By Miles Baker and Owen K. Craig
You know the drill, we use a random number generator that selects random comics for us to review. We then blindly follow whatever it says, regardless of issue, publisher, or knowledge of prior events. Enjoy.
Miles’ Book
The Amazing Spider-girl #16
Written by Tom DeFlaco
Penciled by Ron Frenz
Inks by Sal Busema
Marvel Comics, 2008
They should start promoting this comic as “The only comic where you can read about a married Spider-man!” That might help it sell more copies, because this book deserves more readers. (Note: Miles is not as clever as he thinks he is because Marvel Editor Joe Quesada already suggested that in an interview.)
The Amazing Spider-girl is among the few titles on shelves that are actually episodic. In this book there is a main plot thrust that any reader can pick up, and in the background a bunch of other subplots simmer. It makes this book a better sell for these random book choices. As a reader I’m sated in the resolution of the “villain of the week plot” but also intrigued by all the other stuff that is flying around. It’s not all the best stuff ever — nor is any of it terribly original for comics or the Spider-man universe, but there are some fun tweaks that make the whole thing unique.
For those unaware, Spider-girl is set in an alternate reality future where Peter Parker and Mary Jane have had a daughter, May, who has Peter’s powers and now dons the spider and swings around a semi-futuristic New York.
I think one problem that this book has that it’s a Marvel comic that has no effect on any other Marvel comics. It will always be a little cult book because there are no events or crossovers that are ever going to increase its sales — unless the book goes totally in the opposite direction it is now, meaning hardcore pornography.
On the other hand that’s a plus because it’s able to have its own continuity, unhampered by other titles. I like the title seems to have evolved naturally. (I’m not a regular reader, but I have read some of May’s early adventures.)
On the art side, I like that Ron Frenz stays on Spider-girl, it gives the book a continuous feel. But I’ll again harp on teenagers and adults looking too similar. May looks like she could be the sister of Mary Jane, not her daughter. But, again, this is my nitpicking. His art will never win awards, but it’s serviceable to the story and quite fun.
Also, the exchange between the Hobgoblin and Mindworm is worth the three dollars I spent on this:
Hobgoblin: Spider-girl claimed she destroyed them. She LIED to me!
Mindworm: And you’re always so truthful with her!
Hobgoblin: I AM. I’ve never denied the fact that I want her dead.
Owen’s Book
Spawn #174
Story by David Hine
Art by Bing Cansino and Geirrod Van Dyke
Image Comics, 2008
I’ve never read any Spawn before, but from what I understand this is not typical Spawn. I could be wrong, but as far as I was aware the character of Spawn is not an entity that takes over people and turns them into that demony thing people know and love. Well, consider me pleasantly surprised because that’s what went on here and made me rethink what I thought I knew about about Spawn.
This issue, which took place after the Civil War (the real one, not the Marvel one), involved a couple of guys who had been wronged. Accused of killings they didn’t commit they were sentenced to hang, until the representative of a demon approached them with a tempting offer. Extending the Spawn mythology into a western setting is an intriguing idea. One that could potentially add an air of freshness to a title which has been feeling stale lately (as I was told by a hardcore fan). Saving the appearance of any classic elements of the title until the end of the issue added a layer of suspense, too. When it showed up I was pleasantly surprised, as I’d almost forgotten what book I was reading.
The art’s painted look makes the book feel classic, which helps contrast the inevitable demonic elements. The characters are expressive and threatening. Certainly it remains to be seen how this storyline will play out, but I think it’s fair to say that there’s a lot of potential here for a really interesting storyline. If you’ve ever been interested in checking out a Spawn comic then this might be a neat chance for you to do so.
