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| STATE OF THE SPIDER-VERSE | August 2008 |
| by Adam Rivett |
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A quick guide to the Spider-Man comics out there right now!
Ongoing Titles
Amazing Spider-Girl
Set in a possible future, this title follows the exploits of May Parker, the daughter of Peter and MJ as she takes on the Spider-Girl mantle. This is a classically modelled title telling original stories that feature old and new villains alike. (Pick up from #20)
Amazing Spider-Man
It comes out three times a month. It’s the most important Spider-Man title. It’s the one you should be collecting if you are a Spider-Man fan. It is currently overseen by different writers and different artists through the Brand New Day banner (which now has Spider-Man’s identity a secret from everyone, Harry Osborn back and MJ out of the picture) but tells a continuous story. (Pick up from New Ways To Die arc at #568)
Amazing Spider-Man Family
This newly repackaged title contains stories set in Brand New Day, the MC2 Universe and then reprints relevant to whatever is happening in Amazing Spider-Man. After a strong debut issue this is worth a look and a nice anthology book with now more point and direction. (Pick up from whichever issue is out next)
Marvel Adventures Spider-Man
Offering a series of one-issue stories, this title captures Peter Parker at high school as he comes to terms with being Spider-Man. Aimed at younger readers and told with a complete innocent style, the new take on some old villains is entertaining and well worth a look. (Pick up whenever!)
New Avengers
The premiere super-hero team has Spidey as a member! Although he isn’t the focus, this book will give you opportunity to access the most important stories in the Marvel Universe as a whole and, written by Brian Michael Bendis, is always fairly high quality. At the moment it is focussing on the fleshing out of Secret Invasion. (Pick up from #40)
Ultimate Spider-Man
The second biggest Spider-Man title and has nothing to do with any of the rest. It’s set in the Ultimate Universe and is Spider-Man back in high-school, Spider-Man against new modern villains and Spider-Man written best as a teenager, a struggler and interesting. Headed by Brian Michael Bendis and superb, penciller Stuart Immonen, story arcs stretch over several issue and read best as overall pieces. (Pick up from #123 – the start of a Venom/Carnage arc!)
Mini-Series
New Avengers/Invaders #1-12
A series that sees the original Invaders transported to the modern day Marvel Universe and interact, battle and combine with the current Avengers. (Pick up from #1 duh!)
Secret Invasion: Amazing Spider-Man #1-3 (August – October)
This mini-series ties into the events of Secret Invasion and focuses on how the Amazing Spider-Man supporting cast are involved and affected. Expect the majority of the story, written by Brian Reed and pencilled by Marco Santucci, to revolve around Jackpot. (Pick up from #1 again)
Secret Invasion #1-8
The EVENT of the year sees a shape-shifting Skrull invasion go all out mental on Earth! The Avengers, Young Avengers, Thor and the rest of the major players are all there and everyone is not who they seem… Who Can You Trust…? Written by superstar Bendis and the awesome Leinil Yu this looks like the most successfully pulled off EVENT in recent years. (What number you think you need to get this from?)
Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane #1-5
Concentrating solely on Mary Jane’s life, this series is set within its own timeline and is completely self-contained. This teen-drama series is written by Terry Moore and drawn by Craig Rousseau. (Pick up from #1!)
Venom: Dark Origin #1-5
Revisiting the origin of Venom and Eddie Brock’s life prior to bonding with the symbiote, writer Zeb Wells and unique artist Angel Medina bring a strong mini-series to the table. (Pick up, once again, from #1)
Worth Looking At
Marvel Adventures Avengers
This title is much in the same style as Marvel Adventures Spider-Man with Spider-Man as a regular in an all-star Avengers team. (Pick up whenever again!)
Mighty Avengers
Often runs parallel to New Avengers and contains some crossovers with this and other important titles. There may not be a lot of Spider-Man but the stories affect a wider set of characters than the team itself. At the moment it runs with Secret Invasion and is decidedly thickening the whole experience and back story. I think the latest issues, starting with #13 and #14, should tie you over nicely.
Thunderbolts
A super-villain team headed by Spider-Man nemesis Norman Osborn (The Green Goblin) and containing Mac Gargan (The old Scorpion; the new Venom!) I recommend picking up with #121 as this begins a new arc that ties into Secret Invasion.
Ultimatum #1-5 (November-January)
This mini-series has been billed to change the Ultimate Universe forever and will change the direction of Ultimate Spider-Man. Written by Leph Loeb and drawn by David Finch this is the latest Ultimate event.
Upcoming Issues
Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 (October)
Apart from this concentrating a little more Jackpot than any other character, and it being written by Guggenheim and pencilled by Mike McKone (which can only be positive things!), little is known about this.
To sum up, right now buy these three:
Amazing Spider-Man
Ultimate Spider-Man
Secret Invasion
Adam Rivett |
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