AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #668 (SPIDER-ISLAND PART 2)

COMPOSED BY:

Writer: Dan Slott, Penciller: Humberto Ramos, Ink: Victor Olazaba, Colours: Edgar Delgado, Letterer: Joe Caramagna, Assistant Editor: Ellie Pyle, Editor: Stephen Wacker, Editor in Chief: Axel Alonso, Chief Creative Officer: Joe Quesada, Publisher: Dan Buckley, Executive Producer: Alan Fine. 

Story:

Spiderman is virtually useless in the battle that The Avengers and FF take part in to win back Manhattan from the Spiderman Imposters, but he soon takes to the sky as Peter Parker, a man that has newly acquired spider-man abilities like girlfriend Carlie, and with some help he brings about some peace, at least for the meantime.

Review:

Amazing Spider-man #668 is an enjoyable read that gives us that opportunity to see Peter Parker as a vulnerable and exhausted character who has lost his hindsight and connection with the world around him.

Manhattan is restored in Dan Slott’s story but this is only to make way for a much more exciting installment into the Spider-Island saga that has just taken flight. Slott turns the city on its head and into a panic that could have catastrophic consequences for all. But he sneaks in a little hope for us all and it is mighty fine gem indeed that he leaves us with.

Issue #668 plays on the value in Peter Parker’s past and present relationships, in Mary-Jane she gives Peter Parker back his perspective and helps him to realise how he can still help the city, but then Carlie has a way of mirroring just what Peter Parker must remain loyal to, a determined attitude to preserving life at all cost.

Didn’t particularly like this element in the issue, it distracted from the action and seems an inappropriate time to bring this into the mix. It does have some appropriateness to the story that I do acknowledge, but as a new direction for this series, it is not an avenue I want this comic to go down yet.

Humberto Ramos has come back to this series, and am happy to see his contributions once more, working well with artists Olazaba and Delgado to forge some really high grade art that can be found in this issue. It has that more cartoony and caricature look to it, but it gives a lighthearted touch to an otherwise grim perspective we are met with initially. Delgado has given this issue a more bright vision that is particularly nice and lifting, but I wanted to see more contrast between this, add a tad more darkness into the art to support the story.

Verdict:

Amazing Spiderman #668 is just average compared to what I have seen in this series. There is enough to keep you entertained and engaged with the story but it doesn’t inspire you to want to read much more. Felt like wasted time to be honest, not happy with the standard in this story arc at all.

RATING: 6.5/10

Thunderbolts #161

Composed By:

Writer: Jeff Parker, Artist: Declan Shalvey, Colors: Frank Martin Jr. W & Fabio D’Auria, Letterer: Albert Deschesne, Cover Art: J.S Rossbach, Production: Dan Remollino, Assistant Editor: Rachel Pinnelas, Editor: Tom Brennan, Editor in Chief: Axel Alonso, Chief Executive Officer: Joe Quesada, Publisher: Dan Buckley, Executive Producer: Alan Fine. 

Story:

The Thunderbolts try to save the city while the Warden must get some control back. Thunderbolts Tower is taken away, the city mysteriously saved and an alien swarm rises from the ocean depths.

Review:

Thunderbolts #161 is a splendid read that captures the tension in the Thunderbolts faction team, and opens us to a world of vulnerability at the restoration of power at the facility.

Declan Shalvey does a marvelous job with Thunderbolts #161 in engaging with subtle expressions and motivations that run underneath of the characters, aiming high too in revealing all the inner thoughts and privy action that is running through the issue; telling a whole lot more than just what is written.

Color artists Frank Martin Jr. & Fabio D’Auria give us a real vivid portrayal of the tensions that are arising, especially when Thunderbolts Tower is taken out of action, blasting a lot of bright and contrasting colours off each page that heightens the suspense and uncertainty felt and the questionable feelings that reside about the Thunderbolts initiative and what will become of it.

Parker writes a great story that goes with this, and gives us an intimate look into the fears and insecurity that all share. He portrays the Thunderbolts as standing firm even when loyalties start to waver, seeming to show an understanding to the greater purpose and service they have to do.

Parker works in some important moments that show the point of divergence to two separate planes of thought, and plays off the conflict between these two in the Warden and Fixer, and just how little one is unwilling to receive the other. It is integrated well within the story, and gives a good context to action taken by Fixer towards the end.

Verdict: 

Thunderbolts #161 is a great issue and now that shows its team taking a new direction and throwing in some new elements to make the story remain vibrant. This “Fear Itself” issue gets into the insecurities within the team but it is much more than this, it is about understanding what the Thunderbolts is meant to mean now. It’s a good issue to see the transition into a new burgeoning Thunderbolts.

