Comics I Think I'm Retiring From Spider-man

[Kevin]

I love the Character, I really do. But I'm realizing that he's not really for me. Spider-man, as of late, has been going into so many directions that it's just too hard to focus and care. There are past story elements that I've never liked, not important what, but may resurface one day. Spider-man is just not the character I grew up with (The tv version) he never was, really.

This is not a "The writer sux, I hate what he's doing with the character!" thing. I think I'm just outgrowning him. I only stay for MJ honestly, and Aunt may, so I shouldn't even be reading this book as it's about Peter Parker.

After civil war is over, Amazing will be dropped, and maybe Friendly. Sensational Is top notch, but I feel it's storyline may get dragged along because of the other books, as time goes by that is, but I will give it a chance.

If the event of me giving up Sensational does happen, I will no longer browse the spider-man boards, I won't care enough about him to.

Kevin D.

 

[Dangerous]

Don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.

Just Kidding, heh

Which TV show was it you grew up with- The Animated show? That was lame anyway.
Check this out baby, this was the show I grew up with-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuLzN_w6QVU

Spider-man solo show/ 1981, Best damn TV show ever!

Go watch some of the episodes from this show and see what you think.
They remind me of the Lee/Romita era, mainly because of the art direction.
Or go read some of the first 250 issues of ASM, that’s Spidey gold, or read some classic SM arcs to get you pumped like KLH or The Child Within courtesy of some cheap Spectacular back issues.

The Spider titles right now are a bit flakey and or controversial, but if I were you I would stick w/ SSM
(since its pretty good) and maybe give Reign a go.
Ultimately you either love Spidey or not. If you do, stick w/ the character and the books will come good again. Otherwise I guess it just ain’t your scene.

 

[Kevin]

Sensational has been fantastic since its first issue, so I'll try to stick with it.

And yes, it was the Animated series.

These days, it's all about the "OMG, this will change spider-man's life forever!!!" I'm not really even into it anymore. And the first, i'll say, 80 issues of Amazing are hard to read. (The writing is just aweful. Feels so old) But I can get through it to just before the relaunch.

 

[DACrowe]

The dialogue is campy in the first oh....300 issues of ASM. But that is part of the comic book charm. But even if until the late '80s they were written in a slightly stilted way, there were great stories with great characters that have stood the test of time.

Honestly I love the Lee era. The first 30 are "hard reading" (soon as Romita gets on the art gets more eye pleasing and the stories get a ltitle deeper with the supporting cast anyway and that move really starts though with the mastermind storyline in #32 and #33) but are a great base for the character.

What makes them all work is watching Peter's character grow. And he does grow, unlike most superheroes, he gets older and becomes more responsible and intelligent and confident, etc. Sure there are rough patches but if Lee, Conway, Wolfman, Stern or DeFalco or DeMatthis wrote it, chances are it is good. And I've found redeemingly great stories from Manatlo and Michilline too. Even JMS. Howard Mackie is the only AMAZING writer I've ever downright hated.


It is sold by the character and his supporting cast. If you've "outgrown" Spider-Man than you've outgrown comics because while they may not be the most violent or serious, they are usually written with more depth of character and emotion than you'll find anywhere else. And watching everyone in the gang grow (and sometimes die) from Peter to May, MJ, Gwen, Flash, Harry, Norman, JJJ, etc. is just really an interesting thing.

BTW I loved the animated show when I was younger too. But it isn't any more mature than the comics. Quite the opposite actually. While it caught the feel of the comics (along with much heavier censorship to the point of ridicule), it's love stories were even more ridiculously over the top, rushed and the neogenics/time portals got so ridiculous (they were there own clone saga/Other wrapped into one).


Good show though, just seeing it again as an older person you see that the best aspects of the show were straight adaptations of the comic book.

For the record I've "retired," myself. After Sins Past finished, I concluded the Mark Millar run (which despite being heavily flawed was at least enjoyable and entertaining) and cancelled my subscriptions. I've read The Other from a friend, same with Civil War and I am not being convinced to come back either though. The last real issue I bought for myself is Spider-Man: Reign which may please you though.

 

[Kevin]

I keep hearing good thinks about it.

And When I say owngrown, I mean of Peter's story. Basically, for me, it was a story about a boy, had bad thing happen to him, overcame those things, and grew up. That's complete story for me. I don't wanna see anymore because It can only go back, and that'll ruin it for me. "A classic feel," which is what everyone wants, means it'll only go back, I just can't go through that. I've seen Peter's story, and It's time that I give someone elses story a chance.

