Spider-Man: Reign Reviews By Jason Larouche

Spider-Man: Reign # 4
Writer: Kaare Andrews

Art: Kaare Andrews with Jose Villarrubia

Letterer: VC's Kris Eliopoulos and Rus Wooton

Summary:

Spider-Man crawls up the side of the central spire of City Hall. The Sinister Six members hear church bells in the background, caused by the girl and Jameson's followers, all masked and surrounded by Sandman and Reign officers. Venom is annoyed by the bells and has Waters order the squad to execute the children, although Sandman is against the idea.

The girl walks forward and finally announces her name is Hope. She unmasks, and Flint Marko is unnerved, recognizing his own eyes in this child...who then turns to stone before the men fire on her. Sandman attacks the officers, who ignore his orders of ceasefire. The bullets shatter Hope's arms. He gathers her up before Venom's monstrous progenies try to envelop her. He battles them with only one free arm while trying to encourage Hope to reform herself as he can...because she is his daughter.

Back at the office, Venom gives the word that Spider-Man is at the building. Waters orders Electro to engage just as Spider-Man crashes in through a window. Electro and Hydro-Man confront him, and Peter easily dispatches them by tripping Electro into Hydro-Man. He leaves the electrocuted pair on the floor while he crawls along the ceiling. Scorpion is next; Spidey dropkicks him out the window. Suddenly, Mysterio attacks under the guise of Mary Jane; the smoke is a dead giveaway. Kraven's gas sets in and Peter sees distorted versions of his friends and family that taunt and torment him, while Kraven himself hallucinates. Peter's will proves the strongest and he leaves him tangled in enough webs to leave Kravinoff busy for a while.

Outside, the symbiotes retreat from battle, clawing their way back up city hall. Sandman rejoices but then realizes the pieces of Hope in his arm has become flesh again...but not reformed. Solemn, Marko tells one officer to go home to his kids while he goes inside to find someone.

Spider-Man enters Waters' office, which is in darkness, but filled with the voice of Venom. He tells him this entire Webb project is all about Peter; he walked away from the power and responsibility, so the symbiote took them both in order to fill the void that still aches in its being left by Peter. His legion burst in through the window and grab Jameson. Waters is still in denial. Peter tells him off once, and he's snapped back to reality and Waters bolts. As he charges into battle, Spider-Man tells Venom that he didn't come for the creature or the city; he came for "her." The monstrous blobs envelop him in darkness.

Waters bumps into Sandman, who tells him he has something he wants.

In his mind, Peter sees himself as a teenager sitting on the ground until MJ comes along and tells him that she fell in love with him not because of his abilities, but what he chose to do with them. She slips off his glasses and pulls a mask over his face and says "Go get 'em, Tiger." He fights off the symbiotes and heads outside and crawls up the building towards the spire, the other creatures giving chase.

Reaching the top, Parker fights one of the toughest battles he's ever been in, all the while tossing the punches and puns and taking intense blows for them. Completely spent, he thinks "C'mon, finish it. I've earned it." Sandman then joins the fray, and gives him the detonator in his hand linked to the explosive in not only his chest, but those contained in the other Six scattered in the building. Without hesitation, Peter presses the button. The building is obliterated, as is the Webb Project.

From the smoke on the ground, Jonah emerges and approaches one of his boys, who wonders what this means. He tells him it's a second chance. They walk away.

Much later, Jameson, on DBN, delivers his "the city is no longer safe" speech, while Peter lays the flowers meant for MJ on her grave before webbing up a mugger trying to rob the bartender of a bar that's has Jonah on TV. Dressed in a trench coat and fedora, Peter walks away saying "I'll see you soon, M.J. Until then...I have responsibilites."

Likes:

- The girl's story FINALLY making sense (I never would've guessed it was Sandy's child)

- How quickly Spidey dispatched the Six...considering how poorly concieved their stories were

- Spider-Man vs. Venom and getting his butt handed to him but still continuing to fight. THAT'S the Spider-Man i've been waiting to see in this series

- the tormented soul of Peter's, constantly taunted by MJ's memory

- the symbiote pointing out that Peter shirked his responsibility; the ultimate unsaid sin on Spidey's record

Dislikes:

- the memory sequence; MJ didn't know Peter back when he was in high school (or was this his mind's way of telling him regardless of what he's done he's still a sixteen-year-old bookworm down deep?)

- the lack of a name for the hub of the Webb Project (in the end i just wrote it off as the new city hall)
- Jonah survives

- Miller. that's all i have to say on that.