RATING: 7/10

Amazing Spider-Man #667

Composed By:

Writer Dan Slott, Penciller: Humberto Ramos, Ink: Carlos Cuevas, Colours: Edgar Delgado, Letterer: Joe Caramagna, Assistant Editor: Ellie Pyle, Editor: Stephen Wacker, Editor in Chief: Axel Alonso, Chief Creative Officer: Joe Quesada, Publisher: Dan Buckley, Executive Producer: Alan Fine. 

Story:

Spider-Island begins with all manner of people exposed by The Jackal to a virus that gives them Spiderman powers and abilities, some of which are part of The Jackal’s scheme to defame the web-slinger and send the city into chaos.

Review:

Amazing Spiderman #667 shapes up to be a shocker, we see Manhattan thrown into disarray and chaos at the actions of The Jackal, Tarantula and Spider-King, all that contribute to the startling events that transpire within the pages.

Dan Slott has by far delivered a much more appetising story and series of plot in this issue, unlike last issue where it seemed to lack some grit and appeal. Slott provides us with something more substantial on both fronts, we see that things take a weird turn between Peter and Carlie and there is a shocking revelation that change their dynamic. But more impressively we see just how sudden the Spider-Island story has unfolded before our eyes. An epidemic has put the city on high alert, and we are thrown into the midst of action and mayhem, with an exciting twist that leaves us gasping for air at the end.

The only qualm I have with this issue is Madame Web, and her role in all the action. Sure, she has a great power to predict future and known the course of events to come but the often cryptic responses she gives are something I found to be undesirable and perhaps a little expendable. Otherwise, it was all well written and had no real aversion to anything.

Humberto Ramos takes his spot once more as the architect behind the art, and it is beautifully choreographed with some really astonishing panels contained within this. Ramos is joined by Carlos Cuevas, who does an exceptional job with the ink in this issue; it has a much more full and vividly illustrated look that is then conveyed masterfully by colourist Edgar Delgado, who with a more subtle hand paints a gorgeous scenic Manhattan city and some interesting storyboard sequences in the fight scenes.

Verdict:

Amazing Spiderman #667 is the start of something at could pan out well, but we’ll have to wait and see. It is certainly a more concrete and juicy issue than last one, and the action scenes are well developed and portrayed.

RATING: 7.2/10

Amazing Spider-Man #666

COMPOSED BY:

Writer Dan Slott, Artist: Stefano Caselli, Colours: Marte Gracia, Letterer: Joe Caramagna, Assistant Editor: Ellie Pyle, Senior Editor: Stephen Wacker, Editor in Chief: Axel Alonso, Chief Creative Officer: Joe Quesada, Publisher: Dan Buckley, Executive Producer: Alan Fine. 

Story:

Amazing Spiderman #666 unveils some secrets of the upcoming Spider-Island story, as Peter Parker is seen overly preoccupied, juggling duties as Spiderman; a team player in both The Avengers and FF, work and his girlfriend Carlie. We see just why people in Manhattan have begun to exhibit Spiderman’s powers, and we get a small taste of what will ensue now.

Review:

Amazing Spiderman #666 is an average issue; there are good moments that accentuate the pressure felt on him as his loyalties to Avengers, FF, and Horizon Labs impinge on his personal life, but these are all underdeveloped and don’t stand in the foreground long enough to take hold.

Writer Dan Slott does a really good job to work in all the nooks and crannies of Peter Parker’s life, particularly his new position amongst the Future Foundation, and how that is panning out for the web-slinger, but it seems the needed attention is not entirely felt. Sure, we see all aspects to his life but what does it amount to, not a lot. When you have so little space to explore it is hard to reflect on each properly, give it a proper measure of time to sink in and reflect; this is what is essentially missing.

Executed well in this issue is the way that Slott weaves a portrait of a life that is strained in a saddened devotion to preserving life and obligatory allegiance to others like The Avengers and FF. He plays around with the needs in Spiderman to save all, no matter the cost to himself, showing us just what toil it has taken on the web-slinger, and how saddened and misdirected his life is when all distractions are taken away.

“Spider-Island” is given its first moments in the spotlight this issue, and we see some of the plans made by The Jackal and Spider-King to take over the city. There is a glimpse into how it will take shape and exactly what is in store for us next issue, but it is all shrouded in mystery though, with a dark secret we have yet to discover.

Stefano Caselli provides some well-round artwork that stands out in this issue. It is nice to see some more fluid motion in the artwork and an attention to certain areas, like the city structures and expressive lines in the faces, as it presents a much more expressive piece for us, and makes the issue as a whole sit more concrete. I have liked his work in issues he’s done before; its got a more evocative feeling to it, and this is validated in moments towards the end.

Verdict:

Amazing Spiderman #666 is an alright issue, there are some quirky moments like the poker game with The Avengers but overall it’s an issue with very little plot progression and mostly just a sad insight into Peter Parker’s life and the crisis he is in.

RATING: 6.0/10