Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #13-18 Talkback (Spoilers)

[Spider-Man]

Reginald Hudlin and Billy Tan start their scheduled year long stint on Marvel Knights: Spider-Man!

MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #13

http://comics.toonzone.net/solicitations/2005-04/marvel/t-mk-spiderman13.jpg

Written by: Reginald Hudlin
Penciled by: Billy Tan
Cover by: Steve McNiven

Hollywood heavyweight Hudlin (House Party, Boomerang) has already brought you his searing vision for Black Panther. Now he’s teaming up with red-hot artist Billy Tan (X-23) to shake up everyone’s favorite web-slinger. In part one of "Wild Blue Yonder," Peter Parker’s life is turned upside down. He’s got an incredible new pad (you won’t believe where), a new job, and — although he doesn’t know it — a new nemesis who’s everything that Peter isn’t. But first, Spider-Man’s got to deal with a more pressing problem — a shape-shifting super-villain who’s developed a nasty habit…and will do anything to feed it. And Wait — Who’s that hitting on Mary Jane!?

Comments? What are your thoughts?

[Chad Bonin]

Much, much better than issue #12. I guess the new art is pretty awesome (not that Dodson's bad, far from it; I just guess I got accustomed to it and started noticing flaws).

Gotta blame Marvel for all the jumping they're doing with Spider-Man. One minute his aunt's been kidnapped for six months, another he gets organic webbing and the ability to talk to insects, the next he's joining the New Avengers, tracking down criminals with his own series AND in Toxin, and he's moved into Avengers Tower before we know it.

Anyways, good Wolvie interaction, especially the last page.

[Redhood]

It was OK I like his Black panther stuff better. I miss Terry dodson. I love his art. I think I liked Mark millar on this book better. He just did a really good job on Spideys villains. I don't see the need for the Superman like character. I think they should have had this months issue of Amazing come first so some people wouldn't get confused. I think they could have picked a better villain than the absorbing man. I like to see the new avengers though. Do you think spoiler***peter getting fired will affect the other spidey books. Probably not.

[Spider-Man]

This was pretty mediocre. The art looked horribly rushed and Peter was really acting out of character at times. He jumps as Jarvis for talking to Aunt May then jumps at Wolverine for talking to MJ. I can understand he's having a bad day but this seemed really out of character. The art seemed inconsistent and paced poorly. The action scenes didn't seem to flow and while the cliffhanger is pretty cool it couldn't been handled better. I'll stick around for at least two more issues and then see where it goes. Thankfully this creative team is only on for 12 issues.

[randomguy]

I agree with Spider-Man. This is a mediocre issue at best. The characterization is awful. Peter acts like a jerk, notably, and the principal's conversation with him comes across as incredibly unrealistic. It's obvious that Peter losing his teacher's job is an editorial mandate, because it's dealt away with very awkwardly and unnaturally in this issue.

In fact, I'm somewhat perturbed by that development in general. I really don't mind the Avengers Tower stuff all that much, but I thought the idea of Peter as a teacher was brilliant and underutilized, so it sucks to see him back, again, with the Bugle. It seems like backpedaling for the character, and it doesn't even work in the context of the story: Peter's a genius with pretty damn close ties to billionaire Tony Stark. You honestly telling me he can't find a better job somewhere else?

And then there's the ending. Good God, the ending. Unless it's a fakeout, it's one of the stupidest characterizations of Wolverine I've ever seen. I can come up with no good reason why Wolverine would stab Spider-Man in the gut. It's really gratuitous and silly.

The rest of the issue is okay, though. The "Ethan Edwards" bits are groanworthy, but there's some potential in playing Spider-Man off of Superman and seeing what happens. The Absorbing Man plot is totally uninteresting but not bad per se.

Billy Tan's art looks great in some place and terrible in others, so it's hard to make a judgement there. I think Spider-Man in costume looks fantastic, but the action sequences are confusingly plotted, and non-costumed characters don't look so great. Peter's high school students all look seven years old. He might get better as the story goes on, though, because he was probably doing this book and X-23 back to back in the early issues, which I imagine was very difficult.

Anyhow, there's too much good product on the market right now to really justify picking up a book this underwhelming. I think I'm gonna go through with my original plan and drop the title. If the reviews for future issues wind up being awesome, then there's always the TPBs.

[Spider-Man]

The more I look at this issue the more I'm really let down by it. I do understand that Peter was having a bad day but it seemed like Hudlin was creating some artificial tension to heighten the storyline. There is no real reason for him to snap at Jarvis. There is no real reason for him to snap at Wolverine and Mary Jane since we all know she's not going to instantly leave Peter for Logan in a moment's notice.

