AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #607
Writer: Joe Kelly
Penciler: Mike McKone and Adriana Melo
Inker: McKone, Lanning, Justice, Smith and Benes
Story Title: “Long Term Arrangement Part 2”
Plot
Another one night stand. A golden battle with Diablo. Insurance fraud. Ana Kravinov recruits another villain.
The Commentary
All right…let’s talk about this cover.
I think it is fair to say that this cover is meant to appeal to a fan base that likes seeing pictures of scantily clad women and I will admit that I like seeing pictures of scantily clad women. I am attracted to women. It’s just how things worked out for me. So I am not suggesting that there is something wrong with being attracted to a particular sex and wanting to see images of that sex where they are wearing little or no clothing. It’s normal. It’s natural. I don’t look down on it as long as you can have a somewhat normal relationship with a real girl.
So on this cover we have the Black Cat wearing what appears to be nothing but the top of the Spider-Man costume and in the interest of full disclosure I am of the opinion that if you put a woman in a male character’s costume there is something inherently sexy about that. To be sure I like to see it in real life but there it is. It’s not a fetish mind you. Just something that is kind of cool to see if I come across it. In any case you would think that because I think there is something kind of sexy about a woman wearing a man’s shirt and apparently nothing else would get me going and in all honesty this cover bothered the living crap out of me.
For one thing this is a variant cover. This should have been the 10 to 1 ratio cover with something involving the villain and Spider-Man and the Black Cat and, you know, the plot acting as the standard cover. I know why they went with this cover. Sex sells. That’s a fact and there is really no getting around that. Another aspect of the cover that bugged the living crap out of me is the fact we have this amazingly over-sexualized cover that still bears the Super-Hero Squad add in the upper left hand corner. I think it is fair to say that the Super-Hero Squad is meant for a much younger audience so having the super sexy Black Cat biting down on a string of pearls (that was subtle) next to the ad for the kids’ show gets to me.
Maybe I’m turning into a prude as I get older. That’s possible. I won’t rule it out. Whatever the case I hated this cover.
The sad thing about this issue is that I think I have more to say about the cover than the story inside.
There wasn’t much of a story here. Peter gets some action from the Black Cat (leading me to think that the whole Parker luck thing is just an out and out lie) which is followed by what boiled down to a large scale insurance fraud scheme. Sure there were some decent character moments and there is something to be said for exploring a relationship that is no good for the protagonist. Peter has been having a rough time of it lately and as I mentioned in my last review I can relate to just giving in to the one thing that is just terrible for you when life is just too much to bear. The thing is that concept is a plot point, not something to fill two issues worth of story. The insurance fraud scheme got to me too. I am not as familiar with Diablo as other Marvel villains but this seems kind of pedestrian for a character as powerful as he seems to be. Again it’s not a bad concept in and of itself but it made for a pretty boring two issues of AMAZING SPIDER-MAN.
Parting Thoughts
The art in this issue was a bit uneven but overall I was happy with it. The splash page of Peter and Felicia’s costumes looking as if they were cuddling was kind of neat. It didn’t make up for how lack luster this issue was and how lackluster this story was as a whole. There was a fair amount of hype around these two issues because it was the return of the Black Cat but much like the return of Mary Jane last month the reality didn’t live up to the hype. Pretty covers and romantic interludes do not a good story make and I was really disappointed in the writing this story. Hopefully the next storyline will turn things around but it seems like we are back to the hot and cold roller coaster ride that has been indicative of Brand New Day.
2.5 out of 5 webheads.
Apple Podcasts
Google Podcasts
Spotify
Pandora
Amazon Music
iHeartRadio
Podbean
Amazon Alexa
Player.fm
Listen Notes
Stitcher
I thought this was a decent enough story, although not a great one.
I can’t understand all these complaints here. I can’t see anything in this book that’s not appropriate for kids. The truth is, I’ve never been able to comprehend this idea that kids have to be kept ignorant of all sexual matters. It makes no logical sense, and as far as I can see is simply a superstitious taboo in the sense that even those who believe in it can’t rationally explain why.
But in any case, there was nothing in this story that you don’t see routinely on prime-time TV, even in the ‘wholesome’ family comedies.
I’m surprised that the degree of prudishness amoung these comments exists outside of Saudi Arabia.
What are you all talking about? I thought they stopped publishing Amazing Spider-Man after #545???
I’m 34 too and don’t have any problems with the cover.
Overall I thought the first issue of this story started strong but this one ended weak.
Why did we have to sit through Black Cat basically “I have connections!” for word balloons that never seemed to end? It’s a comic book! Let us SEE WHAT SHE IS TALKING ABOUT IN THE COMIC! If you have to have Black Cat explain things to Spidey, “I got the hook up!” covers it. I tend to like Joe Kelly’s stuff but it seemed this time he was trying to fit a 3 issue story into 2 comics.
