On the AMAZING SPIDER-MAN: Renew Your Vows #1

Since his debut in 1962, Spider-Man has always been one of the most popular superheroes, up until 2007 when the third film from Sam Raimi came out. After that, he somehow dropped in popularity. The reboot movies did not do as well as the previous trilogy. Iron Man has seemingly replaced him for most popular Marvel hero. That was for the general public, the reason why a lot comic fans stopped liking him was because of the event known as "One More Day" in 2007, when Peter made a deal with Mephisto to end his marriage with Mary Jane to save Aunt May.

Why was this so bad? Think about it, Peter and MJ had been married for 20 years. They were the comic book couple, right next to Superman and Lois Lane. But because someone, in this case Joe Quesada, decided that Spidey is best left single. So, that event wiped away over 15 years of quality storytelling and character development. Peter was reverted to basically being a young goofball who has one night stands with Black Cat. You can see why it was a terrible move then, and sadly still affects today's comics.

That's why I was quite intrigued with "Renew Your Vows." This story takes place in a reality where Peter and Mary Jane remained married and their daughter, whom in the original storyline, died prematurely, is alive and well. My intrigue was hampered by the fact Dan Slott was writing it. Now to be fair, he wasn't the one responsible for "One More Day," but he has written some of the worst Spidey characterizations since. The current run is embarrassing when compared to runs such as Todd McFarlane's in the late 80's. Slott's writing is extremely juvenile for almost every character, including Spidey himself. (If I remember correctly, it was the first issue when Spidey was reduced to having his pants come off and then civilians taking pictures & tweeting them.)

Still, that's not to say Slott has written all bad stories. Back in the day "Big Time" was exciting. But almost everything since then has been a slap in the face to longtime Spidey fans and continually shows why "One More Day" was perhaps the worst move in comic history. But, that's an article for another day, let's take a look at the comic for today:

THE LAST SPIDER-MAN STORY Not even The Amazing Spider-Man is safe from Secret Wars! In this new Marvel Universe, Peter Parker, Mary Jane Watson and their daughter have to scrape by to make ends meet, but they have each other? Face front, True Believers. This is the one you've been asking for.

The current Marvel event, "Secret Wars" is the backdrop for this story. Despite being part of that, what's cool (or not depending on the reader) is that it feels more like a standalone "What If" story. Dan Slott's writing of a married Peter is pretty solid for the most part. It doesn't compare to the writing of yesterday, but there aren't really any major complaints to be had. We have a Peter Parker who's more mature than the one we're currently seeing.

Mary Jane in recent years has been, well, pretty awful for the most part. In many issues the writer had seemingly no idea what to do with her. Her old role as Spidey's wife just gave her more dimension as a character. As seen here, where she tries to make a plan to help Peter. These two just go so well together in dialogue and chemistry that it's even more painful to think writers have tried (and failed) to give him another girlfriend.

The story is paced very smoothly. Being in the middle of a continuity driven event, Slott assumes the reader knows the history of Spidey being married. There's no backstory; the issue quickly delves into the fact that some heroes are missing due to the Secret Wars. (I'm assuming that's the case anyway, the issue doesn't make clear if that's the case.) But even this is put to the side for the main conflict of the issue, which I'm sure was a surprise to everyone reading...

Venom in the modern comics has been reduced in popularity lately. Ever since the cancellation of his series two years ago, he's rarely been popping up. It doesn't help that the current incarnation is a government agent. It's quite refreshing to see Venom as how he is meant to be: a Spider-Man tormentor. The writing is quite good, especially in the climax, "Oh, the things we're going to do your horrid spawn, HA HA HA! Even if you beat us now, we'll never stop, Parker! We will get her. We will suck out her brains!" The final battle in the burning building was definitely epic, in both punches thrown and the narration. I am not quite sure why artist Adam Kubert chose to use the Mac Gargan design for Venom when it's Eddie Brock who is in the suit, but it's hard to complain when it looks that good.

The art in general is solid. With such great scenes such as Spidey throwing a powerful punch at Venom to the former's up-close shot with the fiery backdrop, it's hard not to want Kubert on art duties permanently. Though, Peter Parker in some scenes, especially in the Daily Bugle, looks much too young considering the time period of the story. The main cover isn't anything dynamic, but its simplicity is perfect. If you're into variants, the Skottie Young one is easily the best. I've never seen a more adorable depiction of Spidey and MJ.

"Renew Your Vows #1" is an excellent comic for longtime Spidey fans. Ignoring for a second that it ties into a big event, it's a fun look at how things were back then, and of course with the added fact of a child. The arrival of Venom was a nice surprise and added some excellent drama to the writing. As a tie-in to Secret Wars however, it could be called disappointing. A part of the issue is dedicated to the Avengers taking on a being called Regent. It's interesting, (one of the reasons being Cap's inverted costume) but how that plays into the event remains to be seen. The final page is apparently a time skip, and it shall be interesting to see where the story goes from there. Dan Slott has written his best Spidey comic since Big Time. To quote the very first line of the issue from Peter himself,

Yes, in a perfect we would be getting quality, mature Spidey stories like this on a monthly basis.

