Adam Chapman
January 3rd 2005, 05:29 PM
Reviewer: Adam Chapman adam.chapman@sympatico.ca
Quick Rating: Good
How would Spider-Man's life be different if Aunt May had died?
<a href="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/media/1/whatifmay.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/thumbnails/1/whatifmay.jpg"align="left" border="0"> </a>Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Andrea DiVito
Colours: Laura Villari
Letters: Virtual Calligraphy's Randy Gentile
Editor: C.B. Cebulski
Cover Art: Andy Brase & Frank D'Armata
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Review: Of all the new What If? specials, this one has possibly the best form of narrative, and instead of using a Watcher, or having the writer narrate the story to others IN the Marvel Universe, we have two guys in a comic book store, as one hypothesizes on what the change in Spider-Man's origin would do to the character.
There's a lot of potential in this story, and for a one-shot, Brubaker does a great job with the concept. In fact, his work here shows that of all the new What If? books, this one could almost work better as a mini-series, and this feeling is accomplished by Brubaker really pulling you in to this very interesting story of a different Peter Parker.
The story follows Peter Parker's life, with Aunt May dying because Uncle Ben went out for milk on that fateful night. Uncle Ben gets some pretty great characterization in this story, as he is the voice of reason to a distraught Peter Parker, and won't give up on his nephew, no matter how far he falls.
The dark twists and turns Peter's life endures are plausible, which makes it all the more involving that Aunt May's steadying presence had that much of an effect on Peter, and made him that much more careful about himself and the actions he took. In the old Amazing Spider-Man issues by Stan Lee, Peter was always worried about what would happen if he was unmasked, because Aunt May would have a heart attack, etc, but here this last surviving family member is the much stronger in body Ben Parker, so his inhibitions are freed that much more. Ben is his moral compass here, just as he is in the normal universe, but here he's alive and well, and not always listened to by Peter, which is an interesting slant on the mythos.
Peter's life isn't as comfortable in this tale, and he becomes darker, and even takes to living on the streets, before eventually the story reaches its happy ending, and he regains himself before he's totally lost it. He ends up relatively close to where he is in the 616 universe, but much more sure of himself, and comfortable, and with a better support system. He's more proud of who he is here, and having Uncle Ben beside him makes him all the more confident. Aunt May in 616 still has her hang-ups about getting used to Peter as Spider-Man, whereas Ben isn't just his supporter, but his Microchip, his Whistler.
The art in this story is gorgeous. It's been a little while since we've seen DiVito, so it's nice to see him again, and his artwork hasn't missed a beat. His Spider-Man is a particular treat, and his rendition of classic villains in classic costumes is pitch-perfect.
This a great one-shot, one of the better What If? comics currently on the racks, and has some great characterization coupled with some very solid, enjoyable art.
Ratings:
Story: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/none.jpg
Art: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/none.jpg
Overall: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/none.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World and Save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1606&cat=WHAT+IF%3F)
Quick Rating: Good
How would Spider-Man's life be different if Aunt May had died?
<a href="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/media/1/whatifmay.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.comixtreme.com/gallery/data/thumbnails/1/whatifmay.jpg"align="left" border="0"> </a>Writer: Ed Brubaker
Artist: Andrea DiVito
Colours: Laura Villari
Letters: Virtual Calligraphy's Randy Gentile
Editor: C.B. Cebulski
Cover Art: Andy Brase & Frank D'Armata
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Review: Of all the new What If? specials, this one has possibly the best form of narrative, and instead of using a Watcher, or having the writer narrate the story to others IN the Marvel Universe, we have two guys in a comic book store, as one hypothesizes on what the change in Spider-Man's origin would do to the character.
There's a lot of potential in this story, and for a one-shot, Brubaker does a great job with the concept. In fact, his work here shows that of all the new What If? books, this one could almost work better as a mini-series, and this feeling is accomplished by Brubaker really pulling you in to this very interesting story of a different Peter Parker.
The story follows Peter Parker's life, with Aunt May dying because Uncle Ben went out for milk on that fateful night. Uncle Ben gets some pretty great characterization in this story, as he is the voice of reason to a distraught Peter Parker, and won't give up on his nephew, no matter how far he falls.
The dark twists and turns Peter's life endures are plausible, which makes it all the more involving that Aunt May's steadying presence had that much of an effect on Peter, and made him that much more careful about himself and the actions he took. In the old Amazing Spider-Man issues by Stan Lee, Peter was always worried about what would happen if he was unmasked, because Aunt May would have a heart attack, etc, but here this last surviving family member is the much stronger in body Ben Parker, so his inhibitions are freed that much more. Ben is his moral compass here, just as he is in the normal universe, but here he's alive and well, and not always listened to by Peter, which is an interesting slant on the mythos.
Peter's life isn't as comfortable in this tale, and he becomes darker, and even takes to living on the streets, before eventually the story reaches its happy ending, and he regains himself before he's totally lost it. He ends up relatively close to where he is in the 616 universe, but much more sure of himself, and comfortable, and with a better support system. He's more proud of who he is here, and having Uncle Ben beside him makes him all the more confident. Aunt May in 616 still has her hang-ups about getting used to Peter as Spider-Man, whereas Ben isn't just his supporter, but his Microchip, his Whistler.
The art in this story is gorgeous. It's been a little while since we've seen DiVito, so it's nice to see him again, and his artwork hasn't missed a beat. His Spider-Man is a particular treat, and his rendition of classic villains in classic costumes is pitch-perfect.
This a great one-shot, one of the better What If? comics currently on the racks, and has some great characterization coupled with some very solid, enjoyable art.
Ratings:
Story: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/none.jpg
Art: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/none.jpg
Overall: http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpghttp://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/full.jpg http://www.comixtreme.com/reviews/none.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World and Save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=1606&cat=WHAT+IF%3F)