Spider-Man: House Of M Reviewed By: Morbius

Spider-Man: House of M #5
Writer: Mark Waid & Tom Peyer
Penciler: Salvador Larroca
Inker: Danny Miki

Plot: We open with Captain Stacy’s death scene (the original one from 616). Pan out to the family reading Peter’s journal in horror at what they think Peter has made up about them. Imagine their reaction to all 4 being dead except Aunt May who has been dead twice anyway.
So, Spidey is saving some humans from mutant cops, only to then be turned on by the humans. So he goes to talk to Uncle Ben, and they decide that the only way to fix things for these humans is if Spider-Man dies. So they hang his uniform, and go off to some island to live. Pete leaves a letter for Magneto first though: “If you want me to stay dead, ease up on the humans.”

Likes:

- The art is still great.

- The scene of the family reading what happened to them in the 616 reality is very well done.

Dislikes:

- This issue was a terrible disappointment. There seemed to be a lot more mystery building up in this mini than actually paid off. And besides that, it totally contradicts the main House of M title. It feels like Mark Waid didn’t even read it. All in all, this was a terrible finish that took down the quality and enjoyment of the entire mini-series.

Favorite Quote: Ben to May about the journal: “Read it again. You’re always having heart attacks.”

Rating: 1 web out of 5. Salvador Larocca did his usual fine job here, but the writing is a real let down. All the potential of this mini-series simply doesn’t pay off.

Reviewed by: Morbius

Spider-Man: House of M #4
Writer: Mark Waid & Tom Peyer
Penciler: Salvador Larroca
Inker: Danny Miki

Plot: Peter, in Green Goblin costume and in the Rhino’s grip, says he believes the Goblin is Norman Osborn possibly and was just trying to trap him. When they don’t believe him, he takes Gwen captive, and backs out of the building with her. When Gwen asks Peter incredulously if he’d actually kill her, Peter responds that his journal says the Goblin already killed her. He begs her not to let him near the baby and flies off on the glider. As he’s making his escape, he’s seen in this costume by a sentinel. The next day, JJJ is on T.V. talking to a reporter, telling him the Goblin gave him the journal, when the picture is sent to the station from the sentinel.
Gwen convinces Ben and Captain Stacy to help her go get that journal from JJJ’s house. At the same time, JJJ is asking Norman Osborn for protection. Norman gives him the number for Alistaire Smythe. So when the three break in, they find a rather large robot with a televised image of the crazed JJJ’s face. But as it’s thrashing them, Spider-Man jumps through the window and rips it apart. He then takes the journal and swings out the window. What he doesn’t realize is that Captain Stacy uses his own web-shooter to retrieve the journal…

Likes:

- This is getting enthralling now. Somehow this journal seems to have retained information about what happened before, and Peter’s working to find out what’s going on.

- A comic book: $2.99. Seeing the Green Goblin use a web-shooter: priceless.

- It’s good to see Smythe again, I think the last time we saw him was somewhere near the reboot. And that doesn’t count…

- Also good to see the feisty trio of Gwen, Uncle Ben, and Captain Stacy. This is one of the privileges an event like House of M affords us. To anyone that says House of M is a bad idea, tell them to read this book.

- The writing here is top-notch all the way. Extremely high class mystery, action, and all out Spideyness (reviewers are allowed to invent words when they need to).

- The art is also spot on. Larroca does a good job on X-Men, but he kicks it up a notch from his other work in this book. It seems to really matter to him.

Dislikes:

- Having to wait until next month to see what happens!

Favorite Quote: Uncle Ben: “What could we possibly say to get him to hand it over?’

Gwen: “Thwip.”

Rating: 5 webs out of 5. There is no way this issue could have been better.

