Through the long-running and storied history of the Marvel Universe, the highly recognized and sometimes misunderstood mythos of our friendly neighborhood superhero, Spider-man, has been the basis of many story plots, ranging from the clone saga to the more recent Spider-man movies. So for Straczynski to create a satisfying and entertaining story walking through that beaten, treaded path is a feat not to be underestimated.
He didn't just bring back accounts of Spider-man's mythos (or past for that matter) but he went one step further by challenging the assumptions many, including probably even past creators of the book, have taken for granted. Technical aspects of the radioactive spider who bit Peter gets expounded in a great way, with Straczynski putting forth a bold and audacious dialogue between Peter and Ezekiel, the new guy in the block who just so happens to possess the same powers as Spider-man's.
The ideas are pretty complex, even with the light and playful atmosphere displayed at times, but they were handled with such concise and yet flavorful stylishness that it seems Straczynski has been doing this for years and not mere weeks. There is no question as to the veteran scribe's knowledge being lavished upon most of the more critical dialogue scenes. How can one not be intrigued with an idea implying that the Spider could be passing on his powers to Peter before dying to the radiation rather than the radiation itself being the source?
If that somehow influences public perception to see this book as overly technical and thus boringly tedious, think again. Straczynski applied a soft touch, perhaps as a much-needed balance to the information-laden sections, to the more kinetic action scenes as well. Could anyone else have done as well as having a lady, taken hostage, scream at the sight of the often shocking and extraordinary Spider-man? Could such delicate inferences be made at the rate of three pages each?
But it seems Straczynski never had a problem achieving such quality in his pants-on-fire writing, where the reader can no doubt see the hungry passion overflowing from every page of this trade paperback. The Babylon-5 creator pours so much effort into the first arc of his run as if he would be losing the book right after. Just bask at the absolute brilliance of the few but oh so poignant and delicately done Aunt May scenes, and understand just how much of a good first story (and Spider-man story) this is.
That is without the shocking conclusion taken into account even. That is how smooth, warm, smart and hard-hitting, the writing in here feels, like a roller-coaster ride that will surely climax into a mind-numbing peak.
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Top reviews from other countries
wilf.nelson
A very good villain and a strong arc for Peter to meet not only an equal but also a monster he can't defeat as he is
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 9, 2014
