Marvel Month Part 1(of 5)

As most of you know, last month I delved into several CrossGen titles, in an effort to explore the company as a whole. I rather enjoyed the whole process (I honestly don’t know about the rest of you, but hey, some of you read it), so I thought that I would give it another whirl this month. So I thought I would jump right to the top of the pile, and take a look at Marvel.

Right from the beginning of Still on the Shelf, I made it something of a rule that I would only cover titles that were lower on the sales chart- and absolutely nothing in the top 25. I decided to make an exception this month, for several reasons- most important of all that it is nearly impossible to discuss the bright points of the company without talking about its top sellers and big names. Most important of all, in my eyes, is Amazing Spider-man.

Some believe that the Fantastic Four, Captain America (or the Avengers as a whole, for that matter), or the X-men are the real core of Marvel- I find that to be the somewhat skewed perception of the hard-core comic fan at work. Spider-man truly is the heart and soul of Marvel Comics, through and through. There is a reason that Marvel’s first major foray into their newfound film empire and first entry into their wildly popular “Ultimate” line was Spider-man. In fact, most Marvel experiments, MC2, Mangaverse, 2099, Tsunami, and others all include something that grew out of everyone’s favorite web-slinger. And there is a reason for that.

With the possible exceptions of DC’s Superman and Batman, Spider-man is the most universally recognizable comic character in the world. Ask any kid on the street who Spider-man is, and they will tell you without a moment’s thought. Ask the same about “Watchmen,” and you will probably get blank stares.

So I am not telling you anything you don’t already know- so why all the fuss? Sometimes I really think people tend to forget the obvious and it every now and again needs to be repeated. Titles like Amazing Spider-man are truly the lifeblood of the industry. Image, CrossGen, Dark Horse, or any Small Press publisher you can think of can come out with the greatest comic ever, but without books like Spider-man, those titles never see ink and paper.

Once upon a time, perhaps it was a different story. Kids could pick up a bunch of comics anywhere for pocket change. Sadly, kids are not even the target audience for comics anymore. True “kids comics” are tucked away on a shelf somewhere, out of the way in the comic shop, and far too expensive for them to normally afford on their own. As a result, there is a vast potential audience of comic readers, which goes virtually untapped. The entire future of the comic industry rests on something – anything, hooking these new readers into trying out a comic, liking it, and growing bold enough to try something totally new. Enter Spider-man.

The success of titles like the Amazing Spider-man is absolutely essential to the industry and making that happen is likely one of the toughest jobs in all of comics. Not only do you have to make the story good enough, and consistent enough to satisfy your core comic audience (all of us), but you have to make the title interesting and accessible enough, to appeal to and hook totally new readers. So how does J. Michael Straczynski’s popular take on the Amazing Spider-man measure up?

Cast of Characters

Spider-man – Peter Parker has gone through some changes- including taking up teaching at his old high school, to pay the bills. His life under the mask, however, is one of the biggest changes of all. He has come to learn that his powers, though the same as ever, may not have been given to him on accident, as he once thought. An enigmatic man named Ezekiel, who happens to have the same powers that Peter is cursed with (minus the radioactive kick, of course) visits him. Ezekiel explains to Peter that the spider is a totem, and the arachnid that bit him did so intentionally to give him is incredible abilities. And unlike the most “hollow” totems of his rogue’s gallery (Vulture, Lizard, Scorpion, etc), his power source is true, and part of the natural order. Peter, of course, rejects this wholesale, but events soon make him realize that there was something to Ezekiel’s claim.

Mary-Jane Parker, B-movie actress fresh off the set of “Lobster Man,” and estranged wife to Peter has finally returned, and is once again attempting to make her marriage to the wall-crawler work.

Aunt May is one character that has really shined under JMS’s pen. She recently discovered that her nephew is indeed Spider-man, and has been trying to come to grips with that ever since. I can’t say much more about it other than if you have not read it- check it out. Aunt May is interesting (for a change), and the issues in which she comes to grips with her nephew’s identity are among the best in Straczynski’s run.

Thoughts

Straczynski’s run on the Amazing Spider-man has certainly gotten people talking, which is something that has not been true for quite some time. People are buying as well, which is good news for Marvel.

Problem with the story is that it is too different. Don’t get me wrong, I love his take on Spider-man, but the supposed earth-shattering change in Spidey’s origin was really nothing more than a different way of explaining it. A vocal minority of avid comic fans have complained, of course, but for the most part, many of them complain about pretty well anything new.

On the whole, I think it is safe to say that Straczynski’s story is a success among avid comic readers, but it leaves much to be desired for the new fan. Very little in Peter’s world is familiar- his normal Rouge’s Gallery has been virtually absent during JMS’s run, and the problem’s he has faced are very a-typical to say the least. Most new readers picking up a copy of Amazing Spider-man for the first time after watching the movie or cartoon are bound to wind up scratching their heads in confusion- “Totem whaa? Morlun who???”

The art kind of falls under the same category. John Romita Jr.’s work on the Amazing Spider-man has gotten some acclaim, but it is also somewhat unusual. The faces are usually very strange looking, and while he has demonstrated great skill in “posing” Spider-man, almost every aspect of his art seems stiff and lacks fluidity. I don’t dislike it- but I am not a huge fan either. It does work well with the story, however, which is all I ever ask for. Problem is, again, that it is a unique style, and very atypical of Spidey. New readers may find it off-putting.

The easy answer to the Amazing Spider-man‘s lack of accessibility to new readers is, of course, Ultimate Spider-man. But the “easy” answer is not always the right answer. Avid comic fans may know that Ultimate Spider-man, though a re-imagining, of sorts, is more in tune with what people unfamiliar with comics expect to see out of Spider-man. I know when I was a kid my very first comic book ever was the Amazing Spider-man #260. My dad bought it for me, because that was the Spider-man comic he was familiar with. Does “Amazing” versus “Ultimate” really make a difference in the title? Will naïve parents pick up Amazing Spider-man; not knowing Ultimate is the better choice for their child? Probably not, but it is worth considering.

Bottom Line

the Amazing Spider-man, having just celebrated its 500th issue, is not going anywhere anytime soon. Ultimate Spider-man may have been something of a rebirth for the character, but I can’t see the original going out with a whimper. It may not be as accessible to new readers as I would like, but the title is a fantastic read.

What I said earlier about Amazing Spider-man being the heart and soul of Marvel is really demonstrated in the success of Straczynski’s run. When ASM does well, Marvel prospers. This title may not be #1 on the charts week in and week out, but its sales are strong, and have been consistently so over the course of his run.

Anyone who did not pick up the Amazing Spider-man #500 (for whatever strange reason) probably should. It is a great read- Peter has to face his entire past, and his possible future in a really well told overview of his entire life. Issue #501 will be a good place to start as “Happy Birthday” just wrapped up. #501 is due out in stores on November 26th.

Check back next week when I will delve into another Straczynski title (purely coincidence, I assure you) – Supreme Power.

Credit where credit is due-
the Amazing Spider-man is
Written by- J. Michael Straczynski
Pencilled by- John Romita, Jr.
Inked by – Scott Hanna
Colored by – Dan Kemp
and Created by – Stan Lee and Steve Ditko

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