NOTE: Sorry for the lateness of this review – my LCS was not open Wednesday (Christmas Day, obviously) and I had to work all day Thursday, Friday and Saturday for the holidays, so it took me awhile to finish the review. Also, I won’t get a physical copy of this issue until at least next week, so once again I had to make my own banner image combining Puddin’ and this issue. Again, flawlessly done, right?
And now, on with our review …
Spidey asks Dr. Strange some questions he should have asked at the start of this story. Randy is organizing art shows now? Peter and Aunt May make up after last issue’s argument. Another scion attacks Spidey, who wins and somehow *doesn’t* die? Shay and Aunt May discuss how Peter is never around. All that plus … the inevitably of death???
(This cover might matter more if I had any idea before reading this issue who this villain was.)
CREDITS
Writer: Justina Ireland
Artist: Gleb Melnikov
Colorist: Marcio Menyz
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
PREVIOUSLY IN AMAZING SPIDER-MAN …
The little demon girl on the tricycle revealed herself to be Cyrios, the next scion and the Inevitability of Time, who took Spider-Man on a voyage through time of his most traumatic moments as Spider-Man. Instead of another physical contest, all Spidey had to do was surprise her, which he did – thanks to some time travel shenanigans that would be worthy of Bill and Ted(2) – but in her defeat she make him experience every moment of his life at the same time, killing him (and using another reed). After setting up a picnic date with Shay, he’s chewed out by Aunt May and goes to talk to Black Cat to apologize for not being a good friend. Peter actually attends his picnic date with Shay while being observed by Callix and Cyra, two more scions – and siblings. And in Alaska, Juggernaut is playing video game basketball with Temper and (ugh) Kid Omega, while Magik watches. Juggernaut senses that something is wrong and he must “prepare”.
SUMMARY
Peter is making adjustments to a icosahedron(3) while Dr. Strange’s astral form watches to prepare for 6 months from now when it will be used to help him defeat Cyrios (from last issue). Peter asks how he can fight these scions without dying, which Strange says is not possible. Peter also asks some questions about what “the covenant” and “the casket” are, which Strange answers without giving any useful information.
(Dr. Strange both answers Peter’s questions and says nothing. I find answers like this very annoying.)
At a gallery, Randy is helping Peter pick out some of his Spider-Man photos for a showing. While nearby Callix and Cyra – the next set of scions (and siblings) – are watching Peter. Callix is tired of waiting and goes to attack him now, while Cyra says that he is doomed to fail for underestimating their target.
(Oh, I get it. Peter’s photos are a series of still pictures telling a story, just like a comicbook!)
Peter is helping Aunt May at FEAST and delivers the cheque from Norman for the community day. May reminds him that he and Shay are coming over for dinner tonight.
(Please tell me that May is joking here. I can’t take another “May has a romance” arc.)
Callix is feeding his Crimson Canines when Spidey appears and challenges him, which Callix takes offense to since he is the one that is supposed to challenge Spidey. Cyra appears and says that Spidey is allowed to do this. So Callix sets his CCs loose to attack bystanders.
Spider-Man manages to web up the CCs and uses the “Binding of Arceus” spell, which is actually a trick since he used a different spell to send the CCs back to where them came from (without saying the spell name aloud) and reveals that Arceus is a Pokemon(4).
(This dumfounded look on Callix’s face in the first panel is the only moment in this issue where I liked him.)
Meanwhile Shay arrives at Aunt May’s and they both talk about how Peter is “distracted” and “distant”.
Spidey reveals to Callix that he used an unravelling spell on the CCs since someone told him “only amateurs call out their spells”(5). They fight until Callix is on the pavement but he refuses to yield, at which point Cyra says that it is her turn.
(The reader isn’t winning with this story, so at least someone gets to win here.)
Spidey is happy that he defeated a scion without dying (and having to use a reed). But Cyra reveals that she has “the inevitability of death”.
(“Stare into my red bowling ball of doom.”)
TO BE CONTINUED!
INITIAL RESPONSE
So I still don’t like this overall storyline. I already discussed that in my previous review, my opinion hasn’t changed, so need to repeat myself here.
However … given all of that, I kind of liked this issue, and the previous one. Well, maybe that’s too strong a description. I disliked this issue – and the previous one – less than the first two issues. Is it a coincidence that these two issues were written written by a different writer? I don’t think so.
This issue still has a lot of the same problems that the first two issues had. But these past two issues – and the previous one – are the *best* issues of this story so far.
WHAT I LIKED
Peter making preparations so that the time-travel shenanigans he pulled in the previous issue will work out 6 months from now. Again, this reminded me of the “Gotta remember, trash can” scene from the first Bill and Ted movie – I love time travel stuff like that.
Peter asking Dr. Strange for some more information about this whole thing. What is the covenant? What is the casket? What is the point of all of this? These are things he should have asked Doom, or Strange, when they first appeared, but at least he’s asking them now.
Peter doing an art show from his pictures seemed to come out of nowhere here – was this mentioned in the previous issues? But anyway, this is a good way to utilize his history of taking photos. Hopefully someone at Marvel remembers the storyline where his photos were combined into a book that was a best-seller.
