Podcast 175: What did you think?

[BD]

The opening song is here.



Topics include:
*Reviews of Amazing Spider-Man # 681 and # 682
*This Month in Spider-History. JR tackles April 1987 and reviews one of the all time worst Spider-Man stories of all time. If you haven't read Web of Spider-Man # 25 search it out for how bad the book is and enjoy it in all it's awful glory.

[Aziz]

I didn't read the latest issues, so I skipped that part of the podcast

Spider-History rules, I hope JR stays on it for a few more years.
If this month was no comedy like "Joey Z" or "Sons of the Tiger", tell me what's wrong, this made me laugh harder than the other two stories, "Betty Brant" scenes even more

As for "Julia Carpenter" story, there was another advertisement in Iron Man 214

[Donomark]

Found the Owsley/Priest article "Why I will never discuss Spider-Man"

http://lamerciepark.com/legacy/comics/spidey.html

[stevejrogers]

I must say, the best part of Spider-History is that it is a great counter point to all the negative reviews and responses that the podcast gets for being too negative about current directions the books take.

That is something that usually gets stated, that the new stuff gets dissed in favor of "rose colored glasses" white washed versions of past books and eras. Heh, well if you listen to JR's lookbacks, you'll see this panel has no problem taking the piss from older material, even much beloved eras! So over wrought dialogue, bad plotting, silly tropes and whatnot are always going to be there!

[Aziz]

I must say, the best part of Spider-History is that it is a great counter point to all the negative reviews and responses that the podcast gets for being too negative about current directions the books take.

That is something that usually gets stated, that the new stuff gets dissed in favor of "rose colored glasses" white washed versions of past books and eras. Heh, well if you listen to JR's lookbacks, you'll see this panel has no problem taking the piss from older material, even much beloved eras! So over wrought dialogue, bad plotting, silly tropes and whatnot are always going to be there!

Well said
And I add about the pros the gang give current issues being neglected by ones counting the podcast negative

[DarkKnightJared]

#682: It was enjoyable. The Spider-Glider was a little much, but I thought everything else was a decent enough set-up for this big story.

As for the "three billion" thing--as I recall, Ock only baked the side of the Earth that was facing the sun, so he was talking to them specifically, especially since that was the side that New York and places like the UN were located at.

As for him armoring up when he's faced big threats before--I think part of it is that all those other times it was reactive. Like, Peter stumbled onto the Juggernaut and had to deal with what he had; but him getting some new and more powerful tech ready in preparation for the Sinister Six to me doesn't invalidate any of his victories before--it makes him appear to be smarter and more of an experienced hero.

Web of Spider-Man #25...wow. When I first read about this, it sounded kinda lame and forgetable. After hearing the segment...DAMN. Either this was an elaborate tribute to Plan 9 from Outer Space or they really were desperate for content.

...Holy crap, I actually agree with JR about Secret Wars.

Good episode.

[CrazyChris]

I agree that the 3 billion number was not a mistake. Ock specifically said he was addressing the half of the planet facing the son. His lens covers the whole planet but only heats the part receiving direct sunlight.

[FSUSpiderFan]

JR's history rant was hilarious. I loved where he called Kingpin "You old fat piece of crap."

[Wheatcakes]

Web of Spider-Man started out with a bang but quickly deteriorated into filler story after filler story. I can't remember one past issue 10 that was really awesome. But JR makes a good point, back then you would only be out seventy five cents if the issue sucked. Even taking inflation into account, seventy five cents in 1987 equals $1.42 in 2010 money, still not a big loss. Alternatively, $3.99 in 2010 dollars equals $2.11 in 1987 dollars, which in my opinion is too much to lose over poor quality (I still think $2.00 a comic is too expensive).

At any rate, thanks for the laughs JR.

[Aziz]

Web of Spider-Man started out with a bang but quickly deteriorated into filler story after filler story. I can't remember one past issue 10 that was really awesome.

A great issue by Peter David 'Nuff Said

But JR makes a good point, back then you would only be out seventy five cents if the issue sucked. Even taking inflation into account, seventy five cents in 1987 equals $1.42 in 2010 money, still not a big loss. Alternatively, $3.99 in 2010 dollars equals $2.11 in 1987 dollars, which in my opinion is too much to lose over poor quality (I still think $2.00 a comic is too expensive).

Thanks for posting this, interesting to know how money value changed after inflation

[Wheatcakes]

I forgot about that issue with Jonah, I stand corrected. I read WoSM up until issue 41 when I was turned off of comics completely, however after looking over those issues, I can't say they all sucked. There was two parts of Kraven's Last Hunt in there, and issues 29 and 30 which were tied into the Hobgoblin/Rose storyline were OK, but the rest...oy.