Reviewed by: Morbius

Spider-Man: House of M #3
Writer: Mark Waid & Tom Peyer
Penciler: Salvador Larroca
Inker: Danny Miki

Plot: The story that Spider-Man is a human and the Rhino has brutally beaten Crusher Hogan nearly to death is on every news channel. Spider-Man turns from beloved hero to hated antagonist over night.
Peter gets word the Rhino has been cornered in Times Square and goes to try to fix that situation only to be greeted with various fruit products to the face. Rhino escapes into the sewer, where the he is met by the Green Goblin. The Goblin says he can free Rhino from his armor and his trouble with the law if he helps him take away even more from Peter. Rhino tells him they’ll meet in a warehouse behind Peter’s house.
Back at the Parker house, Captain Stacy and Uncle Ben have a very loud argument about the way Peter has lived his life as Peter tries to explain things. Peter leaves the house and Gwen does soon after. Behind the house, the Goblin meets Rhino. But the Rhino has three surprises with him: Electro, the Vulture, and the Ox. All four proceed to try and kill the Goblin, and Electro gets killed in action. Gwen walks in right as Rhino is trying to pry the mask off the Goblin. When he finally does, the face shocks everyone…it is Peter Parker.

Likes:

- There is a very poignant scene where Peter visits a little boy in the hospital who has been brutalized by his classmates for wearing a Spider-Man t-shirt. This whole idea resonates with both Spider-Man’s actual history as someone bullied as a kid, and with the message of many House of M stories of oppression. Add into that Peter’s old familiar feelings of guilt and self pity and a security guard with a heart and you have a truly great scene.

- It’s interesting to see Captain Stacy and Uncle Ben interacting, even if they don’t get along. I think the characterization is excellent.

- I loved the fact that Rhino fought back instead of being pushed around, and the appearances by the three other villains were great, too.

- This is one of the endings I’ve read in quite awhile. It was a total shock in every way. Even when they were setting up the frames to look like it wasn’t going to be Norman under the mask, I never expected to see Peter. This is the kind of great ending that makes me anxiously await the next issue.

Dislikes:

- This is another issue where the art moves between great and decent. Not sure why there’s such an inconsistency, but it’s noticeable.

Favorite Quote: Norman Osborn: “Ouch. That alone will ruin you, Parker. This calls for champagne.”

Rating: 4 ½ webs out of 5. Excellent issue. Would be perfect if it wasn’t for the meager art here and there.

Reviewed by: Morbius

Spider-Man: House of M #2
Title: (none)
Writer: Mark Waid & Tom Peyer
Penciler : Salvador Larroca
Inker: Danny Miki

Background: Reality as we know it no longer exists. Wanda Maximoff has truly lost her mind and unleashed her full power, creating an entirely new reality. In this world, mutants are dominant and “sapiens” are laughed at, if they’re lucky. Spider-Man is a world famous wrestler, movie star, and entrepreneur. His wife is Gwen Stacy, his confidant is Uncle Ben, and his life is perfect.

Plot: The Goblin has left JJJ in a pile of trash far from the city, but with a gift. He has Peter Parker’s journal from when he was bitten, proving that Spidey is not a mutant. But Peter doesn’t know any of this, so he’s slightly worried when he sees security video of JJJ getting manhandled by the Goblin. He sends Rhino (his bodyguard) to talk to Crusher Hogan about it, since Green Goblin happensto be his wrestling identity. Unfortunately, Peter forgot to tell Rhino not to hurt him, and Crusher winds up (seemingly) dead. Peter himself goes to have a talk with Osborn, having recognized the glider design. Norman informs him that since yesterday’s acquisition, the glider doesn’t belong to him, it belongs to Peter.
Later, Uncle Ben calls with a tip from a friend in the news business that JJJ is at the subway, so Spidey goes swinging into action. He gets there just in time to see JJJ go on air with the earth shattering report that Spider-Man is a homo-sapien!

Likes:

- In a clip from Peter and MJ’s new movie, we see Venom dropping Gwen (played by MJ) from a ledge in front of Spidey. That’s class.

- The total lack of the Green Goblin and miniscule appearance of Norman Osborn. I like it that this is story driven, not needing a battle or a flashy villain in every panel.

- The redesign of Spidey’s costume looks very good. I can’t say I’d mind having it as the regular universe design.

- I’m very amused by this version of the Rhino. I sort of want to keep him.

