The Amazing Spider-Man v.2 - Part 2

[Godzilla2014]

Um... Yeah. Seriously, in the past 4 years, WHEN have you been right when there HASN'T been a preview page that's spoon fed you the answer? When've you ever gone out on a limb and ACTUALLY predicted something?

Do you mean to ask when stillanerd has made a prediction that wasn't spoon fed to him by a preview page, or when he has done so and been right? Quite frankly, if he could predict the story beyond what was revealed in such preview, that's usually a sign of clichéd storytelling and plotting.

 

[WolfCypher]

No, it hasn't. In 616 continuity, it never enhanced Peter Parker's strength, that idea appeared in the Spider-Man: The Animated Series retelling of Venom's origin, The Alien Costume, Part I-III, and most retellings since run with it.
Eddie Brock's strength enhancement, according to the way I have understood it, comes from Peter Parker's body. Just as Peter Parker was a normal human prior to receiving his powers from the radioactive spider, so was Eddie Brock. When bonded with the symbiote as Venom, Brock's body is similarly enhanced by changing his body chemistry to be like Spider-Man's. In other words, Venom is about as strong as he would be if he had been bitten by the radioactive spider as Peter was.

Gargan wouldn't receive a boost, because he's already there.

Go read Amazing Spider-Man 254. Peter just came back to Earth with the alien costume and he's fighting Jack-o-Lantern over the Hobgoblin's battle van. This is the 1st time they've fought since his return. As they fight, JoL says, and I quote, "Incredible! He's even faster than I remember. Stronger, too!" This was the only time Alien Costume Spider-Man was cited as being stronger, faster, whatever, during this time with the symbiote. Afterwards the writing found other ways to subtly imply the nature of the costume. It may not have been brought up to death, but it was done once.

I know all about SM:TAS. You're not telling me anything I don't know. What I'm saying is that the symbiote has been written later on after Spider-Man's alien costume run as enhancing whoever wears it. In a couple of ASM Venom stories Eddie would monolouge to himself and say how by working the stronger he gets the stronger the symbiote can make him or some similar line (see ASM 374).

 

[Godzilla2014]

Go read Amazing Spider-Man 254. Peter just came back to Earth with the alien costume and he's fighting Jack-o-Lantern over the Hobgoblin's battle van. This is the 1st time they've fought since his return. As they fight, JoL says, and I quote, "Incredible! He's even faster than I remember. Stronger, too!" This was the only time Alien Costume Spider-Man was cited as being stronger, faster, whatever, during this time with the symbiote. Afterwards the writing found other ways to subtly imply the nature of the costume. It may not have been brought up to death, but it was done once.

If this is true, then I stand corrected.

I know all about SM:TAS. You're not telling me anything I don't know. What I'm saying is that the symbiote has been written later on after Spider-Man's alien costume run as enhancing whoever wears it. In a couple of ASM Venom stories Eddie would monolouge to himself and say how by working the stronger he gets the stronger the symbiote can make him or some similar line (see ASM 374).

From that description, it sounds like Eddie is talking about how if he makes himself stronger without the augmentations of the symbiote, then he will be even stronger with them. Sort of like if Peter lost his powers, bulked up, and then regained said powers, he would be even stronger than before.

So how strong was Gargan as Venom, exactly? I've heard estimates from class 40 to class 100. Are those accurate?

 

[SpideyInATree]

Got to finally read the latest issue this morning and it was an improvement but I'm still not happy about the Carlie Cooper over exposure. There was a lot of great little moments in this book but could have done with a lot less Carlie. I really like the character and understand where she's coming from as a character but...it's just a bit overbearing at this point. This is, after all, the Amazing Spider-Man.

I do understand that there are side miniseries to this to delve deeper into the world of Spider-Island but I am not a rich man, unfortunately. So, I stick with the main book and I'd like a little more focus on the superhero stuff. More Jackal, please. Slott is writing a GREAT Jackal and that sequence with Shocker? That was brilliant and Ramos absolutely nailed the artwork. It's moments like THAT which have made this run really fun and have made it feel like good ol' fashioned Spider-Man.

