify this situation, eventually. There's sadly nothing laughable, about corporations having the rights of a juridic person, while not being subject to the corresponding duties. It's the reason, at the core of today's problems in the world. She also had a penthouse, back in the 80's, when they were an item.
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