LEGO Marvel Superheroes Review

The last time the Marvel Universe banded together for a world-encompassing game was in the less than stellar Ultimate Alliance 2 five years ago. (Yes we're all still wondering why The Avengers game adaption was replaced by Battle for Earth.) The LEGO format by now is no stranger. We've had the very successful LEGO Star Wars and more recently LEGO Batman. (If that wasn't enough, expect LEGO The Hobbit soon.) As shocking as it may be, Warner Bros. actually produced this game. That's basically the equivalent of a Marvel show airing on Cartoon Network. So, does this game cash-in on the Marvel Cinematic Universe phase using the LEGO format or is it something a little more? LEGO Marvel Superheroes is a very nice time for longtime and new fans alike. It perfectly strikes a balance that appeals to everyone. In a world where gory violence dominates the industry, it's very nice to see a happy and cheerful gaming experience.

Loki has returned and alongside Dr. Doom has banded together all the major villains of the Marvel world. It'll take the combined forces of the Avengers, Fantastic Four, X-Men, Spider-Man and more to stop them and the hungry Galactus whom is edging closer and closer to Earth. The game knows what it is: a parody of the comics and Cinematic Universe. It's a lot of fun, and surprisingly the writing is very good. I say surprising because with anything modern Marvel related when it comes to cartoons and the like, you'll see the writing is geared toward the younger audience with no care whatsoever about its longtime fans. Here it's legitimately funny, you'll find yourself smiling throughout the surprisingly long playthrough.

The gameplay is identical to the other LEGO games. Of course, playing as the Marvel heroes should be a different experience, and it is. Every character's abilities is wonderfully realized. From Spider-Man's webslinging to Storm's lightning, the game makes great use of the characters and their unique abilities. The actual levels are pretty well thought out. Despite the game's often large cast per level, each character is put to good, equal use. The playthrough is definitely long, you'll most likely be spending a week on it. Plus, that's only about 12% of the entire game. The Hub World (New York City) is home to an abundance of other things to do. So this game has plenty of replay value after you beat the main story. (And the fact there are over 100 characters to unlock adds to that incentive.)

The obvious negative is the really odd decision to make the characters invincible. It's impossible for you to lose. If you explode into a million LEGO pieces, you reform seconds after. It doesn't really hurt the gameplay experience, but it must be mentioned. Every video game should be able to make you lose, otherwise there's no challenge. That's what a game is, you win or lose. That's why I don't like the recent things Nintendo has done with their games, such as in Super Mario Galaxy 2 and New Super Mario Bros. U where if you keep losing the game gives the option of bypassing the level.

Despite being in the loading screen, the Silver Surfer doesn't do anything in the story and ends up being knocked out for most of it. Fans of Galactus will probably be disappointed with his portrayal. Throughout the story he's hyped as the big boss but in the end Loki ends up controlling him for the final fight. (Gotta love how Marvel prioritizes him over characters like Galactus.) The boss fights are definitely solid. The final battle is nicely grand in scale. I am particularly pleased with the way Spider-Man was portrayed throughout. (He's better portrayed here than in his own cartoon!) This being based mainly on the Cinematic Universe, you'll be having plenty of laughs. (Such as Coulson promising Cap he'll make sure the Statue pf Liberty is repaired.) Speaking of that, it was genius to have Magneto controlling the Statue of Liberty and using it as a weapon, I don't think we've ever seen something like that before.

Overall, LEGO Marvel genuinely surprised me. I wasn't expecting much, but it ended up being one of the most fun times I've ever had with Marvel. The writing is fantastic, you'll be having a blast watching the cutscenes. With a pretty solid comic book-like soundtrack, the game rarely becomes boring. There's plenty to do to in the really expansive New York City hub world. Whether you're a fan who's been reading since 1962 or a brand new fan thanks to the movies, LEGO Marvel Superheroes is well worth your time.

4/5

Was Venom Done Right?

The Ultimate Spider-Man show is up to its fourth episode outing. A very strong start, a mediocre middle, and here we have this. I have been anticipating this one for a long time, it’s the debut of my favorite Marvel villain Venom. Ol’ Venom has had two incarnations in the cartoons so far, in The Animated Series, and in Spectacular Spider-Man. The difference here is that he’s appearing very early on, that has never been done before. It took 10 episodes in The Animated Series, and in Spectacular he was saved for the season finale. Not here, here he’s being established early on, and it may just be the best incarnation to date.

The origin here is drastically different from any other Venom origin to date. Doctor Octopus manages to get ahold of Spider-Man’s DNA and creates a symbiote, amplified with all the evil from the DNA. A great scene is when Norman walks in, and the whole place is trashed. Osborn asks “What happened?!” Then Doc Ock simply replies “The specimen escaped.” Now that was some great, simple writing there. I was afraid for a moment that Venom would be Doc Ock’s lapdog in the show, thankfully that’s not the case.

The symbiote is taking a bunch of cues from its Ultimate comics counterpart. Unlike in the 616 universe, this one uses itself as a weapon, like what Carnage does. It always did make more sense that way. Another interesting thing is that there’s no set host (Yet.) It kept latching itself from person to person (Very clever to have it latch onto Flash Thomson first, nice work Marvel). The horrific look is there, and the hate for Spidey is well established. The best moment that I’m sure had us Venom fans geeking out was when it latched itself onto Spidey, followed by the ever classic “I’m Venom!!!!!” (Interesting that it’s I’m, not we’re.) Here we get what looks to be the definitive design for the show. It looks a bit like the Spectacular Spider-Man design, but tweaked to perfection. It has four tentacles coming out out of his back, really gives off the horrific look that we want to see. And  the voice, perfection right there.

