Spider-Man Fury Knife Set

We’re not entirely sure who approved this particular item, but we totally want one.

Also, just so you know, we've seen it on ebay for around $60.00, the link above gets it for you from the manufacturer for half that.

I totally want one!

Oh, and here it is in Black!

Now that I’m thinking about it, I just might have to get one of these in black as well.

Spidey vs. Venom

Hey kids, here is a very cool piece of art by my good buddy Roy Cutting. I think his work is excellent, and believe him to be a great undiscovered talent. Someone should snap him up!

A friend just sent me this, and I had to re-post. It speaks for itself.

Artist Timothy Lim swapped out Bill Watterson's mischievous boy and stuffed tiger with Peter Parker and his unruly symbiote. Aww, Venom is so cute when he's trying to munch Peter's skull! Lim's images are also available on t-shirts.

As both a Spidey and Calvin & Hobbes Fan, I totally love this.

Comics I've been reading

OK, so a couple of comics I've been reading include X-Men #s7-10. The X-Men are now living out on Alcatraz , but some of them head back east so that they can get into a team-up with Spider-Man (not the real reason). As it turns out, kids are being turned into lizards and they meet up with Spidey and all the heroes go into the sewers of NYC to find the lizard creatures. only one of the X-Men who makes the trip is Storm, who has either apparently gotten over her complete and total phobia of being underground and in enclosed places, or the writer of the series simply never read those earlier Claremont issues where it was established that she had this fear.

Either way, while the art was fine, and the story (other than this HUGE out of character bit), was OK. However, the character disconnect was so huge that I really couldn’t enjoy the story at all.

Next up is Venom (#3).

Venom is now Flash Thompson, who lost his legs protecting his platoon while he was stationed in Iraq. Well, recently, he was given the Venom symbiote by the U.S. military to be a super spy for them. While I’m still not entirely sure if I like this development in Flash’s character, in issue #3 Flash — who was in the Savage Land attempting to protect a shipment of Vibranium, learned that Betty Brant (whom he is dating), was kidnapped, and the kidnapper offered to trade Betty for the Vibranium. So he told Flash to fly the chopper to NY for the trade.


Problem is that I don’t believe that the chopper could have made it from Antarctica to NY in a non-stop flight. I believe that a man can fly. 


You see, while I totally believe that Norse & Greco-Roman gods roam the Earth, and I believe that if bitten by a radioactive spider, you will acquire the proportional strength of one, put on spandex and fight crime. I further will go so far as to admit that if exposed to gamma radiation you will bulk up and turn gray, er, green, ah, red, no, wait, blue…whatever.

What I simply don’t believe is that you can fly a helicopter non-stop from the Savage Land, to Brunswick New York.


Why is it that the folks that are hired to write (and edit) comics simply overlook the parts of their stories that invalidate them instead of working just a bit harder to write believable stories.

BFFs!

Some things simply defy explanations...

He wants to eat your brains!

OK kids, it is finally here my venom toy from Burger King. As you heard, I somehow missed scoring the figure (a two-fisted water squirter) of Venom. But I bit the bullet and snagged one off ebay. The figure just arrived today, so I’m happy all over!.

Say it ain’t so!

OK, I’m officially unhappy. As you all know I've been chasing the new run of four Spidey toys at Burger King for the entire month of February. Well, somehow (I’m blaming the snow), I seemed to have missed out on the Venom character figure. now I realize that I’ll be able to acquire it over ebay, but it just irritated me that I now have to spend a couple of bucks (plus P&H) to get something that I was able to score for 79¢.

Actually, there is a buddy of mine who lives close by who deals in toys who just might have been able to have scored the figure, and I have a shout-out to him.

I'll let you know, but for now, I’m irritated.

The Spectacular Spider-Man visits with the King

As we mentioned yesterday, there are Spidey toys (four of them) currently at Burger King (yes, they are here now!). Here is the first of the four toys; a Spidey with webbing under his arms (finally!). I also included the instruction sheet (his arms will pop up when you push a button).

The other toys are a Venom, a swinging Spidey, and a Doc Ock clip-on.

