Comics Spider-man Reign

[Venomfan]

My theory is, it's not the original Dock Ock. What I'm really expecting is Captain America to be a tool of the government who they'll eventually release on Spider-Man as a last resort, ala Superman from DKR. I originally would have said Daredevil, but he would have aged much faster than Cap.

well the difference there is superman can absolutely own batman, whereas spider-man should destroy captain america, and dont bring up that stupid asm/civil war fight

 

[J. J. Jameson]

Screwy double posts...

 

[J. J. Jameson]

Well, when Loeb and Campbell take over, Peter is supposed to be working at the Bugle again, as a photographer, with his good ol' supporting cast to boot, as well as a line of classic villains. They said the aim is to go back to ho Stan Lee was handling the charcter in the late 60's to early 70's.

Don't ask me how the hell they're going to get there, I've been wondering this since the unmasking. But apparently, that's the plan...

This is from a few pages back, but anyway...

I agree...how on earth do they plan to do that?! As of now 1) Jameson hates Parker 2) A majority of classic villians are working for SHIELD 3) Peter is currently wanted by the law. I guess miracles happen...but that's a stretch.

Going back to "Reign"...
It was great! Loved it! It'll be interesting to see where all of the oldtimers have ended up in the future. Of course, it'll reach its apex when Ock enters the scene t:

Refreshing after all this "Civil War" stuff.

 

[Dangerous]

Picking this up tmr, I am excited!

 

[Mephistopheles]

Are they actually recalling this issue because of the panel that showed the spider-wang?

 

[DACrowe]

I thought the body in the mayor's office was some superhero that he "put out to pasture." I was thinking maybe captain America.

Very good read. I see the comparisons to DKR, but I think this is less about a middle-aged man's comeback as a commentary on the elderly. I see the darkness though, albeit thematically it is more Bubba Hotep than DKR to me. While style and story telling techniques maybe.

I think the 1984 attempts wer a little too broad in the newscasts but overall I'm quite happy with it and for the first time in ages (since the end of the GOOD JMS run, after the Book of Ezekiel) I'm actually looking forward to the next issue in a Spider-Man story.

Intriguing, relaly.

 

[Mr Jide]

This book is definately deep. Jameson looks like he's about to die if he so much as sneezes lol. Jokes aside, its depressing and very intriguing. I dont think that guy with the skin hanging off his bones is kingpin, no way. There's not much else to say except that it leaves open a lot of interesting directions the story could go and I look foward to see what happens next.

 

[SpideyInATree]

I really did like this issue. Definitely some great dark storytelling, in my opinion. I liked the part where Peter was saying how the "mask" was taking over and that "it thought it was funny".

The biggest mystery to me so far is who the vegetable was that the mayor was talking to. My guess is Captain America.

And I'm really surprised to see many of the other fans here taking to this book. After reading it I immediately said to myself, "Oh my God, this is going to get crucified on the Hype". But I guess since it didn't have JMS on it it was safe.

 

[Venom Drool]

cap is a good guess. but i think its going to stick more closely to spidey's rogues. so kingpin is a better guess. although the dialogue would suggest that the vegetable was someone popular...

 

[kidbateman]

i thought it could have been norman osborn for some reason.

 

[shinlyle]

And I'm really surprised to see many of the other fans here taking to this book. After reading it I immediately said to myself, "Oh my God, this is going to get crucified on the Hype". But I guess since it didn't have JMS on it it was safe.

Actually, It hink peopel are taking to this because, unlike "Sins Past", "The Other" or anything else done in recent Spidey history, this isn't in continuity. That means that it has no effevt on anythign else we'll read...unlike the aforementioned two stories, which are forever emblazoned into our minds...and even had they been out of continuity, they would have still sucked.t:

 

[Dangerous]

Just finished reading issue one and my immediate impressions are it’s a DKR rip off w/ nice art work.
Seriously, the alternate-future-old-retired-superhero thing, coming back to clean up the city and even the odds against the oppressors is a little clichéd no?

