Marvel Knights Spider-Man (v. 1) [Hardcover]

Mark Millar (Author), Terry Dodson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 16, 2005

A mysterious villain has discovered the wallcrawler's secret identity... and is using the information to slowly destroy everything and everyone that Peter Parker cares about. But how far will Spider-Man go to protect the people he loves? Is he willing to cross a boundary we thought we'd never see him cross? Featuring Spider-Man's most fearsome foes and avenging allies! Collects Marvel Knights Spider-Man #1-12.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Marvel Comics (November 16, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078511842X
• ISBN-13: 978-0785118428
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #349,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Along with Brian Michael Bendis, Mark Millar has been one of the key writers for Marvel Comics in the 21st century. After proving himself in the '90s as a talent to watch while writing for DC Comics and the UK comic 2000AD, his arrival to Marvel came at a time when Ultimate Spider-Man had just shot up the sales charts. It was in this environment that Millar made his first major contribution to Marvel with Ultimate X-Men, as Millar integrated forty years' worth of X-Men history, characters and lore into a solid two-year run, making the companion title to Ultimate Spider-Man every bit the creative and commercial success. Next up was The Ultimates, a new rendering of the Avengers that was to continue building on the success of the Ultimate line. He and artist Bryan Hitch pulled it all off in spades: The Ultimates and its sequel, Ultimates 2, were ensconced at the top of the sales charts every month; what's more, they were critical successes, as well. Meanwhile, Millar was invited to enter the regular Marvel Universe to take a stab at two of its most iconic characters: Spider-Man and Wolverine. Paired with industry heavyweights to draw his stories -- Terry Dodson on Marvel Knights Spider-Man and John Romita Jr. on Wolverine -- Millar brought the same fast-paced and cleverly constructed plots with which his Ultimate fans were already familiar. Amid building a small library of Millarworld indie comic books -- including the titles Chosen and Wanted, the latter of which was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster starring Angelina Jolie -- he managed to write Civil War, the epic seven-issue miniseries that definitively reshaped the landscape of Marvel's heroes. Kick-A**, a Marvel Icon project done in tandem with John Romita Jr., made an impressive impact on the sales chart before also being adapted for a major motion picture. In addition, Millar has reunited with Civil War artist Steve McNiven in both the pages of Wolverine and their creator-owned book Nemesis.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Spider-Man story of the 21st Century, December 30, 2005

By 

Derek Moreland - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marvel Knights Spider-Man (v. 1) (Hardcover)

The title of this review was a little difficult for me to admit - the first two arcs of Paul Jenkins/Hunberto Ramos' "Spectacular Spider-Man" were phenomenal reads that perfectly captured everyone's favorite wall-crawler (check out "The Hunger" or "Countdown" if you dont believe me). So what sets Mark Millar's 12-issue paced-for-the-trade stab at the Spidey universe so good? Sometimes, bigger is better.

Spider-Man is the ultimate hard-luck hero: he's been getting his butt kicked since Amazing Spider-man #4, Doc Ock's first appearance - and he usually wins with a heroic combination of brains, braun, and sheer tenacity. Millar understands this, and reacts accordingly: the story opens with Spider-man beaten and nearly dead, the Green Goblin barreling down on him. After narrowly pulling out a victory and saving another ungrateful group of spectators, Spidey finds his Uncle's grave desecrated and his beloved aunt kidnapped by someone who knows his secret identity.

The book then goes on a wild trip throughout the Marvel Universe and the classic Spidey rouges gallery, as Peter tries to solve the mystery: who now knows his greatest secret?

Millar's writing is top notch - fun, witty, suspenseful, and staggeringly violent when neccesary (re: Venom's appearance). Though the artist changes more than once on the twelve issues collected, the style remains intact, and the story doesnt feel puzzle-peiced together, which is a good thing.

If I have a complaint about the book, its that it wouldnt feel nearly as satisfying if I'd been reading it issue by issue: the story is definitely paced to be digested in one extended sitting. But even then, its worth the read.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mark Millar is pretty Amazing (no pun intended), November 12, 2005

By 

N. Durham "Big Evil" (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marvel Knights Spider-Man (v. 1) (Hardcover)

Collecting his entire year long run, this handsome hardcover collects the first twelve issues of the newly launched Marvel Knights Spider-Man, with none other than Ultimates scribe Mark Millar at the helm. Within these twelve issues, we witness the wall crawler take the biggest beatings the character has ever endured in years, and the villains here are written more fearsome than they have been in some time. It begins with Spidey and the Green Goblin in battle, and soon enough Peter Parker's beloved Aunt May is kidnapped, and presumed dead. The kidnapper is hiding in the shadows, and the conspiracy surrounding it involves the Black Cat, the Owl, the Vulture, Electro, and many, many more. We also witness Eddie Brock auctioning off his Venom symbiote, which births a new villain Spidey must contend with, and there's something very wrong with Doc Ock. The Avengers and the X-Men are also on board, and Millar's storyline is filled with colorful nods to Spidey stories of the past; namely the classic Death of Gwen Stacy saga but it all works superbly. The art by the team of Terry and Rachel Dodson, with a few chapters done by Frank Cho as well, is excellent, with Cho's rendering of Mary Jane looking incredibly luscious. All in all, this hardcover collection of the first run of Marvel Knights Spider-Man is one of the best stories of the character in years (Amazing Spider-Man scribe J. Michael Straczynski wrote some great stories too, but don't get me started on his latest Spidey works), and this is definitely worth picking up for web-heads who missed out on the single issues or would rather have one volume instead of the seperate three TPB's which are also available.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Millar rocks this Spidey story!, May 21, 2006

By 

Mark Douglas (NSW Australia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Marvel Knights Spider-Man (v. 1) (Hardcover)

I like Spider-Man but I have never read the regular comics because of the convoluted history and cross-over disease they have always suffered while I was a kid.

This book offers a BRILLIANTLY written and better than average drawn story which is so entertaining and most of all, complete!

It doesn't start at the beginning, but rather, the middle of Spider-Man's career. There's no wasting time on the origin here. It's all action and characterisation in a great balance.

I was also grateful the themes in this book are a little more adult than the regular comics. Like Mark Millar's exploration into domestic violence in THE ULTIMATES, he looks at the uncertainty within a less than normal marriage while under extreme stress with great success. I feel like I've grown up (now I'm in my mid 20s) and this is where Spider-Man is now in his world too 15 years later.

This book is right on par with Mark Millar's work on Ultimate X-Men and Wolverine too. And the gorgeous oversize hardcover is a nice addition to anyone's bookcase.