Customer Reviews

Amazing Spider-Man Vol. 8: Sins Past

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Until the Sins Past storyline hit, Babylon 5 creator and Supreme Power scribe J. Michael Straczynski's run on Amazing Spider-Man has been nothing short of, well...amazing. However, Sins Past finds him trying to unravel a part of the super hero's past, a very prolific and impacting part, that spells doom for the rest of the read. One of the most powerful and heartbreaking moments in the history of Spider-Man was the tragic death of Gwen Stacy at the hands of the Green Goblin, and here Straczynski attempts to play off the classic, and never before treaded upon, storyline by placing the idea that Gwen and Norman Osborn had a secret affair in which Gwen secretly gave birth to twins. Twins who aged at an accelerated rate. Twins who are also trained ninjas. Twins who are trying to kill Spidey, who they know is Peter Parker. C'mon Straczynski, what were you thinking? To say that this idea sounds contrived is saying it lightly. Now don't get me wrong, up until this point Straczynski's run on AMS has been superb, and his efforts on the MAX series Supreme Power and Rising Stars are even better, but this is by far the worst and most ridiculous he has done. On the plus side, the art by Hulk artist Mike Deodato is excellent, but it's too bad you'll be distracted by how ridiculous the story is. Hopefully JMS will realize the error in his ways, and this storyline will be written out of the Spidey mythos in the near future. Hopefully.

###THIS REVIEW INCLUDES SPOILERS###

Oh deary me.

Working out a way to get Osbourne vs Parker back onto the agenda?

Good idea.

Doing it by fundamentally altering Spider-Man history and through a completly unbelievable revelation concerning an iconic character??

Bad idea. Very, very bad idea.


Introduction a new goblin villain?

Good idea.

Using them for only a handful of panels and having them defeated in such a lame way?

Bad idea.

Still I had to give it two stars cos it remains a fairly thrilling read. I miss the fun art of J.R. jr - the new realistic style does nothing for me.

And while I admire the balls of JMS for throwing us such a curveball i have to say this - if you're going to fundamentally alter Spidey's history with a major revelation, you'd better make sure that reveleation fits. And it just doesn't.

This could have worked if handled with more care and more time. I'm thinking maybe the original thought was to have had Gwen assaulted by Norman and keeping her dark secret through shame and through fear of Peter's reactions. That would have worked for me (just about) but I bet it must be hard to convince Marvel bosses to include rape in their biggest title. Not that it stopped DC.

With just one small character inconsistancy JMS ruined the whole story. The way it was introduced... the flipant "there was something so powerful about him" explanation. Come on folks, this is Gwen we're talking about here!

JMS even destroyed any chances of reversing this decision by having Mary Jane confirm it all. And while I buy her "I keep secrets" excuse for not revealing it before, it really sullies everything for me now.

Folks, I'm picking up "I'm with Stupid" by Dan Slott and forgetting any of this ever happened!

Michael Straczynski messes, re-invents and destroys the past history of Spiderman. Gwen Stacy always had a special sacred place in the hearts of Spiderman fans. This story totally rubbishes it and tramples over all the previous great writing on the book (from Stan Lee onwards) It should not have been allowed. The story is shot full of holes and is totally ridiculous

Definately one of the worst Marvel storylines ever, Sins Past has the stupid plot of mutant babies trying to kill Peter. Guess who the parents are? Yup, GWEN AND NORMAN. This is like kicking the great Turning Point storyline in the balls and breaking its shins.

When J. Michael Straczynski took over writing "The Amazing Spider-Man" with issue #30 (#472), it was clear he was going to do a major overhaul. There was Ezekiel forcing Spider-Man to question whether there was another explanation for how he got his powers that the rather absurd idea of a bite from a radioactive spider while Peter Parker suddenly gets a job at his old high school as a science teacher (#31). By the time Aunt May discovers her nephew is really Spider-Man and have "The Conversation" (#38) there is an entirely new dynamic for the character, albeit one that stays true to the roots of the comic book. When Peter finally admitted to Aunt May that he is Spider-Man because of his guilt causing the death of Uncle Ben, only to have her confess that she considered herself guilty because he walked out of the house when they were having an argument, it became clear Straczynski was capable of writing stories with great emotional resonance.

That certainly explains "Sins of the Past," but for many Spider-Man fans it will probably not excuse it. I assume that Straczynski's goal was to give Spider-Man an emotional wallop of epic proportions, and I think we will all agree he has done that (although the term "sucker punch" seems more appropriate). Volume 8 in the trade paperback collection of "The Amazing Spider-Man" collects issues #509-514 making up the six-part "Sins of the Past" story-line, drawn by the comic book's new artist Mike Deodato and inked by Joe Pimentel (the conspiracy theory would be that Straczynski came up with this story so that everybody would be talking about that instead of bemoaning the fact John Romita, Jr. is no longer drawing the book).