As for the cliffanger at first I like it but now I'm just shaking my head because we know there's going to be a Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #15. Next issue won't be the last Spider-Man comic ever. And I'm sure the resolution will be just as ridiculous as the situation itself. It'll probably end up being a computer generated simulation or something along those lines. Wolverine can go on his bezerker rage but it doesn't make him a moron to do such a thing.

[wonderfly]

Randomguy and Spiderman summed up my problems with the plot perfectly, so about the artwork:

Aunt May looks like a troll. Jarvis looks butt ugly. Mary Jane is awfully bony. And the kids look like they're in kindergarden.

*sigh*

What a letdown. I'm really thinking of dropping this title if it doesn't improve.

Wait, there's one other problem with the plot others didn't mention: I know that supervillians escaping from prison is a regular occurance, but couldn't they at least show how the Absorbing Man pulled it off? I mean, he punches through the door...yet you would think they'd have put him in a cell designed to contain him! But no, the writer takes the mentality that: "Supervillians escape from prison on a regular basis, just deal with it."

Also, I don't think they were saying that Peter Parker was fired forever, I think they were saying he was let go for the rest of the summer classes. Notice the principal said, "See you in the Fall" or something like that.

And don't look for the Superman spoof to last beyond Hudlin's run on the title. I found that bit kinda funny actually. Stupid, but funny.

This issue really would've worked a lot better after Wolverine actually joins the New Avengers, and after JMS's "Avengers" arc in Amazing Spiderman. But no, that would actually require some actual publishing coordination on the part of Marvel. :shrug:

[wonderfly]

Allright, who gave this issue 5 stars in the poll, and why would you do such a thing? Are you seeing something the rest of us don't? Something that makes this issue the greatest read ever? :p

[Spider-Man]

What a letdown. I'm really thinking of dropping this title if it doesn't improve.

And don't look for the Superman spoof to last beyond Hudlin's run on the title. I found that bit kinda funny actually. Stupid, but funny. Some readers over at Comicboards speculate that the new superhero in the comic is simply Sentry's civilian identity. If that turns out to be true I'm going to be really let down. I can't believe Marvel is this backwards with their books with them having take place way before or after events of other books while referencing them back and forth like they just happened.

And I'm really thinking of dropping this comic too. It really has to pick up in the next few months.

[Chad Bonin]

Does anyone really doubt The Sentry is the superheroic new employee?

He's the only one missing from the book (outside of maybe Daredevil)...

[Spider-Man]

Does anyone really doubt The Sentry is the superheroic new employee? He's the only one missing from the book (outside of maybe Daredevil)... I thought he was supposed to be a new hero which is why I didn't tie him to The Sentry. The Sentry isn't really knew which is why I didn't even think of it but. Then again I also didn't think of the supposed Daredevil/Mystery Ninja plot from The New Avengers. If it is him I think it's just the wrong way to go with all of this. Why make him a cheap Superman knock-off when they could do something really original and funny with this subplot?

[Spider-Man]

The Hudlin/Tan run continues!

MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #14

http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0505/MKSM014_COV_sm.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0505/MKSM014_COV.jpg)

WRITER: Reginald Hudlin
PENCILS: Billy Tan
INKS: Jonathan Sibal

THE STORY: "WILD BLUE YONDER" Part 2 of 6. The Daily Bugle’s got a new star reporter. Ethan Edwards is his name, and he’s the ace in J. Jonah Jamesons’ deck, the apple in Betty Brant’s eye, and the bane of Peter Parker’s existence! Peter may get the pic, but never before Ethan’s got the scoop. And if that weren’t enough, there may be even more to Ethan than meets the eye…Still, Spidey’s got more pressing problems to deal with: a shape-shifting super-villain who’ll do anything to feed his nasty habit.

Comments? What are your thoughts?

[Chad Bonin]

I'm infinitely liking the New Avengers stuff (the training and the Sentry) much more than the whole Crusher Creel plot.

Billy Tan has a great style... but he needs to both work on his action and... his colorist needs work. Much stuff is great, but Spidey's blood and his outfit shouldn't be the same color.

[SpiderPunk]

Yeah the New Avengers stuff is much better than the villian story-line which at this point seems very meh. Overall I liked the issuse I just liked some parts more than others.

[Spider-Man]

I was hoping that the Hudlin/Tan would get better with time and would improve after a pretty mediocre start. But unfortunately I am starting to think Hudlin doesn't know the characters well enough to write them well. His Black Panther comic is alright but it's still way better than when I'm reading here. The inconsistencies such as the severity of Spider-Man's wound change in almost every panel.

