Avenging Spider-Man #15.1 Review

Marvel Comics
Avenging Spider-Man #15.1 Review
By Alexander Jones
December 24, 2012 - 22:03

Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Chris Yost
Penciller(s): Paco Medina
Inker(s): Juan Vlasco
Colourist(s): Dave Curiel
Letterer(s): VC's Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist(s): Paolo Rivera
$3.99 US

SPOILERS ASM 698-700 SPOILERS

If Amazing Spider-Man #700 made you angry, this week’s Avenging Spider-Man may not be for you. Dan Slott has set up some major groundwork this week to really change the Spider-Man universe. This issue directly follows up the events Amazing Spider-Man #700 to give readers adequate knowledge going into The Superior Spider-Man. The pencils by Paco Medina really suited the book. Occasionally in some scenes Medina lacks the polish necessary to really convey the story effectively. However this more bleak set of pencils fits the mood that the Amazing Spider-Man has been striving to achieve much better than Amazing Spider-Man series regular Humberto Ramos. The colors by Dave Curiel are also more grim and suit the tone of the book very well.

The basic plot revolves around The Superior Spider-Man leaping into action with things like new gear and purpose. The origin story of Spider-Man is also analyzed through Doctor Octopus which proves interesting. Now that the The Superior

Spider-Man is the protagonist of the comic, the reader has to deal with a main character that is unlikable and mean. Many readers of Spider-Man's adventures may have problems empathizing with a character who is not only mean but also has completely stolen the beloved Peter Parker’s life. Chris Yost does good work on scripting and starts to explore the new motivations of the character. Spider-Man’s new equipment is drawn in very interesting ways and looks endearing. Also focusing on the angle of how Peter has such a vast for mind for science but was never used his mind to his fullest is an interesting development.

Vast problems still exist in this new Spider-Man universe. Yost has shown readers a way that The Superior Spider-Man could possibly work as an ongoing title. The more jaded comic book fan would still have the opinion that after 700 issues there is a better way to start the title fresh than killing Peter Parker and having Doctor Octopus butcher the legacy of Spider-Man. A new character would have served the title just fine along with the legacy of the comic book.
Rating: 6.5/10