Sometimes you just have to ask "why"?

OK, I'm as eager to read a new Spider-Man mini-series as is the next Spider-geek, but I really have to wonder just what the heck was going on in the minds of the folks who green-lit the Spider-Man Secret Wars comic. I mean, seriously, WTF? Why resurect a 20-year-old story that you can't change or amend to tell a story that who cares if it happened at all, because it doesn't affect the final outcome of the story.

I Mean, I can understand about the Spidey Clone War series because this is (presumably) what the original writers wanted in the first place (still, after three or four issues into this series, I'm not entirely sure that I'm following what the heck is going on, and the only thing that is helping me is that I read it the first time around).

Now I understand that when there is a Marvel-related movie coming out, the company will flood the market with related new series (though it would be nice if they could figure out a way to get some of those movie audience patrons into comic shops), but who has been clamoring for a Secret Wars (or Clone-Saga) storyline?

Well, to be sure I know that I (and my good buddy Chris Buchner) would love to see Ben Reilly return as the Scarlet Spider), but I honestly don't think that anyone is listening to either of us (even though we know that they should!).

Anyways, that's what I think, if anybody cares (and is listening)

Clone Saga Redux

So I’ve been reading Spider-Man The Clone Saga (no, don’t ask me why), and well, I understand that it is ostensibly how the story would have been told had the two original writers (Tom DeFalco & Howard Mackie) been allowed to write it the way they originally had intended to write it; but I can’t help thinking that there is stuff I’m missing from issue to issue.

That is to say, it appears that — unlike a typical on-going comic — this one is just hitting the high points from a time-line that has already occurred, and there are significant events occurring between issues, in an attempt to show the passage of time. This is okay, I suppose, but it is a little bit disconcerting.

Anyway, that really isn’t why I’m writing about this morning. Take a close look at the title logo to this comic...



...is it me, or does that look like Clone “BABA”?

yeah, it is probably me...

Funnybooks should be fun.

That’s right, you heard me, I believe that funnybooks should be fun. Now don’t get me wrong, I don’t think that they should be humorous, but fun. Now, just as I can have fun watching a serious or a scary film, I can have fun reading a well-written, entertaining, serious funnybook. Hence, the “fun.”

Unfortunately, many of the comics that I seem to be reading these days are something less than fun. (As to why I’m reading comics that aren’t fun is the subject of an entirely different post, but let’s not drift off point).

Anyway, Like I’ve been saying, it seems that these days I’ve been enjoying the depiction of Spider-Man in virtually every book in which he appears except for Amazing Spider-Man which can't seem to quite nail down his personality for some bizarre reason. Anyway, Spidey shows up (again) in Ms. Marvel #47, and he actually has a date with Ms. Marvel. Well, technically, Peter has a date with Carol Danvers, but u know what I mean). This issue is fun, entertaining, and reminds me very much of the Spidey I was reading during the ‘80s & ‘90s. Why the writers can’t hit this rhythm in Spidey‘s own book is beyond me.

Another Spider-title I’m enjoying is New Avengers. Here again, Spidey’s personality is pretty much dead on. Right now the team is still on the run and in this issue (#59) they need to rescue Luke Cage from the clutches of H.A.M.M.E.R. I’m telling you, when Bendis wants to tell a story, he can really write the Hell out of it. Seriously, this is a good story. I’m totally loving Spidey’s run as an Avenger, it is a stature that he should have achieved a long time ago, and I’m glad that Bendis finally accorded him the honor.

Oh yeah, while I’m here I might as well mention that New Avengers Annual #3 was a ripping good yarn as well. It is nice to see Mockingbird back in action and this episode plays nicely into the on-going storyline.

In with this batch of Spidey-related comics I want to toss in Spider-Man Secret Wars. I have to say that I’m totally puzzled as to why this was considered fodder for a re-hash because, it can’t change what happened during the original Secret Wars, and it doesn’t seem to be offering us anything more than just a retelling from Spidey’ point of view. This was totally unlike the Spider-Man Clone Wars limited series, as the Clone Wars purportedly is not only by the original authors, but told the way they wanted to tell it originally.

Anyway, that’s what I have now. more later.