Customer Reviews

Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 10: New Avengers

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This storyline takes place after the events of the previous volume. Peter Parker (now an Avenger) and M.J., along with Aunt May, are invited to reside in Stark Tower as permanent residents since their home is no more. While settling in Parker soon finds that the terrorist organization Hydra is remaking itself and plans to takedown the social and economic mainstays of the United States--in short, they are attempting to destroy America from within. This is not Stracynzski's best work. The whole story is mediocre but there are some nice pieces of dialogue in the scenes with the new leader of Hydra confronting the old leaders of Hydra and with Wolverine and M.J. The artwork is sloppy and vague and makes the reader question if the artist cares about his job. Also the appearance of the New Avengers doesn't help the story improve and it comes off as a lame and unnecessary character crossover. If you need a Spider-Man "fix" then pick up one of the Ultimate Spider-Man trades by Bendis or one of Stracyznski's early Amazing Spider-Man trades such as Coming Home.

As a fan of both the New Avengers and Spider-man, I figured a Spider-Man story featuring the New Avengers would be great. It wasn't. It seems like the makers couldn't decide whether to cater to the New Avengers readers or the Spider-Man readers, so they opted for neither. The art and story feel like an old episode of the 80s Spider-Man cartoon, hokey. Quite a step backwards since the New Avengers series and Spider-Man is usually engaging entertainment. Skip this one.

I thought this was okay, but I have to agree that the plot was a bit slapdash and the motivations didn't make much sense. I think they would be better off leaving the Avengers-related mega-plot off to the side a bit more, and keep concentrating on Peter Parker's life, rather than trying to wow us with cameos by Wolverine, Captain America, Luke Cage, et. al. Doesn't fit in with the titles previously engaging story arc.

But it's still an okay read. I'd give it a 3.5, if I could.

When I was young, the grocer where my parents shopped allowed me to read the comics on the shelves. Therefore, I was able to read the first run issues where Spider Man, Iron Man, and the Avengers were created. I also read the issue where Captain American was "reborn." I reveled in the story lines as well as the dialog that was so much a characteristic under Marvel when led by the great Stan Lee. The artwork of the Marvel bullpen under Jack Kirby was unrivaled, the lines were crisp and the colors were clear and descriptive.
While I still enjoyed the storyline of the adventures of Spidey in this book, to my aged comics mind everything runs secondary to what Marvel used to be. I detested the dark, dank coloration with deep shadows and weak colors. The dialog is also not what it used to be, there always seemed to be a touch of playfulness in what the people said to each other under Lee. Even the light scenes between Aunt May and Jarvis the butler are too dark; it is as if there isn't a fluorescent bulb anywhere in the place.