Comics The Official Origin of the Species / Sinister 666 thread.

[stillanerd]

I apologize for this being late (by two days any way), but, as always, here are my impressions and thoughts on Amazing Spider-Man #645, part 4 of “Origin of the Species.”

Spoiler

For this issue, Matthew Southworth joins Paul Azaceta on the art chores and the issue is actually better for it. Partly because Azaceta is relegated to the last few pages, but also Southworth’s style, while certainly a bit stiffer, fit’s the darker, grittier mood this particular chapter takes, with it‘s usage of solid colors and blacks. The result is a style that is more reminiscent of the older-style of comic book art in which you have a lot of things going on in the panels at once. Still, it’s another instance of having to use a fill-in artist to finish a story, and considering there’s going to be a change in format next month, hopefully will see this happen less often.

Yes, this issue is darker than the other parts of “Origin of the Species,” as Mark Waid switches gears from what was, thus far, a chase-sequence to a “beware the rage of a desperate man,” as Spidey, furious over his belief that Norman and Lily’s baby has died, goes on a rampage against the super-villain community to find Doc Ock. Some might think this is a bit too soon in the light of the Grim Hunt (not to mention one has to wonder why did the Chameleon think that tricking Spidey into thinking the baby was dead was a good idea?), but Waid handles this with great effectiveness. By having Spidey be stone-cold silent throughout almost the entire issue, showing him perched in predatory positions, and not even showing him manhandling the villains and yet seeing just how terrified they are (including some nice cameos by the Hypno-Hustler and the Looter), the reader truly gets the sense of just how frightening and dangerous Spidey can be when pushed--and that just within the first few pages. So, when the scene occurs where Spidey literally destroys a dock-side warehouse where the Enforcers, Sandman, and the Shocker are hiding, as well as how ruthless he can be without even resorting to physical blows, it’s very satisfying and chilling.

However, there are two developments that occur in this issue which really soured me on this issue. The first is the continuation of the Carlie Cooper/Mary Jane getting Lily to safety subplot, which has not only been the weakest aspect of this story because it just feels like pointless filler, the inconsistencies and plot holes are now numerous and deep. Leaving aside the whole question of why did Doc Ock ever let MJ, Harry, Carlie, and Lily go in issue #643 when he could have used them as hostages to force Spidey to give the baby back, the idea of Tombstone going after Lily because he think she knows the whereabouts of her baby is ridiculous when you consider the two previous issue stressed how virtually every camera and news broadcast was showing Spidey swinging around the city with the baby in his arms. Also, how did Carlie even know where to find MJ and Lily, and before you say “Well Carlie said she heard MJ say where they were going last issue,” MJ only said they were going someplace “close by” and not anyplace specific.

Oh, and if you folks think Marvel hasn’t rammed down reader’s throats the notion that Carlie is the “ideal” and “perfect” girlfriend for Peter before, it’s nothing compared to what happens here. Because not only does MJ (the former “Mrs. Peter Parker) thank Carlie for how “bad-ass” it was of her to stand up to Tombstone (never mind that Carlie was the one who lead him right to their hiding place, that her bullets didn’t do squat, and that it was Lily summoning her “Menace glider” which actually took him out), she also adds that it’s “nice to know Parker’s finally figured out how to pick ’em.” If Marvel really believes they can convince readers to embrace a Peter and Carlie pairing with such unsubtle approach such as this, especially on the heels of One Moment in Time, then they are grossly mistaken.

The second development occurs towards the end in which we get the twist that not only does Spidey learn that the baby is still alive, but that Doc Ock doesn’t have the baby. Who does? Why, The Lizard for…some reason or other. So after building up a possible confrontation between Spidey and Doc Ock that has risen to very personal levels, along with the possibility of Harry Osborn becoming the Green Goblin again and getting into the mix, AND Lily also joining in the fray, what reason is there for the Lizard--who has had no connection whatsoever to this story beforehand--to even get involved? Especially since we already have clear, well-established motives for Spidey, Doc Ock, Harry, and Lily for wanting the baby. It already makes what was a possibly crowded slugfest unnecessarily more so. Not to mention it only makes having the baby fall into the hands of yet another villain feel repetitive and pad the story out even more than it already was.