[Wheatcakes]

Incidentally, I looked up the review for WoSM on spiderfan.org, and the summary was as follows:

Oh dear.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Dreadful doesn't quite sum it up. Since when has space and aliens had anything to do with Spider-Man? (OK, I remember Amazing issue 2 as well but that was all explained innocently enough later on).

The story is just woeful from the start. Larry Lieber proves beyond doubt that his older brother (Stan Lee) got the talent in the family. Remember the characterisation that's been advanced in recent issues? Well Larry doesn't. Remember the premise that Spider-Man is a down-to-earth character with realistic stories? Larry doesn't. Remember our vast array of supporting characters? Larry clearly doesn't either.

People can complain about clones and the like but nothing quite sums up the bag of excrement this is. It could have been a comic about anyone – not even a superhero. Spidey just isn't needed in this book. He's a peripheral figure to the absurd scripting and is obsolete from the bizarre opening few pages where the aliens dominate.

I can perhaps understand that the editor needed a filler issue to get the book in to line with the upcoming crossover and chronology but that's no excuse for wasting people's time and money with this.

Overall Rating...

Disaster. Dreadful. Terrible. Awful. Worst book for ages. Let's just pretend it never happened, OK?

[AmFan15]

Incidentally, I looked up the review for WoSM on spiderfan.org, and the summary was as follows:

Oh dear.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Dreadful doesn't quite sum it up. Since when has space and aliens had anything to do with Spider-Man? (OK, I remember Amazing issue 2 as well but that was all explained innocently enough later on).

The story is just woeful from the start. Larry Lieber proves beyond doubt that his older brother (Stan Lee) got the talent in the family. Remember the characterisation that's been advanced in recent issues? Well Larry doesn't. Remember the premise that Spider-Man is a down-to-earth character with realistic stories? Larry doesn't. Remember our vast array of supporting characters? Larry clearly doesn't either.

People can complain about clones and the like but nothing quite sums up the bag of excrement this is. It could have been a comic about anyone – not even a superhero. Spidey just isn't needed in this book. He's a peripheral figure to the absurd scripting and is obsolete from the bizarre opening few pages where the aliens dominate.

I can perhaps understand that the editor needed a filler issue to get the book in to line with the upcoming crossover and chronology but that's no excuse for wasting people's time and money with this.

Overall Rating...

Disaster. Dreadful. Terrible. Awful. Worst book for ages. Let's just pretend it never happened, OK?

Gee, that review is kinda vague...So they loved it?

[Aziz]

I forgot about that issue with Jonah, I stand corrected. I read WoSM up until issue 41 when I was turned off of comics completely, however after looking over those issues, I can't say they all sucked. There was two parts of Kraven's Last Hunt in there, and issues 29 and 30 which were tied into the Hobgoblin/Rose storyline were OK, but the rest...oy.

You didn't go through the complete story of Cult of Love? That story is great, except for Mary Jane naked photo session, and Flash showing his tongue to that personnel after he didn't allow him to get in and Kate Cushings did

Plus, you missed the Lobo Gang War, that is some of Conway's best

[Aziz]

Incidentally, I looked up the review for WoSM on spiderfan.org, and the summary was as follows:

Oh dear.

Oh dear, oh dear, oh dear.

Dreadful doesn't quite sum it up. Since when has space and aliens had anything to do with Spider-Man? (OK, I remember Amazing issue 2 as well but that was all explained innocently enough later on).

The story is just woeful from the start. Larry Lieber proves beyond doubt that his older brother (Stan Lee) got the talent in the family. Remember the characterisation that's been advanced in recent issues? Well Larry doesn't. Remember the premise that Spider-Man is a down-to-earth character with realistic stories? Larry doesn't. Remember our vast array of supporting characters? Larry clearly doesn't either.

People can complain about clones and the like but nothing quite sums up the bag of excrement this is. It could have been a comic about anyone – not even a superhero. Spidey just isn't needed in this book. He's a peripheral figure to the absurd scripting and is obsolete from the bizarre opening few pages where the aliens dominate.

I can perhaps understand that the editor needed a filler issue to get the book in to line with the upcoming crossover and chronology but that's no excuse for wasting people's time and money with this.

Overall Rating...

Disaster. Dreadful. Terrible. Awful. Worst book for ages. Let's just pretend it never happened, OK?

Gee, that review is kinda vague...So they loved it?

5 webheads