I am a fan that disliked Mary Jane as a character. I was happy about Peter being single. Now...why am I suddenly WANTING Peter and MJ to get back together? Because if I'm SUPPOSED to start disliking Carlie for a Peter/MJ reconciliation I say BRILLIANT work! I will totally eat my words about the Carlie Cooper complaints but from what I've heard from Quesada that probably won't be happening. I'm sorry but Carlie Cooper is kind of taking me out of all of this. I get that she's smart and sexy and even plays roller derby! She's an intelligent, athletic independent woman! She's a nerd's wet dream. I liked it and then it's just...too much.

The revelation of the mastermind was kind of cool and, I don't know...a bit lackluster. I read the story that the character first appeared and the connections and continuity is there. I dig that aspect and love that Slott is incorporating that but the character, as far as my knowledge goes, doesn't really have much history and would like to know her connection to Jackal.

There are very cool aspects to this and that's just Slott being awesome as usual but the Carlie stuff is just getting too much for me. Just a few months back I was a very happy Spider-Man fan and suddenly I'm looking at a decision to possibly drop my favorite book. I'm just a little worried there...

 

[Themanofbat]

I found that Carlie had less exposure this issue... and howza'bout that ending...

On a negative side, I did find that Ramos' work looked sloppy and rushed, but overall, Spider-Island is proving to be one of the better spider-stories in a while.

 

[WolfCypher]

Ramos is so hit and miss. I find that the more s$(* is going on in a scene, the uglier and more cluttered the art, and the harder it is to follow anything.

 

[Godzilla2014]

Ramos is so hit and miss. I find that the more s$(* is going on in a scene, the uglier and more cluttered the art, and the harder it is to follow anything.

I'm not a fan of Humberto Ramos's work. His artwork really screwed up great stories like A Death In The Family.

 

[Dan_Slott]

Quite frankly, if (stillanerd) could predict the story beyond what was revealed in such preview...

Hi. Let me stop you right there, he really can't. (At least... going on 4 years-or-so... he hasn't so far.) But people still go on for pages about his predictions as if they WERE accurate, despite his established track record. :-/

 

[WolfCypher]

I had a funny thought. Because everyone has spider-powers now, Peter was able to reveal he has powers too and not worry about anyone catching on to him being Spider-Man. He's just one of a million now.

But if everyone starts spouting six arms and spider-fangs while Peter doesn't, that's gonna look mighty suspicious.

 

[SpideyForPrez]

Wait a second.... how does the Jackal know Peter is Spider-Man? I thought everyone but MJ had their mind wiped. If Osborn and the symbiote don't remember, how does Warren? Did I miss some sort of explanation on that? This just occurred to me while reading the last issue.

 

[Themanofbat]

So what happens if Peter gets bit by a bed bug?

 

[Will Nolte]

So what happens if Peter gets bit by a bed bug?

They've already established that those who already have super powers are immune.

 

[runawayboulder]

Wait a second.... how does the Jackal know Peter is Spider-Man? I thought everyone but MJ had their mind wiped. If Osborn and the symbiote don't remember, how does Warren? Did I miss some sort of explanation on that? This just occurred to me while reading the last issue.

Maybe because he was technically dead when Strange did the bubble spell...? It was retconned to have took place right after Civil War and Jackal had been dead since Maximum Clonage. He could also be a clone of that Jackal and I'm willing to bet their memories are pre-set to know Pete is SM.

 

[SpideyForPrez]

That's a possibility. It would be interesting if someone like Bill Foster or anyone else who died during or shortly after Civil War was revived and still had the memory of Peter unmasking.

Still a bit iffy if you ask me though. If there was a clone of Jackal waiting to wake up somewhere shouldn't it still have affected him while sleeping in a tube somewhere, like someone who was maybe asleep or in a coma during the mind wipe?

 

[WolfCypher]

Shhh...you guys are gonna give Marvel answers to their plot holes for them.

 

[dtud]

I haven't read anything about the Jackal since I started reading Spider-Man in the clone saga end game. (And I was young, so I missed a couple of issues here and there.) But isn't it possible that he still had some clone stuff lying around and thus re-learning the identity of Spider-Man that way?

 

[runawayboulder]

Shhh...you guys are gonna give Marvel answers to their plot holes for them.

Well if Dan uses it, I want a friggin kickback.