So was Venom done right in Spider-Man’s latest TV outing? I’d say so. As a huge fan of the 90′s incarnation, I approve. The design, the voice, it’s all there. With some more appearances in the show, this may just be the best Venom incarnation yet.

On the Venom Film

Just two days ago on March 6th it was announced that Josh Trank is in talks to direct the Venom film. This was quite shocking, since everyone assumed it was dead cause it hadn't been mentioned in years. It was first announced soon after Spider-Man 3 was released. It was never confirmed if it would be a Spider-Man 3 spin-off, but I'm going to assume it was. Similar to what X-Men Origins was to the X-Men series.This was before Spider-Man 4 was canned, and then the Venom film went dead. Since Sony had decided to reboot the Spidey series, a Venom spin-off of a now done trilogy would be strange. So we all accepted the fact that Venom won't be heading to the big screen solo.....that changed yesterday. A little backstory will do....

I won't get into Spidey 3 that much, since all that is covered in my review of the film. Venom made his debut in the live-action world on May 4th, 2007, and was met with backlash from fans. It was quite understandable. Instead of being a larger, monstrous version of Spidey, he was a whiny annoying punk. All the fault lies on Topher Grace, a rather odd choice for the role. In short, Venom was ruined in the film. Too little build-up, nice look though. He just needed to be buffer. So when the Venom spin-off was announced, it was the studio's chance to put a definitive version of Spidey's nemesis on the big screen. The last update was on June 11th, 2010 before the film went dead, until two days ago on March 6th of course. Now I can finally begin talking about the core part of this editorial.

A lot of fans are wondering how this will fit into the timeline. Now that Spidey 4 is dead and the series is getting rebooted, it's quite obvious that it will NOT be part of that trilogy. However, some still think it will be a spin-off of 3, Well, it's not going to be. I am 99.9% sure of that. The Raimi series is finished, there will not be any references to it. Of course, a lot of people speculate that it will be part of the upcoming reboot series. That would make some sense, to try and keep an established franchise. Let's look at this for a second. The Amazing Spider-Man releases in just four months. A sequel will follow in two years. Venom has what looks to be a director, but casting probably won't be announced anytime soon. I don't see this film getting much of anywhere by the time The Amazing Spider-Man 2 releases. Then again, it IS possible that some things will be announced soon after The Amazing Spider-Man releases into theaters, such as a script. The question is will it tie in? Amazing Spidey 2 will most likely have nothing to do with the Symbiote. 3 maybe, but that would be a bit redundant. The point is, if the Symbiote were introduced in that film, Venom will most likely be hinted at. Then what? In 4 he will appear, but where does that leave this film? A director gets practically announced this year, then the film is put off for four more years? Possible, but unlikely. I don't think this will go the Godzilla route. No, you see, I think this will be a complete one-shot with no Eddie Brock. (Or host for that matter.)

In 2003 Daniel Way did a short-lived comic series simply titled Venom. This wasn't your usual Venom story however, there was no host in the beginning. Basically, it was John Carpenter's The Thing for the first couple of issues. I'm serious, the Symbiote was in the Arctic with a bunch of scientists/explorers. And get this, the Symbiote absorbs a dog. I don't know if this was an intentional parody or not. The point is, this would be the most realistic approach to a Venom film. Let's face the facts, Venom as a 'lethal protector' first of all wouldn't translate to screen at all, and second of all, it's just not going to happen. The concept would just get goofy after awhile, like in the comics. Another possible thing would have Eddie Brock get absorbed by the Symbiote in 3, which then leads to his solo film. That doesn't really make much sense, does it? Personally, that possibility is slim. The only real way a 'realistic' way the studio can bring Venom to the big screen is by going the horror route. It shouldn't be about the host, it should be about the Symbiote. I'm not saying it should adapt the Way series, but it's a good starting point on how to go about this project.

If you want to talk villains for a bit, the most realistic approach would be to have the Symbiote as the villain with the humans working their way around it. Now, that's not exactly how I would want it personally, and I doubt Sony would go fully that route of having no one to battle Venom. Enter what is really Venom's only villain: Carnage. Now how would that go about? Cletus Cassidy could fit to be absorbed by the Carnage symbiote, but where would that leave the Venom symbiote? No, I think there should be no 'main' hosts. The way I see it, it could be just a no-name person, then Venom has a form. Like in the Way series, it goes from human to dog to human. The host isn't in control at all, it's the Symbiote using the person, not the other way around. The point is Venom should be a 'different' film. Realistically, Eddie Brock as a lethal protector isn't going to work. It should be a horror story with the Symbiote, and if they could fit Carnage in, all the better. I have been waiting for this a long time, so it gave me pleasure to write this up. It feels good to talk about a film that is actually most likely going to be happen.

Thanks for reading.

