Marvel Adventures Spider-Man - Volume 14: Thwip!
The Marvel Adventures line continues to recapture the magic of the early Lee/Kirby/Ditko comics by unburdening its stories of intense continuity and giving weight to the human element. In four tales that feature guest appearances by wise old Captain America and the mysterious Cloak and Dagger, we get a fresh perspective on Spidey’s origin, three strong female supporting characters, and a thru line involving romance, a tangle with the Mob, and some concern over the secret identity. Tobin’s clever writing paints an unobnoxiously noble picture of young Peter Parker, and Lolli’s art puts a limber Spider-Man through some zingy action sequences. Grades 5-9. --Jesse Karp