Overall: 3.5/5 Webs

Though a great climax, the same problems that have plagued this mini since book 1 persisted: too much Miller influence, jokes that you can't see Spidey saying especially at his age, and the insanely annoying J. Jonah Jameson cheering Spidey by branding him a menace. Though a good attempt and a great ending in terms of the melee between Peter and the symbiotes, the emotional element was hard to pin down. All in all good try Kaare, but next time please refrain from Dark Knight Returns.

Cover: 4/5

Definitely a good leeway into the events inside, though it never got that bad between Peter and Venom.

Spider-Man: Reign # 3

Writer: Kaare Andrews

Art: Kaare Andrews and Jose Villarrubia

Letterer: Chris Eliopoulos

Plot:

Picked up from last issue, Doc Ock continues to dig a grave while Peter curdles up against the grave of his uncle. In his office, Mayor Waters interrogates Jameson at knifepoint. Jonah manages to grab the knife, slits Waters' throat and demands he shows him his true self to the city. Edward Saks then comes up behind him, calm and collected, and Jonah stabs him in the stomach...and black ooze comes out. Jameson remarks "There you are." Jonah's hand is stuck and he's being pulled into Saks.

Back at the cemetery, Doc Ock - revealed to be a reanimated corpse - drags a coffin up from the ground, and out falls a red-haired corpse. It's Mary Jane's body, and Peter's mind again travels back to the past. Mary Jane is in the hospital on her deathbed and Peter is reminiscing about how they met. Their moment is interrupted by sirens and gunfire. Peter leaves via the window...but does not return in time to say goodbye to Mary Jane. In the present, the semi-reanimated body of Mary Jane attacks Peter. He confesses the doctors didn't know how she had been poisoned by radiation...but he did. It was his own radioactive fluids that contributed to MJ's cancer. Ock's tentacle drags the body away at Peter's protest. The corpse tells him when she was repeating the word "go" in the hospital, she was trying to tell him "Go get 'em, Tiger!" Octavius and the body disappear into a casket.

In the city, the girl is still conflicted by the riot's results, holding a lament for Kasey (killed by Kraven's blade), and remembers a joke her dad told her mom about two campers trying to escape a grizzly bear in the woods. The punchline was they argue about being unable to run a bear but one of the campers says to his friend "No, but I can outrun you." She looks at the ski mask ,remembering that ALL masks are prohibited in New York.

On DBZ, Saks, at a rallying speech for the Webb project, describes the intersecting lights about the NY skyline are "long arms of security."

In his office, while being treated for his throat, Jameson questions Waters why he fell in with Saks. He assures him it's for the good of the people, but that does little to persuade Jonah. Saks then appears with questions of his own. JJ admits he had his suspicions but had to be sure. Despite Waters trying to calm them down, Saks brings up "Eddie" and how Jonah mistreated him. Black streams of ooze trickle down his face and envelop him. He slaughters the guards and nurse, consuming them whole. Jonah, unshaken, admits this creature has changed, and it admits it grew lonely and hungry. Waters tries in vain to keep the peace; the creature reminds him that he knew what they were planning. He says that "guests" have arrived for dinner.

DBN reports the source of the Webb project - the spire on the tallest building in the city - exploded, falling bodies caught on tape. The city is then showered by multiple large gushes of black oil that metamorphose into huge blob-like creatures like Saks. Elsewhere in the sity these same creatures are devouring the kids that were part of Jameson's rebels, all except a girl who runs for all she's worth...despite the guilt she feels over leaving them behind. The Reign officers want to engage them but Sandman tells them to stand down, that they're protection. The sight of a mother and child being eaten alive makes one officer sick. He abandons his post and "West" is gunned down for his cowardice.

At the cemetery, Peter decides to climb into his wife's coffin, renouncing all concern for the chaos his city's under. Meanwhile, Saks, or rather Venom, gloats over his loneliness finally ending, while Waters still remains ignorant to the mistake he's made.

The girl rallies those kids who haven't been devoured and encourages them all to take a stand and wear masks doing it. The bells of the church ring.

In the coffin, Peter can't stand the noise of those bells...then drives his webbed fist up through the lid. He emerges in his original costume, which had been buried with Mary Jane, singing the Spider-Man theme. Venom senses him coming, and the Six lie in waiting for him.

To be Concluded.

