stillanerd
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Surprised no one started a thread on this issue yet. Oh, well guess I'll be the first then, so here's what I thought about it:
Let me stress that this is not a bad story. Yet, being that its Guggenheims last tale for Amazing Spider-Man (save for that Jackpot mini series coming out) it feels like a very lackluster, paint-by-numbers one for his swan song. Secondly, this story was also supposed to reintroduce elements of the Clone Saga back into the new status quo of Brand New Day, and it seemed like it was more of a half-hearted attempt rather than a genuine effort. Maybe its due primarily to the brain trust/webheads putting more of their energy into The Gauntlet, but it appears weve gone into another uninspired lull for this title, and if Marvel really want people to embrace the creative direction theyve done for Spider-Man--which theyre still having problems with almost two years after One More Day--they better step up their game.
So, what did anyone else think?
*One good thing Ill say about this issue is that Guggenheim does a decent job with parallel narratives, as was the case throughout all of this story arc. Here, the narratives are even more or less mirror images: One involves a confrontation between Ben and Damon, interrupted by Kaine, which causes the Ryders house to catch fire, and Damons family to be in danger. The other involves a confrontation between Peter and Damon (now Raptor) interrupted by Kaine (and Screwball), which causes Aunt Mays house to catch fire, and Peters cousins (and Harry) to be in danger. Also (and this is something I just realized) since the story involves clones, it makes the idea of both stories being virtually similar, albeit with different circumstances and outcomes, that more symbolic.
*Unfortunately, what brings this issue (and the whole story arc) down is its predictability. Of course, Ben is revealed to be entirely innocent and that the fire was started once Kaine burst into the room. And of course, Harry and the Reilly girls didnt learn Peter was Spider-Man thanks, once again, to Kaine barging in. The only surprises was that Damon was the one who actually killed his family due to going temporarily insane from the dinosaur DNA injection (which, given his prior behavior, didnt seem all that shocking) and the second was that Peter, prior to arriving at the house, had contacted Screwball to take her up on her challenge, which explains why she was in this story arc to begin with (although technically it could have been any C-list super villain really). At least that showed Peters ability to plan ahead knowing he was likely to walk into a trap, so its good Guggenheim showed that aspect of Peters character.
*But, just as Screwball, because she was really a device used to set-up the climax, made her seem disposable, there were quite a few characters in this story who also were nothing more than plot devices and could have been exchanged for any other character, it seems to me. For one thing, wouldnt the scene at Parker household been far more effective if it was Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson Senior instead of Harry and the Reilly girls? After all, we DID get a scene showing May and Jay on their honeymoon about to come back to New York, so why not follow up on that in this story? And, thinking back to last issue, wouldnt it have been more effective to have Raptor encounter Mary Jane instead of Michele? Not only would we have had a follow-up to MJs reaction towards her seeing Spidey and the Black Cat kiss on the JumboTron in Kellys Long Term Arrangement story, but, considering how MJ also knew the truth behind the Clone Saga and actually knew Ben and was close friends with him, it would have been great to see her reaction to Raptors claims. And finally, Raptor himself was disposable, as it seems he was merely just an excuse to reintroduce Kaine back into the Spidey books, especially since it appears Kaine strangles Raptor to death at the conclusion of the story.
*There was also problems in that a series of unanswered questions arose which seemed to be real plot holes. For one thing, why, after Kaine unmasks Spider-Man does Raptor STILL think Peters Ben Reilly? Remember, the way weve been told the psychic blindspot works, is that once Spider-Man is unmasked, the those who had prior knowledge that Peter was Spider-Man would regain it. And since Peter unmasked himself at a live TV press conference, the whole world knew he was Spider-Man, hence the reason behind the psychic blindspot in the first place. So you mean to tell me that Raptor, ever since his family died, NEVER watched TV, read a newspaper, surfed online, NOTHING? He was the only one in the whole world who didnt know about Spidey unmasking during Civil War? Or is it because hes insane and, therefore, the psychic blindspot doesnt work on him? But if thats the case, why are other insane people--like the Green Goblin for instance--still get effected by the blindspot? Also, Kaine STILL thinks Peter is the clone and Ben was the original? I guess that makes some sense, given that he was in prison during the time it was revealed Ben was the clone all along. But it doesnt really add to Kaines motivation, since he flat out states theres no difference between [Peter and Ben]. And speaking of which, Peter states that Ben wasnt a killer because he himself isnt a killer. And yet, Kaine, being a clone of Peter himself, tells Ben in the flashback that he and Ben are the same person, and since he is capable of cold blooded murder, wouldnt that also make Peter and Ben capable as well? Heck, even Peter hints at this earlier when he says Its whats always bothered me about Kaine--whatever Ben was capable of I am too. Sorry, Guggenheim, you cant have it both ways on this one.
