What makes a hero?
Let me start my little review by saying that this issue is a special one. It follows the continuity in the "Amazing" legacy that started all the way back in '63, but stands by itself without being numbered as part of the "Amazing" series. Will this be canon? (honestly i haven't read enough to know! dammit)
The theme of this comic is a very special one, we compare 2 superheroes with "similar" super powers (COME ON!! Spider-Woman can SHOOT BLASTS out of her hands!!! She's got those pheromones too, but that's not....idk i guess it's like mind control, and Spidey has webbing, but they're not the same) with one major difference; as Shang another ex-Spiderwoman, they see that though Spiderman has an edge over normal people, and even years of experience fighting crime, he still has no real fighting SKILL, absolutely nothing compared to Miss Femme Fatale. So we ask ourselves, "what makes the hero?" (and that in turn brings up all sorts of philosophical questions. Is morality just enough to be a hero? Who's the better hero, Superman? or Batman?) But what is it that really defines a hero? Thing is, aliens, mutants and super serums are not real :( they don't exist in real life. But to say that there are no humans with special or extraordinary abilities, or skills, is not completely real. For real or not, Shaolin monks and other martial artists have at least CLAIMED that the human body could be developed into levels higher than what we think is possible. Ok, we're not going that far, but to even throw a single punch at a bad guy, that takes skill, which is boring to learn,.. but awesome to have! There have been Daredevil and other martial arts characters who had Spidey one-uped,... BUT NOT ANYMORE! Spiderman gets the Kung Fu skills! It's not like SM couldn't handle his own in a fight already, heck, he's fighting all the time. And winning, with some effort on occasion, that's what makes a good comic. But learning a martial art would change the way he thinks, it would change the person. Spiderman may (or may not) be the same man again! Even after all these years, Spiderman's acting like a child, he still has the "annoying banter" while he fights, (which of course is an integral part, no witty in-fight jokes, that wouldn't be Spiderman. Of course, he CAN be serious, especially while thinking to himself, which is half the plot. Hey, what if his comical persona is a result of all the loss and stress from his real life?)
I liked the drawing of Spidey's eyes, and the facial expression through the mask. He may have looked a little more like that Deadpool guy than regular Spidey, but then, Deadpool is famous for doing exactly what Spidey started, talking during the fight.
However, he's got to learn all that ASAP, cos "they" are coming for him, and more people, innocent civilians, are gaining spider-powers, and he will soon be living in an "island" of spiders. It's funny how Madame Web tells Shang Chi that neither him, or herself should should interact with Spider Man's life,.. but they both push the idea on him. I would say actively too. The villain, Mandrill, is cool too. When one thinks of super powers, one usually thinks of super strength/speed, maybe time manipulation, stopping time to think things through in a tight spot, or going back in time to re-do one's mistake, probably the most useful power,... being invisible and stalking someone? or hiding. But the power to control an army of super models??? Niiice :D. "Supermodels, what was i thinking? With those stick figure arms, they could hardly carry anything. Next time, i'm going for aerobics instructors, or pro-wrestlers, def something with more muscle" lmao!! And all the funny lines, oh Spidey, you silly. "Glad you and your nose could make the journey" lol, each line is as funny or better than the last one. It's like i had to stop and laugh ever 3 seconds. Not really.
3.5 - 4 stars.
