Comics Ends of the Earth

[The Joker]

Doc Ock is back in ASM #698....and according to the solicitation he learns Spidey's secret identity. I hope he really messes up Peter's world. Be a great way to mark the 700th issue of ASM.

I can't wait

 

[runawayboulder]

I guess this will have to do with the big thing Slott has planned for ASM 700.

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

Must order the last couple of issues I missed next week.

 

[SpideyInATree]

Doc Ock is back in ASM #698....and according to the solicitation he learns Spidey's secret identity. I hope he really messes up Peter's world. Be a great way to mark the 700th issue of ASM.

I can't wait

Well, technically there already was a story where Doc Ock learned Spidey's identity...way back at the beginning of the Clone Saga in the Web of Death storyline.

Peter was dying. Ock learned his identity. Then Kaine killed Doc Ock.

 

[The Joker]

Clone Saga? Never heard of it. Sounds awful

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

Well, technically there already was a story where Doc Ock learned Spidey's identity...way back at the beginning of the Clone Saga in the Web of Death storyline.

Peter was dying. Ock learned his identity. Then Kaine killed Doc Ock.

How did Doc Ock return?

 

[Spider-Gnome]

How did Doc Ock return?

Magic!

But his memory of Pete remained in the afterworld...

 

[Lunar_Wolf]

Convenience, dammit!

 

[runawayboulder]

How did Doc Ock return?

The Hand brought him back....can't remember why though. It was a pretty crappy time for the books, a lot of bad stories.

 

[runawayboulder]

Chapter One was so freaking bad, what the hell was John Byrne smoking?

 

[SpideyInATree]

Finally getting through my backed up Spidey reading. Finished Ends of the Earth last night. There were parts that I enjoyed but, I don't know, Slott's dialogue has really seemed to slip. I felt like I was reading Marvel Adventures Spider-Man for little kids. Things kept being over explained and Spider-Man kept having to remind us that, "NO ONE DIES!". He's Spider-Man...of course, no one dies.

I don't know if it's something editorial tells him to do or what but I'm about to dive into the Lizard arc and I'm really hoping I don't get more of the same. My subscription renewal is going to be up and if I get super over the top cheesy, corny dialogue I'm probably going to be moving on for Spider-Man for a while. Too many great creator owned books by Dark Horse and Image that I've got my eye on.

Just, for some reason, it didn't feel like Spider-Man to me. Something was off along with the dialogue. And I really enjoy Caselli but there really seemed to be a lot of points that he was rushing and so was Ramos. Really just hoping that it's a small road bump in the run and things pick back up.

 

[runawayboulder]

But somebody did die. It's called foreshadowing.

 

[runawayboulder]

Or irony...

 

[SpideyInATree]

But somebody did die. It's called foreshadowing.

Well, after reading the Lizard arc she didn't...and I knew that she didn't because it was never shown. Slott has kind of been beating us over the head with that. And it was refreshing to hear MJ, of all characters, to kind of put Pete in his place in the beginning of the Lizard arc.

And I was VERY pleased with the Lizard arc. Solid stuff and the dialogue wasn't all super cheesy like in Ends of the Earth. And the reveal at the end of 691 was freakin' awesome. I think everyone knew it but it was cool to see and it's going to be great when that character jumps back into the picture.

 

[Themanofbat]

After ASM #691, I just can't wait for the new Morbius ongoing starting in January... and it looks like it'll feature some of the Legion of Losers...

 

[runawayboulder]

Well, after reading the Lizard arc she didn't...and I knew that she didn't because it was never shown. Slott has kind of been beating us over the head with that. And it was refreshing to hear MJ, of all characters, to kind of put Pete in his place in the beginning of the Lizard arc.

And I was VERY pleased with the Lizard arc. Solid stuff and the dialogue wasn't all super cheesy like in Ends of the Earth. And the reveal at the end of 691 was freakin' awesome. I think everyone knew it but it was cool to see and it's going to be great when that character jumps back into the picture.

I see. Bottom line is that this current run to 700 is one of the best build ups to any series milestone that I've ever read. For me, this is right up there with Mark Gruenwald's build up to Captain America #350, that concluded the Cap Quits saga and resulted in a long awaited Steve Rogers/John Walker showdown and return of the Red Skull. This is classic stuff so far.

 

[Themanofbat]

This run is really great imo as well... though the best one I've ever read was the Marv Wolfman run leading up to ASM #200...

THAT... was one sweet ride...

 

[runawayboulder]

Yeah, that was a great run too. Unfortunately that was a bit before I started reading and I had to get it all through back issues so technically I didn't get to "live" through it as it was going on as opposed to the Cap run I had mentioned.

I think you said once you considered that it started from ASM #192 but I liked reading it from ASM #189 with the Man-Wolf story. There were so many great moments leading to and including 200.......

- 24 hrs to Doomsday when Spidey and JJJ were strapped at the wrists by Smythe's bomb

- The ending to ASM 195 with the telegram

- Pete purposely spurning Betty so she'd go back into the arms of Ned Leeds

- ASM 197 with one of the best Spidey/Kingpin throw downs of ALL TIME. Fisk had him beat but quit on the fight because the clock struck midnight and he promised his wife he'd quit the life.

