AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #571 ADVANCE REVIEW

[Blake Petit]

Review by: Blake M. Petit Blake@comixtreme.com
Quick Rating: Below Average
Title: Opposites Attack (New Ways to Die Part Four)

Spider-Man and the Thunderbolts face Anti-Venom

Writer: Dan Slott
Pencils: John Romita, Jr.
Inks: Klaus Janson
Colors: Dean White
Letters: Cory Petit
Editor: Stephen Wacker
Cover Art: John Romita, Jr.
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Eddie Brock’s cancer cure has gone awry, somehow transforming him into a new symbiotic lifeform… ANTI-VENOM. Having drained Mac Gargan of the original Venom symbiote, Eddie turns his attention to his old pal Spider-Man, hoping to “cure” him of his powers, even as they come under fire from the Thunderbolts. Meanwhile, Norman Osborn faces off against the faux Goblin calling himself Menace.

This issue illustrates everything I’ve disliked about the Spider-Man titles since the new format took over. Everything, everything feels like a pale imitation. Back when Venom first showed up in the late 80s, he was a bone-chilling villain. Over the years he got watered down by revamp after revamp and attempts to turn him from a villain into an anti-hero, and eventually, everything that made the character work was wiped out. So I can sympathize with the people who want the original character back, but Anti-Venom seems like a rather patronizing attempt to throw a bone to Venom fans upset that Gargan currently has the symbiote. Menace isn’t nearly the menace that the real Green Goblin is, and even the Norman Osborn in his three-piece suit instead of his Goblin suit is a more interesting character. Spider-Man? It’s Spider-Man lite. Dan Slott has the classic Parker dialogue down, but none of the characters feel like themselves in this book.

John Romita Jr., as I think I’ve stated before, is one of my all-time favorite Spider-Man artists, so even though the character doesn’t read right, at least he looks right. The fight scenes have all the action and energy I’ve come to expect from his pencils, and it’s the artwork that saves this book from getting an even lower rating than I gave it.

I honestly believe Slott could write a magnificent Spider-Man series. I just don’t think it can be this one.

Rating:


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[Ben Lehnsherr]

That is all.

[Wossamotta U.]

Originally Posted by Adam Chapman

Reviewer: Adam Chapman
Quick Rating: Great!
Title: New Ways To Die Part One: Back With A Vengeance
Overall:

Originally Posted by Adam Chapman

Reviewer: Adam Chapman
Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: New Ways To Die Part Two: The Osborn Supremacy
Overall:

Originally Posted by Adam Chapman

Reviewer: Adam Chapman
Quick Rating: Excellent
Title: New Ways To Die Part Three: The Killer Cure
Overall:

Originally Posted by Blake Petit

Review by: Blake M. Petit
Quick Rating: Below Average
Title: Opposites Attack (New Ways to Die Part Four)
Rating:

Why do I get the feeling that Adam and Blake are reading two different books?

Adam: Blake:

And who wants to guess what Adam's review is going to look like?

[Blake Petit]

Adam and I disagree. So? It's not exactly uncommon around here.

[Justin Byrd]

Yeah, I fail to see why that's a big deal that two reviewers disagree on a book.

Why does it matter? Hell, when do most of us all agree on a book's quality outside of maybe a few here or there?

[Ben Lehnsherr]

One helluva first post though.

[Craig Reade]

Personally, I have a great deal of respect for creators who can take criticism in stride.

Sadly - those that don't tend to lose me as a fan Especially those who have posted on this site before, and feel the need to create a pseudonym in order to complain about a poor review.

Oh well. Ill always love She-Hulk - but the crystal is shattered. It's all about grace, dignity, class, and respectibility.

Hey, what is it about She-Hulk writers anyway?

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Easy, people. They're just funny books.

[Adam Chapman]

Originally Posted by Wossamotta U.

Why do I get the feeling that Adam and Blake are reading two different books?

Adam: Blake:

And who wants to guess what Adam's review is going to look like?

Everyone's allowed their own opinions. Blake and I just happen to have wildly differing ones about Amazing Spider-Man, although I can certainly see where he's coming from with regards to it, even if I don't share his particular feelings on the subject.

