You got your life back, but a LOT has changed Mr. Parker.
THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN IS BACK! After the Ock took over Parker's body and mind, it would be only a matter of time before the original Peter Parker would return. That time has arrived! Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado welcome the Amazing Spider-Man back in his new (returning) monthly series. Check out this week's Arrow and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D reviews!
The Good
In this issue, Peter Parker IS [officially] back [if you didn't know]. With months of controlling his life, Spock (Ock-Superior Spider-Man), is finally out of the picture and Peter Parker back in his mind and body! With missing out on a lot of his life, how will both Peter Parker and the Amazing Spider-Man adjust to life changed by Ock and the Superior Spider-Man? Well one thing is for certain, both will be a lot more thankful for this second chance!
Well for those that complained about Ock taking over Peter Parker's body, complain no more! Peter Parker is in full control of his body and mind, and no longer has the thoughts and genius of Ock. I on the other hand will always miss Spock and how he threw a perfectly good wrench into the spider web of Parker's life. It was a grand time of re-inventing what it means to be a hero driven by someone else's death. Granted their were ups-and-downs, but still, Spock always proved to be the exact opposite of what kind of hero Sparker [yeah, I said "Sparker"] was. And this was a wonderful thing for the 31 issues it lasted and the other Superior Spider-Man related series, plus crossovers. So lets look to the future shall we?
Dan Slott did a outstanding job with this first issue! He's brought Peter and the Amazing Spider-Man back, with hitting the key points that make them different from Ock and the Superior Spider-Man. Those points being their sense of humor and also the way Spider-Man carries himself in protecting the citizens of New York. Ock was a very straightforward person that "knew" he was superior to others, and acted as if the citizens should be thanking him for his public service as Spider-Man. I love seeing how the contrast between both Peter and Ock and Amazing Spider-Man and Superior Spider-Man are really obvious; and how that translates perfectly into this story. It keeps things interesting with easing readers from SSM to this ASM series with giving references to the past series while introducing problems for both Peter Parker and Spider-Man.
And that is probably the best part about this new (old) series. It introduces the idea of having Peter and Spider-Man having to deal with the mess, or impression, that Ock had left when he was Spider-Man. It shows how a lot of things will change for both characters and a feel of what we can expect from this monthly series. I for one am glad to experience what Dan Slott will be cooking up for both characters and how it will relate to the friends, family, and enemies of Spider-Man and Peter Parker.
The artwork by Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgard Delgado is wonderful. These artist know what Spider-Man should look like and have really outdone themselves with this returning issue for Peter Parker. Every panel is drawn with a great amount of care and attention to detail and just makes Spider-Man look awesome!
There are a BUNCH of side Spider-Man stories in here to accompany this monumental return for the Web Slinger. PLUS, the full first issue of Inhuman that you must check out for yourself. In short, you are getting a bunch of Spider-Man and a free Inhuman's comic book.
The Bad
This acts as a recap issue for new readers and also ones that didn't complete Superior Spider-Man. There's not much of a problem with this issue other than it ways heavily on references to past SSM issues. However, that is expected as this is the first issue of a new (old) monthly series for Spider-Man.
The Verdict
This is a great issue! We see Peter Parker dealing with getting his life back AND dealing with the life Ock (Spock) had created for him in Parker's absence. Already I am intrigued on how Parker will deal with everything that's changed and if the Amazing Spider-Man will be able to keep up with the work that the Superior one created. In short, both Spider-Man and Peter Parker have their worked cut out for them, but what all will stay? 4 out of 5. (next review)
All Superior Spider-Man reviews:
P.S. some might not have links because the reviews haven't been written [yet]. But they will ALL be here between a May and August timeframe.
- #0 (700, prelude issue) - The day something Amazing ended!
- #1 - A Superior day!
- #2 - Just trying to cash in on that jackpot!
- #3 - Spider-Man vs. Vulture.
- #4 - Massacare decides to start a massacare!
- #5 - The choice is up to you.
- #6 - What happens when web show hackers cross a new and improved, killing, Spider-Man??
- #6AU - The Age of Ultron is here! (tie-in)
- #7 - The Superior Spider-Man and the Avengers don't get along too well.
- #8 - Cardiac is BACK!
- #9 - Ock always wins.
- #10 - Independence Day!
- #11 - Spider-Man in prison?
- #12 - Prison rules!
- #13 - Death to Smythe!
- #14 - SHADOWLAND, destroyed!?
- #15 - Not Rabbit Season, not Duck Season; it's Goblin Season!
- #16 - The conclusion between a goblin and a spider!
- #17 - Fighting for tomorrow, today!
- #18 - Smack to the future!
- #19 - Gotta get back in time... or not!
- #20 - Glad you made a cameo Black Cat, thanks for nothing!
- #21 - Sorry Stunner, but we're better off as friends.
- #22 - Another Spider-ally lost!
- #23 - Awkward dinner situation.
- #24 - The Superior [Spider-]Venom!
- #25 - Double Sized Pt.3 of the Superior Venom!
- #26 - Goblin War!
- #27 - 31 days later...
- #28 - Goblin Nation Pt.2
- #29 - Goblin Nation Pt.3
- #30 - Goblin Nation Pt.4
- #31 - A Superior thing ends!