Yeah 2.5 out of 5 is just about right.
Nah, this one was well covered in the last one.
Sounds like a pretty interesting subject to include in the next podcast…
I hadn’t thought of that. I wonder if the folks at the Marvel Spidey message board can talk about the drunken sex hookups? That sure doesn’t sound all ages to me.
I hate to bring up bad memories, but something just struck me as funny…
Take into consideration the current content of the ASM books…
… remember what someone tried to use to get the SMCS banned and blacklisted? Pretty d*** ironic, don’t you think?
You asked me how I would get bored? Simple, if I feel the title is being written in a way that doesn’t interest me. It has nothing to do with Peter/MJ’s relationship or marriage. To me, it’s about captivating your audience with the stories being written.
Bendis does write a good Spider-Man but he’s in the Ultimate Universe and has a different status quo and rules to play with. That’s why I enjoy his title and would recommend it to my kids.
Sorry, but I won’t even respond to your porn comments.
Erm…hasnt ASM ALREADY become the Harry Potter of comics? Almost all of the crap happening in is defined by magic after all.
…And how would you get “bored” with people acting responsible and focusing less on non-existent relationship problems, instead opting to explore other layers of a married everyman’s life? That’s what they occupied themselves with in the 1990s and it certaingly isnt “boring”. Bendis does the same thing in USM despite Peter and MJ not being married…the relationship (aka hugging and kissing) does not define the comics almost at all.
If you’re reading Amazing Spider-Man for horny man-on-woman sexual exploration…you shouldnt be reading Amazing Spider-Man at all. You should be reading and watching porn. If you can’t, as a writer, bring the same standards Spidey ised to have, you’re not writing Spidey, you’re not doing your job properly, and you didnt deserve the job in the first place. In reality.
I’m really torn on the subject of ASM’s rating system because like BD said, “as a 34 year old reader I don’t mind some sex with my Spider-Man. LOL” After watching years of sex in television shows and movies, I’ve become desensitized to the subject. It’s everywhere. I guess I need to put myself in the kids’ shoes and wonder what they’d think of ASM #607?
Should ASM become the Harry Potter of comics? Occasional kissing from time to time and lots of super hero action? I know I would get bored. I guess it comes down to who Marvel really thinks is buying this book. My guess would be 18-40 year olds – not kids. The same argument can be made for almost all of Marvel’s comics: Daredevil, Captain America, Avengers, X-Men, etc. I believe Kevin on the podcast made a good point, “it’s Spider-Man, he should be held to a different standard than titles like Daredevil and X-Men.” In theory, yes. In reality, the writers on Spidey want to write the character doing just about everything and that includes sex.
BD also said, “Ratings are a tool for parents. It helps them know what is in a movie or comic. Granted I don’t look at them because I’m a 34 dude, but if I had a kid that was reading Spidey I would use that as a tool to help me parent. I’d review the book first, and in this case I’d say the book has gone too far.” I agree that ratings are subjective and that all parents should review any material that kids buy. However, when I was 9 and buying comics from the local convenience store, my parents never looked through it because they thought, “it’s Spider-Man, it’s okay for our son.” Does that logic still apply today? I would say no.
I couldn’t agree with your review more.
“i’ve never been a fan of these rating systems whether they are for movies, books or music. if you can’t decided for yourself if something is appropriate for your child then you should be allowed to have children. it’s not marvels job to tell people what there kids should be reading”
@ Poddington : Wow, I would normally agree, but Spider-man is not normally this explicit. How would you feel if your kid was SUBSCRIBED and you had to deny him this issue once you saw the cover?
This is why when you disagree with the direction of a book, you just stop buying the book.
Eh, everyone is different, I’d have no qualms about showing this to one of my friend’s kids. Of course, she was watching R-rated movies with them back when they were still toddlers. Of course they’re in their teens now and turned out great.
Poddington- I dont’ think the book is appropriate for the 9 year old crowd, however I don’t have a right to tell you what is right for your nine year old. However I really don’t agree with your statement below;
“i’ve never been a fan of these rating systems whether they are for movies, books or music. if you can’t decided for yourself if something is appropriate for your child then you should be allowed to have children. it’s not marvels job to tell people what there kids should be reading. ”
Ratings are a tool for parents. It helps them know what is in a movie or comic. Granted I don’t look at them because I’m a 34 dude, but if I had a kid that was reading Spidey I would use that as a tool to help me parent. I’d review the book first, and in this case I’d say the book has gone too far.
However, as a 34 year old reader I don’t mind some sex with my Spider-Man. LOL
If Joe Kelly never writes another issue of ASM it will be too soon.
