The Best of Amazing Spider-Man!
Advisory : The following reviews may contain spoilers.
Amazing Spider-Man 555-557
Inker : Tim Townsend, Tim Townsend, Irwin, Faucher, Mendoza and Vey (557)
Letterer : VC's Cory Petit | Colors : Studio F's Antonio Fabela & Bachalo
Assistant Editor : Tom Brennan | Editor : Stephen Wacker
Executive Editor : Tom Brevoort
Editor-In-Chief : Joe Quesada | Publisher : Dan Buckley
Spider-Man's Brain Trust : Gale, Guggenheim, Slott, & Wells
We have an out-of-season blizzard so intense that it shuts down the City of New York. But it doesn't stop Spider-Man, he swings around teeth chattering, thank God he has that enhanced spider physiology, at least I hope it helps. I can't overemphasize the wintry weather, because the creative team uses it to wrap the three issues together under an atmospheric blanket that seeps into the story, giving the mystic blizzard the aspect of being an invisible actor in the tale. Yes, mystic, the blizzard is being caused by no less than a Mayan god summoned to Earth.
We've got cameos from Dr. Strange and Wolverine, but, most of all, we've got a delightful little moment when Peter is freezing in the snow and spots his stolen jacket being worn by a vagrant. Miffed, Peter asks for it back. The guy takes it off and all he's got under it are longjohns. You can almost hear Peter berate himself as he hastily backtracks and says it wasn't his jacket after all. All the more reason to love the Spider.
The pace is beautiful throughout the three issues and the buildup is nice enough to have me worried about the ending. I keep praying that Zeb Wells and Chris Bachalo nail the dismount, and they do, giving the tale a satisfying conclusion. Highly recommended.
Get these three issues here.
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Spider-Man Recommended : My Favorite Spectacular Spider-Man Comics!
Posted by Pete Albano - March 31, 2011Amazing Spider-Man 565-567
Inker : Andy Lanning, Mark Pennington (566) | Letterer : VC's Cory Petit
Colorist : Chris Chuckry and Jeremy Cox(566)| Assistant Editor : Tom Brennan
Editor : Stephen Wacker | Executive Editor : Tom Brevoort
Editor-In-Chief : Joe Quesada | Publisher : Dan Buckley
Spider-Man's Brain Trust : Gale, Guggenheim, Slott & Wells
Spider-Man and Daredevil really look good swinging into action with night at the city as a backdrop. I'm also thrilled to see Vermin back, rendered so well you can almost smell the sewer. And his personal army of rats, absolutely creepy. Writing is so good, lulling me into thinking that I know were it's going then surprising me and making me smile. Somewhere in there, Peter loses his costume and borrows Daredevil's costume. Yes, believe it, that alone is worth the price of admission. This is supposed to be an introduction to Kraven's daughter but it's also a ripping adventure.
Grab these comic books online!
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Spider-Man Recommended : My Favorite Spectacular Spider-Man Comics!
Posted by Pete Albano - March 31, 2011Amazing Spider-Man 589
Inker : Amilton Santos | Letterer : VC's Cory Petit | Colorist : Jeromy Cox
Assistant Editor : Tom Brennan | Editor : Stephen Wacker
Executive Editor : Tom Brevoort | Editor-In-Chief : Joe Quesada
Publisher : Dan Buckley | Executive Producer : Alan Fine
Spider-Man's Brain Trust : Gale, Guggenheim, Kelly, Slott & Waid
There's a story that Al Milgrom got kicked out of Spectacular Spider-Man because of the Spot. Milgrom introduced the character in issues 99 and 100 of Spectacular, his editor thought that the tale was a tad too whimsical and Milgrom got the boot.
I read those issues and liked them a lot, so when Amazing Spider-Man 589 has 'Return of the Spot' in big, bold lettering on the cover, it's an immediate must read.
I flipped back the cover expecting an entertaining read and I wasn't disappointed. It is wonderful. First of all, its a done-in-one, and I'm a sucker for contained tales that start at the first page and doesn't leave us with any cliffhangers. I have this crazy belief that it actually helps to focus the writer - in this case, Fred Van Lente. He really nailed the writing chores, subplot sequencing and overall pace was just right to make this a page turner. Paulo Siqueira's art reminds me of Dale Eaglesham, and yes, that is a tremendous complement.