Part One begins with much joy in the Parker household as Mary Jane finally gets a party in a Broadway play, but the celebration is cut short when Aunt May gives Peter a letter from Gwen Stacy. The return address is Paris, France, but the postmark is NYC on the date of June 23, 2004. Clearly somebody is playing head games with Peter Parker and when he visits Gwen's grave he is attacked by a pair of figures, one male and one female, dressed in black. He escapes by using his powers, a fact that does not go unnoticed by his assailants, one of whom says, "It just gives us one more reason to kill him." Things get worse in Part Two when Peter receives a pair of photographs. One shows the blacked out figure of a young man helping Aunt May with her groceries and the other the blacked out figure of a young woman getting directions from Mary Jane. Also enclosed is a note declaring, "We can kill them whenever we want."

Peter is trying to figure out what past sins he could have committed towards Gwen that would make him a target, but the truth is (literally for me) beyond belief. Finding out that Norman Osborn fathered a pair of twins by Gwen Stacy is pretty textbook adding insult to injury, given that it was Osborn as the Green Goblin who caused Gwen's death, which remains the pivotal tragedy in Spider-Man's life after the murder of Uncle Ben back in the beginning. This is an absolutely horrific revelation. No wonder it makes Peter Parker physically ill, because it will strike a lot of long-time Spider-Man fans as a sick joke. Like Peter, I find it almost impossible to believe that Gwen would do this. If his point is that Gwen Stacy has become the patron saint of the Spider-Man mythos and she needs to be de-deified than Straczynski has certainly succeeded in tarnishing her image.

I think I have just as big of a complaint in terms of Norman Osborn's decision to convince the twins, Gabriel and Sarah (who is, of course, a dead ringer for her mother), that they are Peter Parker's discarded illegitimate offspring seems taking the long way round. Since Osborn had the "Spider-Man killed your mom" card to play (remember what the police heard Spider-Man say as he cradled Gwen's body that fateful day), would it not work a lot better without turning Gabriel and Sarah into Orestes and Electra? There are some nice moments in "Sins of the Past," particular when Peter and Mary Jane have some things to confess to each other (points for Peter recognizing MJ is right to keep secrets other than the big one about his secret identity).

It is too early to judge whether the events of "Sins of the Past" constitute going too far in terms of Straczynski's reign as the writer for "The Amazing Spider-Man." If he bails on the comic book before the end of the year that would earn a thumbs down for doing the hit-and-run bit and leaving whoever follows in Straczynski's footsteps to pick up the pieces. But "Sins Remembered: Sarah's Story," the sequel to "Sins of the Past," is not being written by Straczynski in "The Amazing Spider-Man," but rather by Samm Barnes in "The Spectacular Spider-Man." I find that troubling as well, because it suggests Straczynski is not setting up something bigger and better, he is just sucker punching our hero and running away.

This arc on the whole, is essentially a extremely unbelievable and forced (according to Wiki, he JMS didn't intend for Gwen to bang Norman's brain's out SANS PROTECTION!) retcon of a well established and much loved character(s), that frankly makes little, to no sense.
Let me defend JMS for a sec though: the idea of his arch enemy shagging his first, and strongest love (which results in twins), has potential for alot of angst and development of the rivalry between the two. However having Gwen do the dirty willingly cause she's attracted to his manliness and wrinkly neck(?!), come on! Frankly if it had to be done, I would prefer it that he raped her (yes I know, but it would make more sense).

Look all I'm saying is being a good writer involves more then just pissing on everything (because thats what JMS does in this arc, anyway you look at it) that has come before for short-term shock and entertainment value, mmm-kay? You can add to it, you can adapt it, you can do a great number of things with Ret-cons, but YOU SHOULD NOT PISS ON IT's HEAD just for shock value! Sorry.

PROS:
-Lotsa fighting, drawn well by Mike Deodato.
CONS:
-Even ignoring the controversial changes, the arc itself is packed way too much with day time soapy dialogue, overly melodramatic scenes and way too much forced drama and "shocking" revelations.

Please buy something, anything, else that involves Gwen Stacy and Peter Parker (Spider-man: Blue or the The Death of Gwen Stacy or Marvels or any of the old issues) first and try and rate this 5 stars.

Here we go again, Straczynski decides to alter the affectionate history of Gwen Stacey for Spidey fans. To make a long story short, through flashbacks, we learn that Gwen had a brief affair with Norman Osborn, because she is attracted to the power that Norman wields...eh? What happened to the undying love that was established between Gwen and Peter during the early runs in the Amazing Spider-man?

While in Paris, unknown to Peter, she gives birth to twins belonging to Norman. Through a growth chamber, the twins rapidly age. Under Norman's tutelage, he educates and trains the twins to fight and hate both Peter Parker and Spider-man. The twins think Peter is there father who abandon them, and Spider-man killed their mother Gwen.

