Customer Reviews

Civil War: Amazing Spider-man (A Marvel Comics Event - Spider-man #532-538)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This trade paperback collects Amazing Spider-Man #532-538, written by J. Michael Straczynski and drawn by Ron Garney. Focusing on Peter Parker/Spider-Man's role in the Marvel Universe-encompassing Civil War, the story develops the quasi-paternal relationship between Peter and Tony Stark as the Civil War escalates. Peter's shocking public revelation in issue 533 was the first non-cinematic Spider-Man news in a long time to be covered by mainstream US media. As the conflict intensifies, Peter grows to question his siding with Stark and eventually hides with MJ and Aunt May in a decrepit motel room. The book ends with a cliffhanger that left me eager to read issue 539. Reading the main Civil War TPB is helpful but not essential as there is enough of an independent plot here for those interested only in Spider-Man.

Armed with a new costume and having revealed his identity to the public, Spider-Man has even more big decisions coming in the Civil War. In this TPB, Spidey and his family are targeted as he finds himself in the middle of the superhero civil war between the factions of Captain America and Iron Man. What makes this Civil War tie-in important is that this fills a few holes from the main Civil War storyline, including Spidey's switching sides from Iron Man's pro-registration to Captain America's resistence. The only real downside however is that this TPB features a few plot holes itself that will get filled in by reading the main Civil War storyline, as well as a few preceding Spidey and even some Iron Man stories as well. That being said though, writer J. Michael Straczynski makes the most with his script, as well as getting to leave the reader hanging by teasing us with the possible death of someone close to Peter. Ron Garney's art leaves something to be desired as well in some panels, but he does a servicable job nonetheless. All in all, of all the countless Civil War tie-in books, the Amazing Spider-Man chapter is undoubtedly one of the best.

It's been quite a while since I've picked up a comic book, let alone a Spider-Man comic. My curiosity got the better of me, and I purchased this product on a whim. And I must say, the artwork and the coloring is absolutely gorgeous! The story was also emotionally involving. You could feel the pain that everyone felt (superhero, civilians alike), how one superhero's decision affects other people's lives. Kudos goes to the inker as well as the artist(s), as well as the writer. Brilliantly executed, it left me wanting more!

I thought I had a good handle on Marvel's Civil War. As always, Marvel gives great art, great action with deeper meaning. I saw parts of the book on their free digital comics and I had to have it. The interaction between Spider-Man and Captain America is spot on, from the first fight to their conference and Spider-Man's resulting decisions.
When Cap began his story, at Spidey's usual good natured ribbing, I was hooked. I never thought of Steve Rogers as a school boy and certainly not a scholar but he was that sickly boy who probably used books for protection. Back there, during the Depression, he found Mark Twain, a favorite of our family, and his memorized statement on patriotism told me where his own spirit came from. And that bit of Twain's amazing words sent me on a search for where it came from and landed me into a half a day's discovery of Mark Twain's quotes and a renewed interest in the Hannibal, Missouri's favorite son. It is amazing how true his statements are even to this day.
This is exactly why I have followed Marvel for all these years. There is always far more to those 'comic books' than just action.

THis is a great addition to both Peter's story and the Marvel Civil War storyline. I'd like to go on about it, but there isn't much I can say that hasn't been said.

Spiderman has always been my favorite Marvel charachter. I hand't read his book in about 20 years- way back when he first got his black costume during the Superhero Secret Wars. I recenly saw he was "Back in Black" and got curious for some backstory, so I picked up this and other Marvel Civil War tie-ins.

Great Story! The theme of government Superhero oversight registration and the secret of Peter Parker's secret identity are directly at odds. Peter has some serious soul searching to do and it tears him apart. Once you read this, you will want more.

The Civil War series had great stories and flops - this is not a flop. The Spider-man story line is one of the best to read since it digs so deep into the personal life of a character most of us know pretty well. Spidey ends up going back and forth throughout the story which really keeps things interesting. Pick it up if you are a fan of Spidey or the Civil War story.

When the New Warriors battle a group of super villains in Stamford, Connecticut as part of a reality television show, things go horrible wrong and over 600 people are killed. Peter Parker flies with Tony Stark to the site of the disaster, where the survivors look at Spider-Man and Iron Man as it they were responsible. Congress passes the Super Human Registration Act, Tony admits to the President that he is Iron Man, and now everybody in a mask is going to have to take it off, reveal themselves, and register with the government. Anybody who remains anonymous will be considered a bad guy; those who refuse to comply will be hunted down and arrested and imprisoned, along with anyone who aided or abetted them in keeping their identities secret. Tony Stark will stand behind registration and the big question is whether Spider-Man will finally take off his mask in public and stand by him.