 

[Spider-Gnome]

But isn't it possible that he still had some clone stuff lying around and thus re-learning the identity of Spider-Man that way?

That was my feeling. Slott has shown he is well aware of the psychic bubble. I'm sure he'll come up with a logic how he still knows (or re-learned).

And I'm sorry, I'm digging Humberto Ramos's work.

 

[Dan_Slott]

Hey, guys!

The answer to "How does the Jackal know?" is in ASM #668.

After watching Peter's online call-to-arms over the Daily Bugle's feed, the Jackal says...

JACKAL: Parker, I never get tired of looking at that face, no matter how many times I've cloned it, masked it, unmasked it...

JACKAL: ...liquefied it...

JACKAL: ...or worn it like a little hat.

Now, if you remember back to ASM #591, Spidey told Mr. Fantastic that given the mindwipe, THESE were the conditions that needed to be met in order for someone to learn and/or remember his secret identity...

MR. FANTASTIC: So, is there any way your identity could be compromised?

SPIDER-MAN: If someone unmasks me. Or if I unmask myself. Then for that person it'd all come rushing back.

So... There you go.

 

[kguillou]

So Dan if the Jackal's back....please tell em Spider-cide isn't far behind. Come on, you might as well bring him back too.

 

[SpideyForPrez]

Thanks for the answer, Dan, but I'm still a bit confused. When after the mind wipe did Jackal unmask Spider-Man? Sure he did before the mind wipe but so did a lot of people. Did he have a spare Spider-Man clone just lying around and after the mind wipe he realized he didn't know who Spider-Man was and went and unmasked his clone and thought, "Oh yeah, he's Parker. How'd I forget that? Guess I'll make a hat out of this one's face."

If it's something like that then I understand. I guess it just wasn't all that clear from the Jackal's dialogue.

 

[runawayboulder]

The Jackal never saw Pete take off the mask unless it was off panel and he did it to one of his clones.

 

[Spider-Gnome]

Hey, Dan,

While you're at it, are we going to find out how the Jackal survived the Clone Saga, or are we just leaving that up to seeing a clone of the Jackal fall to his death?

 

[Will Nolte]

So Dan if the Jackal's back....please tell em Spider-cide isn't far behind. Come on, you might as well bring him back too.

Sweet I'm not the only one. Come on Dan, you can do eeeeettttt!

Thanks for the answer, Dan, but I'm still a bit confused. When after the mind wipe did Jackal unmask Spider-Man? Sure he did before the mind wipe but so did a lot of people. Did he have a spare Spider-Man clone just lying around and after the mind wipe he realized he didn't know who Spider-Man was and went and unmasked his clone and thought, "Oh yeah, he's Parker. How'd I forget that? Guess I'll make a hat out of this one's face."

If it's something like that then I understand. I guess it just wasn't all that clear from the Jackal's dialogue.

The Jackal never saw Pete take off the mask unless it was off panel and he did it to one of his clones.

Easy answer here: Go read Spider-Island: Deadly Foes. In it we see that Jackal was around during the events of Grim Hunt which saw Kaine as a stand-in for Spidey. Kaine has Peter's face, was unmasked, and Jackal knew he had created him.

 

[hippie_hunter]

Hey, guys!

The answer to "How does the Jackal know?" is in ASM #668.

After watching Peter's online call-to-arms over the Daily Bugle's feed, the Jackal says...

JACKAL: Parker, I never get tired of looking at that face, no matter how many times I've cloned it, masked it, unmasked it...

JACKAL: ...liquefied it...

JACKAL: ...or worn it like a little hat.

Now, if you remember back to ASM #591, Spidey told Mr. Fantastic that given the mindwipe, THESE were the conditions that needed to be met in order for someone to learn and/or remember his secret identity...

MR. FANTASTIC: So, is there any way your identity could be compromised?

SPIDER-MAN: If someone unmasks me. Or if I unmask myself. Then for that person it'd all come rushing back.

So... There you go.

Wait a minute, I don't recall the Jackal unmasking Peter at all after the mindwipe. Unless it has something to do with the various Peter clones, that explanation doesn't make any sense. And if you take into account the Peter clones, it still feels kinda flimsy on account that they're not really Peter and you'd think that they would have taken into account all the clone nonsense.