*Even the art, in places, just didnt seem to be up to par. Checchetto was all right in places, although there were times it just seemed stiff, such as when Screwball burst through the window, or when Peter was thrown by Kaine through the wall. However, when it came to Ross and Magyar, it just seemed completely off. The scenes felt too clean, generic, and lacking any sense of dynamism, save for when Kaine appeared in the flames with his hair and beard completely singed. Considering how this issue was actually delayed, you would think this would have given them time to actually improve things artistically.
*Unfortunately, what brings this issue (and the whole story arc) down is its predictability. Of course, Ben is revealed to be entirely innocent and that the fire was started once Kaine burst into the room. And of course, Harry and the Reilly girls didnt learn Peter was Spider-Man thanks, once again, to Kaine barging in. The only surprises was that Damon was the one who actually killed his family due to going temporarily insane from the dinosaur DNA injection (which, given his prior behavior, didnt seem all that shocking) and the second was that Peter, prior to arriving at the house, had contacted Screwball to take her up on her challenge, which explains why she was in this story arc to begin with (although technically it could have been any C-list super villain really). At least that showed Peters ability to plan ahead knowing he was likely to walk into a trap, so its good Guggenheim showed that aspect of Peters character.
*But, just as Screwball, because she was really a device used to set-up the climax, made her seem disposable, there were quite a few characters in this story who also were nothing more than plot devices and could have been exchanged for any other character, it seems to me. For one thing, wouldnt the scene at Parker household been far more effective if it was Aunt May and J. Jonah Jameson Senior instead of Harry and the Reilly girls? After all, we DID get a scene showing May and Jay on their honeymoon about to come back to New York, so why not follow up on that in this story? And, thinking back to last issue, wouldnt it have been more effective to have Raptor encounter Mary Jane instead of Michele? Not only would we have had a follow-up to MJs reaction towards her seeing Spidey and the Black Cat kiss on the JumboTron in Kellys Long Term Arrangement story, but, considering how MJ also knew the truth behind the Clone Saga and actually knew Ben and was close friends with him, it would have been great to see her reaction to Raptors claims. And finally, Raptor himself was disposable, as it seems he was merely just an excuse to reintroduce Kaine back into the Spidey books, especially since it appears Kaine strangles Raptor to death at the conclusion of the story.
*There was also problems in that a series of unanswered questions arose which seemed to be real plot holes. For one thing, why, after Kaine unmasks Spider-Man does Raptor STILL think Peters Ben Reilly? Remember, the way weve been told the psychic blindspot works, is that once Spider-Man is unmasked, the those who had prior knowledge that Peter was Spider-Man would regain it. And since Peter unmasked himself at a live TV press conference, the whole world knew he was Spider-Man, hence the reason behind the psychic blindspot in the first place. So you mean to tell me that Raptor, ever since his family died, NEVER watched TV, read a newspaper, surfed online, NOTHING? He was the only one in the whole world who didnt know about Spidey unmasking during Civil War? Or is it because hes insane and, therefore, the psychic blindspot doesnt work on him? But if thats the case, why are other insane people--like the Green Goblin for instance--still get effected by the blindspot? Also, Kaine STILL thinks Peter is the clone and Ben was the original? I guess that makes some sense, given that he was in prison during the time it was revealed Ben was the clone all along. But it doesnt really add to Kaines motivation, since he flat out states theres no difference between [Peter and Ben]. And speaking of which, Peter states that Ben wasnt a killer because he himself isnt a killer. And yet, Kaine, being a clone of Peter himself, tells Ben in the flashback that he and Ben are the same person, and since he is capable of cold blooded murder, wouldnt that also make Peter and Ben capable as well? Heck, even Peter hints at this earlier when he says Its whats always bothered me about Kaine--whatever Ben was capable of I am too. Sorry, Guggenheim, you cant have it both ways on this one.
*Even the art, in places, just didnt seem to be up to par. Checchetto was all right in places, although there were times it just seemed stiff, such as when Screwball burst through the window, or when Peter was thrown by Kaine through the wall. However, when it came to Ross and Magyar, it just seemed completely off. The scenes felt too clean, generic, and lacking any sense of dynamism, save for when Kaine appeared in the flames with his hair and beard completely singed. Considering how this issue was actually delayed, you would think this would have given them time to actually improve things artistically.
Let me stress that this is not a bad story. Yet, being that its Guggenheims last tale for Amazing Spider-Man (save for that Jackpot mini series coming out) it feels like a very lackluster, paint-by-numbers one for his swan song. Secondly, this story was also supposed to reintroduce elements of the Clone Saga back into the new status quo of Brand New Day, and it seemed like it was more of a half-hearted attempt rather than a genuine effort. Maybe its due primarily to the brain trust/webheads putting more of their energy into The Gauntlet, but it appears weve gone into another uninspired lull for this title, and if Marvel really want people to embrace the creative direction theyve done for Spider-Man--which theyre still having problems with almost two years after One More Day--they better step up their game.
So, what did anyone else think?
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