Comics Amazing Spider-Man#580 (review)

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Was I the only one who thought this story was kinda ho-hum? Not bad, but not great either. It was just... there. It seemed like a run-of-the-mill Spidey catches super-powered bank robber storyline. I know Roger Stern wrote it and that's supposed to sell itself, but I honestly enjoyed Waid's previous 2-parter a lot more.

The Blank is pretty much like the Slyde in that he's teflon. The FBI guy is interchangable with any other of the two dozen FBI contacts Peter or Spider-Man seems to have accumulated over the decades. And Aunt May is in danger. Nothing we haven't seen.

Like I said, not bad, but if you want my honest opinion I think on the quality writing scale its just a rung above Gale.

Anyone have a differing opinion?

 

[Themanofbat]

I haven't read it yet, but let's face it... no individual comic needs to be part of an "arc" nor does it have to be overly complicated... once in a while, a good ol' fashioned single issue Spidey story is fun, and I hope that's what I'll be getting with this book... and maybe a few more sub-plots on the other stuff...

 

[moraldeficiency]

after checking it out, it's just alright. It felt very retro and very heavy on the filler. With about three changes to words this story could be put into anything in the 70s or early 80s without much difference. Not bad, but it felt like stern was streaching to reach enough pages for the issue and that's not a good sign.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

I always thought the memory of Roger Stern was better than the reality. As far as 80's Spider-Man scribes go, I prefer Peter David, JM DeMatties and even Tom DeFalco. I thought Stern was a decent writer, but not a legendary one as many seem to think of him as. But hey, what do I know... I know plenty would disagree with me.

 

[stillanerd]

You're not alone in your assessment in of this issue J.J.J.'s Ulcer (although I admit my distaste for BND might cloud my objectivity). As I said elsewhere, it's nice to see Uncle Rog gracing the pages of Amazing Spider-Man once again. Also, I find it quite refreshing that, in an age of decompressed storytelling, he manages to crank out a self-contained 22 page story with a beginning, middle, and end in a single issue--something which has become increasingly rare these days. However...

Mr. Stern, back in an interview he gave on the Spider-Man crawl space podcast, said that this particular story was something that he had in the works for Amazing Spider-Man back when he was the regular writer 24 to 25 years ago. And therein lies the big, BIG drawback to this story. For all intends and purposes, this issue read like a reprint of a story from 24 to 25 years ago.

Oh sure, there's a couple of tidbits here and there to update it, such as usage of cell phones, YouTube, the mortgage crisis, and nods to the current status quo and what not, but other than that, this is a story that's circa 1983 or 1984. Sort of like how the early Spider-Man Marvel Age stories written for kids were basically reworked versions of the original Stan Lee and Steve Ditko stories only with different artwork, scene arrangement, and updated references. After all, when you have a cannon fodder villain like the Blank who hasn't appeared in the comics since West Coast Avengers #3 and make it seem like he hasn't been out of action for a couple of months--even though in real time it's been a quarter of decade--it's pretty hard not to think this.

Granted, I know there are folks who will be appreciate of this kind of nostalgia, but otherwise this easily came across as filler. Harmless, decently-characterized, and tightly written filler, but filler nevertheless.

Still, nice to see him back.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Besides the fact it was one issue filler, I realize one of the things that bugged me is the amount of heavy and unncessary exposition, which bogged down the story's pace and made it seem dated. In the last 15 years or so, stories have cut down on the extraneous word balloons and thought balloons (which are especially rare these days) that used to crowd panels and hide the beautiful artwork with plot points we either already knew or could have guessed. Here it stuck out as a sore thumb. The 3 or 4 pages with Blank in his hotel mulling over his (pretty uninteresting) recent past really slowed it down.

 

[Blader5489]

Best part of the issue was the hint that Stern is writing a spiritual sequel to "Nothing Can Stop the Juggernaut" for next year.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Defenitely a phenomenal issue! Stern has proved, yet again, that he's a great writer. Oh, I'm still stunned by it.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Defenitely a phenomenal issue! Stern has proved, yet again, that he's a great writer. Oh, I'm still stunned by it.

