Amazing Spider-Man #36 Talkback (Spoilers)

[Clayface]

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #36

http://www.samruby.com/AmazingSpider-ManT/AmazingSpider-Man477_small.jpg

Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist : John Romita JR.
Inker: Scott Hanna

Nothing more needs to be said . . .

Comments?

[James Harvey]

I got it today (due to shipment delays) and al I can say is...wow. What a powerful read. Far fetched in a couple places (Doom crying) but such a great read. I'm gonna re-read it again...

[Clayface]

Originally posted by Dick Grayson
I got it today (due to shipment delays) and al I can say is...wow. What a powerful read.

Powerful read is even a bit of an understatement, IMO. I'd have to say its the most powerful thing I've ever read in a comic. This thing really hit me in the heart, and its just an incredible read. I've read it several times, and am picking up copies for my friends and family. I highly recommend it to everyone.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

I thought that the book would have worked better with less prose and dialogue. Good performance by JR Jr.

[Brian Cruz]

Hmm, I must be the only one who thought it was bad. Not only in execution, but in conception. It was a nice idea, but it came across as heavy-handed and extremely implausible. The art was nice though.

[Leaping Larry Jojo]

Originally posted by Brian Cruz
Hmm, I must be the only one who thought it was bad. Not only in execution, but in conception. It was a nice idea, but it came across as heavy-handed and extremely implausible. The art was nice though.

In a way, I agree. I think some of the villains were inappropriately chosen for this issue. The Doom crying thing nearly ruined the book. Some of the motivations made sense, but overall...

I thought John Romita Jr told a good story, but I think JMS dropped the ball on the writing.

[Clayface]

Wow, I can't believe anybody would NOT like this issue! I literally had tears in my eyes when I read it - the words were the best part IMO.

As far as the villians thing goes, it didn't bother me. Maybe because I don't bother following a lot of the other Marvel titles, so i know little to nothing about characters like Dr. Doom. Whatever the case, that seems like an incredibly minor issue to me in light of the rest of the story and art.

I don't think this was really meant to be a "plausible" issue - it was meant as a statement about the issues, and in that regard it worked extremely well in my opinion. This was the sort of story I was looking for in other WTC-attack related comics and collections, such as Heros. Unfortunately, I felt that nobody actually did it right before - this is the first time I've seen something that really captured that sort of emotion.

[Samhaine]

Ok, I just read the issue, and I have to agree with Brian and Larry. It was a good concept, but not quite executed properly. I agree, Romita Jr. did some great art, but the story left me wanting more. In fact, I was expecting so much more from the issue. I thought there would be an actual story involved, instead of some rescue work and some "Spidey" narration.

Again, I'm not knockin' the concept, because I think it was great for them to do it, but I think it could have been done in a better way.

[Clayface]

Originally posted by bloodone
Ok, I just read the issue, and I have to agree with Brian and Larry. It was a good concept, but not quite executed properly. I agree, Romita Jr. did some great art, but the story left me wanting more. In fact, I was expecting so much more from the issue. I thought there would be an actual story involved, instead of some rescue work and some "Spidey" narration.


See, I think that's the problem - some were expecting a superhero story of some sort, when the issue was never meant to be that - it was meant as a commentary on the events and a tribute to the everyday heros that were involved. I could see how that would be disappointing if you were expecting a story of some sort, but I dont' think that was ever the intention of the issue.

[James Harvey]

You make a valid point, Clayface. The issue wasn't meant to be a superhero action story, but how Spider-Man deals with it. I thought it was a great issue hampered down with just one page I didn't like (the one with all the villians in the wide open - too unbelieveable). But overall, it was such a powerful read. The part of the issue that really got to me was the part where the little boy was told by his fireman father to wait for him. And then whe the kid finds out his father was killed that just hit me like a tonne of bricks. This has been the best issue of Amazing Spider-Man in a long time.

[Supermon]

I thought the issue was great and very well done. I see the point about the villans being there though. Especially since if Magneto really felt bad about the deal he could lift all the metal depris out of there within an hour. Overall though I thought it was great to see this kind of commentary in a comic.

