Customer Reviews

House of M: Spider-Man

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

 

 

In these five issues of Spider-Man, we see what Peter Parker was up to during the events of House of M. In the reality created by the Scarlet Witch, Gwen Stacey never died, is married to Peter Parker, Parker is a world-renowned celebrity, there was never a Green Goblin (at least not a villainous Goblin), and Uncle Ben never died. Peter is a professional hero/photographer/actor/wrestler (who's in-ring nemesis is called the Green Goblin), and Mary Jane Watson is a famous actress. J. Jonah Jameson is Parker's publicist, and Rhino is his bodyguard. People look up to Parker, but he hides a secret; everyone thinks that he received his powers due to a mutation, but he really got them from a spider bite. Due to anti-sapien sentiments, he would be ruined if the secret ever got out. Unfortunately, the abused JJJ is all too eager to help stir up trouble for his abusive boss when an evil Green Goblin surfaces.
Overall, the story is interesting, but it seems to contradict the events of the main House of M storyline. Peter's status position at the end of the Spider-Man subplot seem to go against what it was when he received his old memories in the main story line.
The story is pretty good overall. It isn't necessary to understand the main House of M story, but it augments it.

I read "House of M" after I read "House of M: Spider-Man," simply because I read the latter when the five comic books came out and I waited for the trade paperback collection of the former. However, regardless of which you read first, if you read them both, then you will notice that they are not compatible. But then I have accepted that the "Amazing Spider-Man," "Ultimate Spider-Man," and "Mary Jane Love Spider-Man" comics are all in different universes, so I can handle another Spider-Man reality or two as well. Ultimately the more important distinction between the two is that "House of M: Spider-Man" is self-continued, while "House of M" is really just the set up for the sundry "House of M" titles. However, as long as you understand the basic premise of "House of M" you do not need to read that eight part story or "The Pulse: House of M Special Edition" newspaper to understand what is happening in this trade paperback.

The premise of "House of M" is that the New Avengers and X-Men meet to discuss the fate of Wanda Maximoff, a.k.a. the Scarlet Witch, and Magneto's daughter. Previously Wanda had lost control of her reality-altering powers and suffered a total nervous breakdown, during which she was reponsible for the deaths of the Vision, Hawkeye and Ant-Man. Magneto was able to stop her and take his daughter away to the devastated island-nation of Genosha, where Professor Xavier tried to aid her with her recover. However, he had failed and now the superheroes had gathered to debate whether Wanda should live or die. But then she, her brother Pietro, and Magneto disappear, the world burns to white and a new reality emerges where humans are the oppressed minority and mutants rule under the united kingdom of the House of Magnus. However, Wolverine remembers what is happening, then helps Emma Frost remember, and the two start gathering the Avengers and X-Men. That includes Peter Parker, who is known as the world famous Spider-Man, married to Gwen Stacy, has a son named Richie, and still takes care of Aunt May and Uncle Ben, and has a good relationship with his father-in-law, Captain Stacy.

"House of M: Spider-Man" obviously takes place in the House of M world, but the best way to explain it would be that the story is about what happens to the Spider-Man who does not remember his "real" life. Written by Mark Waid and Tom Peyer, with Salvador Larroca as the penciler and Danny Miki the inker, the five-part story begins with Peter in the master bedroom of his Connecticut estate with his wife and child, unaware that this is not the way it is suppose to be. This is a world where J. Jonah Jameson is Parker's publicist and Peter is one of Forbes Magazine's "Ten Richest Mutants of 2005." The first part has Peter's birthday party after which the Green Goblin pays a visit to Jameson and announces Jonah will be the pawn who is going to help him destroy Spider-Man. Jonah's response is, "When do we start?" This cannot be good for our hero.