Retro Review: Web of Spider-Man #1

In comics, you'll find hidden meanings all over the place. Sometimes you might look too deep into a comic and come up with a meaning. But that's fine. Web of Spider-Man #1 is what I consider to be one of the most influential Spider-Man comics of all time. I say this because this is the issue the shows and movie looked to. This is the issue where Peter gets rid of the Symbiote using the church bells. This comic was adapted in the 90's animated series, the 2008 Spectacular Spider-Man animated series, and in the 2007 film. This is a major factor in future issues, this was before Venom was created and before Peter and Mary Jane were married. It is also one of the greatest Spider-Man comics I have ever read.

I find it interesting that the whole Symbiote story was finished in the first issue of a new series. Not a negative thing of course, but I'm surprised they didn't wrap it up over at the main title. Anyways, it's the dialogue and ending that make this issue. It doesn't take any time to get the ball rolling, the first page shows the Symbiote watching Peter. It's pretty amazing how it intelligent it was before Venom came along, it masqueraded as Spidey's red and blue suit. I love Spidey's reaction when he see the Symbiote spider logo. What follows is Spidey basically going to war with the Symbiote. He needs to go to the Baxter Building to use Reed Richards' Sonic Blaster. However, the Symbiote has plans of its own. The writing is just fantastic as Spidey talks against the Symbiote and how he uses the term 'puppet.' While this is as serious issue, it features some great moments that are serious yet humorous. Spidey trying to sling a web, but the Symbiote forces him to sling in the other direction was just great. I also laughed at the moment when Spidey and goes haywire with both the Symbiote and him trying to take control then he bangs a building saying "Ouch." These are the great Spidey moments I live for.

Besides all of this, the other focus is on a bunch of Vulture wannabes. They aren't badly written, in fact, they're pretty well written. It takes a skilled writer like Louise Jones Simonson (I actually didn't know that a woman wrote the issue, pretty cool) to make a bunch of nobodies mildly interesting. I like it when Spidey says "...But the Vulture would never let me near enough to pull a stunt like this! " to one of the people in the Vulture suits. (I also like how he refers to the Symbiote as 'alien body snatcher.') The best part of this issue, however, is the ending. I'll get to that in a sec, I just want to talk about the lead up and art first. The church bells scene is such an iconic page. That's the part the shows and movie adapted. Spidey wanting to die than be absorbed by the Symbiote is truly something. Of course he goes with his usual Spidey manner, telling the Symbiote IT might as well go before he loses his sense of humor about this.

The cover is a fantastic piece of art by Charles Vess. Such an iconic look, Spidey in the black suit has never looked better. Not to mention the gargoyles next to it adds to the atmosphere. However, the ending is what made the issue. After the Symbiote is driven from Spidey because of the bells, it goes back and saves him. It takes him to the bottom of the church to safety. Then the haunting text "In very a short while, Peter Parker will awaken and wonder why did it save him? It is a question that will haunt him for the rest of his life!" It's such an iconic scene, definitely one of the best in my opinion. Did it save him because it felt an emotional attachment? Because it felt honorable of letting a worthy opponent live? It's just an amazing moment that makes you think. That exact scene needs to be adapted.

Overall, I really enjoyed this issue. It's interesting to look back at how big events happened. Who would have thought that this issue would be the catalyst for Spider-Man's most famous villain. The writing is top notch, Spidey's dialogue while the Symbiote attempts to re-bond with him is worth the price alone. It's the ending that really made the comic, one of the greatest scenes in all of Spider-Man. Web of Spider-Man #1 is one of the definitive Spider-Man comics. Good attempting to rid himself of evil, but not without the ladder going down without  a fight. It has a good deeper meaning to it, this comic is definitely something to track down and get.

10/10.

Spider-Man 3 Review

Ah, Spider-Man 3. It's been two years since I've last seen it, this would be my sixth time watching it. I was one of the few who came out of the theater satisfied, saw it on Blu-Ray, and loved it even more. I remember back in 2006 when it was the most hyped movie of the decade. Ah, the memories of me scouring the internet day in and day out searching for updates on it. I remember seeing the first trailer and thinking "The Symbiote? That means.......VENOM!" My dream of a film. Spider-Man and Venom together on the big screen, that's what I was looking forward to. I kept searching 'Spider-Man 3 Venom' in hopes of finding some info on what our favorite Symbiote would look like. I went through pages and pages of fan-art, it wasn't until the last trailer when we got some Venom action. Best. Trailer. Ever. I wanted to go see it opening day on May 4th, but I ended up seeing it eight days later on May 12th. I went in there in a "unbelivable, I'm actually about to watch it" mood. I enjoyed it, my friend whom I was watching it with thought it could have been better. I don't remember my exact feelings, I just remembered liking it. It wasn't until I got it on Blu-Ray two years ago when I realized just how great it is. Now that I consider myself a pretty good reviewer, I decided to check out this film again. Reading all the hate within those two years made me think "Was it really bad, did I just WANT to like it?" Now that I've seen it again, I can safely say nope. I still loved it. It's still my favorite comic book movie. I'll state my reasons and logic in the coming paragraphs.