After DKR, any book based around this same set up is going to a) always be cited as un-original and
b) not be as good, because despite how Reign’s story might evolve it’s first quarter lacks any punch because it has all been done before in one of the most famous and celebrated Batman tales.
Using news segments to fill in the narrative and explain the situation was taking it a bit too far.
That was lame.

Reign will not be the Spider-man DKR because it is not a totally new and original idea for a superhero story that will re-invent the wheel. So far it just seems to this reader like a DKR wannabe.

So what did I like? The art I thought was very cool.
In using computers or sourced photos for backgrounds and only drawing the characters, the panels take on a new depth. A nice dynamic of contrast from the cold computer generated backdrops and the more organic hand draw human figures. The humans themselves look really cool like they are cell frames from an animated film. I much prefer this type of experimental work to Andrews’ usual laboured painted covers.

I will continue to collect the rest of the series because I think the art is great, and quite inspiring.
Hopefully Reign will be able to deal w/ some original ideas in #2

 

[Venom Drool]

i disagree with most of what you said in way of stating how the book is not good. as far as it being a rip off? well, i honestly don't care cause the spidey verse is differnt then batman's. i wont defend it beigng a rip off, but as a story in its own right, its very well done.

 

[Parker756]

This is the most exciting and interesting Spidey book i've picked up in a while. Was a little unsure in the beginning, but loved the ending and can't wait to see where they will take this. Yes it copies the "In the future the prodigal hero returns" storyline that a few others have already taken, but so far its interesting and it really isn't Spidey : version DKR....yet

 

[Venom07]

I know I'm in the minority but I did not care for this book at all. I understand this is only book 1 of 4 so I will re-evaluate my opinion when everything is said and done but so far I give it a thumbs down.
1st of all, any book that trys to tell a future tale of a super hero that has long since retired and given up in a grim n gritty future is going to be compared to DKR, that's all there is to it. So whether people like it or not this story is going to be compared to DKR and some are going to call it a rip off, there's no way to avoid the comparisons.
That being said, Spider-Man has been being written for over 40 years and the character has aged over 10 years in that time frame. There are a few established traits about Peter that seem to be non existant in this book (and in some of the current books for that matter). I mean what could happen that would cause Peter to break? Up to now he's lost his Uncle Ben, Capt. Stacy, Gwen Stacy, Harry, his "brother" Ben, his daughter, (all directly or indirectly because of him and a lot of other people.) He's had his parents come back from the dead, which then turned out to not be his parents, he thought his Aunt May died, he thought MJ died, he was killed and reborn, buried alive, etc. etc. etc. Yet he still has this moral high ground, he still has this deep sense of responsibility, he still sacrifices himself for others and on and on and in this alternate future he's but a shell? Battered and beaten mentally (and possibly a little nuts). From the way he's grown and been written the past 40+ years I don't believe anything could happen to Peter that would cause him to be in the state that he's shown to be in in this book. Maybe the next three books will change that, we'll see.
Also, by the end of the book, he's bouncing around, beating up the bad guys, his spider-sense is going off and he's avoiding gunfire. What happened from the beginning where he got knocked into and dropped to the ground causing his flowers (which are very important to him) to get trampled on, he gets elbowed in the head and nose, gets his arm broken and altogether pummeled? Why did his powers just show up? I mean this is Spider-Man, his powers are instinctive, if he's in his own little world carrying those flowers that mean so much to him, he's not getting touched.
Again, I may be being overly critical especially since I haven't read the whole story but I just want to see a well written story that stays true to what the character is supposed to be, dark and grim and gritty is great for Batman, Wolverine, The Punisher and a host of other characters, it doesn't really fit Spider-Man IMHO. Besides, if I want to read about a well written future Peter Parker, I can just pick up Spider-Girl.

 

[Cullen]

I really did like this issue. Definitely some great dark storytelling, in my opinion. I liked the part where Peter was saying how the "mask" was taking over and that "it thought it was funny".

The biggest mystery to me so far is who the vegetable was that the mayor was talking to. My guess is Captain America.

And I'm really surprised to see many of the other fans here taking to this book. After reading it I immediately said to myself, "Oh my God, this is going to get crucified on the Hype". But I guess since it didn't have JMS on it it was safe.