Tan's artwork also isn't selling me either. Any good artwork he produces is ruined by the distorted faces he draws. The very last panel is terrible to look at. I can't believe this is the same guy who did that pretty good X-23 mini-series. I hope this guy gets better. I wouldn't mind the comic skipping a month to improve the art.

The Avengers sequence seemed a bit better than last issue but Hudlin's Wolverine seems wrong to me. Very wrong and so out of character. If you thought he was written bad elsewhere then you should see how bad he's handled here.

[PaQ]

I can't deny the whole Wolverine incident really seemed strange, and I'm not too fond of this villain, but Peter and his new partner have an interesting chemistry between the two. So I take it Ethan is going to end up being the Sentry in disguise?

[Spider-Man]

MARVEL KNIGHTS: SPIDER-MAN #15

http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0605/MKSM015_COV_sm.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0605/MKSM015_COV.jpg)

WRITER: Reginald Hudlin
PENCILS: Billy Tan

THE STORY: "WILD BLUE YONDER" Part 3 of 5. Crusher Creel has developed a nasty habit and he’ll do anything to feed it! Looks like a job for…Spider-Man. That is, unless a certain new hero on the scene doesn’t get there first

Comments? What are your thoughts?

[Chad Bonin]

Just curious, what the heck happened to the New Avengers plot?

[Matt Hazuda]

It was just an excuse to have some continuity by showing Spidey with his teammates. It wasn't the main story, but I'm sure we'll get some more cameos.

That, and Amazing Spider-Man is the book with an arc called "New Avengers" anyways.

[King_of_doom]

remember that they are introducing sentry too,its a cool issue i like the part when the sentry is still looking for a new costume.

[Spider-Man]

This is easily becoming one of the worst Spider-Man comics on the market. Maybe it's how the artwork manages to mangle the face of every character. Maybe it's the terrible characterization on the Absorbing Man and most of the Avengers. Maybe it's just the fact that this book is a huge step down from the last creative team. I'vereally been trying to give this comic a shot but Marvel Knights: Spider-Man could end up being the first Spider-Man comic I've dropped in a really long time. The "Ethan" subplot is midly interesting andis probably the best thing this title has going for it.

[wonderfly]

Okay, this is NOT the Sentry. It's a new character Reginald Hudlin has introduced specifically for this storyline.

Is it just me, or does this storyline really not need to be in the "Marvel Knights" line of books? I thought the MK books were supposed more adult in story tone...right now, Stracynski's Amazing Spiderman is much more adult in tone.

That said, I find myself actually startin to enjoy this storyline! :eek:

[King_of_doom]

so are you telling me that theres too superheroes who can fly and have super strength like superman,and yeah your right is not the sentry.

[Spider-Man]

MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #16

http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0705/MKSM016_COV_sm.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0705/MKSM016_COV.jpg)

WRITER: Reginald Hudlin
PENCILS: Billy Tan

THE STORY: "WILD BLUE YONDER" Part 4 of 6. The neighborhood’s got a new protector. He’s bigger, strong and faster than Spidey and, even worse…he’s hogging the front page of the Daily Bugle! What’s everyone’s favorite wall-crawler to do?

Comments? What are your thoughts?

[PaQ]

I honestly don't know what to think of the current story arc, I just haven't been enthused with Spidey storylines of late. Although I must admit, finding out that Ethan is a Skrull meant to conquer the world is quite the shocker. The preview cover for the next issue seems to indicate that Ethan doesn't take the news well, unfortunate fate for someone who seems so earnest.

The cameo of the Fantastic Four to test Ethan's ability was a great part of the story, not to mention the Thing's constant quips. The absorbing man's story hasn't been very interesting and is probably why I'm so down on the current arc, but I do wonder if tricking him will really be the last he's heard from in the arc. Still 2 issues to go for the story so I guess it's still anyone's guess to what will happen next.

[Spider-Man]

I've been pretty disappointed with this comic since Hudlin took over but this issue actually had a genuine surprise! I was really shocked to find out Ethan was a Skrull. I would have never seen that coming! It's a great twist for the comic and I can't wait to see where they take this next. This is probably the first issue of Hudlin's run I actually really liked.

[King_of_doom]

Like you said, it was a real surprise watching Etah's a Skrull, and watching the previews issues that Ethan is attacking Spider-man i was like why Ethan tries to destroy Spider-man, until now.

[Spider-Man]

Who is Ethan?

MARVEL KNIGHTS SPIDER-MAN #17

http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0805/MKSM017_COV_sm.jpg (http://www.marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0805/MKSM017_COV.jpg)

WRITER: Reginald Hudlin
PENCILS: Billy Tan
INKS: Jonathan Sibal

THE STORY: "WILD BLUE YONDER" Part 5 (of 6). Ouch – that’s gotta hurt…When Spidey goes toe-to-toe with the mysterious new hero who’s taken a major bite out of the Big Apple, he’ll wish he didn’t.