The WCW example is a perfect…uh, example. Bischoff and Russo wanted to do what THEY wanted to do, and thus began their years long drop in viewership until they ultimately were sold for relative peanuts. Good call Danish Web.
“Spider-Man doesnt belong to us”
Wrong. It does. We are the customers. We pay with our wallets, we have a right to voice what we like or dislike, and if we don’t like it, the company’s obligation is to listen to it’s customers and ADJUST. Marvel have done this for 10% of it’s Spidey-savy readership, but has not done enough for the other demographic that does not have brand loyalty to much beyond Amazing Spider-Man, thus they are doing the public, the people that give them enough money and power to claim Spidey as thier own, a great disservice in the name of egotism and nostalgic longing for thier own childhoods.
The minute you think you can run a franchise without giving a damn about what the customers want from the franchise, the franchise begins to lose value, decline in quality, and ultimately fails to satisfy and closes out with a whimper.
This ALMOST happened eleven years ago. It ALMOST happened during The Clone Saga. It IS happening, very slowly, right now.
There was a time when the top brass at Marvel were probably saying the same thing “Spidey doesnt belong to us, but when it does…we’ll make sure it’s ours, and to hell with the rest”…that isnt how you run a billion dollar organisation. Look what happened to World Championship Wrestling.
Sorry Paddington, but a publicly traded company’s flagship character does NOT just belong to Marvel, Spider-Man belongs to the world as does all of Marvel’s products, and if the world doesnt like what it sees…it won’t have it.
Folks, lets keep it civil.
Poddington, your arguments are weak and contradictory. Let’s break it down:
“it’s up to the adult to make sure the books they buy there kids are appropriate!”
Yes, parents should keep a good grasp on what their children are being exposed to, but those who usually spew this holier-than-thou be-all-end-all phrase as if it’s that simple are usually people who don’t have children (I’m assuming you don’t, since you mentioned your girlfriend’s little brother instead of a child you might have). Just because parental responsibility is paramount does not mean that a company should have no responsibility to what they’re targetting at children, which is the point George has been trying to make. ASM is NOT a kid’s book, not anymore, for all the reasons George noted. Marvel should not label the book ages 9 and up if this is the material they’re putting in there. It’s the same thing with WWE, having ridiculous crude storylines yet selling toys and magazines targeted at kids, it’s preposterous and irresponsible.
” i would have no problem letting my Girlfriends little brother (8 years old) read this book as he has absolutly no idea what black cat and peter are doing it is way above his head.”
By this rationale, sexuality should be permitted to appear anywhere at any time, because according to you, most kids won’t know what it is. Well, how do you think they find out? Unfortunately in this case, it’s being presented in a book with a character that is targeted primarily at kids.
“comic books are not going to corrupt our children, TV and Film will do that long before comics even make a dent.”
This doesn’t even make sense. You say that kids will ignore or skim over the girl parts such as Peter and Cat breaking into a newlywed suite to dirty the sheets, yet you say that kids will not ignore this subject matter on TV or movies thereby corrupting them. Uh, what?
“any adult that looks at that cover and gives it to a child with out looking at its contents and deciding if it is appropriate for their is a idiot.”
Huh? I thought you said kids would overlook that because this is over their heads. You can’t have it both ways.
“i’ve never been a fan of these rating systems whether they are for movies, books or music. if you can’t decided for yourself if something is appropriate for your child then you should be allowed to have children. ”
So how are people/parents supposed to know whether something is appropriate, blind chance? Am I supposed to pay to watch a movie before I decide it’s something I’d like to watch? So if I have a child who wears SM shirts and watches the SM cartoon and has the SM action figures, and then approaches me wanting to buy the latest ASM comic THAT IS RATED 9+ ON THE COVER, then what do you think a parent would assume? Come on.
“but bottom line is if you don’t like ASM every week then don’t buy it. if you keep giving them the money they will think you like it and keep doing what ever they are doing. ”
That’s….pretty much what many of the posters here have been doing, a reflection of the huge drop in sales since OMD.
“Spider-man doesn’t belong to us he belongs to marvel they can do whatever they want, and they will.”
Until they realize that their business plan is backfiring (and it is, go look up ASM sales trends over the last two years), and it slowly crawls its way back to consistent respectability. No smart business man is going to sell a product the way they want if it’s not what the people want. And aside from the odd great issue (the latest I found quite awesome), I’m not seeing the character being treated through and through with the respect he deserves, at least in my opinion.
Wow – one second we’re discussing the content rating and the next you launch into “Well if you don’t like it, don’t buy it” and “It’s not your character.” And I haven’t bought ASM since OMD but I know for a fact Aunt May and Jonah’s dad weren’t flirting together. When it’s naked in bed & makin’ noise it’s moved way beyond flirting. But maybe my memory’s fuzzy since all I did was pick it up, thumb through it, groan about how backward the book’s become and then put it back on the shelf.
but bottom line is if you don’t like ASM every week then don’t buy it. if you keep giving them the money they will think you like it and keep doing what ever they are doing. there are lots of books that i used to love but now i never buy because they now don’t appeal to me.