Let's looks a DC's Blue Beetle. It's about a Teenager who, just like Peter, came across fate one day. Now, It's a good chance I'm only gonna see the things in the new book that I did with peter, but at the same time, I'm watching a new character grow. And I'm willing to go through his growing pains (Heh, i loved that show) Every stories already been done. I accept a new spine on things.

 

[Dangerous]

And the first, i'll say, 80 issues of Amazing are hard to read. (The writing is just aweful. Feels so old) But I can get through it to just before the relaunch.

The writing awful ?!!
OK, well sorry you feel that way but the first 80 issues of amazing contain many of the greatest SM stories.

The dialogue is campy in the first oh....300 issues of ASM. But that is part of the comic book charm.

300 issues?
Are you serious, by #185 Marv Wolfman was the writer who dealt w/ Spidey having a shag buddy in Black Cat and what became of the burglar who killed Uncle Ben, not exactly campy themes.
I would say it's more like the Savage Land arc that featured in #103-104, was the last decidedly campy arc. Besides, like you say it’s part of the allure.

Honestly I love the Lee era. The first 30 are "hard reading" (soon as Romita gets on the art gets more eye pleasing and the stories get a ltitle deeper with the supporting cast anyway and that move really starts though with the mastermind storyline in #32 and #33) but are a great base for the character.

Yeah, the Ditko issues can be hard reading, sometimes they get bogged down in too much detail.
They tended to cram as much as they could, panel/speech wise onto each page so it can feel a little crammed up. The Ditko issues are hard reading but there are many a gem in there too.

 

[Fried Gold]

I think I don't care.

 

[Kevin]

the dialogue was hard to read. The stories was fine. oh, and i really hated flash.

 

[Ultimate Jay]

Usm...

 

[wolvie2020]

Usm...

I was going to say that...

Mate, you're one of the reasons the entire Ultimate U exists. Take advantage of it.

Second, I don't know you, (but I do have to say this is how you come off,) I think it's highly self righteous/indulgent/involved to not only start this as a thread, but your comments afterwards just REALLY make you sound like you have NO IDEA about most of the comics you mentioned.

The death of the silver age, and the loss of innocense that generally happened in mainstream comics happened with ASM 121. The Punisher was introduced in ASM soon after, and Harry was a drug addict long before that. Hell, the end of his intro has been one of the most depressing in comic history ever.

So yea, campy is something Spider-Man comics have never been. His puns, silly jokes, and comic relief he says while he has the mask on was quite campy at times. But that was part of his character, as way of dealing with situations and being picked on so much as a teen. They're very psychologically rich stories, and the jokes are sometime very needed to counter balance some really heavy subject matter. People don't need another Batman. It's been done.

Ditko was great too, The Master Planner is one of the coolest comic book stories ever IMO. Not only that, Ditko was a master of his craft, his style was very intentionally counteracting how other heroes were being portrayed in other books, he's one of the many reasons Spider-Man stood out from the crowd.

Also, if you're going to read the classics, you show go in with a bit of thought as to what was going on socially, culturally, what were the limitations artistlically, censorship, etc. Otherwise there's not much point as you won't understand a lot of the greatness of it. And clearly you don't. Stan Lee had created a massive comic book universe of counter culture, that is still respected and endured to this day. Hell, Stan Lee published the drug issues without the comic code authority, not giving a s*** in a very rock and roll attitude.

Look, I didn't mean to go on for this long, but some stuff had to be said. At the end of the day

I think I don't care.

I think that says it best.

I'm glad you think something as piddly as this is something that worth starting a thread about, but I have to tell ya, there are lots more things going on here that are a lot more thread worthy. I quit all Spidey comics after the last part of Sins Past, but in my humble opinion, I didn't think I was important enough to start a thread about it.

Well, I've wasted enough of my time here, please click my link on my tag, hopefully like like my Spider-Man t-shirts more lol...

 

[shinlyle]

I don't blame you for quitting the current books, but the older stories are classics! I used to have a lackadaisical attitude abotu the older stories too, then the current stories started to suck, and I went back and began buying the Essentials. I recommend it.

Understand, those stories were cutting edge at the time they were written, and the dialogue and settings reflect those times. Remember, these were the cold war/hippie/Vietnam days. Things were different, people were different, the world was different. Try to keep that in mind when reading them, man.

I'm not going to preach to you that you've knocked the holy grail of comicdom (even though you kinds did ), but I will tell you to give it a little whiel and try it again. I think you'll be suprised.

 

[Kevin]

Okay, I read the first 13 issues of Usm, it was not for me. It's not bad in anyway, no. just wasn't feeling it at that time. maybe i'll give it another shot.