Is it really necessary to mention the plot? By now everyone knows what it is. I guess I should mention it anyway. The story follows Peter, who is more upbeat than ever. Spider-Man is known to New York as a hero, and he's going to ask Mary Jane to marry him. Life is good. Until it is found out that the man who everyone thought killed Uncle Ben didn't. It turns out a man named Flint Marko did it, and he's currently on the run. Meanwhile, a small object from space has crash landed. In it, a black symbiote comes out. It eventually attaches itself to a sleeping Spidey. When he awakes, he finds himself on the side of a building in a black costume. He finds that he's stronger and faster with it and goes after Marko, who now has sand powers. Spidey manages to beat and seemingly kill 'Sandman.' Eventually, after a scene with Mary Jane, he realizes the suit is evil. He goes to a church and attempts to take it off. At the bottom floor, Eddie Brock, a fired photographer due to Peter calling him out on a photo-shopped picture, is there watching the whole thing. Peter manages to free himself from the symbiote, and the ladder goes down and attaches itself to Brock. They are bonded and become (you guessed it) Venom. On top of all this, Peter has to deal with Harry, who blames Peter for the death of his father, the Green Goblin.

I remember back in an interview for the now deceased Spider-Man 4 an actor said something like "My character is not dead." It was never known who it was, but it was probably Venom. Originally, Venom wasn't going to be in this film, it was the studio that wanted him in. I've read probably thousands of reviews saying all the negatives of the film. "Too much happening" being a main thing. Let's get one thing straight: I agree. There are too many plots. Sandman, Harry, the Symbiote, and Venom. Venom should not have been in the film, he should have been set up for the sequel. (Of course, now that there is no sequel, I'm glad they used him, imagine seeing Venom after the credits and then finding out Spider-Man 4 was canceled in favor of a reboot.) Sometimes the focus would be on one thing too long, and then another would be lost. Like, the Symbiote appeared, but was forgotten for sometime. And yes, the actual Peter-with-the-Symbiote plot should have been expanded. With all that said, I want to talk about why despite all that, it's still a solid film.

For a film with all that happening, it does a darn good job with making it feel not too rushed. The whole Harry against Peter thing was wrapped up nicely. The first fight between the two was wonderfully executed, everything about it was epic. The second fight between them was appropriately gritty. It's good stuff. In fact, the  fight scenes in this film are some of the best I've ever seen in a comic book movie. The effects and CGI overall are step above from the previous films and still holds up great four years later. (Especially in Blu-Ray.) However, it's the cast that make this film solid. Very interesting cast of characters in this one.

A lot of people consider Toby Maguire's portrayal of the web head to be good, but lacking the character's trademark wisecracks. I agree, but in this film, he gives off the upbeat outlook on things Peter does in the comics. Gotta say, his portrayal in this film was spot-on. He brought the upbeat, humorous outlook portrayal from the comics. And I don't care what anyone says......I liked Kirsten Dunst as Mary Jane. She had a very 'sweet' outlook, the first couple of scenes with her is proof that she's a good Mary Jane. Her portrayal matches more of the late 80's comic version. It's a stretch, and I'm not saying she was perfect, but well enough. James Franco as Harry Osborn does a very solid job. One of the best in the film, his hatred toward Peter matches the comics well. (And the few scenes with Norman talking to him is amazingly done.)  The 'New Goblin' design I found was cool, but would have been better if it actually had some Goblin features. Thomas Haden Church as the Sandman was superb. I especially liked the scene where Spidey came in and said "I'm the sheriff around these parts." And then Sandman just says "Okay." Now, for the main reason why I wanted to see this film in the first place, Venom.

Topher Grace was a rather interesting choice for Eddie Brock. When I watched Spider-Man 3 for the first time, I hadn't read much, if any Spidey comics with Venom from the Mcfarlane era. It wasn't until later that I realized how inaccurate the portrayal was. What incarnation was Raimi trying to do? The Eddie Brock from the mainstream universe was a rough, weight-lifting guy, not some puny person who gets threatened easily. It gave off more of an Ultimate universe impression. (And even then, it didn't match that.) With that said, the actual performance was mixed. On one hand, this version of Eddie Brock matches the comics 0%, but ignoring that, the performance was solid. (Of course, it's pretty much impossible to ignore that.) The actual transformation into Venom still ranks as my favorite movie scene ever. It was wonderfully executed. (I remember how amazing it looked on the big screen.)

A lot of fans complain at how Venom looked. He didn't match the bulky, Hulk-like look from his first appearances in the comics. While that is true, what a lot of fans don't realize is that in the Howard Mackie run, Venom wasn't his bulky self. In that run, he was thinned down and given more of a horrific look. I think the film's Venom was based on that run's version. So I'm alright with the look. My problem is that when he's Venom, Brock spends more time talking without the Symbiote covering his face. C'mon, that gets annoying. As for Venom's actual portrayal, I thought it was actually pretty good. I mean, I love the part where he has Spidey on the web, then he transforms into Venom, roars, then Mary Jane drops a brick on him, then he roars again and then he Spidey fall and start battling it out. (All of this is executed wonderfully with outstanding effects.) Look, I think the actual Venom portrayal was spot-on, he gave off that horrific feel, it was Topher Grace who brought it down. There is one scene that to this day I still don't like. Venom would never ask anyone for help in defeating Spidey, it just doesn't go. As for the other charaters. Gwen Stacy was one of the big announcements back in the day. After watching the film again, I can say that her character was not needed. She could have been cut off the film, not to mention that the actress who portrays her wasn't that great. Not a horrible job, but not great. J. K. Simmons did another great job as J. Jonah Jameson, and the French guy at the restaurant stole the show. (No joke, every scene he was in was priceless.)