Still, at least this part offers a change of pace from the previous two issues of chase-sequences, and although the set-up for Spidey’s rage was weak, the cliffhanger at the end is ridiculous, and the scenes with MJ, Carlie, and Lily out of place, it’s good to see Spidey taking it to the bad guys and scare the crap out of them once in awhile. I just kind of wish the overall story was more than just adequate and didn‘t feel so padded.

http://stillanerd.livejournal.com/4194.html

 

[Shockdingo]

Great review dude. It was a better issue (the art was even better; seriously look at Lily when she's first dialing for the glider- she actually imo, looks quite pretty in a sad way, and when ol' Sandy is blasted to hell) I actually liked its use of dark Spidey. It never once got cheesy for me, though I think some of the reactions of fear came too early. But, playing Devil's advocate, we don't know what Pete did to all the villains. Add story deconstruction, rumors, and myth and you got some scary stuff. (Dude, look at Shocker's arm....I'd be scared of Spidey after that as well)

As awesome as this issue was, I am really sick of the Carlie parts; they read like the "self insert fics" that made me forever leave fan fiction.net about 12 years ago. I read MJ's praise of Carlie to my sister (not a comic reader, but due to me, a fellow informed geek on Spidey) and she was refusing to believe how ham fisted the delivery is. Look Marvel, we get it, try actually working on making Carlie appealing in a way that Pete would consider interesting. It's classic rules of writing; show don't tell.

"FINALLY figured out how to pick 'em"? uh...are they even at a "casual" point in their relationship? (If we can call it that?) And what, were the previous picks (you included Ms. Watson) terrible, unstable, a hindrance, or communist zombie robots?

It's so awkward not only having MJ say this, but it's just after OMIT and more annoying is the fact she wont stop parroting this idea of Carlie being awesome "tru luv offishiyul paear-iiiinguh" tier.

Rant over. I don't mean to come off as a bitter fan boy, I've been trying and actually liking some of the BND issues, but the little editorial decisions are bugging me due to their overt clumsiness and blundering stride. :/

 

[Spider-Gnome]

Agree with you, stillanerd, on your points on MJ "endorsing" Carlie.

 

[the_ultimate_evil]

all that build up to a big fat meh.

seriously that last issue was just poor, no conclusion and the "twist" was as subtle a hippo in a tutu with a sledgehammer

 

[The Joker]

What a waste of time this arc was. They better do something really good with Ock in Big Time.

 

[stillanerd]

So, the final chapter of Mark Waid and Paul Azaceta's "Origin of the Species" came out yesterday, and here's some of my reactions towards it:

Spoiler

Again, the art in this issue by Paul Azaceta (with help from Matthew Southworth) may not be for everyone’s taste, and it certainly has been one the biggest downsides to “Origin of the Species” as a whole. However, when there are scenes depicting the character in dark or dimly lit places with lots of shadows, and when there are also depictions of action involved, this is where one can see Azaceta’s strong points as an artist, not to mention there are a couple of nice splash pages involving Spidey fighting Doc Ock.

Ah, yes, the conflict that’s been building between Spidey and Doc Ock since the beginning of the story. Unfortunately, Mark Waid, by including the Lizard--and also having the Lizard manipulate the “reptilian brain” in Doc Ock (ugh!)--winds up undermining the very climatic battle between the two arch-enemies. In fact, other than the Lizard acting as a deus ex machina to help provide the big twist that Norman Osborn isn’t actually the father of Lily’s baby, and to be someone else for Doc Ock to fight (and Spidey leaves them for the two of them to duke it out and not seemingly caring whether or not they’ll actually kill each other which seem rather uncharacteristic of him), there isn’t that much of a reason for the Lizard to even be included in this story.