[James Harvey]

I thought it was well handled and a gutsy move overall by marvel. In a time where movie studios and tv shows are axing images of the WTC out, it's nice to see a medium deal with it.

[James Harvey]

This issue will no doubt be compared to Ultimate Spider-Man #13...but damn this was a really, really, really, really, really good read. Comments and thoughts on the ish?

[Joe Wagner]

Must....find.....comic! Aargh!!! JMS run on Amazing has been nothing short of incredible and I'm sure he wouldn't drop the ball now. JRJR's art has been one of my faves since I got back into reading Spidey about five years ago. I wish there was a comic shop closer than an hour away. Aarrgh!

-Joe!

[James Harvey]

Call up your comic guy, ask him to secure you a copy. Then, this weekend, jaunt down tot he comic store. But, the comic will hit newsstands in two weeks time, so maybe you can hold out for that. The book is definatly worth picking up. It finally makes Aunt May useful again!

[Gyro]

The book is definatly worth picking up. It finally makes Aunt May useful again! I bet that was hard to do :)

[Samhaine]

I thought it was a pretty good issue, but we've had to wait for so long for it, that I just couldn't get over that. Plus, I couldn't get over issue #400, and the whole clone or whatever thing. But it was still pretty good.

[halinar]

It was an incredible book. I'm loving all of the JMS stuff.

I do have one question though. Because I have not picked up a spidy book in many many years previous to JMS....when and how did Aunt May come back??? I have the book where she dies and that was the last thing I knew about. Was it a restart thing with Onslaught?

[James Harvey]

Apparently the Aunt May who died in ASM #400 was an actor sent my Norman Osborn to help break Peter's spirits. Norman himself returns around the same time, revealing that the chemical formula that made him the Goblin also gave him superhuman stength and healing abilities.

[halinar]

now I remember why I didn't pick up the book for so long.... :)

[Watagashi]

This issue was totally awesome! I wasn't that much into Amazing Spiderman until I heard and read this issue. I can't wait to see what happens in the next one. :)

[James Harvey]

ASM is definatly drawing me in. I don't think I've ever been as interested Spidey as I am right now. The book both have amazing creative teams and TANGLED WEB is a great alternative. TW has yet to hit a bad arc, and that's good consdiering it's 10 issue life so far. Marvel has definatly rejuvenated Spider-Man. Plus ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN continues to entertain as well with a nice fresh spin on the web-slinger's past.

[Joe Wagner]

Finally got #38 and WOW! JSM has done a truly incredible job on this book and really complimented what I consider Paul Jenkins best stuff over on Peter Parker. I never really saw the secret Aunt May had been carrying with her all those years becuz I had always assumed that the burgular broke into their house and shot Uncle Ben, not mugged him away from their house. The revelations were incredible and Aunt May actually won't have to worry about "poor, frail" Peter anymore. Makes you wonder if she has any regret about all of the animosity toward Spidey that she always told Peter about. Another question is, what if Aunt May or Peter had acted differently and Uncle Ben was still around - how would Pete have ended up? The rich "Tony Stark" type Spidey, the one we see today or somewhere in between?
Some food for thought.

-Joe

[James Harvey]

It's funny you mention that "what if Uncle Ben lived" thing, becuase Marvel will be doing a oneshot in April that deals with just that...but there's a twist. Instea dof Uncle Ben being this perfect uncle guy, he'll be a whoring druggie pimp kinda guy. When Peter finds out, it dirves him over the edge. Yeah, it'll be a Marvel's Startling Stories, the same as DC's Elseworlds. The art is by Peter Bagge so I'm really interested to see how this plays out...

My only complaint about ASM #38? The cover.

[Joe Wagner]

I can just see it now - Uncle Ben on the streets of NYC pimping Aunt May out to any guy over the age of 65. Should be interesting to see what happens when Peter finds out his awesome Uncle isn't quite the man it seems. Do I see someone snapping?