I'm a fan of BND, I didn't like getting there, through OMD, but I've enjoyed the stories since, but I don't expect that everyone will enjoy it, or enjoy the positioning behind BND, to make the Spidey-verse more similar to the '80s Spider-era, and even elements of the '70s era, before Peter's relationship and then marraige to MJ became such a huge component of the ongoing tales of Peter Parker.

Myself, I'm looking forward to this issue, to see Norman Osborn take on Menace, and see how the Anti-Venom storyline progresses. I'm happy that someone is finally doing something with Eddie Brock beyond what was previously done, and done to death.

Not that the last Eddie Brock story in Sensational Spider-Man wasn't fantastic, and a great note to leave the character on, had he never returned from it...

[Ben Lehnsherr]

Yeah, I think they really found a nice compromise for Brock. A twist in the right direction on what was great, because Eddie as Venom had definitely lost some.. ... bite.

[=Renquist=]

I'm going to do something very uncommon here and completely agree with Blake on this one. I realize that what he says is not popular opinion, but it is his own and he shouldn't be ridiculed because of it. Hell, he pummels MK every month and it's all good. You need to get more than one perspective on a title so that readers who are coming from opposing viewpoints have a better idea of what to expect.

[jdoucette24]

New Ways to Die has been a wham bam action packed thriller that I have loved. It really is an adrenaline rush of a book where I both fly through the pages but at the same time am able to savor the whole story. It has consistently solid cliff hangers that make you excited for the next week.

By the way,

are we supposed to assume that Menace is harry? or that Norman believe that Menace is Harry, the decaf and borrowing the car jokes seem to make it look like norman thinks its Harry. But if it was harry wouldnt that contradict his support of his GF's dad Hollister in the campaign trail, or maybe he is purposefully sabatoging if some for some other reason?

[Adam Chapman]

Originally Posted by jdoucette24

New Ways to Die has been a wham bam action packed thriller that I have loved. It really is an adrenaline rush of a book where I both fly through the pages but at the same time am able to savor the whole story. It has consistently solid cliff hangers that make you excited for the next week.

By the way,

are we supposed to assume that Menace is harry? or that Norman believe that Menace is Harry, the decaf and borrowing the car jokes seem to make it look like norman thinks its Harry. But if it was harry wouldnt that contradict his support of his GF's dad Hollister in the campaign trail, or maybe he is purposefully sabatoging if some for some other reason?

Well, in regards to your positing of theories within your spoiler tagged box,

it's definitely written so that we will assume that Menace is Harry, or at the very least that Norman BELIEVES that Harry is Menace, given his comments. And as seen last issue, Menace wasn't actually trying to hurt Hollister, as much as shake him up, as he seemed genuinely concerned about Hollister's well-being when he was knocked out. Plus, his attack on Hollister ended up revealing Crowne's connection to illegal activities. So it's possible that it's Harry and using his own agenda to try and promote Hollister in his own way, albeit a way we don't understand or get quite yet. But then it's all conjecture and hypothetical anyhow.

[jdoucette24]

Originally Posted by Adam Chapman

Well, in regards to your positing of theories within your spoiler tagged box,

it's definitely written so that we will assume that Menace is Harry, or at the very least that Norman BELIEVES that Harry is Menace, given his comments. And as seen last issue, Menace wasn't actually trying to hurt Hollister, as much as shake him up, as he seemed genuinely concerned about Hollister's well-being when he was knocked out. Plus, his attack on Hollister ended up revealing Crowne's connection to illegal activities. So it's possible that it's Harry and using his own agenda to try and promote Hollister in his own way, albeit a way we don't understand or get quite yet. But then it's all conjecture and hypothetical anyhow.

yea plus

it could show that if Hollister can survive attacks from a super villian and defeat him then running a city should be simple. harry is willing to play the bad guy in disguise to strengthen the position of other characters such as Hollister and even Vin, who happens to save the day last issue. It's an interesting thought and not a bad idea. rather "dark knightish" of harry to do if that is what it turns into

[WhereIsTony]

I don;t think that

Harry

IS menace but

if he is it could also be explained by the fact that he is a schizo

[jdoucette24]

Originally Posted by WhereIsTony

I don;t think that

Harry

IS menace but

if he is it could also be explained by the fact that he is a schizo

I guess we will just have to keep reading to find out