Spectacular Spider-Man #11-14 Talkback (Spoilers)

**Spider-Man** · 03-10-2004, 11:34 AM

At long last - the Lizard is back!

Spectacular Spider-Man #11

Written by: Paul Jenkins
Covers & Pencils by: Damion Scott

"The Lizard's Tale” Part 1 of 3. He's struggled for years to control the coiled reptile that dwells deep within his heart. But now, at the end of his rope, one bad day with change Dr. Curt Connors' life forever — and the Lizard will stalk the streets once more!

Thoughts? What are your Comments?

**Fett One** · 03-10-2004, 01:17 PM

Sounds like an interesting concept. Even though this is a 3 parter I still felt the fight between Spidey and the Lizard should have lasted longer. For someone as dangerous as the Lizard that was a rather short fight.

Out of curiosity did anybody else get an issue that had a page that wasn't stapled in? I have a subscription and when I got it I started to read it and half way through the comic I came to a page that was never stapled into it. It was just inserted into the comic as an after thought (it didn't have any staple holes or rips which is how I know it was never stapled in).

**Spider-Man** · 03-11-2004, 03:27 PM

I was really surprised with Scott's art. I wasn't sure what to expect when tackling the Webslinger. I saw some of his Batgirl art and thought it was good, but worried that it might not translate to Spider-Man. I'm glad that it does. I hope he can return for more issues in the future. I may have to check out his work on Robin.

**Stu** · 03-14-2004, 09:17 AM

The art was a bit hit and miss with me. Some of it was great, other borderlined on poor. I don't think the inking helped.

However, the story here was great, Jenkins writes some great Spidey stories, managing to capture both Spidey sarcastic smart ass comments and his guilt perfectly. If he could just get an exceptional artist to work with him...

It was cool seeing The Lizard again. He's always been one of my favourite villians, up there with Hobgoblin and Carnage. It's great to see more villians back in the Spidey books, I would just love to see Jenkins take on the aforementioned villians, but in the meantime, we have the rest of The Lizard and then

Spoiler:

to look forward to.

**Spider-Man** · 03-14-2004, 07:30 PM

I liked the art. It was junky in some places, but it was great when it counted. I really like Scott's rendition of Spider-Man in costume. Even his Peter Parker has a classic feel to him. The Lizard looked simply amazing in this issue. I think I may have the plot already figure dout, especially with the gap between the "No!" and what Curt said on the final page, but I'm interested to see how Jenkins will get from point A to point B.

**Stu** · 03-14-2004, 07:34 PM

One of the things that went over my head in this issue was the fact that Conners knew Peter was Spider-Man. This type of things happens all the time, I've been dipping in and out of comics for the past few years, so I asked my brother and he didn't know either.

When did Conners find out?

**Spider-Man** · 03-31-2004, 07:45 AM

The new Lizard storyline continues!

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #12

Written by Paul Jenkins
Covers & Pencils by Damion Scott

“The Lizard's Tale” Part 2 of 3. He's struggled for years to control the coiled reptile that dwells deep within his heart. But now, at the end of his rope, one bad day with change Dr. Curt Connors' life forever — and the Lizard will stalk the streets once more!

Comments? What are your thoughts?

**Fett One** · 03-31-2004, 07:11 PM

This is getting interesting. Curt allowing himself to become the Lizard was unexpected. I can't wait to see what he plans on doing.

**Spider-Man** · 04-01-2004, 07:50 AM

I thought this was a pretty good good issue, too. Short on action, but good dramatic interplay between Connors and Pete. The art is growing on me, too. A good JJJ/Robbie scene, and a surprise at the end when Curt is revealed to have been lying to Pete about trying to control the Lizard, and he turns into a humanoid Connors/Lizard with scaly human face, but also a tail.

It was a good issue, for sure, but there are a couple little things bugging me about it. We still don't have an explanation on how Curt found out Peter's ID. I can't remember at all when this happened - if at all.

There's also this continuity glitch that was pointe dout at the Superhero Hype site:

Curt was caught on security videotape when he transformed from Lizard back to human last issue. Now The Daily Bugle has the tape, and Curt is scared and angry that the world may find out he's the Lizard. But the authorities already know that! Connors was put on trial for the Lizard's crimes in ASM Annual #27 (1993), and plenty of other people know about Curt's problem too, including several organized crime bosses (The Owl, Hammerhead, and their henchmen), and also Connors mentioned it himself during his lectures (Spider-man Unlimited #19).

I noticed that there have been alot of continuity slides in the Spider-Man books, lately, and this one was pretty glaring.

**Stu** · 04-01-2004, 01:32 PM

I never knew everyone was aware he was the Lizard. That's a pretty big screw up there. I don't recall Peter ever telling Conners he was Spider-Man either, which has been annoying me since this arc started.

Continuity issues aside, this was a great issue. As Spider-Man said, not a lot of action but a good story being told at a good pace.

I'm really up for the conclusion now.