Why?

Not trying to put you on the spot, but as someone who found it merely average, I want to hear the reasons some people think it was great.

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Why?

Not trying to put you on the spot, but as someone who found it merely average, I want to hear the reasons some people think it was great.

It's just that I found it very entertaining.

 

[Themanofbat]

It's just that I found it very entertaining.

Good answer...

I have yet to pick up my comics...

 

[Jack O Lantern]

The title of the story was apt. The issue is filler, it's good for what it is. When he does his two parter next year I believe that will still be great.

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

If that was Bob Gale's name in the writing credits instead of Roger Stern, this issue would have been panned by the same people who are praising it. No one can give me a SINGLE reason why it was good.

 

[Themanofbat]

I've yet to read it...

 

[USMC]

Yeah, I'd like a reason.

Though filler issues can be AWESOME. One of my top 10 favorite Spidey stories has aways been "When Cometh the Commuter!"

What a classic!

 

[Themanofbat]

Yeah, I'd like a reason.

Though filler issues can be AWESOME. One of my top 10 favorite Spidey stories has aways been "When Cometh the Commuter!"

What a classic!

ASM #267, written by Peter David.

Yeah... that was a good one, but typically, filler issues don't really stand out like that one did...

 

[USMC]

Why all the Sad faces lately, TMOB?

 

[Donald Thomas]

If that was Bob Gale's name in the writing credits instead of Roger Stern, this issue would have been panned by the same people who are praising it. No one can give me a SINGLE reason why it was good.

Aloha,
It was a good issue because it used past continuity issues to make up the story. The Blank appeared in West Coast Avengers mini series. I had to go back and find those issues to appreciate the character. The story also worked on the basic level of Spider-Man not being trusted by the public but doing something heroic just the same.Lifting

Spoiler

an armored car up is always a good picture for Spidey

It had him being slick enough to

Spoiler

fake anger so that he could pin a spider tracer on the FBI agent so that he could follow him

It had Aunt May Not being a Senior in peril but being in control.It referred to him working at the Daily Globe from issue #207 of the FF.I must be honest when I tell you that I laughed at how much back issue stories were referred to. I said that Stern or Marvel or both were giving some of the continuity critics( myself included) back issue references in spades. And back issue references that anyone less than 25 years old, probably did not read.The one issue stories are supposed to be fillers but with Stern, we got filler with fiber.
Spidey rules

 

[JJJ's Ulcer]

Aloha,
It was a good issue because it used past continuity issues to make up the story. The Blank appeared in West Coast Avengers mini series. I had to go back and find those issues to appreciate the character. The story also worked on the basic level of Spider-Man not being trusted by the public but doing something heroic just the same.Lifting

Spoiler

an armored car up is always a good picture for Spidey

It had him being slick enough to

Spoiler

fake anger so that he could pin a spider tracer on the FBI agent so that he could follow him

It had Aunt May Not being a Senior in peril but being in control.It referred to him working at the Daily Globe from issue #207 of the FF.I must be honest when I tell you that I laughed at how much back issue stories were referred to. I said that Stern or Marvel or both were giving some of the continuity critics( myself included) back issue references in spades. And back issue references that anyone less than 25 years old, probably did not read.The one issue stories are supposed to be fillers but with Stern, we got filler with fiber.
Spidey rules

The only back-issues I saw referenced were back-issues that Stern wrote. Alot of writers tend to do that. I disagree with why you think it's good, but I appreciate you taking the time to provide your own reasons. I still think if anyone else wrote this (especially an already unpopular writer like Gale) it would be considered mediocre.

 

[Themanofbat]

Why all the Sad faces lately, TMOB?

I've got a bad work deadline that's busting my nuts...

 

[Themanofbat]

Y'know? I just read the issue, and while it wasn't FANTASTIC... it was a good solid Spider-Man story.

It had some nods to old continuity, a character we haven't seen in ages, and even Peter's heavy "He attacked Aunt May" ploy was just that... an act to get a tracer on the FBI agent... good for Pete... yet people complained about the drama of the scene...



I liked it...not perfect, but a nice and simple story.