NOTHING IS SAFE! NOTHING! BWAHAHAHA! t:

Actually, didn't Millar get bad mouth a lot around here for his run on Spider-Man?

 

[crivelliman]

Just finished reading issue one and my immediate impressions are it’s a DKR rip off w/ nice art work.
Seriously, the alternate-future-old-retired-superhero thing, coming back to clean up the city and even the odds against the oppressors is a little clichéd no?

After DKR, any book based around this same set up is going to a) always be cited as un-original and
b) not be as good, because despite how Reign’s story might evolve it’s first quarter lacks any punch because it has all been done before in one of the most famous and celebrated Batman tales.
Using news segments to fill in the narrative and explain the situation was taking it a bit too far.
That was lame.

Reign will not be the Spider-man DKR because it is not a totally new and original idea for a superhero story that will re-invent the wheel. So far it just seems to this reader like a DKR wannabe.

So what did I like? The art I thought was very cool.
In using computers or sourced photos for backgrounds and only drawing the characters, the panels take on a new depth. A nice dynamic of contrast from the cold computer generated backdrops and the more organic hand draw human figures. The humans themselves look really cool like they are cell frames from an animated film. I much prefer this type of experimental work to Andrews’ usual laboured painted covers.

I will continue to collect the rest of the series because I think the art is great, and quite inspiring.
Hopefully Reign will be able to deal w/ some original ideas in #2

That is a really good point. I almost completely agree with the book. It's almost as if the Spider-Man character seems like an odd choice to fit into the DKR mold, being that at the source, Spider-Man isn't a dark character. Yes, he's had dark moments, but his own mythology isn't nearly dark enough to warrant the story that surrounded DKR. The story itself is nicely written and, as you said, well drawn. The issue, I think, is that you're basically trying to fit a square piece in a triangle hole. While I was not aware there was a "DKR model," apparently the powers that be are proving its existence with this book.

I did enjoy the moments where "the mask" was like a separate entity, that it shielded Peter Parker from what was going on and allowed "Spider-Man" to take over, though really I think it can be argued that's just like Batman living in Wayne's psyche, calling Wayne weak and, in himself, a "mask." It's an interesting take, switching roles and making the hero the mask, and the true character the weak, uncertain figure, though I wonder if it couldn't be told in other ways that aren't very close to what Miller was doing.

I think also it could be an odd time for this to happen. DKR was a product of what was happening in comics at the time. It was around the time of the Alan Moore's and Neil Gaiman's. And I don't know if you're right about DKR "reinventing the wheel," because I don't think he needed to. The mythology for Batman was all still right there, at the core of the character. The character himself was there. And all the exploitations and room for elaboration and creative license were available, left in the wake of truly crappy stories despite being told with a very lucrative (creatively and financially) character.

This kind of story (yes, this is speculation, but we're all speculating on something with this book at this point) is nothing new. At the surface, it's just a reexamination of the character in a different setting with the odds against him. The only true difference I can see is that three significant women in his life are dead, instead of one. So we ask ourselves if it's really time for a story like this. Is this like DKR because it just looks and feels like it, or is it like DKR because the time calls for a dark Spider-Man story? Are we learning new things about Peter's character that couldn't and aren't being told in any other capacity? Are we seeing Peter Parker at his most desperate, but in a new and exciting (and hopefully, emotionally gripping) way? That will have to be left until issue four, because I won't presume this part this early on. Other things I have no problem with, but this is merely a question tossed out into the ether and waiting to be explored.

Although, I may venture to say "yes." You may notice in the scene when Peter Parker is revisited by "the mask," we're given a page of interactions between Peter Parker / Spider-Man and those who mattered most to him. What separates it from other usual stories is, we know Parker is old and has had time to consider his own responses to those requests or questions posed to him by said significant figures, and we also get a more cynical, desperate answer to those questions. Instead of being a supportive, loving nephew, we see Peter's response to Aunt May's comment that Peter is "her life," is something far less noble, in spite of his uncles tutelage regarding responsibility. "But I don't want to be your life," is his reply. Something a little more realistic from a boy of maybe fifteen, and less characteristic of the Peter Parker character we know in current continuity.