-Joe!

[James Harvey]

He does. The cover features Peter, in his costume, with a gun in his hand. The book, done by Peter "Hate" Bagge, is supposed to be a hilarious satire...so this should be interesting. It hits in April. I think I'll be picking it up.

[Joe Wagner]

Sounds like it could be neat to see. Glad to see Marvel is finally picking up on the Elseworlds trend - some great stuff from DC has been produced this way and I think Marvel could easily see the same type of success.

-Joe

[Spider-Man]

I've neevr read HATE before, but I am very intruiged by the project. The artwork that I saw awhile back looks very cartoonish, but it can work in a dark humor kinda way. I'm interested to see how this will end up.

[Watagashi]

I can't wait to see that Marvel's Startling Stories. :D That sounds like it's gonna be really awesome.

[James Harvey]

I think it's a great concept that I'm not sure has been explored. Yeah, I think we've had the "What If Uncle Ben Lived?" (man, I miss that title), but not with this twisted dark slant on the story.

[Clayface]

The new issue of Amazing is out today, and its a 'Nuff Said issue. Comments?

[The Green Hornet]

ANOTHER nuff said issue?


that style is quite lame to me now

[Clayface]

Fortunately for me, I'm not a big Marvel collector, so I've not had a lot of these 'Nuff Said issues to deal with.

I enjoyed this issue. Even though it was a 'Nuff Said we still had things to read throughout - specifically, Aunt May's e-mails to various papers and talk shows, which were IMO very funny. JMS did another great job with this issue.

[James Harvey]

I was really impressed with this issue. I am glad to see MJ back in the picture. JMS said he'll be slowly re-introducing Peter's supporting cast back into the book , now that the intial storyarc is over. I can't wait to see JMS write JJJ....

[kid_flash]

Really strong issue. But then again, did you really expect something bad?

[halinar]

Skipped this month. I just can't bring myself to pick up any of the nuff said books. I grabbed one by accident and made sure it didn't happen again. Cute gimmic but it was too forced in most of the books.

[James Harvey]

I really recomment picking this up. While there is a lackof dialogue, there are some great revaltions in this issue (MJ!!) and some great scenes with Aunt May. I am so glad to see how turned around Aunt May is in this series. Great to see her actually useful. I really, really recommend you pick up this issue - just as good as the Incredibly Hulk "Nuff Said!" installment.

[kid_flash]

JMS cheated. There were words in there. :D

[Gyro]

Originally posted by kid_flash
JMS cheated. There were words in there. :D Thems the good kind of cheatin. ;)

[Brainiac]

Although I was iffy at first about this issue, after reading (or looking at it?) all the way through, I thought it was great. Then again, I had never read one of the 'Nuff Said issues...it definitely showed how the art can really tell the story. Nice issue.

[Spider-Man]

Very good issue! For a silent issue, it sure said alot. I was interested by how Peter and May are trying to resume a sense of normalcy, especially in the panel where they are eating. That panel just cries out that they are trying to get back to normal, now that May knows. And who didn't laugh when we saw May emailing all those newspapers and shows for Peter!

[kid_flash]

Originally posted by Spider-Man
And who didn't laugh when we saw May emailing all those newspapers and shows for Peter!

That was perfect! I haven't been a Spidey fan very long, but that's exactly what I would imagine Aunt May doing.

[Joe Wagner]

I thought the issue was very well done and I laughed at the e-mails Aunt May typed out. I also had to laugh when she changed her list of things to do.

From what we saw, is there any chance JMS might be working on a reuniting of PP and MJ? I hope so - you could tell each one was longing for the other, even from far away. Hopefully Joe Q. realizes Peter is a married man and should stay that way - it just doesn't seem right having PP without the MJ.

-Joe!

[halinar]

I did break down and read a friend's copy. Pretty good, and yes the e-mails were a hoot!

I'm still giong to skip buying the book, I can't break down now and pick up one of the "nuff said" books because it's a protest and I'm sure my $2.25 is having a huge impact...bwa ha ha.