Likes:

- some sense in all of this: the webb really an elaborate plan of Venom's to fill the void left by both Peter and Brock

- the symbolism of Octavius' statement to Peter; they are two sides of the same coin when you look at their origins and upbringing

- Kaare Andrew's design of Venom visually

- the alpha and omega link between Peter's story and the story of the girl

- the true reason Peter retired

- the symbolism of Peter nestling against his uncle's grave, the real reason he became a crimefighter

Dislikes:

- again too much Miller

- Jameson's inane babble

- the absence of any coherent explanation as to why Octavius still has one foot outside the coffin, as well as the reanimation of Mary Jane's body (is it the arms that are delivering this speech? has the A.I. in Otto's arms allowed him to transfer his consciousness into the tentacles)

- Water's indifference; no one is that dellusional

- the dialogue for Spider-Man works in some areas while falls flat on its face in others

- the Spider-Man mantra is screaming to be said by Peter, yet is construed by Waters

Overall: 3 1/2 out of 5 Webs

Though an improvement over the last two issues, there are still flaws and absent explanations. Though I like how Andrews establishes a bridge between his previous mini-series SPIDER-MAN/DOCTOR OCTOPUS: YEAR ONE and SPIDER-MAN: REIGN through Doctor Octopus' monologue, he fails to deliver a purpose for Ock to dig up MJ's body and then vanish in the coffin with him. The notion that Peter's being haunted by the ghosts of his past is taken too far in that context. And finally, it seems as though the girl in the striped shirt is finally taking relevance in this book rather than be just an innocent bystander. I'm interested in seeing where her story goes from here.

Cover:

Definitely connected to both the beginning and end of the book; however, it's deceptive in the way Doc Ock is designed on the front of the book. I'm willing to let that go. The crackling of the tentacles is a good way of showing the tentacles still have a life after Otto's death.

Spider-Man: Reign #2

Writer: Kaare Andrews

Artists: Kaare Andrews and Jose Villarubia

Letterer: VC's Rus Wooton

Plot:

The reemergence of Spider-Man is covered on the Daily Bugle News, as does J. Jonah Jameson's illegal passing out newsprint flyers with the headline reading "MASKED MENACE!" The Webb Project however is still underway. Mayor Waters, meanwhile, under the advice of Mr. Saks, recruits Scorpion, Rhino, Vulture, Electro, and Sandman from incarceration (controlled via remote explosives in their chests) to capture, contain, or eliminate the wall-crawler. Elsewhere, the girl from #1 is reading a copy of Jonah's paper when a Reign officer confescates it as illegal contraband. A boy named Kasey invites her to meet some friends, while Peter Parker, in his apartment, busily packs and tells Mary Jane to do the same. Despite his warnings, the spirit just stands at the window. He shaves his beard to change his appearance. The girl follows Kasey to a church filled with children who listen attentively to Jonah's anti-Webb speech, stressing how much worse things will get if it goes online. Kasey, via a laptop, hacks into DBN and it feeds a loop into the system, a brief summary of the newsprint flyer. Elsewhere, an aged black superhero named the Hypno-Hustler stirs up trouble with his mind-controlling dance music, which is, in his mind, to give Spider-Man some help in this revolution. Jonah, in the crowd, tells Kasey and the girl to watch and learn as the Hustler is gunned down by the Reign.

In his apartment, now dressed and ready to go, Peter still refuses to leave without "MJ." He then looks outside just as a Reign officer spots him and orders the bazooka to fire. All goes white, and Peter imagines being run down by a car while flagging for help. Snapping back to reality, he's suddenly in his black Spider-Man suit and escaping the explosion. He starts beating the hell out of the mob of Reign officers while Jameson watches proudly. The fight is televised and on Ipods. Suddenly, Kasey is knifed in the back by Kraven as he and the other villains arrive on the scene. Spider-Man is under seige by them in a collaborative effort. Kraven unmasks Peter, causing the girl to lose faith and run. They deliver a devastating gangster-style beating to him...until a familar shadowy tentacled opponent rips him from their clutches and drags him away. Interlude: Spider-Man is blamed for destruction of private property and injured civillians on DBN and Mayor Waters thanks the public for their support of the Webb and reminds them that freedom doesn't come cheap. Elsewhere, at a cemetery while Doc Ock's tentacles dig his grave, Peter lies defeated at the feet of the graves of MJ, May, and Ben Parker...

To Be Continued.

Likes:

- the battle. nothing beats seeing a sinister six melee with spider-man

- the underdog motif shared between Peter and the girl

- shock value of Kraven knifing an innocent child

Dislikes (where do I begin?)

- if Jonah's in support of Peter, why the "menace" newsprints? and what's with his apostle routine at the church?

- though the spidey wisecracks are good, it's hard to imagine an old man saying them, almost as hard as trying to picture an elderly Peter still as nimble as he was in his twenties.

- why is Doc Ock shrouded in darkness?