 

[Kevin]

I was going to say that...

Mate, you're one of the reasons the entire Ultimate U exists. Take advantage of it.

Second, I don't know you, (but I do have to say this is how you come off,) I think it's highly self righteous/indulgent/involved to not only start this as a thread, but your comments afterwards just REALLY make you sound like you have NO IDEA about most of the comics you mentioned.

The death of the silver age, and the loss of innocense that generally happened in mainstream comics happened with ASM 121. The Punisher was introduced in ASM soon after, and Harry was a drug addict long before that. Hell, the end of his intro has been one of the most depressing in comic history ever.

So yea, campy is something Spider-Man comics have never been. His puns, silly jokes, and comic relief he says while he has the mask on was quite campy at times. But that was part of his character, as way of dealing with situations and being picked on so much as a teen. They're very psychologically rich stories, and the jokes are sometime very needed to counter balance some really heavy subject matter. People don't need another Batman. It's been done.

Ditko was great too, The Master Planner is one of the coolest comic book stories ever IMO. Not only that, Ditko was a master of his craft, his style was very intentionally counteracting how other heroes were being portrayed in other books, he's one of the many reasons Spider-Man stood out from the crowd.

Also, if you're going to read the classics, you show go in with a bit of thought as to what was going on socially, culturally, what were the limitations artistlically, censorship, etc. Otherwise there's not much point as you won't understand a lot of the greatness of it. And clearly you don't. Stan Lee had created a massive comic book universe of counter culture, that is still respected and endured to this day. Hell, Stan Lee published the drug issues without the comic code authority, not giving a s*** in a very rock and roll attitude.

Look, I didn't mean to go on for this long, but some stuff had to be said. At the end of the day I think that says it best.

I'm glad you think something as piddly as this is something that worth starting a thread about, but I have to tell ya, there are lots more things going on here that are a lot more thread worthy. I quit all Spidey comics after the last part of Sins Past, but in my humble opinion, I didn't think I was important enough to start a thread about it.

Well, I've wasted enough of my time here, please click my link on my tag, hopefully like like my Spider-Man t-shirts more lol...

... *sigh* This would be the point where we would be in an arguement right now. As you said, you don't know, so it'd be best to not assume anything about me. I'll leave it at that. There's no sense in finishing something that shouldn't have been started.

 

[CConn]

I keep hearing good thinks about it.

And When I say owngrown, I mean of Peter's story. Basically, for me, it was a story about a boy, had bad thing happen to him, overcame those things, and grew up. That's complete story for me. I don't wanna see anymore because It can only go back, and that'll ruin it for me. "A classic feel," which is what everyone wants, means it'll only go back, I just can't go through that. I've seen Peter's story, and It's time that I give someone elses story a chance.

Let's looks a DC's Blue Beetle. It's about a Teenager who, just like Peter, came across fate one day. Now, It's a good chance I'm only gonna see the things in the new book that I did with peter, but at the same time, I'm watching a new character grow. And I'm willing to go through his growing pains (Heh, i loved that show) Every stories already been done. I accept a new spine on things.

That's...rather insightful, actually. I don't know if I agree with it fully, but yeah if there was going to be an ending to

Spider-Man's story, it could have very well been when he finally grew up and all. Whereas with someone like Batman or Superman I'd assume their stories to continue until they're, well, dead.

 

[Kevin]

well, kinda.

 

[Kevin]

wolvie2020, if you fell this is a "pointless thread" request for a mod to close it. There was nowhere else to put how i currently feel, so sooorrie

 

[wolvie2020]

wolvie2020, if you fell this is a "pointless thread" request for a mod to close it. There was nowhere else to put how i currently feel, so sooorrie

Nothing personal mate, that's just my opinion of what you said is all. Like I said. I don't know you, but to to start this thread, and makes those comments is both a bit much, and confusing

I just gave my thoughts on what you came out with. Sorry if I offended

 

[Feature]

And the first, i'll say, 80 issues of Amazing are hard to read. (The writing is just aweful. Feels so old) But I can get through it to just before the relaunch.

Buddy, don't go down this road. People on these boards will flip. Don't even try to suggest that early ASM doesn't compare to modern standards, they will bite your head off. I know first hand.

 

[CConn]

They probably will, but I have to agree with him. Personally, I don't find ASM at all enjoyable until about issue #50.

 

[Feature]

They probably will, but I have to agree with him. Personally, I don't find ASM at all enjoyable until about issue #50.

Agreed.
Where were you guys months ago when I needed you?