Or is he? Does it add another depth to the Peter Parker character to look at his relationship with Aunt May and think, maybe he harbors some deeper resentment toward her. We all know he loves her, but have we ever stopped to think that she thrust too much responsibility on him too early (even for a fifteen year old with spider powers), and stop the presses: he recognized that?

So the appearance of this book raises some interesting questions. Is it a DKR ripoff? Is it necessary in the tapestry of the comic book world, or even on a smaller level, the Spider-Man world? Do we need something to jar us enough to rethink the Spider-Man character? Is this done with Reign tastefully, or is it hackneyed? While I'm willing to say yes, it totally harbors obvious similarities to the much-coveted DKR, I'm not quite willing to say it is a "ripoff" or is unnecessary. Food for thought.

 

[Dangerous]

i disagree with most of what you said in way of stating how the book is not good. as far as it being a rip off? well, i honestly don't care cause the spidey verse is differnt then batman's. i wont defend it beigng a rip off, but as a story in its own right, its very well done.

I did not say the book was not good per say, I just said its set up is unoriginal.

Yes, Spidey’s world is different is different to Batman’s so that would make me question why are we seeing a DKR styled story based around SM?
I can’t say whether the story is well done or not at this stage.
Issue one was entertaining on some levels no doubt, just when you read it for the first time and you realise that the old guy is PP etc, but Sins Past was also entertaining for the first two issues.
I think by #4 we will be able to tell if it’s very well done or not.

I know I'm in the minority but I did not care for this book at all. I understand this is only book 1 of 4 so I will re-evaluate my opinion when everything is said and done but so far I give it a thumbs down.
1st of all, any book that trys to tell a future tale of a super hero that has long since retired and given up in a grim n gritty future is going to be compared to DKR, that's all there is to it. So whether people like it or not this story is going to be compared to DKR and some are going to call it a rip off, there's no way to avoid the comparisons.

True.

Also, by the end of the book, he's bouncing around, beating up the bad guys, his spider-sense is going off and he's avoiding gunfire. What happened from the beginning where he got knocked into and dropped to the ground causing his flowers (which are very important to him) to get trampled on, he gets elbowed in the head and nose, gets his arm broken and altogether pummeled?

I thought that was a bit strange too.
My only guess is that PP had long abandoned his SM persona or using any of his powers because of all the mayhem/grief that was caused in his life by it. He had just allowed himself to become one of the normal people. When Jameson came by later and dropped off his mask, it re-awoke his responsibility to protect others when he saw JJJ getting a beat down.

That is a really good point. I almost completely agree with the book. It's almost as if the Spider-Man character seems like an odd choice to fit into the DKR mold, being that at the source, Spider-Man isn't a dark character. Yes, he's had dark moments, but his own mythology isn't nearly dark enough to warrant the story that surrounded DKR. The story itself is nicely written and, as you said, well drawn. The issue, I think, is that you're basically trying to fit a square piece in a triangle hole. While I was not aware there was a "DKR model," apparently the powers that be are proving its existence with this book.

Yeah, Spidey has had dark periods- Venom era, The adjective-less era, KLH, but SM usually is a joking about light hearted guy. Though I do think Spidey, or more specifically spiders themselves lend themselves very well to dark story telling, and as such have been used in creepy nightmare scenarios sometimes to great effect in stories such as KLH. So I think creepiness and dark story telling does make up an essential cornerstone of PP’s psyche and the SM mythos.
The best dark themed arcs did not come off contrived, but so far this one does seem a little.

I did enjoy the moments where "the mask" was like a separate entity, that it shielded Peter Parker from what was going on and allowed "Spider-Man" to take over, though really I think it can be argued that's just like Batman living in Wayne's psyche, calling Wayne weak and, in himself, a "mask." It's an interesting take, switching roles and making the hero the mask, and the true character the weak, uncertain figure, though I wonder if it couldn't be told in other ways that aren't very close to what Miller was doing.