Of course, knowing that Norman is not actually the father of the baby leads to obvious conclusion that it’s Harry even before Spidey confirms this with a DNA test at Avenger’s Tower. That and the fact Marvel, in the very solicit for this issue, wound up spoiling this major development months in advance. But rather than it being a “miracle” that Waid tries to make it out to be, this revelation about the baby’s true parentage is rather mixed. On the one hand, it serves as a fitting poetic justice against Norman Osborn, Doc Ock, and the other villains in that the hopes and aspirations they pinned on Lily’s child were thwarted, not to mention it is a relief that Norman hasn’t fathered yet another goblin offspring a la Sarah and Gabriel Stacy as he did in Sins Past. However, since Harry is now a father once again and thus has been given a second chance, one can’t help but wonder where exactly does the character go from here? This and other developments Harry has undergone since he was brought back at the start of Brand New Day has resolved much of his personal demons and internal conflicts--the very things which made him a potentially compelling character to begin with, so one has to wonder what role he plays in comic, especially since this is the “last story” before Dan Slott takes over the full writing chores (although, if the preview for Amazing Spider-Man #647 is anything to go by, it appears Marvel was well aware of this dilemma themselves and have found a “solution.”).

Also, while it certainly does resolve the dilemma involving the baby, it comes across as being way too convenient and thus anti-climatic. In fact, a lot of the resolutions this story set-up feel that way. Spidey explains Carlie forgives Lily and Lily realizes all the wrong she’s done before she gets on her glider and flies away, presumably leaving everyone behind for good (or until Marvel can figure out what to do with her). Harry never took the Goblin Formula again, despite last issue making a big tease out of it (so much for the law of Chekov’s Gun). The Avengers clear everything up with the authorities and Steve Rogers helped to clear Spidey of all charges---none of which we see on panel, by the way. And of course, Spidey, despite still having unresolved personal issues, still manages to swing off in an iconic pose while someone managing to work both the title of the story and says how his life is “Amazing.” At least there was confirmation in this issue that it actually was the “octo-tracer” which had been triggering Spidey’s spider-sense all through issue #644.

Still, I did like Waid’s use of Spidey banter in this issue, especially his “Star Wars” reference, but that’s not enough to really recommend this issue. Again, as with this entire story, it’s hasn’t been particularly bad, but certainly don’t consider this to be one of Waid’s better efforts, especially given his past performance on this title. Considering how he has apparently become disillusioned with modern superhero comics, I suspect this attitude rubbed off on this story. I also suspect there was a lot of editorial mandates placed on him, which would explain a lot of the develops and twists that occurred over the course of the arc. It may also explain why this story which was hyped as the “climatic resolution” of “Brand New Day” goes out with a whimper instead of bang.

http://stillanerd.livejournal.com/5344.html

 

[Spider-Man '92]

I too was expecting something more for the conclusion. The confrontation between Lizard and Ock was cool, but I'm not a huge fan of this reptilian mind-manipulation garbage. It was okay for SHED, but beyond that it seems kind of useless. But who knows, maybe it was just poor writing, right? Probably the one thing I could take away from this issue as pure gold (if any) was Spidey's final monologue (however it felt more healthy than the finale of OMIT to me).

All in all, this issue was decent, and just didn't hold up well with the previous ish, which even that wasn't well justified (as stillanerd covered). In the end I thought this arc was fun purely to see a lot of the classic villains together, whether they be side-by-side or face-to-face; it felt like a last hurrah before Big Time to me, and as a whole I'm pleased, but one ish at a time it's not far above par.

 

[bps]

Hey, I just did the last review for the series. You can start reading the first review from here.

ASM 642: http://www.spidermanreviews.com/2010/09/amazing-spider-man-642.html

You can check out the other reviews on the site.

 

[Spider-Man '92]

Spidey's rampage in 645 reminded me of The Dark Knight Returns, part of which is why I felt it was totally awesome.