Comics SYMBIOTE SPIDER-MAN - April 2019

[Ben_Reilly]

Almost looks like the Animated 90s Spidey in the reflection

 

[shinlyle]

View attachment 22479

I couldn't get the link to work on this update from Alex Saviuk so I took a screenshot instead.

Man...that takes me back! I remember his Web of Spider-man work and Spider-man Dailies VERY fondly. He's also a very pleasant guy at cons when I've spoken with him! I'll pick up his covers because I'm cool like that.

This reminds me a lot of the Amazing Spider-man Family cover by Ron Frenz.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Preview for issue 1.

Spoiler

 

[Ben_Reilly]

It wasn't a bad issue, I liked it overall.
A couple of things were written a little weird.
Felicia had a couple of comments that were "haha, this is what's going to happen" played as a joke knowing future events.
Mysterio was okay as well. Pete was definitely written like he was back then.
The are was real good.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Issue 1.

Decent art. Decent entry. I really don't have much to say about this honestly. I was expecting something...better I suppose. On the nitpicking side...I don't like Felicia with yellow blonde hair...it should be platinum.

 

[shinlyle]

Issue 1.

Decent art. Decent entry. I really don't have much to say about this honestly. I was expecting something...better I suppose. On the nitpicking side...I don't like Felicia with yellow blonde hair...it should be platinum.

I enjoyed it. Black Cat's hair was weird, yeah, but seeing her interaction with Peter and Aunt May was really awesome. She was more than "sexy cat lady". It was nice to see Felecia, and not just Black Cat. I think the most jarring thing for me was Mysterio. He was upset about causing a death, blows up his hideout to give it all up, and then decides to double down on his attacks on Spider-Man all of a sudden? Is he bipolar or split personality or something? Peter was spot on, but Beck was all over the place.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

I enjoyed it. Black Cat's hair was weird, yeah, but seeing her interaction with Peter and Aunt May was really awesome. She was more than "sexy cat lady". It was nice to see Felecia, and not just Black Cat. I think the most jarring thing for me was Mysterio. He was upset about causing a death, blows up his hideout to give it all up, and then decides to double down on his attacks on Spider-Man all of a sudden? Is he bipolar or split personality or something? Peter was spot on, but Beck was all over the place.

Felicia and Peter were good. I'm always down for when writers take Felicia seriously as a character and not as a pin up girl with an insatiable sexual appetite. It demeans her imo. I did enjoy their interaction. On the whole, the issue was just kinda there. I didn't really love it. Didn't hate it. With PAD on this I'm hoping it gets better. But maybe I had my expectations too high to begin with.

 

[shinlyle]

Felicia and Peter were good. I'm always down for when writers take Felicia seriously as a character and not as a pin up girl with an insatiable sexual appetite. It demeans her imo. I did enjoy their interaction. On the whole, the issue was just kinda there. I didn't really love it. Didn't hate it. With PAD on this I'm hoping it gets better. But maybe I had my expectations too high to begin with.

Since the past 4 reboots, I've always kept my expectations low.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Since the past 4 reboots, I've always kept my expectations low.

Too true. And if Slott was still on the book, oh believe me, my expectations would be in the basement. I enjoyed this first issue well enough so I'm looking forward to more. Maybe I need to reread it.

 

[shinlyle]

I enjoyed it a bit, and it being Peter David means that the characters will have moments. David is about the characters first, which is why he's still working on A-list characters after 30 plus years in the business. You will be hard-pressed to get me to say anything bad about that man. He gave us THE Hulk run, and he gave us Spider-Man 2099...and the Death of Jean Dewolf.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

PAD is a great writer and so when I see his name on something, especially something Spidey, it's an easy decision for me.

 

[ragingdemon155]

One of the first comic issues I’ve picked up in about 8-10 years or so.

Peter David
Peter and Felicia interaction
Symbiote suit

All things that drove me to pick up the issue....
What could go wrong right ? I mean it’s Peter David...

And yet it didn’t sit well with me. It wasn’t bad but I was expecting so much more from Mr. Sin Eater himself. I love Peter David but this title just didn’t register with me. The dialogue felt off and Spider-Man’s humor wasn’t on point. I really wanted to love this issue because I love Peter David and some of
The work he’s done with the character in the past....This time He fell a bit flat for me though.

Deciding on whether to pick up the next one or not. Out of respect for Peter David I just might .

 

[UltimateWebhead]

Has anyone read issue 2 yet? I'm hesitant to pick this one up after a so-so first.

 

[Ben_Reilly]

Issue two was more of the same.
It's just not a good time to place a story.
I mean, it could be, but the execution is just not working.
The pop-culture references are pretty bad.
The X-Men villian ripoff is bad.
Spidey trying to apologize to Mysterio just didn't ring true, at least at this point in time.
This era's Pete was punch first, attitude second.

 

[ragingdemon155]

Everything just seems off with this series . Granted it’s only two issues but the writing and pacing are just bad. I’m really not feeling anything about this series. I’m only collecting it at this point because I have a need to finish series through.