 

[matthooper]

Which TV show was it you grew up with- The Animated show? That was lame anyway.
Check this out baby, this was the show I grew up with-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vuLzN_w6QVU

Spider-man solo show/ 1981, Best damn TV show ever!

Go watch some of the episodes from this show and see what you think.
They remind me of the Lee/Romita era, mainly because of the art direction.
Or go read some of the first 250 issues of ASM, that’s Spidey gold, or read some classic SM arcs to get you pumped like KLH or The Child Within courtesy of some cheap Spectacular back issues.

Wow, I just got chills watching that. It really brings back memories. That was a pretty good show. I seem to remember the sound effects the most, which is odd. Still, the animated one from the 90's was better in my opinion.

 

[Kevin]

Agreed.
Where were you guys months ago when I needed you?

Well, When I first came here, I used to get ripped on for my opinions of spider-man. I got over it, and today, i no longer fear these guys.

 

[DACrowe]

I never said the issues weren't serious. In 300 issues we dealt with crime wars, drug wars, the failure to stop drugs, racism, death of Gwen Stacy, Jean DeWolff murdered by a serial killer, the eihics of letting Kingpin stay in power, Peter ruining the self-image Deborah Whitman had of herself and almsot driving her crazy, almost helping Betty Brant cheat on her husband Ned, Betty cheating on Ned with Flash, Falsh a disillusioned "war hero," Peter getting married, Peter having a "**** buddy" with Black Cat (albeit she was not introduced until the 190s and was originally a villain, then a lover and before he got married DeFalco turned her into a "**** buddy") etc.

I'm just saying the dialogue could be stilted as it was written for all ages in different eras. Similar to Hollywood films in the 1940s vs. the naturalism of the 1970s. That doesn't mean that the later comics or films are better because they have more realistic dialects and thought processes.

That was my point dangerous.

I think the best Spider-Man stories came from that era. Though I appreciated Michilline adding a real sense of sinster to the Spdier-Man comics and we have had some great stories from that and Aunt May and Mary Jane started talking like real smart people consistantly (until that assclown Howard Mackie came along). But we had some bad stories too.

As for Ultimate Spider-Man. I never got the pull of it. It is like a remake. They take the original idea and update it with more current trends in writing, they just also give it a spin so it is not what came before it. However, that spin given is inferior. The inferiority is just stupid, it is different and new for the sake of being different and new. Ultimate GG is a joke, Carnage killing Gwen is annoying, Peter dating Kitty Pryde is just stupid and Peter ready to bang a female equivalent of Ben Reilly is just disturbing.

Never got the appeal of Ultimate, other than it is easier for new kids to just jump into something that is still in its first year (as ridiculous as that is to believe) without story-wise 12 years of history and 40 years with probably close to a thousand issues of backstory.

But thaty old stuff is great. And I see the argument that Spider-Man has run out of palces to go. The point of the character is he is an every man who grows like the rest of us. I'd say Peter's full transition into a man (though he entered adulthood IMO with Master Planner and lost his boyish innocence in ASM #121) happened in ASM #200. He could put that to rest and was finishing graduate school and was beginning the rest of his life. HE played the field, overcame tragedy and got married.

The next step would be children. But Joey Q and his kind are so inane that they fear aging him so much, they deny it. So to avoid that staticness the series has by having a married couple without them going further professionally or as a family is to "have stupid big twists." For example, Peter is a spider-god, he has new powers and unmasked himself in the biggest marketing ploy this decade in Civil War.

Perhaps that is why I enjoy Reign so much. Even if it is a DKR clone, it is well written and has taken Peter to a new area in the game of life (albeit a much bleaker note than I think Peter should have).

Whatever though.

 

[diespinne]

Wow, I just got chills watching that. It really brings back memories. That was a pretty good show. I seem to remember the sound effects the most, which is odd. Still, the animated one from the 90's was better in my opinion.

I liked the first season or two of the 90's series, but overall, I was disappointed. It just got to being, "hmmm... let's see who beats Spider-man up this episode..." All I remember is Spidey getting saved by other characters. The animation got to be pretty painful too.

It's funny that you mention the sound effects from that older show. That one, Amazing Friends, and the 60's series all had really catchy incidental music and sound effects. I can barely remember the music from the 90's show.

 

[DACrowe]

Because it was better. The looks and sound of the '90s show had some flaire and had a sentimental soap opera sound ot it as well as a decent action and suspense beat. It didn't sound like the Smurfs.

I had my problems with the '90s show but it is the only cartoon yet to capture the feeling of the comics, albeit it is dilluted though.