**Fett One** · 04-01-2004, 02:43 PM

I'll admit I don't know much about the Lizard but I thought his identity was publicly known but I wasn't postive about it. As such when I read this issue I just assumed I was mistaken. Now that I know I was right, I can't help but wonder which idiot at Marvel goofed up or if this is part of some masterplan (Morrisan pulled it off on New Xmen so why can't Jenkins do it), which could also explain why Curt knows Peter's secret.

**Spider-Man** · 04-02-2004, 04:18 PM

Originally Posted by Fett One

I'll admit I don't know much about the Lizard but I thought his identity was publicly known but I wasn't postive about it. As such when I read this issue I just assumed I was mistaken. Now that I know I was right, I can't help but wonder which idiot at Marvel goofed up or if this is part of some masterplan (Morrisan pulled it off on New Xmen so why can't Jenkins do it), which could also explain why Curt knows Peter's secret.

A lot of Spider-Man fans over at Comicboards.com are actually pretty upset about this oversight. This isn't the first time, though. JMS made a lot of similar "mistakes" on Amazing Spider-Man which have apparently gone unnoticed. This has led a lot of fans to believe that Marvel has been retconning origins and stories before the "Quesada administration" began.

**randomguy** · 04-03-2004, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by Spider-Man

A lot of Spider-Man fans over at Comicboards.com are actually pretty upset about this oversight. This isn't the first time, though. JMS made a lot of similar "mistakes" on Amazing Spider-Man which have apparently gone unnoticed. This has led a lot of fans to believe that Marvel has been retconning origins and stories before the "Quesada administration" began.

Yet another reason why Amazing should have an editor. It's too easy to make those kind of slip-ups without one.

**Spider-Man** · 04-14-2004, 07:44 AM

The conclusion to the latest Lizard/Spidey tussle!

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #13

Written by Paul Jenkins
Cover & Pencils by Damion Scott

"The Lizard's Tale" Part 3 (of 3)
As Curt Connors' self-destructive behavior escalates, Spidey must try to corral his out-of-control friend. But the Lizard may force the wall-crawler to kill, rather than cure!

Comments? What are your thoughts?

**Fett One** · 04-14-2004, 10:01 AM

Overall it was an interesting storyline (the dialogue between Spidey and Curt near the end was good), if it doesn't fall under continuty. Continuty wise, I think this was a mistake. Finding out that Curt has been in control of the lizard for all of these years kinda ruins the character since he spent so much time trying to cure himsself not to mention how much he hated the lizard. Curt pretending to be a simple minded creature and commiting crimes is just completely out of character when compared to everything he has done in the past.

**Spider-Man** · 04-16-2004, 06:47 AM

I'm still not sure how to feel on this story myself. I like that it does add a real tragic aspect to Conners. That he lied all these years to everyone he loved, and used The Lizard persona as a lackey to do his dirty work. It's an interesting take. But, like what Fett pointed out - faking it all these years? That does seem to be a bit of a stretch. But maybe that is the point Jenkins is getting at, and it would make this revelation a bit more painful to Peter.

**Spider-Man** · 05-12-2004, 08:31 AM

SPECTACULAR SPIDER-MAN #14

Written by: Paul Jenkins
Painted Art & Cover by: Paolo Rivera

A special fully painted stand-alone story! On a rooftop in the Bronx sits a sad handicapped man. A prisoner of his own crippled body, how will a battle between the wall-crawler and Morbius, the Living Vampire, change his life?

Comments? What are your thoughts?

**Fett One** · 05-12-2004, 03:05 PM

I didn't care too much for this issue. The painting just didn't seem to fit in a spidey comic. This story also had a poor use for Morbius.

**Stripe** · 05-14-2004, 09:52 PM

Yeah, Morbious didn't have the best part and the painting was a bit distracting.... but I'd have to say that it was one of the best comics I've ever read. Jenkins is the man and nothing anyone else can say can make me think otherwise.

A little while after the first movie I was Spidey-ied out. Way to much Spider-Man for one person to take: so many minis and one shots. Then I got back in. Do I go for the shiney new Ultimate version? The main title with it's super plot twists about Spidey's origins and magical goings-on? .... No, I know that if their's one guy who can write a good comic; it's Paul Jenkins. Whats the big deal with Ultimate anyway, I got really bored of it; its just a shiney new remake of things with the "realistic" teenagers. (as if I don't already have enough of that at school)

This issue was one of those really great "other perspective" stories. We see how both the crippled boy, Spider-Man, and Morbious are different from the rest of us and can't help being that way. The way the quadriplegic guy's inner monolog was very intelligent was one of those things that made you happy and sad at the same time you know? A very good issue.

**Cool Blue** · 05-15-2004, 11:12 AM

Well, this issue was pretty cruddy actually. I didn't like it that much but I had high hopes for it. I don't know why I did, I just did. The painting just seemed so dull and lame and the story was blah. I remotely enjoyed. The only reason I even own the issue is because I'm a collecter. This issue was a disappointment and if this guy were to stay the artist, then I would have quit the series altogether.