I also enjoyed reading the comic, but some of the dialogue just reeked of DKR.
PP- Life sucks/ I am old/belching up dinner/restless nights/ the city is dark and horrible, blah blah blah. The bit about the mask to, that was just like Batman talking to Wayne in DKR.
I found it interesting in DKR, but here it just reminds me of the original template.
I’m sure these themes can be narrated in different way, it seems however Andrews was unable to discover them.

I think also it could be an odd time for this to happen. DKR was a product of what was happening in comics at the time. It was around the time of the Alan Moore's and Neil Gaiman's. And I don't know if you're right about DKR "reinventing the wheel," because I don't think he needed to. The mythology for Batman was all still right there, at the core of the character. The character himself was there.

Yeah I was just referring to how DKR was a revolutionary comic book in the industry.
In terms of how it evolved the medium and helped change the way graphic novels were thought of.

Are we learning new things about Peter's character that couldn't and aren't being told in any other capacity? Are we seeing Peter Parker at his most desperate, but in a new and exciting (and hopefully, emotionally gripping) way? That will have to be left until issue four, because I won't presume this part this early on. Other things I have no problem with, but this is merely a question tossed out into the ether and waiting to be explored.

You would hope so, because otherwise what is the point of this mini?
I hope we get to see PP/SM discover new things about himself that we have not seen before, otherwise Reign will forever been seen as a gimmicky series, and I mean more than ‘My joints ache, I am old’ because I have already seen that done w/ Batman. Doctor Octopus is looking kinda odd on the cover of #3, almost as if he is dead. As a previous poster noted, it would be interesting if after Otto died his arms carried on, carrying him around like some reanimated corpse.

 

[Dangerous]

delete.

 

[arachnid-guy]

Loved the issue (still won't buy it- waiting for the TPB)...but I loved the cover.........i know it's freakus....but it had a nice feel to it.

The actual issue was a great read.............and the inclusion of young MJ was a great symbolic image.

The whole DKR similaraties are a welcome addition to the Spider-Man mythos. I dunno, they just fit.

 

[diespinne]

I thought that was a bit strange too.
My only guess is that PP had long abandoned his SM persona or using any of his powers because of all the mayhem/grief that was caused in his life by it. He had just allowed himself to become one of the normal people. When Jameson came by later and dropped off his mask, it re-awoke his responsibility to protect others when he saw JJJ getting a beat down.

That's the one thing that made me really scratch my head as well, and I agree that Peter somehow repressed his powers. Spidey has had something of a history of losing his powers most recently depicted in the second movie. His bone breaking, in particular, really made me wonder how this guy is going to be fighting super-powered bad guys, performing spider-powered feats, etc... It seems a bit of a stretch that his bones could just go from brittle to strong whenever he decides to re-embrace his powers.

 

[Venom07]

Originally Posted by Dangerous
I thought that was a bit strange too.
My only guess is that PP had long abandoned his SM persona or using any of his powers because of all the mayhem/grief that was caused in his life by it. He had just allowed himself to become one of the normal people. When Jameson came by later and dropped off his mask, it re-awoke his responsibility to protect others when he saw JJJ getting a beat down.

Yeah, I could see him repressing the powers to some degree, except for the spider sense. It's been mentioned so many times over the years how it works and that he will instinctivly react to it unless he makes a conscience effort to ignore it. Especially if he's zoned out like he was at the time, he should've just dodged the iniatial shove and kept on his merry way until he snapped out of it. Then again, the spider sense is the one power that really seems to throw some writers for a loop.

 

[kguillou]

Whoa look at the cover for SpiderMan Reign: 4 http://comics.ign.com/articles/750/750605p2.html

Venom is back with a vengeance!

 

[arachnid-guy]

Thanks. That looks brilliant. t:

 

[Dangerous]

His bone breaking, in particular, really made me wonder how this guy is going to be fighting super-powered bad guys, performing spider-powered feats, etc... It seems a bit of a stretch that his bones could just go from brittle to strong whenever he decides to re-embrace his powers.

The bone breaking is a bit of a head scratcher, that's for sure.