Spider-man doesn’t belong to us he belongs to marvel they can do whatever they want, and they will.
you must of been reading a different comic to me, i didn’t see any geriatric sex. i saw to old people flirting, but sex was never mentioned it was implied but to say it was there is just wrong.
I’m not saying it’s Marvel’s job or that parents don’t have more responsibility. But Marvel also has responsibility as well, and recommending books with geriatric sex, drunken hook-ups and one night stands as a “9 & up” book fails that responsibility.
of course i ment Shouldn’t be allowed to have children 😀
i’ve never been a fan of these rating systems whether they are for movies, books or music. if you can’t decided for yourself if something is appropriate for your child then you should be allowed to have children. it’s not marvels job to tell people what there kids should be reading.
The cover is way too explicit. If I were still buying ASM. I would carry this one face down to the cash register.
I love a beautiful woman as much as the next guy…but this cover is just plain embarrassing….
The “I really hope she didn’t look at my face” thing really makes Peter seem like a creep.
That’s a perfect Superhero and role model for kids….
Complaints aside,
I still gave this story a B-. There were a few times I laughed out loud.
Then the “guideline” should be set at their ‘T+’ rating and not an ‘A’ for 9 & up.
again the cover rating is a guide not a rule. it is up to the Adult to decide if the book is appropriate for their child. it is not up to the writters or the publisher or the store or anyone else. if i thought a comic was not appropriate for a child, and there are plenty that ain’t, then i wouldn’t buy the comic for the child. any adult that looks at that cover and gives it to a child with out looking at its contents and deciding if it is appropriate for their is a idiot.
I’m not saying it’s going to corrupt them. I’m saying it’s not appropriate for a nine year old, which the cover rating says it is.
it’s up to the adult to make sure the books they buy there kids are appropriate! i would have no problem letting my Girlfriends little brother (8 years old) read this book as he has absolutly no idea what black cat and peter are doing it is way above his head. and as stella brought up on the podcast he isn’t intrested in those bits as he thinks girls a smelly and he wants nothing to do with them. the more adult bits are for people like me a 23 year old guy the kid is jsut interested in the bits where spider-man hits someone.
comic books are not going to corrupt our children, TV and Film will do that long before comics even make a dent.
Because it’s Amazing Spider-Man and it should be kid-friendly. I’ve lost track of how many toys & products I can go to Toys R Us and find with this character on it right now. The podcast discussion had it right. This book’s labeled ‘Rated A.’ That means ages nine & up. In a nine & up book in the last months there’s been old people gettin’ busy, a drunken hook-up, whatever Michelle & the Chameleon did on the floor and now this. Maybe that’s proper fare for a nine year old to some folks but there’s no way in Hell I’d ever recommend this to anyone I know who has kids that age. I actually have two friends whose kids are getting into Spidey now that have asked me about what Spidey comics to get for their kids and I’ve told them not to both times.
Listened to the reviews on the podcast for this issue. I have to ask, why must Amazing Spider-Man be targeted towards kids? Isn’t that what Marvel Adventures Spider-Man is for? Then as kids grow older they can check out Ultimate Spider-Man. Finally, as teenagers or young adults – I would recommend ASM. I have no problem with the cover. As for the Super Hero Squad logo, it serves as a reminder to parents that Marvel’s launching a new cartoon, so go tell your kids. Afterall, it’s the parents that are buying ASM right now.
I love the cover and i love the story inside. i thought i was great and fun
There are no words to express my feelings on this issue…it is such an unattractive cover…Betty Page did it better!
I dont’ think our grades are that off. A 2.5 equals a C and I gave it a B on the podcast. I however disagree with the cover complaints. An essential aspect of Black Cat is her flirtation and sex appeal. That cover is very much her. I do agree the book these days isn’t for kids, and the Superhero squad thing is way out of place.
Is it me, or did Michael Baily start his tenure as a reviewer here loving what he was reading and over time he’s grown to hate it all? It’s the website – this is just more proof that we’re too negative here!( either that or this stuff really does suck!)
its sad when the cover is the only relevant subject in a cover, poor ol’ webhead
I hate the cover, it further hits the nail on the head this era of Marvel has a fairly unsavoury and repugnantly mysognist/sexist attitude to women
A fine review Mr. Bailey, especially your confession at the beginning. Too often I read about how horrible men are that we look at drawn pictures of sexy women, yet no one mentions how male characters are equally physically glamorized. Nothing wrong with appreciating beauty in my book.