From: glocke@morgan.ucs.mun.ca (Gord Locke)
Subject: Re: Spider-Man.  The poor fellow is having problems
Organization: Memorial University of Newfoundland
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 00:37:04 GMT

	My thoughts on the current state of the Spidey titles:

	Amazing Spider-Man:  I don't really like the art of Mark Bagley.
Too often it appears rushed.  Sometimes eyes don't seem to be quite in
the right place, etc., and the layout of the page doesn't seem to ...
"flow," I guess.  Also, Michelinie has been better.  Mary Jane, who I
feel should be one of the main and most fleshed-out characters in the
Spidey continuity, is not living up to her potential lately, which is
really unfortunate because D.M. has written her well in the past.  His
greatest sin that I can think of is this "Spidey's Parents" thing.  They
aren't seen often enough for you to get an idea of them, and what's
worse, the ramification's of the recent "The Child Within" story in
Spec. S.M. aren't mentioned.  Can we have some continuity between the
titles, Mr. Fingeroth?  I liked Erik Larsen's art a lot better ('though 
it's not everyone's cup of web-fluid, I'll admit).  The current
Spider-Slayers storyline is salvaged only by some (only half-decent)
Black Cat / Felicia Hardy developments, and the excellent back-up
stories by DeMatteis and Milgrom.  The scenes with Mr. and Mrs. Parker
can be ignored.  For the title that's supposed to be the "flagship" of
the Spidey line, this could be a lot better. 

	Spectacular Spider-Man:  Easily the best of the four right now,
and has been for several years.  J. M. DeMatteis's writing is right on
the money as usual, and I don't care what anyone else says, I like Sal
Buscema's art.  The page breakdowns are a pleasure to look at.  Maybe if 
someone else with a cleaner line inked them, it would satisfy the critics, 
but I'm not complaining.  No-one else is drawing a better Spidey right now 
(especially the chest emblem), or a better MJ.  If you've missed the
last two years of this gem, I weep for you.  I recommend that you check
out this one on your next visit to the comic shop.  The current arc,
"The Death of Vermin", is blowing me away!!!  This is the only one I can
really recommend you start "collecting"; Amazing and Web are pretty weak
right now, and the eponymous one is hit-and-miss.  Keep reading for more
details. 

	Web of Spider-Man:  Howard Mackie (of Ghost Rider, which I used
to like -- see my other post) has been writing this one for about a year, 
and while he started off good ("The Name of the Rose"), maybe he stretched 
himself too thin with all the GR / Spirits of Vengeance / Midnight Sons 
junk, because lately the writing here is lame.  Apparently Terry Kavanagh 
is taking over next month, to which Gord says, "Yahhooo!"  While I like 
Alex Saviuk's art a lot, I don't like Keith Williams's inks (most of the 
time), so Web has the worst overall art of the 4 titles for me.  Maybe
the imminent approach of ish #100 will spur some improvement here.  The
potential exists.  Web started out as a sort of "Dark 'n' Gritty" /
mystery / different sort of Spidey approach, so I think if they stick to
that kind of course, it will find its own niche and identity, and won't
be just another excuse for all-out-action-slugfests-with-3x10^8-guest-
stars-and-crossover-with-three-other-titles things, like the current
"Spirits of Venom" crap.  (Bleeahh!)  Talk about the lamest way to bring
back a popular character who has been taken out of action!!  Was that 
Fantastic Four van wandering around New Yawk for a couple of months
trying to find Four Freedoms Plaza, or what?  Real secure, guys -- two
lousy zombies with big guns can take it down!  Anyway, I'm rambling ...
on to the last comic.  

	Spider-Man (also known as McFanboy, eponymous, adjectiveless):
Ever since Todd McFarlane left this one, it's had rotating creative
teams.  This is, I think, the way it should be.  There's no room for
another Spider-Man comic; it was, after all, only created for TMcF to
have his fun, and for instant $ale$, and for there to be a
"non-continuity" book.  This should be an arena for guest star talents
to try their hand at Spidey, while the other three books, in a more
tightly-woven continuity, handle the "current" goings-on in PP's life.
The big-name guests would justify the higher cover price.  The Erik
Larsen arc was sad (really bad, IMHO), and the Excalibur and Hobgoblin
filler issues were also pretty godawful, but this comic is finding its
bearings.  The "Something About a Gun" was cool, and I'm looking forward
to the Ann Nocenti one.  There's high hopes for this one as well. 

	Basically, the Spidey books could be (greatly) improved.  Each
one should have its own particular niche to fill: ASM, yer basic good
action stories, which the developments of SSM and Web would tie into;
SSM should continue to focus on the developments in the personal life of
Peter Parker (change the name back, too!!), and Web could find an
identity in the complex-plotted mysterious kinda stories, such as with
"Name of the Rose," and other arcs; and SM should be the place where
"special guest-star" teams (Lee and Romita Sr.!!) have their way with 
Spidey, telling stories which don't really have a bearing on the current 
stories in the other titles.  (Isn't that what the Batman:LOTDK title
does?)  
	Sorry if this is a bit long ("bandwidth" and all that), but I
got carried away.  Maybe I should send this to the Marvel Editorial
office (Attn: Danny Fingeroth, he's the Spidey editor, ain't he?)  Anyway,
I'd like to know what others think of what I've said, so respond if you
feel so inclined.  
-- 
   Gord Locke, a.k.a.    |    "I'm not an       | "The Universe is so big
glocke@morgan.ucs.mun.ca | Internet address ... | I get dizzy when I think
  Newfoundland, Canada   |   I'm a free man!"   |  about it" -Sugarcubes 
Newsgroups: rec.arts.comics.misc