The Spot isn't a whimsical villain anymore. He's serious and capable and imbues this tale with a heartbreaking twist that goes down just right.
Get this issue online.
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Spider-Man Recommended : My Favorite Spectacular Spider-Man Comics!
Posted by Pete Albano - April 23, 2011The One True Rhino!
Amazing Spider-Man 617 & 625
Inker : Pat Redding | Letterer : VC's Joe Caramagna | Colorist : Fabio D'Aura
Assistant Editor : Tom Brennan | Editor : Stephen Wacker | Executive Editor : Tom Brevoort | Editor-In-Chief : Joe Quesada
Publisher : Dan Buckley | Executive Producer : Alan Fine
Spider-Man's Brain Trust : Gale, Kelly, Slott, Van Lente, Waid & Wells
Letterer : VC's Joe Caramagna | Colorist : Fabio D'Aura
Assistant Editor : Tom Brennan | Editor : Stephen Wacker | Executive Editor : Tom Brevoort | Editor-In-Chief : Joe Quesada
Publisher : Dan Buckley | Executive Producer : Alan Fine
I'm a big fan of the Rhino. I like the look of the character and I also like the powers.
According to the Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe volume 1, Rhino is 6'5" tall and 710 pounds. He can lift 20 tons and can charge at opponents with that horn at 30 miles per hour - enough to penetrate several inches of steel. He's also tough enough to withstand anti-tank weaponry. He's like a junior Juggernaut for heaven's sake, how can you not love him? When the first volume of the Official Handbook of the the Marvel Universe was written in the mid-eighties the Rhino's real name is listed as 'Unrevealed'.
Well, it's been revealed since then : the Rhino is Aleksei Sytsevich. His identity is publicly known because during the time of the Superhuman Registration Act the Rhino turned himself in. Shield surgically removed his armor-like skin and Sytsevich turned his back on his villainous ways, found the love of his life and is now working as a bouncer in a casino. It's all very touchingly represented in this issue.
Enter the new Rhino.
This Rhino I don't like at all. I don't like his spacey, too-elaborate look and I don't like his one-dimensional brutality and his stupid notion that he has to defeat the old Rhino in order to 'ascend' to being the new Rhino. If writer Joe Kelly wanted me to hate this guy bad enough to want Spidey to beat him up, or better still, have the old Rhino beat him up, he's done a good job. If this was the Silver Age of Comics that's exactly what would have happened - old Rhino vs. New Rhino or old Rhino plus Spider-Man (seeing that it's his comic) vs. the New Rhino. What happens is much more interesting than that : the old Rhino stops the new Rhino, not with his strength, but with his conviction. Sytsevich has started a new crime-free life and he will not be derailed from that. He calls it 'putting one foot in front of the other'. Here he is talking about it to his fellow inmates.
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The concept of 'one foot in front of the other' is also explained beautifully by Oksana, the Rhino's beloved.
It is the possible threat to Oksana posed by the new Rhino that makes the Rhino decide to 'go back into costume' but Spider-Man stops him with an incredible speech.
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Lest we forget about the art, Max Fiumara does a good job. Here's my favorite panel.
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If I have one word for this issue that word is 'satisfying'. I can't imagine a better ending for the Rhino.
625 Review
Hahahahahahahahahahahaha!
It's been a while since issue 617 and guess what? Joe Kelly and company decide to revisit this story here in ASM 625.
Hahahahahahahahaha! I can't stop laughing from how good the story is! I can't help but unleash some major spoilers at this point, so be warned! You might want to read 625 first.
Back in my review of 617 I mentioned that I would love to see a fight between the new Rhino and the original Rhino - a favorite of mine. In a way, I was glad it didn't happen because the new Rhino is 9 feet tall and armored in steel - I feared Aleksei wouldn't be able to handle that kind of power.
Boy, was I wrong!
Here is the mano e mano people! In issue 625, the big, big, big fight! And the original Rhino wins! The new Rhino isn't down, he isn't out. He's dead. D-E-A-D, dead. That's what happens when you mess with the best!