Your suppose to portray this version of Spider-Man as a threat and yet he gets dismantled so quickly at the end?

The jokes and humor just don’t fit the “Dark Black suit Spider-Man” feel they were going for.

This isn’t the Peter David I remember....

 

[Kev4000]

I still dont get why it is important he has the symbiote here.. There would be no difference if he didnt have Venom inside.

 

[Ben_Reilly]

Symbiote-Wearing Spider-Man was faster, stinger and more agile than normal. None of that is coming through.
PAD, I think, is stuck in the Slott era.
This series obviously takes place before issue #100 of Spectacular Spider-Man.
I'm still trying to figure out where in Amazing.

 

[UltimateWebhead]

I appreciate the replies. Sounds like I will be skipping this. There's other good Spidey titles that I can pick up instead.

 

[Ben_Reilly]

That's supposed to be
*Stronger
not stinger

 

[Nicko-Ray]

I'm behind on this title and FNSM...

W/o spoilers, how is this title holding up against FNSM, LS, and ASM?

 

[shinlyle]

Symbiote-Wearing Spider-Man was faster, stinger and more agile than normal. None of that is coming through.
PAD, I think, is stuck in the Slott era.
This series obviously takes place before issue #100 of Spectacular Spider-Man.
I'm still trying to figure out where in Amazing.

Well....actually the costume never did any of those things in the comics originally. All it did was give him organic webs and the ability to change his clothes with a thought. The symbiote never had to augment Peter. In fact, the ONLY writer to use that as part of the symbiote's story in the comics was...

...wait for it...

...Dan Slott. He did it when ht had him get back the symbiote to fight "Red Goblin" in Amazing Spider-Man #800.

The "Makes him stronger" and "influences his mood" parts were from the animated series (90's). In the comics, he was constantly exhausted because the costume would take him out web-swinging while he slept, so he was constantly exhausted. He found out the webbing was organic, went to Reed Richards, and he got rid of it because he was just freaked out about being bonded to a living alien.

As for where it takes place in Amazing, it has to be before Mary Jane's return in issue 257 (I think that was it).

Sorry. Not trying to come across as rude or anything, I swear.

 

[Nicko-Ray]

So I've been sick at home since Friday and finally caught up on ALL these titles...obvs lol.

First 3 issues to this so far...don't love it but don't hate it either. WILL go into SPOILERS so stop reading if you're not caught up. I think it's cool to have a primary focus on Mysterio and an opportunity to flesh him out more. Also, good timing since FFH is out, etc, and he's just one of my favorite villains. That being said...these first few issues...the story SO FAR isn't doing great at showing me why they chose to have him in the symbiote suit other than it seems that they're building up some intrigue with Beck and it. I think it is a cool spot in Spidey's timeline to tell a story of but again, nothing is making me go wow. The Black Cat romance is cool as I haven't read TOO much about their time together..

This last issue, #3, was probably the best issue overall. Lots of stuff to enjoy and a classic sort of Spidey issue that has everything. Beck is written really well I think with clever bits that just play to his trickster-y quality. Things are ramping up with Black Cat and making her deal with Beck. Can see that going south once Peter finds out. Was fun to see Spidey take out Electro briefly.(They need to do these sort of "thug takeout" sequences in the films rather than doing a montage like they have in the past two Spidey flicks. This is the way to do it.) There's a nice character beat involving Black Cat and Spidey that isn't written as good as Spencer did with their arc before HUNTED but I'll take it. Overall a nice issue.

Art-wise...a bit cookie cutter tbh. And it was a bit confusing in #1 -- I wasn't sure if Beck KNEW Peter was Spidey, etc. There's a few panels at the end of the issue that made it seem like he saw the symbiote unmask Peter, etc.

Anyway, I think this series is only 5-6 issues so I'm in for the ride. It would be asking a bit much to wish that these last few issues would land a touchdown, but who knows...

 

[ragingdemon155]

Ok so caught up with this series. Issue 3 was definitely the high point. Felicia was written well and kept things interesting through out the issue. After a pretty entertaining issue we are then given another average issue in #4.

All in all it’s hard to get excited for this weird series especially when you have Life Story absolutely killing it at the moment. This series is just so ridiculously bland and lacks any life at all.

Far from terrible but nowhere near great.


I’ll finish it off simply cause I’m a completionist.

 

[Nicko-Ray]

Ok so caught up with this series. Issue 3 was definitely the high point. Felicia was written well and kept things interesting through out the issue. After a pretty entertaining issue we are then given another average issue in #4.

All in all it’s hard to get excited for this weird series especially when you have Life Story absolutely killing it at the moment. This series is just so ridiculously bland and lacks any life at all.

Far from terrible but nowhere near great.


I’ll finish it off simply cause I’m a completionist.

Exactly! Caught up with #4 last night. So mediocre and I can't believe it's ending with the next issue. There was some decent stuff in the beginning but I doubt they'd be able to wrap it up nicely to justify this series..

 

[UltimateWebhead]

I dropped this after slightly reading issue 2. I gave it a chance because of PAD but imo it was just lacking.