- Jameson is the antagonist here, but he is in no way evil. He has been abused by Peter for years and is totally justified in doing everything he’s doing. I find this refreshing.

- My comments from last issue about the art being hit and miss are no longer valid. They cleared it right up with some solid art here.

Dislikes:

- Peter’s bald head. It’s a really awful look for him.

Favorite Quote: Peter: “I always feel guilty.”

Rating: 4 webs out of 5. Didn’t blow me quite as far away as last issue, but still a great story and a great read.

Reviewed by: Morbius

Spider-Man: House of M #1
Title: (none)
Writer: Mark Waid & Tom Peyer
Penciler: Salvador Larroca
Inker: Danny Miki
Background: Reality as we know it no longer exists. Wanda Maximoff has truly lost her mind and unleashed her full power, creating and entirely new reality. In this world, mutants are dominant and “sapiens” are laughed at, if they’re lucky.

Plot: Peter Parker is standing in his bedroom watching his wife, Gwen Stacy, and his baby son, Richie, sleep. He is crying. The next morning, he exercises in his lush mansion wearing a Spider-Man tank top. Outside, the Rhino greets Ben Parker and shows him in. Ben and Peter have a brief conversation revealing a few things about this world: Spider-Man is a beloved wrestling star; his identity is not secret; he has been passing himself off as a mutant since he was bitten; and he is far too hard on his P.R. man, J. Jonah Jameson. Ben is shocked that Peter has just shaved his head. He tells Ben that he felt today was a new beginning, so he did something drastic.
            Over at the NAPS (National Association of Police and Security), Captain Stacy is hassled by the mutant guards as he goes in to make a presentation. He presents a new peacekeeping device invented by Peter and Gwen Parker: webshooters.
            At Oscorp, Gwen walks in to find Norman Osborn. It seems Peter has bought Oscorp, and Norman was unaware he intended to dismantle his life’s work.
            At the Parker residence, Aunt May and little Richie are barged in on by Spidey’s wrestling rival, the Green Goblin (a large man named Crusher Hogan). We find out that they are actually good friends.
            At Peter’s surprise party, Richie is frightened of his father, apparently because of the newly shaved head. Jameson calls to Peter and tries to wish him a happy birthday, but Peter berates him and sends him away. Then Gwen backs him into a corner for some personal time, but Peter unexplainably gets upset and goes for the bathroom. Here he overhears a conversation between the Rhino (Peter’s bodyguard) and Mary Jane Watson (famous actress and former co-star of Peter in some movie) about how much trouble someone would get in if they tried to pass themselves off as a mutant.
            In a backroom of the party, JJJ is sulking. He seems to know Peter’s secret and decides he won’t lie for him anymore. At that moment, the Green Goblin comes crashing through his window. This time, it’s the REAL Goblin, not a wrestler. He tells JJJ that he’s going to help him destroy Spider-Man. JJJ is more than enthusiastic.

Likes:

- Where to begin? The entire issue goes in this category. Okay, I’ll get more specific.

- Seeing Gwen alive and well in a manner that has nothing to do with hoaky resurrections or clones is fantastic.

- Seeing the supporting cast used so well in a new manner is priceless.

- The characterization for these new versions of old characters has to be established quickly, and it is done so flawlessly with seeming ease.

- The Green Goblin costume is the exact same as that in Marvel Knights Spidey, which is good for recognition and current continuity.

- The entire world is used so well for this, but the story is still very much about Spider-Man’s world, not the entire House of M world.

Dislikes:

- The pencils in this are very hit and miss. For most of the issue, they’re flawless and I have no problems. But there are certain instances that make you think his kid must have drawn something while he was sleeping. I don’t know how to explain it, but it really didn’t detract from the read much.

Favorite Quote: Uncle Ben about Aunt May: “I swear, when she was a baby her first words were “I’m worried.”

Rating: 4 ½ webs out of 5. I really want to give this a 5, but I admit the pencils weren’t perfect. But they only detract half a web’s worth.

Reviewed by: Morbius