The majority of soundtracks in comic book movies could be better. The soundtrack in this film stands above a lot of comic book movies, it has some great themes. (Spidey's theme never stops being so catchy.) I especially liked the theme where Peter battled Harry in the ladder's mansion, and Sandman's theme was dramatic. One of the big things with this film was the revelation that Flint Marko was the one responsible for the death of Uncle Ben. I still don't like how they did that, but it fits for the film. Then there's the infamous dance scene. Really, the majority DESPISE this scene. What do I have to say about it? The Symbiote plays on emotion, namely anger. I didn't mind the scene all that much, it was slowly turning Peter into an evil entity. Could the scene have been done differently? Of course, but it didn't ruin the film for me.

Overall, Spider-Man 3 is a very solid film. Some parts are rushed I'll admit. The whole Symbiote plot should have been expanded, and Venom needed a heck lot more screen time. Gwen Stacy shouldn't have been added, and there should have been a better Eddie Brock. However, none of it hindered the experience. I've seen this film six times now, and I've gained a better respect for it each time. It has lots of action to keep the viewer entertained, yet still keeps a good, emotional, and dramatic story. The effects are top notch, and looking back at it now as the final film of that continuity, it's a fitting end. I understand all the hate this film gets, but to call it one of the worst comic book movies is absurd. While I was disappointed at how underused Venom was, the film did give us Spidey and him in the same film, with good and decent portrayals of each. (Would have been nice if we got the "We're Venom!" quote.) Spider-Man 3 may be known as infamous, but it will always be my personal favorite comic book movie.

9/10.

Retro Review: Amazing Spider-Man #316

There's something a lot of media tend to follow. When a character is a big hit, they usually bring him/her back sometime later. This issue is a classic example of that. I don't know if David Micheline had long term plans for our favorite Symbiote, but sixteen issues later, he returned. Or as the cover puts it, "Venom is back!" Technically, he appeared in the previous issue escaping from prison, but this issue was his next big appearance in the Spidey world. While this issue isn't known as a modern classic like #300, it's still an amazing issue and demonstrates how the Spidey comics should be.

Interesting enough, I wasn't exposed to the Todd Mcfarlane era until not too long ago. I liked Venom through the 90's cartoon, I mean, how do you not like a crazy evil Spider-Man? My first Spidey comic with Venom, wow, I can't even think of what it is. I believe the first single issue I got was Spider-Man Family #2. I had read a few Spidey comics from the Mcfarlane era, but the comics I mainly read were some from the 70's and late 90's to mid-2000's. It wasn't until I bought the Todd Mcfarlane Visionaries when I realized that was the definitive Spidey era. I had actually read this issue before, I had rented the trade paperback "Birth of Venom" a couple of years back. But I decided now was the time to add it to my collection. #316 is an example of how to bring a villain back and keep things fresh.

It's interesting to see how Venom was portrayed early on before becoming the most used character in the 90's. The scene where he suffocates a rat to explain something was something else. It was creepy. It was brutal. It was Venom. None of that Lethal Protector nonsense, this is what Venom was meant to be. A hardcore villain. It makes me a bit sad to think that they made him a bit of a joke in some of his mini-series later on. (I'm looking at "The Madness" and "Sign of the Boss" specifically.) Same with Spidey, looking back at these issues, the comparison to the current series is too unbelievable to do. This Spidey is sure of himself, knows what needs to be done. He doesn't act like a wisecracking fool like nowadays. His wisecracks back in this day, were genuinely funny. For a dollar, you get a main character you could root for and is likable, great art, and stories that define the character. Today, for four dollars, you get a juvenile character, inconsistent/inferior art, and sometimes good stories. How sad.

Talking about the issue, it features everything the Spidey comics at the time had. There's a lot of drama since Peter and MJ lost their condo. Wow, these two are just a perfect match. If Peter ever gets married again and it's not MJ, there will be a problem. I love the scene where Peter walks into Aunt May's house and the ladder telling him that MJ seems upset. Then when Peter walks in to see what's the matter, she says "He's back." I love the little box where it says "horror has a name." However, the most dramatic and brutal scene of the comic was when Black Cat had an encounter with our Symbiote friend. Wow, even reading it now sends a bit of a shudder down my spine when Venom smashes her face against the wall. You're thinking at that moment, "Did he just...." I still cannot get over that scene. That is what Venom does. Not to mention the great dialogue, "Tell me where he is! Now! While you still have a face!" Venom's obsession with Spider-Man can't be better explained, that scene is proof enough in showing how crazy he is. I think the whole scene should go down as one of the most dramatic and brutal in all comics.