- the hallucinations Peter's experiencing; they make no sense nor does how Peter winds up with the costume completely undamaged as he survives the explosion in his apartment

- the DBN news broadcasts

- again too much Miller influence

Overall: 3/5 webheads If i wanted to read Frank Miller I would've bought Frank Miller. It seems as though they've crammed every motif he set in Dark Knight Returns only presented it in Spider-Man format. Kaare, you're a great artist and writer, but I am still waiting on answers as to the point of this story.

Cover:

Definitely the hint of things to come inside. Again, nice "Sinister" reunion.

Spider-Man:Reign # 1
Writer: Kaare Andrews

Art: Kaare Andrews

Letters: Eliopoulos

Plot:

New York City, the near future. Kids spray paint on the wall "Where did U Go?" before being pursued by several SWAT-like officers known as "The Reign." A boy named Troy is tasered whiel the girl and boy escape. While a new revolutionary protection system for the city known as "The Web" goes online in days, an elderly Peter Parker loses his job as a flower vendor. As he walks home (with flowers he had no permission to take) he encounters deja vu - an alleged criminal is running toward him and a cop is telling him to stop him. Peter refuses, but then gets involved when they use excessive force...and recieves a broken arm for his effort. The same girl who was chased by Reign taunts him for not stopping them. Elsewhere, A new bullimic Kingpin - having been on IV for ten years - is being taunted by Mayor Waters eating a steak. Fisk is his "trophy" he takes out once a year. In his apartment, his arm in a cast, Peter is haunted by memories of Mary Jane, even talking to himself as if she's there. In his dreams he sees her, imagining to taste her after ten years. He wakes to a knock on the door...to find an even-MORE elderly J. Jonah Jameson. He treats Peter like a long-lost friend, but Peter isn't buying it and closes the door, but not before JJ leaves a package on his side. He hears Jonah tell him they have much to talk about and to open the package.

Outside, in anger at Peter's reaction, Jonah smashes the back windshielf of a car with his walker, attracting the same Reign officers that confronted him earlier. Back in his apartment, Peter opens the package (in a nervous sweat) and finds one of his old cameras...with one of his old black masks. Jameson punches one of the officers, provoking them to attack him regardless of age. Peter hears Jonah's cries for help...and snaps.

Seconds later, wearing the black mask (and in his underwear), Peter attacks cracking wise and as agile as he was in his youth. He makes short work of them...which takes him back ten years when as Spider-Man he accidentally killed a "murderer" by sending him off a roof. Coming back to the present, he hears Jonah tells him "they" are coming and asks if he can count on him. Peter responds with a knockout punch and walks away in the rain.

Likes:

- someone shutting Jonah's mouth AFTER SEVERAL AGONIZING PAGES OF TRYING TO MAKE SENSE OF HIS POINT!!!

- Kaare Andrew's design of the elderly Peter Parker; it really seems like an alpha-omega feel (he wore similar clothes when he was bitten by that spider; now he's called to battle again in that attire).

- the tortured guilt Peter feels and the notion that he retired out of shame rather than age (he sure as hell LOOKED like he hasn't missed a step in the end)

- the poetic justice of the Kingpin (deflated balloon look really "deflates" the 2% body fat theory right?)

- Jonah's claim that Peter made him into a liar by selling him lies (true those photos were of Peter himself, but it's beautiful how Jameson misses the existential truth that HE misread the facts every time a Spider-Man sighting or battle took place EVERY SINGLE TIME out of jealousy.)

Dislikes:

- four words; Frank. Miller. Rip. Off. (someone's gonna sue somebody)

- J Jonah Jameson still alive and kicking (for someone who smoked so many cigars, it dwarfs the mind how one with that much damage to his lungs could still be breathing)

- the mayor: what's his story and why does he torture Fisk?

- what is the point of the Reign? and who is that girl?

Favorite Quotes:

Jameson: I was a newspaperman, Parker. I dealt in TRUTH. But YOU. YOU gave me nothing

but LIES. It's why I sold the Bugle... You MADE me a liar.

Overall: 2/5 webheads
Because this series was released during Civil War, when Peter unmasked for the world to see in support of Superhuman Registration, it's not hard to imagine this being a consequence of that decision. Still the "Arach-knight Returns" motif is kind of played out and uninspired. Kaare Andrews is the right guy to get the contradiction of Peter's appearance (a skinny guy that can lift 25 times his own weight).

Cover: Very misleading. This suggests to the reader that we're dealing with the death of Mary Jane Watson as the primary focus rather than a brief mention. Dramatic and deep, yeah, but still misleading.