The Amazing Spider-Man v.2 - Part 2

[WolfCypher]

Maximum Carnage was pretty brainless as far as a plot goes. I don't get that feel so far and I have faith in Slott as well.

I'm not saying the plots are similar. The aesthetics are.

 

[spideyboy_1111]

I don't think you'll see much of a change in Julia's personality. Slott seems to be trying to recapture the old Madame Web mysterious mojo from back in the day. Honestly I think it would be cool if she ended up going evil at some point and became a major adversary for Spidey.

spidey is indeed in need of worthy female villains... (*grumbles about missing Shriek and Calypso and how they had so much potential, and how Grim Hunt really should have had Calypso in it rather than Kraven's Wife (ex wife? or was Calypso just his "on the side" )

 

[imdaly]

Shriek was just in the recent "Carnage" miniseries this Spring/Summer.

 

[stillanerd]

Well, Venom #6 has revealed a couple of major revelations about Spider-Island:

Spoiler

1. Apparently, the Jackal's man-spider henchmen, the "Spider-King" (and presumably Kaine/Tarantula) can, like the genetically modified bedbugs, can also infect people with spider-powers.

2. The identity of the Spider-King? None other than

Spoiler

Steve Rogers!

 

[spideyboy_1111]

Shriek was just in the recent "Carnage" miniseries this Spring/Summer.

nice! I think Shriek really has alot of potential to be a serious spider-man villain if done right.

 

[Will Nolte]

Re: the identity of the Spider-King: WHAT THE *****?!?!?!?!?! (and that isn't in a good, surprised way...)

 

[spiderbob]

Well, Venom #6 has revealed a couple of major revelations about Spider-Island:

Spoiler

2. The identity of the Spider-King? None other than

Spoiler

Steve Rodgers!

Wait, what?

 

[Shockdingo]

Woah what?! When? How?! Totally though it was someone else!

 

[Will Nolte]

Well this really throws another monkey wrench into the farce that is Fear Itself. Marvel just can't help but make that whole event look like a big joke...

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

Well, Venom #6 has revealed a couple of major revelations about Spider-Island:

Spoiler

1. Apparently, the Jackal's man-spider henchmen, the "Spider-King" (and presumably Kaine/Tarantula) can, like the genetically modified bedbugs, can also infect people with spider-powers.

2. The identity of the Spider-King? None other than

Spoiler

Steve Rogers!

telling you now its gonna be

Spoiler

nomad or the crazy cap from the start of buckys run, hasn't cap already shown up during the big fight

 

[stillanerd]

Well this really throws another monkey wrench into the farce that is Fear Itself. Marvel just can't help but make that whole event look like a big joke...

At the very least, it raises issues of continuity such as "did Fear Itself happen before or after Spider-Island?"

telling you now its gonna be

Spoiler

nomad or the crazy cap from the start of buckys run, hasn't cap already shown up during the big fight

Actually,

Spoiler

Cap has only appeared on the cover of Amazing Spider-Man #667, but if you notice he didn't participate in the big brawl within the actual story.

 

[Spider-Gnome]

Re: Identity of Spider-King

Spoiler

Didn't Jackal's mysterious benefactor (Queen?) give Jackal DNA to create Spider-King, DNA which impressed Jackal? So, isn't this a clone of Steve, therefore not directly contradicting Fear Itself?

By the way, is Fear Itself suppose to be over by the time Spider Island takes place?

 

[Jennifer Walters]

God. Carlie's being written like such a little Mary Sue in these issues. Can she just ****ing lose her Spider-powers in the middle of swinging and plummet to her death?

 

[runawayboulder]

She's boring then she gets some major action and now she's annoying......get over it for crying out loud.

 

[Jennifer Walters]

I wouldn't have a problem with her in this arc, but when she's running around using Peter's powers like a god damn natural, then taking charge of a situation he should be handling, and just generally being a little Mary Sue who can do ANYTHING, because like ''OMG SHE'S CARLIE COOPER AND SHE'S SO AMAZING1111!!"