Overall, #316 is one of the greatest Spidey comics I've ever read. I actually enjoyed it more than #300. Venom was back, and would be back a thousand times, but this issue is special. The dialogue is top-notch. The current series has plain bad dialogue when compared to this. I especially liked the scene where Spidey was on the search for Venom, and just when he's about to give up, Venom comes in saying "Quitting so soon?" Spidey replies. "Er, f-finally found me, eh?" "Find you? We've been following you! For hours!" That line goes to show you how he just likes to mess with Spidey like no other villain does. However, the second most dramatic scene in the issue was when Spidey threw some heavy machinery on top of Venom, then escaped, saying, "I just can't beat Venom one-on-one. I'll need a plan, maybe some help!" Spider-Man rarely flees a fight, but he did here. It's something else. Then the final scene where Venom emerges finding a paper saying where Peter and is staying and his gruesome smile at it is just one heck of an ending. Amazing Spider-Man #316 is great issue, I am proud to have it in my collection.

10/10.

Retro Review: Amazing Spider-Man #300

My gosh, I've probably read this issue a thousand times. #300 is a classic for many reasons, but the main reason is the debut of Spider-Man's greatest villain, (sorry Green Goblin) Venom. This is where it all began with this guy. Little did Marvel know just how popular this monster would become, he went on to be the most used character in the 90's, sporting a bunch of mini-series and popping up frequently in the Spidey books. Indeed, Venom is by far Spidey's most popular villain, and one of Marvel's greatest. This issue marks his first showdown with the Web-slinging hero, one of hundreds that would come in later issues. Before I get on to the retro review, a little backstory on how I got this issue.

I remember when I was maybe ten I walked into the comic book store in hopes of finding #300. I was always a big Venom fan, loved the "evil Spider-Man" persona when I was younger, mainly due to the 90's show. I didn't have that many Spidey vs. Venom issues, so I was in search of them. Heh, I went in there and asked one of the workers if they had #300. I'm sure he laughed a little inside, then went searching. Yes, I didn't know too much of how valuable that issue was at the time, so I was just assuming they had it in the back-issue bins. Eventually he said that they have the trade paperback with the issue collected within, and pulled it out for me. It was the Todd Mcfarlane Spider-Man Visionaries, Volume 2. I was in awe, considering it was the first trade paperback I had seen. I ended up sacrificing a Christmas gift to get it at that moment, but it was worth it. I consider those stories to be in the definitive Spidey era. Now, I want to talk about the most important issue in the trade: #300.

What I like about this particular retro review, is that I can also compare how this era of Spidey comics is superior to the current Brand New Day/Big Time era. Peter's married, and things are definitely more "simple." First of all, I like how Spidey's more serious but wise-cracking at the same time, there's no juvenile in his character at all, which is exactly why I don't like his characterization in the current era. He's evolved as a character from his high school teen years in the 60's, to the married life in the 80's. It was perfect until it was destroyed in 2008. Anyways, reading this Spidey is always a treat, the definitive version. The scene where he tries to act like a fashion photographer is still to this day priceless.

Venom's debut is definitely a subject within itself. I have always considered myself a *huge* fan of the character. Usually when I go searching for back issues, I look for him the cover. He has gone through many phases over the years, from evil Spider-Man, to lethal protector, to "I want to eat your brains!" to gaining new hosts altogether. So looking back at his very first encounter with Spider-Man is truly interesting. His character has pretty much remained the same over the years. In this issue, Eddie Brock appears to be in complete control over the Symbiote. I like how over the years that control slowly deteriorates if you look closely. He didn't have his signature tongue yet, just a very creepy grin. I mean, look at that image on top, it's good stuff. You can see that this is no ordinary character. Regarding Eddie Brock, this is definitely the definitive version, he's pretty tough even without the Symbiote. I saw a hint of that portrayal in Spider-Man 3, but that version was lacking everything that made this issue's Venom the character that we know.

Reading this issue made me realize that Peter and MJ are, correction, were, the best comic book couple. They just fit so well together, there's no other girl that could match MJ for Peter, it just wouldn't work. I love reading how they function as a couple, it makes Spidey more of a evolved character, as opposed to being downgraded many years later. These two have matured as characters over the years, while the current era seems to want to be back in the 60's.

Overall, this is definitely one of the greatest Spidey comics, or heck, all comics. It features the debut of Venom, who would go on to be one of the most popular characters in the franchise. We see the end of the black suit days for a while when Spidey dons the red and blue again at the final page. (Excellent artwork on that page.) In fact, this artwork currently clobbers a lot of Marvel's current artwork, it's truly something else. There was no street comedy undertone in this era of Marvel, it was just simply telling good stories with the lead character. How I miss that in the current Spidey book.

A legendary 10/10.

 

The Top 15 Greatest Comic Book Covers

The cover of anything is the most important selling factor. Like, when you go to the comic book store and search those back-issue bins, you look for the most visually-appealing covers. The cover entices the buyer, so you'll find that the cover is usually better than the interior art. Here I present what I consider to be the most visually-appealing, iconic, and just cool covers from my knowledge. You've probably read thousands of lists like this, but you'll find mine to be a bit more diverse. (Heh, I'm betting no one will agree with me.) So let's get started on what I consider to be the top 15 greatest comic book covers of all time. (I am not counting variants, cause then all the variant Godzilla covers would take up the space. Speaking of Godzilla.....)

15. Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters #1

Heh, what better way to start off? This cover is iconic in many ways. First, look at the way it's shown, it's as if the camera guy is looking up at Godzilla, making him look supremely imposing. Not to mention how great Godzilla himself is drawn, when compared to the later covers of this series. The way it was drawn, it's as if the artist is saying, "The King is back, baby!"

14. Spirits of Vengeance #10

 Wow. The main focus of this cover is on Vengeance, the spiky Ghost Rider on the cycle. You can tell that this guy is no Ghost Rider wannabe, just look at those fangs, it gives off the crazy vibe that this is going to be one heck of comic with this guy. (And it's true.) And the way everyone's getting slapped to the side by this guy adds to the cool factor. It's one awesome cover, it really stood out when I found it, that's when you know a cover is good, when it stands out.

13. Superman #87

It's not Bizarro himself that makes this cover special, it's the backwards lettering and the backwards DC insignia. That in itself is unique and really grabs the attention of a looker. (It did to me, when I found this back in the library years ago.)

12. JLA/Avengers #2

If the fact of Superman and Thor wrestling or Captain America and Batman battling it out doesn't make your jaw drop, I don't know what will.

11. The Invincible Iron Man #29

The Sentient Armor storyline is my personal favorite Iron Man story, (yes, I've also read Demon in a Bottle) and this cover describes it perfectly. You can tell that's the Iron Man armor, and the fact that it's crushing its helmet is symbolism. The looker can attempt to deduce what the symbolism is, but you won't guess until you read the story. Truly a great cover.

10. Avengers #22

The Avengers have had a lot of great villains over the years. From Kang the Conqueror to the Masters of Evil, the team have had a lot of great encounters over the years. However, one name stands above them all: Ultron. The evil robot is by far the greatest villain, and one of Marvel's greatest. (Indeed, he was the one that destroyed the team and took over the world.) This cover is truly a standout, featuring the Avengers dead on the floor and Ultron standing in triumph. What I like is the background is red with all of the Avengers blending in, which makes Ultron look all the more menacing.

9. Batman #497

All you Batman fans know this one supremely well. The actual story is one of the best, the Bat gets broken. The cover's main focus is the hulking Bane, and how he's breaking Batman's back. As you could see in the backround, that's the Batcave. So that means that Bane is in the Batcave, which is part of why this cover is iconic, because not many villains break in there.

8. The Mighty Thor #385

Ah, these two Marvel titans. A battle between these two is always something the Marvel fans anticipates. There have been a bunch of covers where these two are trading blows, but this stands out the most. It's one of the earliest, and the poses are one of the most iconic in the comic industry.

7. JLA/Avengers #4

I'm sure some fans will debate this, Superman is the most iconic superhero of them all. (And this is coming from a Marvel fan.) Apparently both Marvel and DC realized this, cause on the cover of Issue Four from the JLA/Avengers mini-series, showcases the Big Red S holding both Thor's hammer and Captain America's shield. It's truly iconic for that reason, and the fact he's battled ravaged makes it even more so.

6. The Invincible Iron Man #48

Wow, just wow. This cover when I saw it immediately grabbed my eye. Ultron has been on a bunch of different covers, but none has grasped his evil tyrant look as this one. The lightning in the background really helps this cover, truly an outstanding one.

5. Spirits of Vengeance #6

Our friend Venom here has appeared on plenty of covers, this one stands out among the rest. First of all, the art is taken up a notch when compared to the other Spirits of Vengeance covers before this, it's as if the budget went higher for this cover. Venom looks amazing, especially with Ghost Rider's beaten up skull.

4. Ghost Riders: Heaven's on Fire #6

Everything about this cover screams spectacular. You have to admire the painted background and the angle of everything, it really gives off the "This is the end" feeling. The renegade angel, Zadkiel, is drawn with such precise detail, especially those wings. I like the closeup of both Ghost Riders, this is one amazing cover.

3. The Amazing Spider-Man #375

That cover is just mesmerizing. The two battling, and look at that gold foil background. The words there, "Spidey vs. Venom: The Final Confrontation!" gets you thinking, "Oh man, this is it, only one of them will walk away from this." They had made many more encounters after of course, but the point is, this cover was the endgame. It was the end of an era between these mortal rivals, and this cover is perfect in delivering that message. Ah, how I miss the glory days of Spidey.

2. Ghost Rider #2

This cover is just amazing. Here we have Ghost Rider, (which is one of the best representations of him I've ever seen) and Lucifer, the actual Devil. (Not Mephisto, the REAL Devil.) I just love everything about it, Ghost Rider standing over the Prince of Darkness, it's just truly an epic cover. It was hard not to put this for number one, but that honor belongs to something else....

1. Amazing Spider-Man #339

Surprised? This cover has always been such a favorite of mine, let me explain. First of all, it's been years since he put on the black costume, it's symbolism. You can see as he looks down at the Venom insignia, that there's no going back, he's no longer your "friendly neighborhood" Spidey, he's out to kill. It's truly an amazing cover. It's Spidey as we've never seen him before, it captures the dark feel, and that is why I consider it to be the greatest comic book cover of all time. Not a battle sequence, just a stance.

Honorable mentions

So, do you agree with me on any of these? What's your favorite cover? Thanks for reading.