So thankful that you have clicked on my review for USM 11. We at The Crawlspace are very thankful for you, the visitors that stumble upon this site! Whether it’s reading our reviews, articles, interviews, or listening to the podcast, we are grateful for the feedback that you give to us! It’s so nice to communicate with Spider-Fans around the globe!
I’m especially thankful for this book! Within these 11 issues we have gotten to know most of all the characters, each of them getting the spotlight in an issue. Part of any Spidey series is to get to know their supporting cast a bit more. Now the light shines right back on Peter along with Mary Jane and Ben. It’s good issue folks, so give thanks, get comfortable and let’s dive right on in!
(Writer) Jonathan Hickman
(Artist) David Messina
(Colorist) Matthew Wilson
(Letterer) VC’s Corry Petit
(Editor) Wil Moss
(EIC) C.B. Cebulski
Date Released 11/20/2024
Issue Number #11
Price Tag: $5.99
STORY: Spider-Man is crouched on the rooftop and dials in Otto Octavius to report the Harry is MIA for their tag-team meet up. Before Otto can give him Harry’s location, he see’s a bank robbery and goes in solo. Our hero handles things well and stops the robbery from Negative Demon minions, but Mr. Negative turns the hostages against Spidey and escapes with the cash. Peter is able to make it out and home with only a few scratches and ripped up spandex. This does concern Mary Jane and she shares her thoughts to her husband about him being Spider-Man. Elsewhere, Black Cat introduces his daughter, Felicia to the Sinister Six and Fisk reminds everyone they all belong to him. Later, Peter meets Ben at the memorial site since it’s been one year since Aunt May died. Ben shares that he knows Peter is Spider-Man and reminds him to live a full life with Mary Jane and the kids.
THE BREAKDOWN:
- Solo Act:
Yep, it only took Hickman 11 issues for us to see this variant of Spider-Man being SPIDER-MAN. I never really liked Spider-Man teaming up with other superheroes ALL THE TIME. Wanted to be clear on that point, because although I do enjoy a superhero team often, Spider-Man really gets his strength and motivation from his family and friends. That is the rock foundation of who he is and what makes him relatable to the reader. That’s all the support Peter will ever need.Hickman delivers all the checkboxes during the bank robbery scene. Powers, Humor, and Confidence. It’s been a while since I have seen Spidey be this good at stopping crime. The illustrations of his speed and agility are amazingly captured by Messina. As a reviewer I thought that I would have to nit pick about his Spider-Sense…NOPE. After a second glace at the issue, it’s THERE.
What brings me to point out that THIS PETER is still in training, BUT is doing better than he did before, especially against The Shocker on his first time out. So it keeps the reader engaged that Spider-Man still struggles with adjusting accordingly to his powers, but practice makes perfect. His banter on the other hand is seen to been mastered. Dealing with “Kyle’s Mom” hostage for instance…
- Love and Marriage: The series premise promise did not stray away. The second half of the book focuses on Peter and Mary Jane. I dig that Mary Jane shares her thoughts about Peter being Spider-Man. When to or not to freak out. It’s mature and healthy conversation between the two which is something the fans personally want to see more of. This is were Peter’s strength comes from. No major drama between Peter and MJ, she recognized she was beginning to panic and spoke to him about it before it became an issue. Clear communication between to two. Peter acknowledging and understanding Mary Jane concerns and she completely understands and accepts that no one better can be Spider-Man, but Peter Parker. Which…btw, gets her in the mood. Remember, this is an ADULT Spider-Man book you are reading.
It DOES remind me of Peter David’s “Five Minutes” from (ironically) The Ultimate Spider-Man Novel from 1994. In that story Peter and Mary Jane “fooled around” before and after their conversation and although Hickman does “tease” it here, he still leaves us starving for a first big splash page of Peter and MJ in a loving embrace that has yet to be seen (it’s only been seen in covers so far). Here’s hoping Peter cashes in MJ’s “rain check” by next issue’s “Christmas Story”. So in the meantime…
Ben knows: It’s not as impactful as Aunt May finding out her nephew is Spider-Man, back in In Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 2#37 by J. Michael Straczynski, because that’s years of continuity in the blender you and drinking. We are only at eleven issues here and this feels more realistic than anything else. I’m pretty sure we knew this would be coming down the line sooner or later. It’s good that Ben plays it cool and vague as possible to keep his family safe and advises Peter to do the same. It makes sense for Ben to know.