Yesterday I wasn’t sure of the tie-in, but now that I see the toys, it seems that the specific tie-in is the Spectacular Spider-Man cartoon

And now, for a clip of the cartoon itself:

Venom joins the Crew

So, you all know by now (or should) that I’ve been collecting a group of Marvel toys that come in — what can only be described — a “Bubblegum Machine” (and no, there is no actual gum in the machine, or with the toys), each of the figures is packaged inside of a sealed plastic bag that is placed in side a plastic egg, which is then loaded into the machine. Four quarters inserted into the pay slot (turn the handle), and you have your very own Marvel figurine.



Each of the toys comes in several pieces, and requires some assembly. Cool, eh? Yeah, I thought so as well, which is why I’ve buying them.

I have already fully collected the first set of these figures, and am currently working on the second set. This set consists of eight characters, and I currently have five of them (a pair of Spideys, Sandman, Green Goblin, and (just this week), Venom.

Unfortunately, I have also acquired a number of duplicates:

• 1 Hulk (from the previous set)
• 2 Sandmans
• 2 Spideys (w/“railing” base)
• 1 Spidey (w/“brick” base)

I’ve already given a couple of my dupes away, but I still have more, so I’m willing to trade these for the ones that I’m missing (a third “sliding” or “backwards-leaning” Spidey), Doc Ock, and whatever the eighth character is (we still don’t know, but we are told that there are eight).

I have it on good authority that a third set will be available in December.

This Week’s Funnybooks

I’ve been reading the Avengers/Invaders mash-up this past decade or so (actually, it has only seemed that long with the ponderous and meandering storyline that Writer Jim Kruger has been trowling about. Seriously, after all this time, nothing of note has occurred (OK there were two minor linchpins that get pulled out at the end, but seriously, This whole thing could have been told in a Giant-Sized special, and told much better.

By comparison, let me tell you that I sat through two hours and 42 minutes of Transformers which had way less storyline than did Avengers/Invaders, but seemed to take up way less of my time. No I realize that it my not be fair to compare the two, but seriously, A/I (which contained characters that I love), just seemed interminable while Transformers (about which I care not in the least), was really enjoyable. The only thing that i can think of was that Kruger had a point to make and then decided what size sledge hammer he needed to pound it in, while Michael Bay simply wanted to entertain me.

Needless to say, I hate Norman Osborn with the whit-hot passion of an exploding sun (hate hate hate), yet I've been reading Dark Avengers by Brian Michael Bendis (who I consider to be a very talented hack — no offense Brian) but is certainly writing the Hell out of this series, and actually is making me care about Osborn as a person (and I totally hate Bendis for doing this. I want to hate Osborn, but for the first time in like 40 years, I actually feel sorry fo the guy — Osborn not Bendis)

Now that is seriously good writing!

Ms. Marvel is a hit-and-miss character for me, but the last couple of Spidey appearances in her book (#40 being the most recent) have been pretty decent, and I’m enjoying her storyine as we wind through the Dark Reign scenario. (Oh, can anyone tell me if the Moonstone/Ms. Marvel we’ve been seeing in the Thunderbolts/Dark Avengers is the same Moonstone from back in the day who was the bald chippie in the Avengers during the Celestial Madonna storyline? Just wondering.)

I want to see what’s up in Captain America (Yeah the Steve Rogers is back hype got to me, and while I still think that Marvel missed a way-cool opportunity to put Sam Wilson in the suit, I still want to be there when Cap comes back.

Also, while I’m still on the fence about the whole Timestorm thing, I can’t help but to point out that the 2099 Universe into which Spidey and Wolverine have been pulled isn’t the same one from way back when. Not sure if I’m liking this, but it isn’t entirely bad, and I want to see where they go with it (Plus it is way better than A/I)

Haven’t read the Sinister Spider-Man (staring Scorpion/Venom) or Mr. Negative minis yet, and well, I’m still POed about BND, but with #600 of ASM coming up, I’m hoping that they will put the whole thing to rest (Still, I’m not afraid that they are going to wait until #666 to put a fork in it, which will seriously wind my clock.

OK, time to get back to (paying) work.

And now, for something completely different...