The adult twins, Sarah and Gabriel, head to New York to kill both Spider-man and Peter Parker, not knowing that Peter Parker is Spider-man. Spidey fight the twins, establish that Peter Parker is not their father but is indeed Norman Osborn and that they have been lied to by Norman.

There are so many holes in this plot that I don't know where to begin. It is clearly established in the Revenge of the Green Goblin tpb that Norman believes he has no heir. Here is his exact quote..."I have no heir, my son is dead...and my grandson Normie is much too young to carry on my stead". I guess he forgot that Gwen bore him two twins. Hey Straczynski and Marvel editors, get you facts and continuity straight before trying to rewrite Spidey history.

I guess Straczynski wants to leave his vision of HIS Spider-man as he best sees fits. Check out Spider-man's The Other storyline to see what I mean. I guess some other writer will hopefully clean up this mess after Straczynski leaves the Spider-man series. No wonder Babylon 5 was cancelled. Go back and write TV shows and leave my Spider-man alone. If Marvel continues this path with Spider-man, instead of making Marvel mines...I might make it DC mines instead! Nuff said!

I hesitate greatly to rate this book. After all, as a comic fanboy of sorts the kid inside me wants to offer my opinion rather than my assessment based on the actual work (art, writing, etc.).

Let me begin with the good in this book. Mike Deodato Jr's art is really nice; granted, it's no John Romita or Steve Ditko, but it certainly isn't bland and dull as, say, Todd McFarlane. It is very nice art for this day and age. The writing is subpar at best, which leads right into my criticisms.

In July of 1973 John Romita and Gerry Conway decided to turn Peter Parker's life into a further tailspin by killing his girlfriend, Gwen Stacy, murdered at the hands of the Green Goblin. Back in the day the book was groundbreaking and shocking (no comic book had dealt with a loss that large before this) and as fans and readers we mourned with Peter and for ourselves. Gwen Stacy was a pure, innocent, doe-eyed woman in love with Peter Parker and angelic in every sense of the word. Years later, new readers still wish a Gwen Stacy really existed for us to fawn over and cherish.

J. Michael Straczynski, in his infinite "wisdom", took unnecessary liberties with her character and murdered her all over again!

I will not go into details and ruin the story for new readers. I encourage all Spidey fans to at least read it and form your own assessment. I, however, find this storyline apallingly insulting and more embarassing than shocking. Marvel touted it as the most shocking thing in years to befall Peter/Spider-Man - it was shocking all right! If it weren't so ridiculous and insipid to the point of inspiring anger and resentment among we faithful readers (no matter what Marvel said in the press, the internal damage has been done) it would be at least a good "What If?". Giving this a spot in Marvel continuity further establishes the fact that Marvel has lost touch with its fanbase and cares little if anything for the histories of its precious cargo.

I collect any and all Spider-Man comics, bad and great, and in my mind these issues simply take up space in my collection - for me, they simply don't exist. I'd say read it if you must, but then quickly buy an Essential or Marvel Masterworks from the 60's and see what Spider-Man was like when he meant something to old fans and fanboys like myself.

You know, the first installment of this story is just amazing. Yes, it's a jaw-dropper (if you go into this story unspoiled) and the drama is great. The only main problem with this entire story are the kids, Sarah and Gabriel. Yes, we're given a good reason for them to be adults instead of five-year olds but imagine if this were a story set in the future instead - would have made much more sense (and JMS could have used that future costume featured in Vol. 6, "Happy Birthday"). That's just an idea though. Otherwise the idea of Green Goblin having a reason to kill Stacy beyond revenge on Spider-Man is pretty damn cool... I think it would have been better if Gwen had gotten an abortion instead and Osborn killed her because she ruined his legacy... but anyway, here's my overview of the story, pro & con style.
PROS:
1. Excellent drama - all the characters were very fleshed out and consistent for the most part.. although Mary Jane hiding the truth all along did sting. I wished Peter could have found out another way.
2. Despite the dark story there were some pretty hillarious moments, especially the news footage of Spidey vs. Galactus ("hey!hey!hey!" LOL)

CONS:
1. Mike Deodato's art. I just don't like it. I've seen his work at DC on Batman (check out some of the "No Man's Land" installments) and I see what he's doing now: he's simply adding more shadow to his art, Roger Robinson style, in order to make it look better. That's just my opinion though. The art just doesn't fit a Spider-Man comic book. Just imagine if Gary Frank had illustrated this arc... I might have even forgiven the crappy ending. Speaking of which..
2. The crappy ending. Bridge scene revisited. Spidey gets to catch Sarah and take her to the hospital. His blood.. his IRRADIATED SPIDER BLOOD, is somehow a perfect match and he's able to save her. Also, the Grey Goblin sucks too. There, I said it.

MARVEL! PUT GARY FRANK ON AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ASAP!

Thanks for reading.

Gwen Stacy: Mother of green goblin's children. An affair between them?
I've decided to imagine I never read this book !