(If the plan was to *not* use Peter’s Spider-Man’s photos for this show, what photos were they going to use?)
I liked the Peter/Aunt May interaction. This was much better than her complaining that he didn’t bring her the cheque from Norman. When a family member is doing you a favor, it’s not a good idea to complain to them when they don’t do the favor.
While I don’t like any of the scions, I did enjoy the sibling bickering between Callix and Cyra. If you have a sibling, this back-and-forth should ring true.
Spidey taking the initiative and confronting Callix instead of just waiting to be attacked, and actually challenging him. A proactive Spidey is a likable Spidey.
(Even Spidey’s tired of these scions showing up and surprising him to challenge him to a fight.)
Spidey learning about not saying his spells out loud, and using that to fool Callix by speaking some fake spells.
At least this issue realizes that seeing Spidey physically fight yet another scion is already getting boring and just combines it into a montage.
(“We’re gonna need a montage (Montage!). Ooh, it takes a montage (Montage!)”)
Finally, Spidey doesn’t die in this issue! It feels weird that I have to say that, but given the past three issues, it needs to be stated.
WHAT I DIDN’T LIKE
Dr. Strange both answering and not answering Peter’s questions. At this point Peter should have said “Look, answer my questions without any mystical mumbo-jumbo or I’m walking away here.”
What is Randy’s job? Suddenly he’s organizing an art exposition of Peter’s photos? How is this what he does? Wasn’t he a community organizer in Gang War, or someone speaking out for citizens’ rights? Also, still no sign that Randy cares that Janice – his literal fiancée – is gone.
I still don’t care about the scions, and am immediately bored when any of them appear. Each one shows up, boasts about how they’re the best scion, complains about how they have to fight Spider-Man, and then get defeated. Yawn.
(Does anyone care about these villains and their motivations?)
Spidey’s new outfit – why is the cape this long? Did Spidey never watch The Incredibles?(6)
Shay and Aunt May acknowledging that Peter is often absent and forgetful – we get it, Marvel, Peter can never have a stable relationship, or marriage.
(Haha! It’s funny because Peter is our hero and yet the other characters thinks he’s a loser! Hilarious!)
LETTERS PAGE SHENANIGANS
Ugh. Did I expect anything else from Lowe? Probably not.
WHAT THIS ISSUE MEANT OVERALL
It’s still this magical story that I don’t like, but I disliked these last two issues less than the first two. When I heard that Joe Kelly was going to have some other writer (whom I had never heard of) come in and write some of the issues, I thought “ugh, as bad as these Kelly issues, these other issues will probably be worse”. But that is not the case.
So Marvel … make Justina Ireland the new permanent writer of ASM! Wait, what’s that? They already announced that Kelly will be the new writer after this story? Rats!
GRADE
B-
Am I grading on a curve? Maybe. But I could feel myself enjoying these past two issues more than the first two. They’re not great, but they’re better. Personally, I’d be interested in seeing what Ireland could do in a Spider-Man story of her very own.
NEXT TIME, IN AN ALL-NEW ISSUE OF AMAZING SPIDER-MAN …
LOL. They put Spider-Boy on here like he’s equal to the other Floating Heads of Guilt! Keep trying to make Spider-Boy happen, Marvel! Keep hope alive!
FOOTNOTES
(1) I don’t know if I know this song more from the original version by The Police, or Weird Al’s “King of Suede”.
(3) An icosahedron is a polyhedron with 20 faces, 30 edges, and 12 vertices.
(4) It’s true!
(5) Someone oughta tell Dr. Strange this.
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@Hornacek – Yeah, in my experience there are fewer things less insufferable than people who are smug and self-congratulatory and at the same time ignorant of the stupidity of whatever they’ve just said. It’s been a lifelong practice for me just to let people go on believing what they believe and not feeling the need to correct or change or argue. That’s what all of these letter writers have my admiration and respect. I suspect there are far more than those that are actually published, and you’re right — The only reason this one was singled out was because Lowe probably believed he had a good “gotcha” sort of response.
I will give the new Spider-man show a try — I don’t know the inner workings of Disney, but after the positive reception of X-Men ’97, they have to know how welcome a continuation of the ’90s Fox show would be.
@Evan Berry:
I get the feeling that Lowe chooses to show these negative letters because he legitimately thinks that his response is going be believed. He doesn’t realize that his response is so transparent in its obliviousness. I’m sure he wrote that response and said “Yep, nailed it!”
As far as the new Friendly Neighborhood trailer, I’ve learned not to judge something by its trailer alone, but I must say I don’t feel full of hope for this show.
Correction: “Sensational” should be “Spectacular.” I confused my adjectives.
Also, happy New Year, everyone!
@Hornacek — I was going to say, and I now echo your statement here, that I appreciate your “Previously in…” synopsis — It makes me not miss the previous issue at all.