Now, if you remember that this reality is one in which mutants rule, and if you recall the Spider-Man was created when a radioactive spider bit Peter Parker, then you should be able to figure out where this one is going. The Green Goblin gives Jameson the journal of Peter Parker, which reveals that Spider-Man is...a homo sapien. At that point the entire world of the famous wrestler/actor/scientist/philanthropist falls apart. I was anticipating a slightly different twist on the story than what we get at the end of issue #3, but the way it plays out is certainly consistent with the idea that Wanda created a world where mutants can be happy. The irony that humans are hated has its moments, and there is certainly some resonance to having Gwen and her father being around again. This story has a strong psychological dimension, which might be a more common complaint about the story. Still, fans of Spider-Man can find this alternative story of more than passing interest.

First off, I want to start off by saying I really like Mark Waid's writting. His stories are always well thought out and interesting. So that isn't my problem with this story.
This story goes along with Marvel's big House of M event and is supposed to highlight what marvel's various heavy-hitters were doing during this alternate universe. In Spider-man's story you see that Uncle Ben is alive, Captian Stacy is alive, and Gwen is alive and married to Peter. Furthermore Peter has a kid and is very famous. So at the start everything is good so clearly something terrible needs to happen. And it does, the green goblin (who as a villian, doesn't exist in this universe) unleashes a simple plot to ruin peter's life.
There are a few twists and turns through out the story and it keeps you guessing.
My problem with this story is that it doesn't fit in with the House of M storyline. I don't know if this is supposed to happen before the heroes find Peter in the main House of M story or after or be happening during but none of those really seem to make sense and I'm not aware of anything that tie the two stories together. It seems as though Marvel told Mark Waid what Peter's life is like as a result of House of M and then had him write a story without filling him in on how the main House of M story would go. I think this hurt the story because at least at my local comic shop sales seemed to drop as the mini series went on.
Over all this is a good read if you take as a What If title and don't expect it to follow or compliment the main House of M miniseries too closely

The House of M was my return to the comic book world. I think it's rather important that you read "House of M" before reading the other story lines as it sets the foundation for issues in the other stories.

The Scarlet Witch has the power to change reality and becomes a danger to the point where Professor Xavier tries to help her but soon realizes he can't. The Avengers and the X-Men meet to decide her fate to which her brother QuickSilver implores their father Magneto to do something. The world is remade to where the Mutants are dominant and Homo sapiens ("regular people") are the oppressed. All have had their lives remade; some good and some bad.

Peter Parkers world has changed. He is married to Gwen Stacy and has a son. Uncle Ben is alive and both he and Aunt May live with the Parkers. Peter is now a famous celebrity. He involves himself with many areas and he even has his revenge on J. Jonah Jameson who is made to become his publicist and is treated horribly by Peter.

There is a birthday party and Jameson is visited by the Green Goblin who announces Jameson will be his pawn in an effort to destroy Parker. The Goblin shows Jameson something and Jameson shows an evil smile and says "When do we start?"

As you can expect things start falling apart and Parker seems to have the makings of a nervous breakdown. Is there a secret? Does this play into the first story where Spiderman has memories of the original world?

If I had to give this story a simple description I would suggest it could be an extended "what if" story. It's more than a "rise and fall" story of man. It has some interesting twists. One I liked was seeing Aunt May in action. I had to laugh at what she did.

All in all; I found I liked this addition to the House of M storyline. However, as previously mentioned I have been away from the comic world for awhile and have not read some of the new story lines.

The other reviewers have covered this pretty thoroughly so all I can add is that, far as my humble opinion is worth, I stand somewhere in between the positive and negative reviews... it had the potential to be a GREAT graphic novel and started out strong but two major problems

- How Peter Parker pretty much "crumbled" in the middle, psychologically speaking.. if they'd given it more of a build up and spent more time on his mental decay instead of suddenly springing it on the reader it would have made more sense - as is, it comes off as abrupt and unrealistic.

- How quickly his family in the House of M reality forgave him given his actions after "crumbling"... same problem here (see above) in terms of not enough build-up and explanation.

This is a common problem for a lot of graphic novels out there - glossing over stuff too quickly and having it come off as "unrealistic" as a result... I'm not sure if it's due to budget restrictions (can't afford to print too many comics in the series) or not... then again in Fantastic Four/Iron Man House of M the Fantastic Four part (again in my humble opinion) did a wonderful job with Doctor Doom in only a few short issues...