If you were to have been following this blog for the past week or so, you might think that I only read Independent comics (written by my friends). Truthfully, I tend to read more Marvel Comics (sorry kids, it is a long-standing addiction that I’m simply unable (and unwilling) to completely kick). I’ve been reading them since ‘62, and regularly purchasing them since ’71. Unfortunately, these days, I’m admittedly not having as much fun reading them as I did even a few years back. Still, there are (every once in a while) comics that do rise above the fray, and are worthy of mentioning. Off the top, I want to mention Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man which I regularly review for SpiderFan.

Another comic that always gets me smiling, is anything by Chris Giarrusso. in addition to his own work (G-Man) Chris produces the Mini Marvels. These are usually one-page humorous takes on the heroes from the Marvel Universe. As a rule, they tend to follow a theme for a period of time, and then are collected in a digest-sized comic. With the recent release of Mini Marvels Secret Invasion, Chris tells an alternate version of the Secret Invasion. All things considered, I prefer Chris’s version. In addition to the Secret Wars are broad swipes at Civil War, Spidey, and the whole Green Hulk/Red Hulk (Blue Hulk) storyline.

Chris also likes to pick on Hawkeye, and does so with gleeful abandon. As stated, another favorite target is Spidey himself, whom Chris loves to posit a young Spidey who is a paperboy for The Bugle, and regularly goes up against the Osborns (who are customers) and Venom (a competing paperboy). Again, all of this is done in good fun, and it never fails to bring a smile to my face. I strongly suggest that — even if you have read all of the Mini Marvel stories in the various Marvel Comics in which they have appeared, you spring for this collection. You’ll be very happy that you did.

Here is a fun Spidey comic that my buddy James Rodriguez brought back with him from his trip to South America. It is a copy of Spidey in , well, Spanish. I have a few of these foreign language comics in my collection, and I always love getting them.

I want to also talk about The Amazing Spider-Girl. This comic ran a single issue of What If, 100 issues of Spider-Girl, 30 regular issues of Amazing Spider-Girl, plus a 0 issue and an annual, not to mention assorted issues of various other “M2” titles. I went on record several times (once in person to writer Tom DeFalco) how much I enjoyed this title. It always reminded me of being 15 again and the thril I got every month reading Spidey at that time. I’m sorry to see the series go, but I understand that it will continue in Amazing Spider-Man Family and on-line ion Marvel’s ecomics. Now while I’m not so happy about the ecomic version, I am pleased that it will still continue in print in ASMF.

Anyway, Issue # 30 of ASG was easily one of the most moving issues of this series. I could tell that DeFalco really loves this title and these characters, and really pulled out all of the stops to deliver one of the most emotionally moving stories that I have ever read. Too bad all the Spider-titles couldn't be written this consistently well.

This story proved to be quite a nice coda to the run of this title, as well as a delightful wrap-up to the final arc of this series. I truly enjoyed what Tom did in this story, and I truly have to say that I completely didn’t see the big reveal coming, even though I was looking for it.

Personally, I’m looking forward to reading the new series.

Venom bites back!

So, you say you like Venom, but hated his truncated role in in the (perhaps overly-long Spider-Man 3?

Well, never fear, you folk just might get your wish as Venom looks like he is going to follow the X-Men’s Wolverine as a break-out solo star...

According to IESB, Eddie Brock and Venom are going to get their own film.

(Read the full story)

Personally, it sounds like fun to me.

The Next Spider-Man Film!
“Spider-Man, Spider-Man, does whatever a spider can”

Yep, now that everyone else on the planet has moved off talking about Spider-Man 3, and is talking about animated ogres and anthropomorphic donkeys, or pirates (or both); I’m ready to talk about it. Actually — more to the point — I’m ready to talk about Spider-Man 4, and what I think that film should be about.

First of all, we have to understand that Hollywood doesn’t make films so much as it makes deals. That is to say that a film studio and/or production company and an actor’s agent will ink a three-picture deal, which — assuming a particular picture hits big, that actor’s character will return in the sequel. Which is good for the actor, but not necessarily for the writer or the audience (think about it, why should either the writer or the audience be forced to write for or endure a specific character just because his contract says he has to be there? This is sort of like the joke that says it takes two AFL-CIO guys to screw in a lightbulb, because it says so in the contract.)