 

[Jennifer Walters]

Basically my whole problem is there's not a single fault about this girl:

- Amazing cop.
- Outstanding citizen.
- Smart, beautiful.
- Good at Roller Derby.
- Natural with Peter's powers.

And on top of that she gives off an aura of KNOWING she's good at every single damn thing she does.

 

[runawayboulder]

She's not perfect - she let a dirty cop walk.

 

[Themanofbat]

Hey.... her newfound spider-powers haven't improved her eysight....

 

[Dread]

Basically my whole problem is there's not a single fault about this girl:

- Amazing cop.
- Outstanding citizen.
- Smart, beautiful.
- Good at Roller Derby.
- Natural with Peter's powers.

And on top of that she gives off an aura of KNOWING she's good at every single damn thing she does.

Wasn't it a few months ago when everyone was demonizing her for getting drunk with her roller-derby pals and getting a tattoo barely an inch north of her promised land? And that she even drunkenly CONSIDERED getting a Goblin tat to annoy Peter? I'd call that a flaw. Perfect people don't respond to stress by getting wasted and getting tattoo's from unethical artists.

And let's be fair; ALL of Peter's lovers have been beautiful, and usually of above average intelligence. Debra Whitman was actually a scientist, while Betty Brant was capable of managing J.J.'s office (and proved to be a shrewd journalist, and could even handle a sub machine gun when she had to). MJ was always derided for being a model (and an actress of modest success; she was a regular in a soap opera and various B-movies). You'll almost never see a major superhero dating a woman who isn't lovely to look at.

It is a little grating that she's a "natural", but I presumed that was because when she was empowered, she'd already had police training in regards to self defense and so on. Shang Chi's been bitten in his own mini series, and because he's a kung fu master, he's even MORE of a natural. I do understand the feeling that editorial has been pushing Carlie at the audience too hard, but the dilemma is that Peter isn't falling for it. He refuses to do anything that suggests this is serious to him. She's still just his Designated Girlfriend.

If I have a problem with anything, I bring it up in my review:

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #668: This is the second chapter of "SPIDER-ISLAND", or the third if you count the prelude issue. This was very close to being the top of the heap, although HERC #6.1 won out due to being more timeless, standalone, and with a legendary artist. That isn't to say that Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos, alongside Victor Olazaba on inks and Edgar Delgado on colors, are not producing a very entertaining and riveting Spider-Man epic. With the disappointment of FEAR ITSELF an ongoing dilemma this summer, and with the modest SHADOWLAND of last winter still fresh in memory, "SPIDER-ISLAND" is quickly standing head and shoulders above competition of recent memory, whether big or small. That isn't to say that it is flawless, but usually "mini events" don't get this solid unless they're written by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning and about space. While this issue naturally picks right up from the last issue, it's awkwardly scheduled after VENOM #6, which actually takes place afterward

Spoiler

(and Spider-King really was Captain America, it seems So much for the Reilly theory). At any rate, the Jackal has succeeded in his plan to infest "thousands" of Manhattan citizens with his genetically enhanced bed-bugs to induce within them powers similar to Spider-Man. The immediate effect is now hundreds of people are manifesting super-powers, and not all of them are good. Jackal has assembled an army of those who were criminals (or inclined to be), clad them in various Spidey costumes and sent them on a rampage. The Avengers, the Future Foundation, Cloak and Dagger, what's left of the Young Allies as well as Shang Chi (and apparently Storm) have all assembled to stop them, while Spider-Man quickly realizes it is a situation where he seemingly isn't needed and can be of no use. At least my nitpick last issue was addressed in that Wolverine COULD determine the real Spidey (as could Chi). However, inspired by the women in his life, Peter very quickly realizes that he can showcase how to be responsible to others without a mask. Mayor Jameson is vindicated as his "Anti-Spider Patrol" was put to use to deploy technologically advanced cops to help ease the brawl. Jameson then deputizes everyone and seals Manhattan's borders, but will it be enough to stem the plague? What role does Spider-Man play in that, and is there a dark side to being infected down the pipeline? Who is that mysterious scientist at Horizon Labs? All questions for another issue.