"Civil War: Amazing Spider-Man" collects issues #532-38 of "The Amazing Spider-Man," and focuses directly on how Spider-Man is caught in the middle of Marvel's "Civil War." The story arc is more about Peter Parker living with his decision than it is about making it, because the fateful decision is made by the end of the first of these six issues. Aunt May and Mary Jane support Spider-Man unmasking because they want the whole world to know why they love him so much, but then Tony Stark announces that Spider-Man, along with Reed Richards ("Mr. Fantastic") and Hank Pym ("Yellowjacket"), are part of the initial strike force that will go out and bring in those who refuse to register. That means Spider-Man might have to fight Captain America, the leader of those opposing the SRA, and Aunt May is not along in being unable to imagine something that terrible actually happening. So, of course, that is actually what happens and what makes Peter question what side he should be on.

The seven issues collected here take place against the main stage of what is taking place in the "Civil War" limited series, and while it can stand on its own for the most part, what happens between issues #537 and #538 is not going to be clear unless you pick up that other trade paperback. In this one writer J. Michael Straczynski is now working with penciler Ron Garney and inker Bill Reinhold on "Amazing Spider-Man," and in the wake of John Romita, Jr.'s departure from the title this artistic team is proving to be a decent replacement (Just like when John Romita, Sr. stopped being Spider-Man's artist it takes a while for the art of others to look right to me). But it is Stracyznski's take on the situation that Marvel has put our hero in that is the strength of this small part of the bigger picture and why I round up on this collection: Peter's decision to support registration is just as well reasoned as his decision to change his mind.

In my Introduction to Popular Culture class my students read "Essential Amazing Spider-Man, Vol. 1," and create a model for the five key defining elements in Spider-Man comics. They then compare a current issue of a Spider-Man title to their model to see how well it stakes up, so having Spider-Man reveal his secret identity to the world was a major shock and most of them had only been reading comic books for about a month. For those of us who harked back to the 1960s (issue #62 to be exact), this is a monumental change and I have to say I just do not like it, because no matter how interesting things are in the short run, in the long run I think it will change things way too much. The sight of J. Jonah Jameson finally learning that Peter Parker is Spider-Man is a priceless moment, but after that the reality of this strange new world starts settling in, which means protesters, lawsuits, idiots with guns, and a professional hit man sent by the Kingpin who has more than Peter Parker on his hit list.

The great irony here is that by changing everything and having the world knowing Spider-Man's secret identity, the character is actually getting back to the old days when the cops were always trying to capture our hero. Of course now it is not just the police but also a lot of other superheroes, with Iron Man at the top of the list, that after Spider-Man. It is way too early to know how this is going to play out, but what with a "new" secret identity, worrying about the health and safety of his loved ones, and the whole "Back in Black" bit going on this summer, it is going to be quite interesting for a while. Fortunately readers of "The Amazing Spider-Man" have Straczynski at the helm to guide us through these new waters and make the new journey a lot more palatable.

This was a fantastic comic from cover to cover. It brings to mind the Smallville storyline where all superheroes are by law ordered to register with the government. In this comic, Iron Man is on the side of the government and he uses deception to get Spider-Man onto his side. When Spider-Man discovers he has been taken for a ride, that's when things get incredibly interesting and exciting. This comic really jumps off the page. Feels like you're watching a film...a superhero film you wish would be brought to screen in these days of overly dull superhero films!

This is a very good feeder story for the overall Civil War event. Spider-Man has always been one of the most compelling characters in the Marvel universe and this book is no different. What I really enjoyed was the portrayal of Parker as a guy who has a good heart but is still looking for a father figure. Like the line in Platoon he is "a child born of those two fathers, fighting for possession of my soul." Parker is truly torn between Cap and Iron Man and, like always, his concern and need to protect his family. I would almost have like to seen a super criminal take an interest here, but I guess the Kingpin is ok. The only real problem I have with the book is that there is no reference to the major beating that Parker takes in the sewers in "Civil War". It's almost like it didn't happen...