Going forward, I suggest that future serialized films — specifically comicbook films — be produced in the same fashion that Bond films are made. Think about it, they have been making Bond films at the rate of about one every couple of years for some 45 years for a total of 23 films (counting the David Niven/Casino Royale and the Sean Connery/Never Say Never Again). Every one of which is, no disrespect to Bond, his creators, or producers, essentially the same.

All the films go like this, there is some international threat, a charismatic, over-the-top villain (who usually never returns — Blofeld and Jaws as the most notable exceptions), a bevy of bodacious babes (none of whom ever return), and Bond himself (who has been played by at least seven actors). Other secondary characters who rate on-going walk-on status (and don’t always show up in every film) include M, Q, CIA Agent Felix, and of course Moneypenny.

Seriously, what else do you need for a Bond flick? Bond, a bad guy, beautiful women, and a viable threat so that Bond can blow the crap of stuff. Oh yeah, and no film has anything to do with the next film, so why then, do comicbook films have to spill on to one another? Sure, sure, the comics themselves run one to another, but why do the films have to follow suit, especially as they are playing to an entirely different audience?

Currently, Marvel is publishing a Spidey book that is targeted towards kids, entitled Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man. In this series, all of the stories are self-contained. The only things that are continuous within the series is that the guy in the Spidey suit is Peter Parker, he works as a freelance photographer for The Daily Bugle, and he fights costumed bad guys. Again, what else do you need?

Hell, I’m both a fan who’s been reading Spider-Man’s exploits for over 45 years as well as a professional writer who (sometimes) works in the comicbook industry, and I’ll tell you two things about the character; first, its Spidey’s cast of supporting characters as much as Spidey himself that drives the narrative forward. Second, if the secondary characters are getting in the way of the story, you have to toss them in the river, and stick with Spidey.

Think I’m wrong? There is no character more vital to the nature of who Spider-Man is than Uncle Ben — and he’s been dead since Spider-Man’s first appearance, the next most important character in Spidey-Lore is Ben’s widow, May, and even she’s not in every issue (in fact she was “killed” once, and it looks like she’s about to die again (from a sniper’s bullet that was meant for her nephew).

This is why I say that the next Spider-man film will either wind up being Superman Quest for Peace, or Batman Begins. To make it become the former, all the next director has to do is to make it bigger, badder and more bodacious than the first three combined. Utilize more villains against our hero (can anyone say Sinister Six?); introduce Ben Reilly (along with The Scarlet Spider) as Peter’s clone; and jam-pack everything and a ham sandwich into a no-holds-barred, extra-long blockbuster, extravaganza that cracks the $400 million/three hour mark.

However, if you want to ensure the health of the franchise, as well as the real possibility of other comicbook based movies ever being made in the decade that follows, you’ll do this, instead. Go in the completely opposite direction.

That’s right, strip it down and go for basics. A simple story involving one or (maybe) two villains (a major and minor villain — if you will). The way to get this next film really cooking is to jump right into the mix. Have the film take a leaf from the TV shows CSI and Law & Order, start it with the action already happening, then go back and explain only what needs to be explained. Give us a new villain, one not in the previous three films (I’m voting for either Vulture — who had been penciled in for #3 and then replaced with Venom at the last minute — or The Lizard — who, as Dr. Curt Connors, has already been in the last two films anyway — or both; they really would actually make for a good tag-team combo).

Then just tell the story. Sure, throw in some angst, a smattering of melodrama, and a cameo by Stan, but just tell the effin story. Give us a 105 minute film where Connors morphs into the Lizard, The Vulture stages a series of daring daylight robberies and our webbed hero has to go after both of them. Toss in a scene of Aunt May telling Pete to eat well and wear a scarf; have JJJ yell at someone over at The Bugle, we get to see MJ is in another play, but for the love of Stan, Steve, and JRSR, have Spidey kick the crap out of the bad guys and save the day. That film will make money.

How do I know? Well, it has been the plot of nearly every Spidey comic published over the past 45 years, and there are currently five on-going titles a handful-and-a-half limited series, and everyone wants to toss the occasional Spidey reference into their book.

So seriously guys,