The events surrounding this fight makes for a very heavy, emotional issue. The fight is right out of WWE!
Do yourself a favor and get 617 and 625. Highly recommended!
The second issue of this duo,, Amazing Spider-Man 625, is only sold with the regular cover, but Amazing Spider-Man 617 comes with several variants. The first shows a wall breaking open, it's called "Something is Coming" - it's a 1 in 4 variant. An even rarer 1 in 10 variant is called 'The Rhino is Coming'; and shows a horn breaking through the wall. Rarest of all is the 'Villain' cover showing both Rhinos and Spidey - there's one of these for every 15 of the regular cover.
You might also be interested in this Rhino Legendary Scale Bust
, I was looking for a full body statue but this is the best I could find.
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Spider-Man Recommended : My Favorite Spectacular Spider-Man Comics!
Posted by Pete Albano - February 12, 2011 | Updated : June 21, 2011Amazing Spider-Man 657
Artists : Marcos Martin, Ty Templeton, Nuno Plati & Stefano Caselli
Colors : Muntsa Vicente, Javier Rodriguez, Nuno Plati & Marte Gracia
Letterer : VC's Jo Caramagna | Assistant Editor : Ellie Pile
Senior Editor : Stephen Wacker | Chief Creative Officer : Joe Quesada
Editor-In-Chief : Axel Alonso | Publisher : Dan Buckley
Executive Producer : Alan Fine
Reading this comic is like going through a mini-museum with three great paintings. The paintings are the three flashbacks in the issue. Each flashback is done by a different artist; and each of the flashbacks is about Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four. Just when you think it can't possibly get any better - it does. As the issue ends, it shows how Spider-Man becomes a member of the Freedom Foundation. From the stark beauty of the cover to the poignant storytelling to the milestone ending, this issue is a classic. Definitely recommended.
Get this issue here.
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Spider-Man Recommended : My Favorite Spectacular Spider-Man Comics!
Posted by Pete Albano - May 3, 2011Amazing Spider-Man 659
Cover : Stefano Caselli & Lorenzo de Felici
Colors : Marta Gracia | Letterer : VC's Jo Caramagna
Assistant Editor : Ellie Pile
Senior Editor : Stephen Wacker | Chief Creative Officer : Joe Quesada
Editor-In-Chief : Axel Alonso | Publisher : Dan Buckley
Executive Producer : Alan Fine
backup story :
Writer : Rob Williams | Artist : Lee Garbett | Cover : De La Torre & Hollingsworth
Inker : Alejandro Sicat | Letterer : VC's Joe Caramagna | Colors : Fabio D'Auria
Assistant Editor : Ellie Pyle | Editor : Stephen Wacker
Editor-In-Chief : Axel Alonso | Publisher : Dan Buckley
Executive Producer : Alan Fine
Great writing and beautiful art make up an exceptional tale. Mention should also be made to Fred Van Lente's dialogue which is both funny and in character. Pick up this book just to hear the Future Foundation referred to as Invisible Girl, Mr. Elongated Man, the Human Torch (Spidey), and the Incredible Hulk. And yes, this reads like an FF issue but that's not a complaint, it's nice to see Spider-Man hang with a team; the dynamics are wonderful. Plus it's a zombie pirate adventure. Yes : Zombie. Pirate. Adventure. Ala 'Pirates of the Caribbean'. And here's the brilliant twist, for those readers who are inclined to criticize this as too cheezy or corny, Dan Slott has the book criticize itself. This is brilliant, faultless plotting and Caselli's art is gorgeous (kudos also to the rest of the art team). Check out the water right under the skull mountain. Yes, a skull mountain whoohee!. It is fun and you have to read it.
The backup tale, on the other hand, isn't very good, largely because Rob Williams tries his hand at the clever Spider-Man patter that our hero is known for while tackling the bad guys. The dialogue sounds strained and forced making me wince as I read it. It's enough to overwhelm the excellent Garbett art.
Order for your collection here.
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Spider-Man Recommended : My Favorite Spectacular Spider-Man Comics!
Posted by Pete Albano - May 8, 2011Comicbook elements presented at comicsrecommended.com are republished within a fair use context. Each image is © by their creators or comics publisher
