Customer Reviews

Spider-Man

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Having actually *written* the book in question, this is more by way of an FYI than an actual review. I just wanted to give a heads up to the reviewer who listed all the scenes which he believed were deleted from the script and would have better served the film if they'd been in there. Of all the scenes he listed, the *only* one that was originally in the script was the Curt Connors scene. I conceived and wrote all the other scenes, all on my own. It's a common practice; scripts are only 120 pages long and simply much too short to be novel length. So novelizers always develop their own material to interweave it.

I have no idea if that changes anyone's opinion of the book one way or the other, but I just thought I'd make it clear that the "deleted scenes" were for the most part nothing of the sort.

PAD

If the movie's even half as good as the novelization - and with Sam Raimi directing, it oughta be terrific - we're in for a treat. And even if it isn't, it won't diminish this wonderfully written Spider-Man novel. Spidey's never really had a good incarnation outside of Marvel Comics - until now.

Purists may cry foul at the few changes made to the original character(s), but those changes only help to tell a more epic story in a more reasonable amount of time. Without stating any spoilers, the story of Spider-Man presented here covers the origins of Peter Parker's transformation into the friendly neighborhood webslinger, that of his arch-nemesis the Green Goblin, and of course his romance with Mary Jane.

Structurally, it resembles the dramatization of the first Batman movie, though stylistically it has a great deal more humor. Comic book fans will be delighted by the numerous in-joke references to other superhero characters, as well as phrases and lesser villains from Stan Lee, and the astute reader may catch some subtly placed jokes referring to the actors playing the roles in the movie.

But the most pleasant surprise about this version of Spider-Man is its maturity level. The character as originally written always suffered somewhat from too juvenile a mindset, which this Spider-Man does not. Peter Parker is a credibly modern young man of post-high school/pre-college age. Mary Jane, similarly, is a more realistically fleshed-out character, with recognizably real home problems and issues. The Green Goblin is not a mere sneering carnival spook-house caricature, but an inwardly tormented and unwisely desperate man who sets the wheels of his own destruction in motion. The very questions of heroism and villainy are dealt with not as clear-cut issues of black and white, but more as psychologically complex developments occurring largely by accident and partly by design, stemming from innate character strengths or flaws inherent in the individual. Responsibility for one's own actions, all random accidents of life notwithstanding, is at the story's core.

Even readers completely unfamiliar with Spider-Man will enjoy this book. I'm only sorry it's over. Hey - maybe they'll write some more! (Hint, hint.)

Friends said that I shouldn't have read this book because it would ruin my experience when I see the movie, but I said, "the heck with it." The fact of the matter is, if you knew Spider-Man from the comics and if you were like me checking Spidermanhype.com every so often then there wasn't much left to be ruined by it. I read the book not to spoil the experience (weren't any big plot twists or anything), I read it because I am a die hard Spider-Man fan. Sure the movie will make slight changes to the original characters and stories (as I found out in the book), but the movie will probably be different from the book as well (It was like that for X-Men. I read the book and saw the movie and I noticed there were some alterations between the movie and the book). I enjoyed the Spider-Man book immensely! I am looking forward to the visual portions of the movie that I read in the book. I find it easier to enjoy movie book adaptations when you read the book first then see the movie and not the other way around. If you read this far, then do yourself a favor, buy the book.

This book was very tight and opened up my imagination for the movie. This book seems to be a different telling of Spider-Man that I have ever read. I was skeptical at first, but I proved myself wrong. GREAT BOOK, AND I RECOMMEND IT TO ANYONE, CANT WAIT TO GO SEE THE MOVIE.

This is a good superhero story, most fellowers of spiderman will love this story, I didn't care for the ending and the relationship development could have been a lot better. But the good versus bad, action packed story line was very good and a fast read.

I loved this book! It had everything that a Spider-Man fan needs to really get into the upcoming film. It's great reading, both intellectual and may have you turning to Webster but never frustrating. Books are normally better than the film they're based on and in reading this I can tell that I'll have one leg up on most of people in the theater since I'll have insight on the charaters thoughts away from the main action, thanks to the novel. Peter David does a great job of really placing you in the moment and capturing the thoughts and feelings of the characters. Also, we all know this is make believe, but the writing and events that take place all make sense. Green Goblin isn't out to take over the world but rather a confused and very desparate man with a true Jeckl and Hyde case of craziness. What also brings it to life is the little hints of other characters in the Spider-Man and Marvel Comics universe. Peter works for Doc. Conners (The Lizard), saves the father of Matt Murdock (Daredevil) and Eddie Brock can't stand Peter even when he first meets him at the Daily Bugle. A great book! If you're even a mild Spider-Man fan and plan to see the film, get this book. You'll be a "true believer" (as Stan Lee would say) after it. MUST BUY!!

I read an e-text version of this book. What fun! Peter David does his typical fun job of telling the story while throwing in dozens of in-jokes for the involved comic fan. You'll love picking up the cameos of other Marvel characters that P. David throws in (that you can BE SURE won't be in the movie!)

Enjoy!

It begins with an orphan named Peter Parker, raised by his beloved Aunt May and Uncle Ben in Queens, New York. A quiet student, he works diligently at his studies and pines for the beautiful Mary-Jane Watson. But this ordinary teenage boy is about to have his life turned upside down, when he is bitten by a genetically altered spider. Suddenly, he finds himself in possesion of spectacular powers. He is now, and forever Spider-Man!

Follow Spider-Man's action-packed journey from his struggle to harness the extraodinary gifts that will prove to be both blessing and curse, to his fight to save innocent lives while the media tear him to pieces. It all leads to the dramatic battle high above the city streets, where the webslinger faces his archnemesis, the madman known as the Green Goblin. While the city watches breathlessly, Spider-Man confronts the greatest challenge, and the Goblin puts Peter Parker's vow to fight crime to the ultimate test.

THE BEST MOVIE-TIE IN! Peter David captures all the great moments of the movie! READ THIS BOOK! They say the book is better than the movie, well, they are about the same because they are both GREAT!

Personally, I think that many important issues were left behind during the making of Spider-Man the movie. Being direct, the personalities of the characters are a little lost. In the film the scenes go on to fast from the "puny" Parker getting on the buss until the appearance of Spiderman.
In this novelization, you can find that every character is utterly expressive. You will find another beginning. Peter writes a reflexive diary. A better detailed accident. There are conversations that never took place in the movie. Peter's agony after uncle Ben's lost and the utterances that make him decide to do something else with his great power. All these things could have been achieved in the film to get more excitement, but they weren't. In the other hand, this book perfectly gets the real essence of Spider-Man: Peter Parker. Going through Parker's life and understanding his well detailed thoughts, you will definitely enjoy more the wall crawler adventures.