Dude, just play one Spider-Man video game at a time.
Spider-Man Adventures #4
Marvel (March, 1995)
“Return Of The Spider-Slayers” STORY: John Semper SCREENPLAY: Mark Hoffmeier FREE ADAPTATION: Nel Yomtov BREAKDOWNS: Alex Saviuk FINISHES: Don Hudson COLORIST: Kevin Tinsley LETTERER: Steve Dutro EDITOR: Eric Fein GROUP EDITOR: Danny Fingeroth
Now working with the Kingpin, Alistair Smythe has created three new Spider-Slayers to not only hunt Spider-Man, but the others he deems responsible for his father, death–J. Jonah Jameson, Flash Thompson, Eddie Brock, and Norman Osborn. As part of his revenge, Alistair captures Spider-Man and invited Jameson to his lab under the pretense of allowing the editor to unmask Spider-Man. Instead he straps a bomb to their arms and drops them off somewhere in New York. Spider-Man drags Jameson along as he tries to rescue Flash, using one of the Slayer’s weapons to free himself from Jameson, but sadly still has the bomb. He rescue Brock next and then goes to rescue Norman, as the Slayers combine into a giant robotic monster. During the fight Spider-Man’s manacle is hit with liquid nitrogen and he uses the now unattached bomb to destroy the “Tri-Slayer”. But poor Peter’s night isn’t over because Aunt May talked him into a blind date with one Mary Jane Watson.
What they got right: The story is good as it cleans up a little from the TV show. The “Tri-Slayer” and it’s three components are a decent threat. Plus it’s the debut of MJ outside of comics…adapted into a comic.
What they got wrong: I know this is freely adapted, which is why I’m not bothering to watch the episodes (since it admits it’s not following the script) but Jameson is given the (at least early, I don’t know if it’s still followed by modern Spider-Writers) motivation of jealousy that Spider-Man gets all the praise he believe he (or sometimes his son) should be getting. I like the motivation the show later gave him, a distrust of people in masks after one (uncredited as Marvel villain The Rose) killed his wife to keep him from talking about a case he was investigating. It makes Jonah less of a jerk. He’s still a jerk, just less of one. And who leaves the keys in a wrecking ball at night? This is my day for convenience for Marvel superheroes.
Recommendation: A decent story that might be worth the read if you can’t get to the TV show.
BW Media Spotlight 