Comments? What are your thoughts?

Weird. I didn't see Diamond Comics list this comic as shipping this week. I didn't even know until I saw some online reviews. I'm looking forward to picking it up tomorrow.

[King_of_doom]

I bought in the morning, cant wait to see the conclusion of this.

[InfinityBlade]

Hey, an issue of Fantastic Four guest-starring Spidey! Cool!

...

*looks at cover* Oh. Wait. :p

[Spider-Man]

Hey, an issue of Fantastic Four guest-starring Spidey! Cool! Oh. Wait.
Glad to know I wasn't the only one who thought this. This issue is more the Fantastic Four's show than Spidey's and their adventure is pretty fun I suppose. The only downer is that though nothing unexpected or particularly memorable happens. It seems like a way to pad out the storyline.

And did anyone else find the solution of Absorbing Man's reassembling was tears? I don't think that makes sense in the slightest. It is possible I misread it somehow because I was so busy rolling my eyes.

[Spider-Man]

Hudlin's first story arc comes to a conclusion.

MARVEL KNIGHTS: SPIDER-MAN #18

http://marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0905/MKSM018_sm.jpg (http://marvel.com/comics/onsale/covers/0905/MKSM018.jpg)

WRITER: Reginald Hudlin
PENCILS: Billy Tan
INKS: Jonathan Sibal

THE STORY: “WILD BLUE YONDER” Part 6 of 6. The good news: Ethan Edwards finally knows who he really is, and where he’s from. The bad news: He can’t handle the truth. Is Ethan doomed to carry out the bloody legacy of his people? And if he is, can Spider-Man hope to stop him?

Thoughts?

[Stu]

I haven't read this yet, but is this Hudlin's run finished, or is he staying for the full 12 issues?

[Redhood]

well this arc sucked. lame superman ripoff whats not to hate. at least the new avengers showed up a bit. And the ending? the new avengers cant take him so who has to step up and save the day? AUNT MAY stupid ending to a stupid arc.

[Spider-Man]

Well that was pretty mediocre. If I had to rate the entire arc out of 10 I would probably give it a 6 maybe a 7. It was a good idea and had some excellent scenes but overall I felt the arc didn't have a good enough execution and was incredibly padded. At least one issue could have been chopped off.

As for Hudlin I've heard two different things. I've read that he's on for the full 12 issues until Marvel Knights: Spider-Man #24. But I also read he'll be gone immediately after the big "The Other" crossover around issue #22. Either way it doesn't look like he'll be on the series for much longer. He hasn't done anything to wow me on this series but he hasn't really impressed me either and the mediocre art isn't helping.

[King_of_doom]

I would've watch the Sentry fighting Ethan but well let see what happens next.

[Stu]

Well that was pretty mediocre.
Bingo. This is arguably one of the more tedious Spider-Man arc's I've ever read. Just why did this story need 6 issues? Very little actually happened besides some fluff with The Avengers and the Fantastic Four.

The artwork was lously throughout the issue. It comes across as rushed, without any real effort put in. If we weren't getting a crossover, I'd severly doubt I'd have much more interest in anymore of Hudlin and Tan's stories. This arc was never anything more than **'s in my opinion. I hope they get replaced, and fast.

I think it's time someone gave Dan Slott a call.

[Spider-Man]

Bingo. This is arguably one of the more tedious Spider-Man arc's I've ever read. Just why did this story need 6 issues? Very little actually happened besides some fluff with The Avengers and the Fantastic Four.

The artwork was lously throughout the issue. It comes across as rushed, without any real effort put in. If we weren't getting a crossover, I'd severly doubt I'd have much more interest in anymore of Hudlin and Tan's stories. This arc was never anything more than **'s in my opinion. I hope they get replaced, and fast. I think I stuck around for the same reason. The crossover is coming up and it might make or break me staying on the Spider-Man comics. I haven't been enjoying them lately as much as I used to and this crossover may be a sign for me to give these books a rest for awhile. I do have high hopes for Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man and I really hope Marvel chooses a great creative team for Marvel Knights: Spider-Man after the crossover is done. If not I may actually drop these comics.

But Hudlin's much-hyped run is just a clunker. Granted the epilogue was a bit cute but the majority of the story was run of the mill.

[SpiderPunk]

Yeah the whole thing was very meh...nothing was really that great or stood out in my mind. I must say that I am finding myself enjoying the 616 Spidey books less and less. I don't know if I'll drop them yet, but for the 1st time in a while I'm questioning if I want to continue to buy these books. I think I'll see where this "other" stuff takes us and make my mind up then.