- The scene in 200 when Spider-Man pleas with Aunt May to trust him "because he's a friend of her nephews" (a very touching moment)

- Pete unmasking in front of the burglar

All were terrific moments.

I wish that I could consider the run to ASM 300 with these but things were so turbulent behind the scenes it hurt things so bad. The feel of the book changed completely on a dime and it was a major clusterf**k.

 

[Spider-Gnome]

This run is really great imo as well... though the best one I've ever read was the Marv Wolfman run leading up to ASM #200...

THAT... was one sweet ride...

I know you like that era, but that's one that I was a little less enthused. Ross Andru had left as well as MJ. Add to that going into junior high & high school, it's where I sort of drifted off until Hobgoblin first appeared & MJ's return.

I wish that I could consider the run to ASM 300 with these but things were so turbulent behind the scenes it hurt things so bad. The feel of the book changed completely on a dime and it was a major clusterf**k.

Actually, around ASM 300 for me was the START of a fun run for me with McFarlane & Larsen handling the art.

 

[runawayboulder]

Michelinie did have a hell of a run from 296 to 350. It was after the Round Robin arc things got shaky and there were some times he was showing burn out like with the Femme Fatales story where Pete decided out of the blue to quit being Spidey (again....).

 

[Themanofbat]

Yeah, that was a great run too. Unfortunately that was a bit before I started reading and I had to get it all through back issues so technically I didn't get to "live" through it as it was going on as opposed to the Cap run I had mentioned.

I get that... totally...

I think you said once you considered that it started from ASM #192 but I liked reading it from ASM #189 with the Man-Wolf story. There were so many great moments leading to and including 200.......

You're mistaken... I've always recommended that run from ASM #185 onward... though the build-up does begin with ASM #189... with some sub-plots about that story in the few issues before...

Having said that, I have stated that ASM #192 is my second favourite Spidey tale of all time... just behind ASM #200... so maybe the confusion lies therein...

- 24 hrs to Doomsday when Spidey and JJJ were strapped at the wrists by Smythe's bomb.

Yep... see above...

- ASM 197 with one of the best Spidey/Kingpin throw downs of ALL TIME. Fisk had him beat but quit on the fight because the clock struck midnight and he promised his wife he'd quit the life.

YES!!! Definitly one of THE BEST Spidey fights ever... even better than the BiB beat down... because in this fight, Peter isn't focused, has one arm in a sling, and wants to get to the nursing home because of the shennanigans with "Dr.Reinhart" and Aunt May's "death"... it was a really sweet comic...

- The scene in 200 when Spider-Man pleas with Aunt May to trust him "because he's a friend of her nephews" (a very touching moment)

- Pete unmasking in front of the burglar.

There's a reason why it's my favourite Spidey tale of all time, and it truly brought Spider-Man full circle from Amazing Fantasy #15...

 

[Themanofbat]

I know you like that era, but that's one that I was a little less enthused. Ross Andru had left as well as MJ. Add to that going into junior high & high school, it's where I sort of drifted off until Hobgoblin first appeared & MJ's return.

I only started Jr. High in 1979... so it was all good for me...

Having said that... when O'Neill came on board, I almost drifted off myself probably due to the stories being so lackluster as well as going to Jr. High and thinking about boobies...

 

[runawayboulder]

YES!!! Definitly one of THE BEST Spidey fights ever... even better than the BiB beat down... because in this fight, Peter isn't focused, has one arm in a sling, and wants to get to the nursing home because of the shennanigans with "Dr.Reinhart" and Aunt May's "death"... it was a really sweet comic...

That must have been so cool reading that story when it came out. It must have felt like the actual last hurrah of the Kingpin since back then he wasn't around as long as he is now. If a story was told like that today, people would be crying bulls**t because Fisk would be back 6 issues later. (and yes I'm calling you old )

There's a reason why it's my favourite Spidey tale of all time, and it truly brought Spider-Man full circle from Amazing Fantasy #15...

That it did.

After going back and reading that issue made me appreciate the Stern/DeFalco issues (where I got my start) even more. It felt like they were turning the page for Spidey. A new chapter was truly beginning, it wasn't just some tag-line. His life was different moving forward, he stopped being a teenager and became an adult.

That's why I adore this Big Time era Slott is doing, you feel like Peter is moving forward in life aside from the fact that OMD/BND helped push it in that direction in such an unceremonious manner.

 

[Spider-Man '92]

Just got the trade for this a while back. Solid stuff. Though I agree the whole "nobody dies" thing is immensely pushed (and at the same time comes across a bit cliche, if that makes any sense), I personally enjoyed this arc. The art on both accounts was excellent, especially the splashes and group shots of the Sinister Six (primarily the first in Part One). I also liked the edge that was brought with it, primarily with Ock, Rhino, and the whole scenario as it stood. Glad I picked this one up.

Is the latest Lizard arc any good? I've been debating whether to go back and order the individual issues, or to just wait until the trade comes out (as I'm sort of getting into that mindset).

 

[Will Nolte]

The Lizard arc is one of Slott's best to date. That isn't just a personal opinion, you'll find a lot of people here agree with that statement.