This issue naturally starts out with a lot of action and then manages to hit the rounds for interaction and even a few chuckles. A cynic might note that even without being married, Mary Jane seems to fill the same role for Peter as she always did - as his rock and voice of reason - to the point that ONE MORE DAY merely seems like an effort to bring back love triangles into the title. If there is any quibble, it is that Peter's refusal to acknowledge how useful it is to be working alongside Carlie Cooper is bordering on insanity. Due to this situation, Peter and Carlie both have super powers and are both employing those powers, skills, and their brains to try to solve this mystery. Given that Carlie is a fan of Spider-Man (and masked vigilantes in general), there is no reason for Peter to have kept his secret from her beyond either his unwillingness to commit or sheer stubbornness. He did once unmask for a cat-burglar, people! Yet all Peter can gush about is not having to change clothes in an alley before web-slinging. A story that was willing to claim that Peter is too insecure to date any woman who isn't either a civilian or inferior to him in power level would be fascinating if it were intentional. On the positive, this event is playing up all of the Marvel Universe elements of BIG TIME while focusing on the fact that Peter can be a hero without a mask, and he can win a fight without being a brawler.

So far, this has been a rare comic event that has lived up to it's own hype. On the downside, this is one of the first issues since November to be priced at $3.99 despite only having 22 pages, and unlikely to be the last.

SPIDER-ISLAND isn't perfect so far, but I'm enjoying it. Especially in comparison to FEAR ITSELF and SHADOWLAND. Which is something considering SHADOWLAND was probably the only story I ever read where there was a big event involving a ton of heroes, who included Spidey, Wolverine, Elektra, and Punisher, and it was IRON FIST who basically saved the day.

 

[Spidey_62]

Spoiler

Something that I realized, if it's Queen that gave Jackal the Steve Rogers blood sample; then that'd make sense since I'm pretty sure the only story she appeared in had Spidey and Cap fighting against her.

 

[Will Nolte]

After this issue I am thinking that "Number 6" at Horizon labs is either another Miles Warren clone or Ben Reilly...

 

[Dread]

Spoiler

Something that I realized, if it's Queen that gave Jackal the Steve Rogers blood sample; then that'd make sense since I'm pretty sure the only story she appeared in had Spidey and Cap fighting against her.

That is very possible. After VENOM #6's reveal, I did consider that evidence towards that theory as to the identity of Jackal's accomplice.

Plus, Spider-King being a clone and not the genuine article that was mutated does answer a lot of continuity questions.

After this issue I am thinking that "Number 6" at Horizon labs is either another Miles Warren clone or Ben Reilly...

I was expecting it to be Jackal, naturally.

If Mr. Fantastic is willing to keep "Number 6" a secret, then unless Slott has decided to write him as being an incredible reckless jerk, "Number 6" can't be an outright villain. Still, hiding Reilly from Peter wouldn't be kind, either. Especially since Reed is so happy to have his father back, even though his father's previous affairs with his family often brought sinister things to them. How Reilly survived being gored by a Goblin Glider and turning to dust afterward would be quite a retcon without the word "magic" involved.

Dr. Octopus is possible, given that Reed sought his aid to try to save Susan's first child, who was stillborn. But, it would still be reckless for him to not try to capture Ock, given that he did breach the Baxtor Building.

 

[runawayboulder]

Number 6 could also be the original Gwen clone (Joyce Delaney) or one of the Gwen/Norman kids. Ben Reilly does still seem the likely suspect though.

Did anybody get Spider-Island Deadly Foes? Apparently there was new info on the Delaney Gwen clone and another previously unknown Gwen clone. I'm gonna have to get it now....

 

[WolfCypher]

Yeah, Gwen had her own Kaine. I loved the Hobgoblin half of the one-shot. Almost didn't buy it since I wanted the one-shot to be about the Deadly Foes (Shocker, Hydro-Man, Speed Demon, Rhino, the gang) with spider-powers. It wasn't, but it was cool.

 

[runawayboulder]

I'm still not clear on the whole Captain America is Spider-King angle. Is that really Steve or is it just that Venom's team thinks he is? Did Jackal just mix Spider-Man and Steve's DNA to create Spider-King?