The Amazing Spider-Man # 549 - Who's That Girl?!?

As much as I hated the whole One More Day and issue 545, I will admit that Brand New Day has not been that had. In fact, I would probably loved this arc more had they not blown it on OMD, and is the reason why I cannot fully enjoy BND. However, when I forget everything that happened in OMD, it does kind of feel like the Spider-Man of old.

With that being said, let's get on with the good and the bad starting with the art. Salvador Larroca does an excellent job in this issue, although I've always liked Larroca's art. Stephane Peru's coloring really made it look good.

As for what's been happening to Spidey, it's been kind of depressing reading about such a depressed Spidey for the past couple years, it's fun to see him so happy and enthusiastic again. His jokes are a lot better then what they were these past few years. But it's kind of annoying how the writers are shoving the fact that he has web-shooters again by having him be empty for a long time. Why doesn't he just make some more? It feels like he's been empty for multiple days already. We also get to see Jackpot in action, sort of, which I am finally glad to see.

So in short, as long as you ignore the Marvel continuity error, it's not that bad of a read.

BND! BND! BND! It seems like that's all Spider-fans are talking about lately! Well I for one am sick of it! Let's talk about something else, like that Ultimate Spider-Man book. Wasn't last issue simply ultimate? First, we got to read about Peter complaining about studying Einstein, next we got to see all his superhero friends gather around his school to engage in all that teenage dialogue and melodrama Bendis loves to write. Next they all go to the beach where they... talk some more! It was so exciting, I almost wet myself. Oh and Liz Allan (or is it Allen?) is Firestar now! Gah! I can't take it anymore! Plus, I'm out of exclamation points.

For those of you still reading (yeah right) I salute you. I would have stopped after that first paragraph. Anyway, this issue starts Guggenheim's first three issue run on Amazing, and while it's a half decent start, it hits a snag with the introduction of a certain female superhero. First the good; the Daily Bugle subplot, wait I'm sorry, I guess it's the DB now (yay, another abbreviation). I love that Peter's new boss actually likes him as opposed to the way he feels about the rest of the staff, and although his reign over the DB looks harsh he might end up helping the paper in the long run. I can't wait to see his first confrontation with Jameson.

I actually prefer Guggenheim's Spidey banter to Slott's, I can't quite put my finger on it but Spidey was a lot funnier here then he was in the first arc. The transition from Slott to Guggenheim is pretty smooth, it never felt like I was reading a different Spider-Man book. Well, that's it for the good, here's the bad...

Jackpot. I really wanted to like Jackpot. I thought people were jumping the gun by lambasting the character because they thought she was Mary Jane, something that hasn't been confirmed yet. Sadly Jackpot fails to impress here, she's not an unlikable character, she's just extremely boring. This is where issue #549 mainly falters; Jackpot is in most of it. The main problem is that there isn't a lot of chemistry between her and Spidey; while Spider-Man's dialogue is fun to read, Jackpot is just... lame. I actually groaned when she reappeared at the end of the issue.

I'm not a fan of Salvador Larroca; none of his faces look quite right, although I think most of my problems with the artwork have more to do with the colouring which felt a little off to me.

This has been a slight bump in the road for The Amazing Spider-Man, but there's enough going on in the book to keep you entertained. Hopefully Guggenheim will give us a reason to care about Jackpot, and really other than her, this was a very enjoyable issue. Looking foward to finding out more about Menace.

I agree on some key points by zeroedge - the BND is much better than the OMD story; the art is some of the best on the market; the new Spidey launch, such as it is, has a very Old School and Classic feel to it.

My personal gripe and reason why I have just nixed Amazing from my sub list is because of Marvel's need to make MJ a superhero named Jackpot. It is unnecessary, to say it as plainly as possible. If you want a superheroine to play off Spidey then why are they not using the new character Carly. She's got the perfect "Clark Kent wishy washy" persona to balance a daring caped crusader. MJ is a super MODEL not super HERO. That's who she has been from her inception. There's no reason to do this to her now. It would only be acceptable in a "What if?" storyline but this is simply absurd.

Is there a chance it isn't her? Sure. They haven't revealed Jackpot unmasked yet but she calls him "Tiger" every chance they are together and she's registered so supposedly her identity is known to someone out there.

Even worse is the costume they have her in. I believe MJ should find her receipt from the Dazzler Superhero Secondhand Shop and return that god-awful glittery piece of garbage trimmed in lamé. If Jean-Paul Gaultier and Alexander McQueen produced a genetically retarded love child who grew up to be a fashion designer, this costume would be in his Spring Collection. (Don't believe me, look them up).

While the Mr. Negative story is interesting, I have given this book all of the benefit of the doubt and simply can't continue. I'm switching to Ultimate where the new Firestar has been revealed in issue 118. As a fan of Firestar since I was a young lass, she's more interesting to me than Jackpot.