stillanerd
Sidekick
- Joined
- Dec 12, 2005
- Messages
- 3,852
- Reaction score
- 42
- Points
- 33
So, no thread on this one yet? Very well then, I start things off:
So all in all, while I dont think this is a bad story, its not a really great one. Its just an average Spider-Man story with some above-average artwork that doesnt look as though it will have much impact (unless Peter DOESNT get out of the cliffhanger at the end).
*Just like last issue, I like how theres an actual and logical reason to have different artists for the story, as it makes all the sense in the world for one artist (in this case two) to do the flashbacks while the other depicts the events from the present day. And Checchetto, Ross, and Maygar work are both nicely rendered. Although certainly the flashback scenes still have the problem of making Peter and Damon look too much alike in terms of physical appearance. (I know this is a story about clones, but jeez).
*However, Im not so sure about Guggenheims script though. The dialogue, at times, feels rather clunky and while Spider-Mans banter is supposed to be on the cheesy side, some of his jokes really stunk. (I mean, Thats REALLY by the way, not REILLY? [email protected]? Excuse me while I wretch).
*The other problem Guggenheim has is that, from the looks of things, the story appears to be shaping up towards a very predictable outcome. Its all but telegraphed that, in the flashback tale, Ryders family will be revealed to have perished in the fire as a result of Kaine (hiding outside the house) barging in and attacking Ben just as hes trying to sedate the mutating Ryder. And, of course, Harry and the three Reilly girls wont learn that Peter is really Spider-Man despite the fact hes preparing to lift up his shirt to expose his costume (and, as Wacker revealed for issue #610, hes in his Spidey costume sans mask in front of Ryder) because, thanks to the psychic blindspot rules Peter didnt literally remove his mask and thus Harry and the Reilly girls will think he was pretending to be Spider-Man to fool and distract Ryder.
*Not that the story doesnt have its moments. I like the fact that Kaine knows Peter is Spider-Man because, as the story says, it makes all the sense in the world that Peters clone should know since he technically is him. Same goes for the fact Ben pointing out how Stegron was the other guy who injected himself with Dinosaur DNA, something which I complained about Raptor being a knock-off of last time, so kudos to Guggenheim for having this be pointed out in the story. (Although that certainly doesnt make Raptor any less of a half-baked 1990s inspired and derivative villain with a motivation that, when looked under scrutiny, is big enough for a well a Dinosaur to stomp through).
*Still, there were scenes which just didnt do it for me. Screwball calling out Spider-Man via a hacked-in video blog just seemed like nothing but pointless filler that seemed to have nothing to do with the overall story at hand (unless she winds up getting recruited by Kravens wife or daughter towards the end for the Gauntlet or something). Also, Peter and Michelles interaction only served three purposes: 1. Show that last issues cliffhanger was (surprise) a fake out and set-up the real threat, 2. Have an excuse for Michele to wear skimpy clothing and show off her belly-button stud, and 3. Provide yet ANOTHER instance for Michele to whine and make veiled threats at Peter over a simple misunderstanding (seriously, who is SHE to talk about him violating her privacy when she has both given his clothes away to the goodwill without his permission and mulched his personal belongings down the garbage disposal?)
*However, Im not so sure about Guggenheims script though. The dialogue, at times, feels rather clunky and while Spider-Mans banter is supposed to be on the cheesy side, some of his jokes really stunk. (I mean, Thats REALLY by the way, not REILLY? [email protected]? Excuse me while I wretch).
*The other problem Guggenheim has is that, from the looks of things, the story appears to be shaping up towards a very predictable outcome. Its all but telegraphed that, in the flashback tale, Ryders family will be revealed to have perished in the fire as a result of Kaine (hiding outside the house) barging in and attacking Ben just as hes trying to sedate the mutating Ryder. And, of course, Harry and the three Reilly girls wont learn that Peter is really Spider-Man despite the fact hes preparing to lift up his shirt to expose his costume (and, as Wacker revealed for issue #610, hes in his Spidey costume sans mask in front of Ryder) because, thanks to the psychic blindspot rules Peter didnt literally remove his mask and thus Harry and the Reilly girls will think he was pretending to be Spider-Man to fool and distract Ryder.
*Not that the story doesnt have its moments. I like the fact that Kaine knows Peter is Spider-Man because, as the story says, it makes all the sense in the world that Peters clone should know since he technically is him. Same goes for the fact Ben pointing out how Stegron was the other guy who injected himself with Dinosaur DNA, something which I complained about Raptor being a knock-off of last time, so kudos to Guggenheim for having this be pointed out in the story. (Although that certainly doesnt make Raptor any less of a half-baked 1990s inspired and derivative villain with a motivation that, when looked under scrutiny, is big enough for a well a Dinosaur to stomp through).
*Still, there were scenes which just didnt do it for me. Screwball calling out Spider-Man via a hacked-in video blog just seemed like nothing but pointless filler that seemed to have nothing to do with the overall story at hand (unless she winds up getting recruited by Kravens wife or daughter towards the end for the Gauntlet or something). Also, Peter and Michelles interaction only served three purposes: 1. Show that last issues cliffhanger was (surprise) a fake out and set-up the real threat, 2. Have an excuse for Michele to wear skimpy clothing and show off her belly-button stud, and 3. Provide yet ANOTHER instance for Michele to whine and make veiled threats at Peter over a simple misunderstanding (seriously, who is SHE to talk about him violating her privacy when she has both given his clothes away to the goodwill without his permission and mulched his personal belongings down the garbage disposal?)
So all in all, while I dont think this is a bad story, its not a really great one. Its just an average Spider-Man story with some above-average artwork that doesnt look as though it will have much impact (unless Peter DOESNT get out of the cliffhanger at the end).
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