Ben also reveals to Peter that he has come to a point where he believes he has lived a good life after May’s death and wants Peter to think if he’s done the same. It’s the classic parental figure telling their kid to make smart choices and live life to the fullest and let nothing get in the way or let opportunity slip by. To protect it and make THAT sought out dream possible. It’s my understanding that Ben wants Peter to live the fullest with Mary Jane and the kids while being Spider-Man and hold no regrets. In order to do that, Peter needs to be more careful heading into the superhero life.
THINGS TO NOTE: I was on podcast the other day and our founder Brad did admit he was liking this book better than ASM or any other Spidey themed titles, however he didn’t want to read about Harry Osborn. It’s Spider-Man, Mary Jane and the family, the premise of the series is what reeled him into reading this book. It’s what reeled all of us in! I get it, it has been slow some issues, but not boring. Hickman is showing character motivations and personalities that drive this story. Fortunately, this issue packed action, humor, love, and inspiration that we can call relate to in some way, which defines what Spider-Man is supposed to be.
Wanted to dabble on Messina’s art a bit. Look, I like Checchetto’s art and can’t wait for him to come back, but Messina has a good vibe to his illustrations that reminds me of Terry Dodson in a way…tell me you DON’T see the similarities in art. Granted Frank Cho is a better comparison in similarities to Terry Dodson, but still, the comparison in impressive.
Felicia Hardy: Okay, all that hype, she’s just standing there. No dialogue and based on Messina’s artwork, looks very uncomfortable now that she’s “forced(?)” into this situation. Almost like she doesn’t want to be the New Black Cat. This is what Dark Mark would call “Cover of Lies”, since she’s seen swinging and in action on the main cover. I guess we’ll just wait and see what this variant of our “Party Hardy” will produce in future issues.
Now I know Spidey was making fun of Mr. Negative, but you can NOT tell me that Hickman was doing a fan service in mocking Mr. “he who shall remain nameless” Man-Bun living in 616….screw it.
Paul. Hickman was making fun of Paul in 616 and EVERY SPIDER-FAN LOVES HIM FOR IT!!!!
GRADE: Giving this one an A! Hickman and Messina deliver all the goods that we need to be thankful for if we are true Spidey fans! I would have been an A+ if Felicia did a bit more than just standing there, based on all the hype. I don’t fault that on the writer though, that’s all editorial and above. Maybe if she were showing some gymnastic skills and say “The Spider is mine for what he did to my father.” instead of “Uh..sure, Dad. Do I have to wear this in front of your creepy friends?”. Besides, the issue is great and really looking to next issue entitled “Christmas with the Parkers!”
- Now..
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By the way, what is with the dots an the word Now at the bottom of the review?
Ok, I finally did it. I sat down and caught up on the remaining eight issues of this rather than just reading them whenever I get to them while slowly reading my Marvel Unlimited. I did not do it for the story, I did it for my best buddy. I want to be able to read your reviews when they come out.
However, once I started binging it, I really got into it. I typically like AUs as a one and done What If? story and not a protracted series. They typically fall apart soon and I must say that I really did not dig the Uncle Ben and JJJ reporter team up. But now, I am enjoying their banter. I also like how they are dealing with his secret identity. We are certainly ramping up for a Frank Miller Born Again-esque style ending here. Kingpin will get so frustrated with Ben, JJJ, Harry, and Peter and when he figures out who Spider-Man really is, I don’t know that the Parkers are safe. I think there is real threat to Ben and one of the Parker immediate family members, probably Richard. My guess is that somehow May will inadvertently spill the beans or be caught and forced to reveal them, which would make the death of Richard or Ben all the more tragic. That may be a bit dark (hey, it’s in the name) but since this is an AU, the threat has real teeth to it. My hope is that it will not quite happen that way since it will change the whole tone of this comic, but I don’t think Hickman is afraid to stir things up. There is too much foreshadowing of it going on. But the thing about foreshadowing is that you are not actually sure that it is that until the future event happens.
Whatever the case, I can’t wait for the next issue, and the next review, of course.