Snapshot! Amazing Spider-Man Annual #2

Writer: Karla Pacheco

Artist: Eleonora Carlin

Quick recap on Star. Ripley Ryan was created by incoming Amazing Spider-Man writer Kelly Thompson to be a villain/anti-hero for Captain Marvel. It’s a shame Thompson couldn’t have done this issue, as I really enjoy how she presented Star in her Captain Marvel issues and it’s spin off mini-series. That could have been a cool way to introduce Thompson to Amazing Spider-Man*, but if a new character like Star is going to find her feet other writers need to take the baton on run with it. After her five issue solo-series Star joined the Thunderbolts briefly during Knull’s invasion. I like Star. Maybe it’s the J. Scott Campbell covers, or the Thompson writing of her early appearances, but something about the character caught my attention. I think she has potential to be a great character (more on this later). I bring this up as I am probably one of the few people who would have picked this up if it had been more accurately named Star Annual #1.

Depth of Field: A trip to the grocery store leads Peter Parker to investigate a series of disturbances to the fabric of reality.

Focal Point: The issue starts with Star receiving some rather poor therapy. This both acts as an exposition dump for those unfamiliar with the character, and angers her so much she begins a rampage through New York. If only Thanos knew the true power of the Reality Gem. Instead of destroying half the universe he could have been kidnapping dogs and robbing jewellery stores. Star’s (mild) campaign of terror leads her to Peter Parker. She steels his ice cream and disappears.

After retiring to enjoy her stolen treasures, Ripley realises that her bad mood has not been sated and decides with great power comes great revenge. She returns to her old high school, but Never Been Kissed quickly turns into Carrie, as Star uses her reality powers to dismember a former student. Star decides to track down other former students, anyone who upset her back in the day.

At this point you may be asking “do you have any Spider-Man in your Spider-Man book?” Don’t worry, just as Star is about to dismember another classmate Spider-Man swings in to save the day. How did he find her? Through scientific reasoning? Years of experience? An Avengers E-Mail chain? No – an acquaintance called Peter to tell him about the murder at the school. Very disappointing. This is the Amazing Spider-Man annual, and it may have been more rewarding for the reader if Spider-Man had been able to have an active role in the story. That Avenger’s E-Mail chain is apparently a real thing though, as Spidey confirms Captain Marvel has used it to communicate that Star really isn’t “good at this”. After a few more bouts with reality Spider-Man and Star have a heart to heart. I could complain that Spider-Man connecting to people through loss and guilt is a troupe we’ve seen many times, though it does work, and I enjoy it. Spider-Man can relate to his villains as he’s been there. He’s made mistakes. This is not something every hero can do, and it’s why Spider-Man endures.

Star’s realisation that she could be a hero, followed immediately by Spider-Man’s “what, no, you’re going to jail” really made me laugh. It’s the sort of comedy timing that’s difficult to pull off in sequential art so the writer and artist deserve some credit.

The previous sentiment and joke were both a little undercut once Star reveals her redemption was a ruse to allow her power time to recharge. She escapes while confirming she’s keeping what she stole. Part of the appeal of Spider-Man is that sometimes he loses. Part of me always wonders though why these little misadventures don’t eat him up inside. We know Peter, and his guilt. Letting a murderer go free is the sort of thing that would haunt him in the main book. I know the answer is basically if the Amazing writer doesn’t care, it’s forgotten, but part of me would like to see Spidey’s bucket list where he seeks justice for all these forgotten losses. As it is, since Spider-Man played little role in the story, I again wonder if this book could have been better titled. The cynic in me knows Marketing gotta Market.

The art by Carlini is serviceable. Peter and Ripley are recognisable, and how Ripley’s feeling is always clear from the art. It’s an art style that seems popular at Marvel at the moment, and does remind me of Federico Vicentini. Maybe I’m just not used to it yet. I find some of the faces are too pointy or angular. I did enjoy the superhero fight scenes, particularly when Star is using her reality powers.

Photobombed: It turns out Ripely attended Midtown High School. Though unfortunately it doesn’t mention whether Peter knows her from there, or if they were part of the same class. Though as of this issue there is a job opening for School Coach if Flash Thompson is looking for work again. Not sure how to cover killed by a goblin – resurrected by a space god on your C.V though. Backpacking?

The issue also references Wiccan, Scarlet Witch and the Beyonder as possible suspects of the reality wrapping.

Negative Exposure: Marvel seem to be investing in Star. She’s had her own mini series, joined a team spotlighted as part of a crossover and is now the co-star of the Amazing Spider-Man annual. Unfortunately after so few appearances the character seems to already be in some form of arrested development. She is constantly questioning whether she’s a hero or villain. After each appearance I’m left feeling it’s decided, only for her story to reset before her next appearance. As I mentioned earlier, I think the character has potential though to really establish Star, Marvel need to give her a goal. Once she has this (whether to redeem herself or take over the world) I think the character will start to get the attention Marvel feel she deserves. Hopefully her upcoming appearance in Black Cat will help move this forward.

Developing Tank: Also included in this issue is Part 4 of Infinite Fury by Jed MacKay and Juan Ferreyra. I haven’t read any other parts of this story, but honestly I found this quite intriguing. Nick Fury is being tortured by an unseen mystery man. Fury is trying to figure out the identity of the man who wants to “bring [his]world back”. The art of the shadow man made me think Starhawk, while the dialogue made me think of the Maker. I do like Ferreyra’s art work, and I think any artist who can make me interested in five pages where the main character is just tied to a chair should be praised. The danger and terror of the situation comes through the art.

Grade: C- A fun, but unnecessary story. Disappointing for those looking for a strong Spider-Man story. Unless your invested in Star or the Infinity Gems, wait and catch it on Marvel Unlimited.

*Thompson did contribute to Amazing Spider-Man Full Circle.

Zoom In: What did you think of Amazing Spider-Man Annual? Do you like Star? Let me know in the comments!

• Adam