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Finally! We’re at the end of our dive into the world of Spider-Man. One last look and we can move on to bigger and better things or anything different for that matter. I’m beginning to see from Terence Nuzum’s point-of-view, where something you enjoy can indeed be focused upon too much. Spider-Man movies, Spider-Man TV, Spider-Man commercials, Spider-Man in newspapers Spider-Man, Spider-Man, Spider-Man! Look, I’ve grown to love the character over the past few years, but isn’t it time for Men In Black 2 or something? There are OTHER comic characters to obsess on, America. Hopefully Columbia Pictures will make their $400 million soon and we can move on with our lives, at least until the DVD comes out. Anyway, getting back to the trade paperbacks Despite the tiring and misguided efforts of editorial and the current creative team to fix the title character, not to mention the culmination of all their efforts forming the needless Ultimate universe (moving right along), things weren’t completely in the toilet. A third monthly series was introduced during their last-ditch marketing scheme (a.k.a. relaunch), entitled Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man. Somewhat similar to the format of the current Tangled Web anthology series, but a lot more Spider-Man centric, Webspinners featured a variety of rotating creative teams taking a crack at Marvel’s mighty hero. Including such talents as J.M. DeMatteis (Justice League, Kraven’s Last Hunt), Joe Kelly (Deadpool, Action Comics) and Ron Frenz (Mighty Thor), the series also brought in a new voice known for his work under the Marvel Knights banner and DC Comics’ Vertigo line the one and only Paul Jenkins. His story arc consisted of three issues, the usual amount for any creator during the first year of the series, with artists Sean Phillips (his previous partner on Hellblazer) and J.G. Jones. The story had impressed Marvel and readers enough that he was soon rewarded his own place on the Spider-Man books, replacing Howard Mackie (who was currently writing both main titles) on Peter Parker, Spider-Man. Joined by artist Mark Buckingham, Paul immediately changed the direction of the monthly, trading standard superheroics for more personal stories about Parker’s and his life. His initial run was so well received that when Joe Quesada decided to rebuild the Spider-Man franchise, that Paul and his direction remained untouched. Today there are 3 Paul Jenkins/Spider-Man trade paperbacks from which to choose from.
And that brings us to the last trade paperbacks I have to discuss, the untraditional and stunning Spider-Man’s Tangled Web volumes 1 & 2. As I had mentioned in the last edition, the new EIC had decided that one more Spider-Man title might be a good idea. Styled much like the previous Webspinners series, Tangled Web was also an anthology series that focused on the world of Spider-Man rather than the hero himself.
Well, this concludes my long and deep discussion on the easily accessible Spider-Man material. You can read the earlier parts of this expansive look here (Part 1), here (Part 2), and here (Part 3). Each book is partnered with its cover art, so I’ve made locating them as easy as possible. They’re all available in your local bookstores and comic shops, so there’re really no excuses now. Go. Buy. Now.
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Peter Parker, Spider-Man: A Day in the Life collects the original Webspinners storyline that brought Jenkins to the franchise, as well as the first four issues of his run on the series sans any crossover issues with other titles or events (Webspinners: Tales of Spider-Man #10 - #12 and Peter Parker, Spider-Man vol. 2 #20 - #22 & #26). This includes Spidey’s first run-in with the criminal gang of mimes (yes, you heard right) as well as an incredible stand alone issue spotlighting a local Manhattan police department’s stories and thoughts of the costumed vigilante. The second collection of Paul’s work on the series, Peter Parker, Spider-Man: One Small Break, reprints the introduction of an all-new nemesis with a very personal motivation for wanting Spidey’s death. This volume (Peter Parker, Spider-Man vol. 2 #27 - #28, #30 - #34) brings readers up to and just past the reformation period of the franchise (by Joe Quesada), with changes of status quo beginning to reflect J. Michael Straczynski’s new direction.
The third Jenkins-related trade paperback I have to recommend is probably the best start for anyone looking to pick up right about where the feature film left off, at least when it comes to the original Green Goblin, Norman Osborn. Aptly titled Spider-Man: The Revenge of the Green Goblin, there are, unfortunately, a few problems with this collection (Spider-Man: Revenge of the Green Goblin #1 - #3, Amazing Spider-Man vol. 2 #25, Peter Parker: Spider-Man vol. 2 #25). The famous Roger Stern, a long time favorite writer for Spider-Man comics, penned the initial 3-part build up to the climax of the story, with art provided by fellow Marvel veteran Ron Frenz. The lead-in happens to be quite preposterous and muddled in bad late 90’s continuity, proving that this kind of material is best left locked away forever. Between the awful conventions of a badly written love story for the villain and the shockingly silly cult that has formed around the villain, it almost puts a damper on the two-part conclusion by Paul Jenkins. Bare in mind, I said almost. Plotted (and mostly written) by Jenkins and drawn by Spider-Man regulars John Romita Jr. and Mark Buckingham, this dark and brooding finale deals a serious blow to the confidence of our hero while revealing more shadows from the Osborn’s past. Unwilling to allow the death of his son and closest heir end his psychotic legacy, Peter Parker is chosen as his successor willing or not. Again, despite the flaws of the first 3 issues of this trade, I can’t recommend the final 2 enough.
Volume one contains three amazing stories rooted in horror, drama and black comedy (Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #1 - #6). The first 3-issue story arc is The Thousand by the controversial Vertigo/Marvel Knights writer Garth Ennis (Preacher, Hitman, Punisher) and often collaborator in infamy, artist John McCrea (Hitman). What some had speculated would be a defacing of the family-friendly hero turned out to be a classic-in-the-making, revealing a new and disgusting threat on Peter’s life who just happens to share delightfully twisted origin with our hero. Following the story arc is a complete departure from superhero comics in Severance Package, a single-issue crime fiction story depicting the fate of a lieutenant of the longtime Kingpin of Crime, Wilson Fisk. Written by crime novelist and comics writer Greg Rucka (Detective Comics) and penciled by Eduardo Risso (100 Bullets), this tale answers the question what happens to the henchmen of the Kingpin when Spider-Man fouls up their crime? It’s a gripping story that should not be missed. Finishing up the first volume is the re-imagining of a classic story, entitled Flowers for Rhino. Written by Peter Milligan (Shade: The Changing Man, X-Force) and drawn by Duncan Fegredo (Kevin Smith’s Chasing Dogma), it’s a light-hearted story that captures the very essence of what makes the dull-witted villain who he is.
Volume two contains three more truly amazing stories (Spider-Man’s Tangled Web #7 - #11), including the personal drama of a cabbie, a tale of two siblings’ view of heroes, and a cartoon-style farce following the adventures of the Daily Bugle. For the first 3-issue story, Gentlemen’s Agreement, we follow the depressing life of a New York cab driver who just happens to have the answer to all his money problems. Only one problem, the answer is the secret identity of Spider-Man, which he had promised to never reveal. Would he rat out a selfless hero for the sake of cash that may pay the bills of a life-saving operation? Following that are two stand alone issues, Ray of Light by writer/painter Kaare Andrews and Open All Night by writer/artist Darwyn Cooke. I would give you more information on these extraordinary shorts but if I supplied anymore description than that in the first sentence in this paragraph, you would be robbed of the experience! Both volumes of this series get my HIGHEST POSSIBLE RECOMMENDATION!