In light of the what Lowe said in his response to M.C. Robinson in that letter, it got me to thinking about the new Friendly Neighborhood show coming out, if only because my first reaction to it was that the animation looked neat, but largely it was thoughts like, “Did I sound that dumb when I was a kid?”, “I don’t remember the cartoons when I was kid making such a blatant effort to sound ‘cool’ — Am I just old, or has something changed? Probably both.” I’m still eager to watch it, as I’ve not regularly watched a Spider-man show since Sensational, I think. With all that said, I know you can’t judge too much from the trailer, since the majority of what’s shown is probably from the first couple episodes anyway (I hope he gets a suit upgrade, but more of a traditional suit than the upgrade shown), but I assume, in addition to the quality of the comics in recent years, this cartoon will further indicate the direction that Lowe wants for “the best character in the history of storytelling.”
It seems to me that the most important element or quality of any character’s endurance is growth — and that while the endurance of a character is, in fact, due to resonance with readers, I believe that that resonance comes from growth and the larger human condition, not from a mandated perpetual return to status quo and superficial characteristics like youth and being romantically single. While some in charge at Marvel might believe this alienates readers, I think it allows new readers to honor that character’s rich legacy. That is, the journey and change and overcoming challenges — which are indeed what make a hero — are what makes a character last, not keeping him in the same starting place.
By the way, if anyone hasn’t seen the trailer for the new show, here is the link:
https://youtu.be/N3J2JRQg040?si=gfJCVf70lzuJFBfy
Steve – at least until BD finds a replacement for me
Is Crawlspace reviewing every other issue for now?
@Aqu@:
I really am hoping that SB’s book eventually ends/gets cancelled and the other books just ignore him and eventually we’ll be like “Hey, remember when Spider-Boy was a thing? Wow, that was crazy, huh? I can’t believe he actually had a book that lasted X issues!”
@Dark Mark:
I guess that reading my “Previous in ASM” paragraphs is sufficient enough from not reading the actual alternate issues.
I agree that I like the supporting cast appearing post-Wells. I don’t like or understand everything being done with them, but at least they’re here and doing stuff.
Hopefully Aunt May was just joking about dating someone. We don’t need that story again.
“Peter not accurately announcing his spells would have worked better if the scion had acted on what he thought the spell was only to get slammed by the actual spell.” Isn’t this what happened? He said a fake binding spell name out loud, so the scion thought he was casting a binding spell, but Peter actually cast a different (non-binding) spell to send the canines back to where they came from – he just didn’t same that spell’s name out loud.
I’m assuming that if Peter has any reeds left at the end of this story, Doom/Strange will take them back. It feels like these reeds are only for this covenant task, so once that’s over, the reeds get taken back for the next time someone has to do this.
“Or maybe it will be Spider-Boy and Spidey will just ignore him.”
One can dream.
I finally got around to reading this issue so that I could come here and say “Great review, Craig!” (so Great review, Craig!” and I felt like I was missing something with the whole time travel scene. But I just ignored it and kept reading. It wasn’t until I read your previously section on your review that I realized I had not read the previous issue. Geez! However, I don’t think I will be going back to read it.
I do like that his supporting cast is actually in this book. This type of storyline is one i would expect to have no real progress in supporting cast, but I have to hand it to Kelly, he seems to understand that we need Peter Parker as much as we need Spider-Man.
I felt like Aunt May dating should have led somewhere. Who is she dating? Why isn’t Peter wanting to hear about it? Is Otto back in the picture? Willie Lumpkin? Jarvis? Did JJJ Sr. come back from the dead? These are important questions we need to know answers to!
Peter not accurately announcing his spells would have worked better if the scion had acted on what he thought the spell was only to get slammed by the actual spell. Unless I read it wrong, this turned out to just be a “psyche!” moment (to borrow a catch phrase from the ’80s).
My first thought about Peter focusing on not dying so much was that when we got to the end of the arc, he would find a way to beat the final scion without dying, thus proving how awesome Spider-Man is. Maybe doing it by beating him Spidey-style and not magic-style. Then, my thought would be we’d have deal with the fact that Spider-Man has one get out of jail free card he could use at any time. However, it turned out to not be the case and we anticlimactically had him win without dying. That made me wonder if the first twin really did get defeated. But when I saw the cover for the next issue, my prediction is that someone close (or close-ish judging by some of those that made the cover) to Peter will die and when Spider-Man dies killing that scion, he will trade in two reeds to get himself and the other one out. Maybe it will be Shay and she will now know his secret identity.
Or maybe it will be Spider-Boy and Spidey will just ignore him.
@Aqu@:
Yeah, it’s like Lowe didn’t realize he was actually saying “The reason ASM sells so well *now* is because of the character, not because of the quality of the stories in the actual issues.” Maybe a tiny part of him is trying to admit the truth while the majority of him still schills for Marvel and this current idea of Spider-Man.
I didn’t read the review because I still have to read the issue, but I was skimming and noticed the letter page, so I stopped to read that. Hilarious. Does Lowe realize that he basically confirmed what the sender wrote? Because “the biggest (reason for selling copies) being that Steve and Stan created the best character […], and we’re very lucky to continue telling his story” is exactly the basis for the “collector culture” the guy was referring to.