Now team with Japanese Spider-Man. Either one will do.
Spider-Men #1
Marvel Comics (August, 2012)
WRITER: Brian Michael Bendis ARTIST: Sara Pichelli COLORIST: Justin Ponsor LETTERER: Cory Petit COVER ARTIST: Jimmy Cheung VARIANT COVER ARTISTS: Sara Pichelli, Mark Bagley, Humberto Ramos, Justin Ponsor, & Edgar DelgadoI looked at the digital version (since this had the download, but I could only read it on Marvel’s site) and the only difference is the lack of the [AR] box and the download code replaced with an ad for the Northstar wedding. Like anybody cares. I mean, it’s friggin’ Northstar. Was he ever relevant?
After taking down some escaping crooks and escaping the police, Spider-Man comes across an energy discharge and investigates. In an abandoned warehouse (where else), Spidey comes across Mysterio and a portal that sucks him into the Ultimate Universe where he learns Peter Parker is famous…and dead…before running into the new Ultimate Spider-Man.
What they got right: It’s not a bad concept and with a new, not-Peter Spider-Man it would be an easier-to-follow story than if there were two Peters. I like the way the artist draws the Spider-Man costume. Her work, and that of the colorist, make the suit feel look how a real-life Spidey costume would look.
What they got wrong: Maybe I didn’t notice it as much when Bendis was screwing up everybody, but here it’s rather annoying that SPIDER-MAN WON’T SHUT UP! I love Spidey-quips as much as anyone, but when he swings through a crook’s car window yelling “Indiana Jones” with no context it kills what could have been a Best Scene nomination.
Notation: I picked up a copy with the digital download, but it doesn’t work with the Chrome ap. It also has the [AR] logo that interacts with some smartphone ap. I don’t own a smartphone and found it distracting in the two panels it was used for, but I can see it taking you out of better moments later on. It’s missing from the digital version I read through Marvel.com, so I have no way to test how well it works.
Recommendation: As a set-up I really can’t come up with a strong opinion. Give it a look I guess but we’ll have to wait at least until next issue to get an idea as to whether or not this miniseries could be any good.
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