Amazing Spider-Man 1.1
How necessary is this story? For those unaware, Dan Slott, or one of his bosses, is using these point blank issues to retread Spider-Man’s origins, covering not just his initial spider-bite, but all his encounters with classic villains. If it all sounds a bit unnecessary to you, that’s because it is. Spider-Man’s got one of the most memorable origins out there, so Marvel makes sure to milk it for all it’s worth every five years or so, and with a new movie in the theaters, now is as good a time as any to get re-treadin’. This would’ve been a great opportunity to do one of the graphic novels Marvel’s kind of grown fond of in recent years, but instead we’re just getting more issues. I’m hesitant to recommend a weekly series, and this comic doesn’t do a whole lot to justify itself.
Issue 1.1 picks up right after Uncle Ben’s death, so there’s lots of commiserating to go around. Slott hits on a few familiar beats. This issue mostly deals with Spidey’s showbiz career, and the settings are tweaked just enough to make it look a little more modern. Artist Ramon Perez is up to the task of updating this for a new crowd, but his Spider Man is very reminiscent of Steve Ditko’s original style. Tiny eyes on this Spidey, and he looks very gangly, not the most agile acrobat, but still capable enough to do an upside-down talk show appearance.
Slott’s so far added two characters to the fringe of his origin in issue 1 of Amazing Spider-Man proper, and this issue devotes some time to a lowly science kid, who admires Spidey for building his web-shooters. Is it an interesting development? Not yet, but it could go places.
If I could recommend this comic, I’d recommend it for the art. The story, despite adding some layers, is nothing new. The coloring is grounded in lots of earth tones, giving it a reverential, nostalgic feel. Perez’s pencils have an elasticity that adds expressiveness to every character, and to reiterate my favorite part of the comic, I really like the way he draws Spider-Man.
Issue 1.1 picks up right after Uncle Ben’s death, so there’s lots of commiserating to go around. Slott hits on a few familiar beats. This issue mostly deals with Spidey’s showbiz career, and the settings are tweaked just enough to make it look a little more modern. Artist Ramon Perez is up to the task of updating this for a new crowd, but his Spider Man is very reminiscent of Steve Ditko’s original style. Tiny eyes on this Spidey, and he looks very gangly, not the most agile acrobat, but still capable enough to do an upside-down talk show appearance.
Slott’s so far added two characters to the fringe of his origin in issue 1 of Amazing Spider-Man proper, and this issue devotes some time to a lowly science kid, who admires Spidey for building his web-shooters. Is it an interesting development? Not yet, but it could go places.
If I could recommend this comic, I’d recommend it for the art. The story, despite adding some layers, is nothing new. The coloring is grounded in lots of earth tones, giving it a reverential, nostalgic feel. Perez’s pencils have an elasticity that adds expressiveness to every character, and to reiterate my favorite part of the comic, I really like the way he draws Spider-Man.
A Look Inside