It's an interesting read but given the flaws I wouldn't spend more than seven dollars (max) on it

What's Spider-Man up to in the alternate reality of the House of M? He's a wealthy, famous professional wrestling superstar that's married to Gwen Stacy, has a kid, and his Uncle Ben never died. Needless to say, it's the life that Peter Parker jas basically always wanted. J. Jonah Jameson is his abused publicist, who helps the Green Goblin set up Spidey by leaking the secret that he's not a mutant, but a human given powers via a radioactive spider. Needless to say, this doesn't bode well in a world that is dominated by mutants. Mark Waid writes a compelling and interesting alternate look at Marvel's most popular character, while X-Men artist Salvador Larroca and inker Danny Miki provide solid work as well. The only downside to House of M: Spider-Man is that which was already mentioned by a previous reviewer: by the time the book ends, Spidey's status in Brian Michael Bendis' main House of M storyline contradicts what is found here. That aside though, this House of M tie-in is pretty good, and worth checking out for fans of the main storyline.

I have to say this was a poor comic book. The story was below average, the main characters Parker and JJJ were fake personalities of the original characters. The only thing that took it up a star (to two) was the impressive art work. By all means this comic is nothing to be proud of.
The story has already been mention above, my gripe with it is first of all Parker as spiderman would not be hiding his secret but showing the whole world that as a human (or there abouts) he can help and rescue people whether there mutants or human and in that he becomes a symbol of campaigning for humans to have the same rights as mutants. JJJ in the other hand would campaign openly using his newspaper and media for the rights of humans, as well he would think of spidy a mutant secretly wanting to sabotage human rights. JJJ has no gripe with Parker; only with mask vigilantes who rome the streets of new york which spidy fits the package easily. Spiderman fights because he has the responsibility to. His powers lead him to fight for justice.
Although thats the states q; the reality is different here yet the characters themselves are completely different too, which is wrong, instead of spidy fighting for justice he entertains for money, he even hates JJJ for petty reason which are not even in the real spiderman realm. Normally Parker and JJJ get along, not Spidy and JJJ. To have Parker picking fights with JJJ is wrong and unlike the characters the comics are based on and I found it unpleasant. The other characters were weakly described as uncle Ben never seems to tell Parker off or gives him any words of wisdom in these troubled times. The villainess are meaningless and the ending was rubbish and spineless to say the least in fact instead of two star im going to resort to one. Infact this is not a spiderman comic none of the plot is meaningful, the characters have any enounce of who they suppose to be even in a distorted reality and the plot does not fit well with the house of m theme. Instead of Peter Paker they should have called him Pilly Parkr and his sperman costume and JJJ to JIQ and his spineless wit in this reality or any other.

This story is a bit interesting but that's about it. This is the fast-food of stories, very little substainces. Why did Spidey have a diary? Did he know of the real universe? Alas, these questions will never be answered now. The only thing done right was that Gwen Stacy was brought back to life for this story. You know after doing a little bit of back reading, I get the feeling that MJ was just 2nd prize in Peter's heart. However, MJ can't take the place of Peter's first really romantic love. I don't get me wrong. I think Peter and MJ work! But, Peter and Gwen would be together through it all ... if that damn,(sob), Green Goblin hadn't !!!

Look, I didn't like House of M or really any of them to be exact. House of M is a story that was done just to get your money and nothing more. Sure, they have to tell a pretty convincing/dynmaic story to do that but for me they didn't. The other good thing about House of M. Hawkeye is back, baby!

There is absolutly nothing here that adds or works with the whole house of M world. Should of been titled: WHAT IF... House of End never Ended??

Spider-man:House of M is a good read, accompanied by some great artwork. However, I couldn't seem to find exactly where it fit in with House of M (when did he meet up with every one?) But overall, it was one of the most interesting Spider-man stories I've read.