A Look Back at Spectacular Spider-Man #88 (1984)

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Spectacular Spider-Man monthly series.

In issue #87, Spider-Man revealed his secret identity to Black Cat. That was a turning point on not just the romance between the two but also on their combined efforts of stopping crime and helping others in the city. This opens up opportunities for creative teams of Marvel to explore where Spidey and Black Cat’s relationship will go to next.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spectacular Spider-Man , published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Bill Mantlo and drawn by Al Milgrom.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside a secret facility wherein several armed guards are preparing themselves for an unseen incoming force. They are guarding a convict known as The Cobra (Klaus Voorhees) who warns them that the one person after him will find some way of killing him.

Suddenly, Mister Hyde breaks through the metallic gate and demands that Cobra should be given to him. The guards used tranquilizer gas to take Hyde out but it turned out useless. Cobra and his handlers secretly moved to the rooftop of the facility to try to escape by helicopter. Suddenly, Hyde emerges, brings down a solid tower and crashes the helicopter with it. He then grabs Cobra who only slithered away.

Meanwhile in New York City, Spider-Man is inside the apartment of Felicia Hardy (Black Cat) and he feels that something dreadful is going to happen…

Quality

There is a lot of action scenes to enjoy here. Spider-Man and Black Cat have their own moments taking on Hyde.

I will go straight to the point here. This Spectacular Spider-Man tale sure is packed with a lot of action and intrigue balanced by the romance of Spider-Man and Black Cat (who is now living with the knowledge that Peter Parker is Spider-Man). The conflict between Mister Hyde and the Cobra here is preceded by their past collaboration of getting revenge upon Thor. In fact, Spider-Man had encountered both characters sometime prior and his personal knowledge of Thor’s encounter with them added some depth to the new conflict in this comic book. Spidey here became cautious as he knows the extent of the savagery of Hyde.

As this tale took place after Black Cat learned Spider-Man’s secret identity, the dynamics between the two during battle became intriguing when the former took the initiative to strike the dangerous Hyde even though she was told to protect Cobra. This forces the iconic webslinger to put himself at risk by aggressively hitting Hyde while keeping Black Cat out of the way.

The big battle involving the four notable characters is quite extensive and intense to follow. There are a few strong twists between the scenes and it is entertaining to read. When it comes to character development, I enjoyed how the creators portrayed Spidey being concerned about Black Cat’s wellbeing and her lack of super powers while simultaneously portraying her as being determined to so something significant on solving problems.  

Conclusion

The romance between the two is worth following.

Spectacular Spider-Man (1984) is not only a good follow-up to the previous issue, it is also a worthy showcase of Spidey and Black Cat’s relationship as Cobra and Hyde engage in a new conflict. As this is an action-packed story, it is not surprising that the character development scenes are fewer. This is a fun read.

Overall, Spectacular Spider-Man (1984) is recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Spectacular Spider-Man #87 (1984)

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Spectacular Spider-Man monthly series.

For this particular review, we will explore a major development in the life of the iconic Spider-Man that was told outside of the Amazing Spider-Man series.  

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spectacular Spider-Man , published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Bill Mantlo and drawn by Al Milgrom.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in New York City as Spider-Man and Black Cat (his romantic partner at the time) spend quality time together. Spider-Man tells her that it is time him to show her where he lives. Together, they swing across the city and even played along a few times.

They finally arrive at the rooftop of the building where Peter Parker (Spider-Man) lives and enter via the skylight. Black Cat is shocked to see how cheap the quality of the apartment is and asks him how can a famous hero like him live in such a place.

Spider-Man begins explaining that as a civilian he works as a photo journalist and he did not become a hero to be prosperous. As he keeps on revealing threads of his past, he slowly makes his move to reveal his secret identity to Black Cat…

Quality

The relationship of Spider-Man and Black Cat develops even more.

As the cover art revealed, this tale authored by Bill Mantlo is about Spider-Man revealing his secret identity to Black Cat who was his romantic partner at this point in Marvel Comics shared universe history. The revelation served as a key turning point in the life of the iconic webslinger as well as Peter Parker’s personal handling of his interactions with the women he loved. Mantlo’s writing of the dialogue between Spidey and Black Cat is really rich and there is also this sentimental touch with how the writer handled the hero’s emotions, especially with regards to the lady’s loving him more as the costumed hero than the civilian he is. I should also state that the impact of knowing Spider-Man’s true identity has subtle emotional effects on the part of Black Cat which must be seen.

While the cover showed what happened, this comic book is still worth reading because the creative duo of Mantlo and Milgrom carefully crafted scenes that gradually led to the big revelation backed with flashbacks of Peter Parker’s private life (as portrayed in Amazing Fantasy ) and the build-up from his past romances with Black Cat. The pacing is very good and the pay-off to the build-up was worth every moment.

The conflict with the city thugs that took place near the end of the tale served as an additive to the new development of Black Cat and Spidey’s relationship.

Conclusion

Black Cat’s first-ever visit at Spider-Man residence.

Spectacular Spider-Man (1984) is a very worthy read and the creators made daring moves to move the romantic link between Spider-Man and Black Cat forward while adding variety into Peter Parker’s personality. This is a character-driven story that must be read from start to finish.

Overall, Spectacular Spider-Man (1984) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #258 (1984)

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

In my previous retro review, Puma had encountered Spider-Man not once but twice. During the first encounter, Black Cat got in the way to defend her beloved webslinger. A short time later, Mary Jane Watson gets involved unexpectedly and the story ended with something that struck Peter Parker very deep inside.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man , published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Ron Frenz.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside Peter Parker’s apartment in New York City. He is struggling deep inside as he is shocked by Mary Jane’s revelation that she knows he and Spider-Man are one and the same person. She tells him that she knew his secret for years. Peter then begins to think that this is all Puma’s fault.

As Mary Jane begins to leave, Peter tries to talk with her. She tells him that he will deny everything and that she cares about him. She added that knowing his secret identity is why she originally left New York. She had to get away from him (and Spider-Man).

Suddenly, Black Cat arrives through the window. Her presence causes Mary Jane to realize something about them…

Quality

Very clearly the alien costume has its own intelligence and is the main reason why Peter Parker remained exhausted and sleeping too long.

I really like the writing of this comic book. Tom DeFalco showed strong consistency with developing the newcomer (and a formidable foe) Puma and his rivalry with Spider-Man, while also leaving sufficient room to develop Peter Parker who is now in deeper stress dealing with the complexities of his connections with Mary Jane and Black Cat.

What is most notable about the plot is the finally crafted resolution to Peter Parker’s use of the alien costume (the symbiote from Secret Wars that would later bond with Eddie Brock to form the murderous Venom) by having the Reed Richards and Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four involved in a captivating manner. I won’t reveal what happened but I can assure you readers that this particular plot element alone makes this comic book very worthy of your time and attention. That being said, Spider-Man’s saga took a serious turn from here.

As with the previous issues, Ron Frenz’s fine art really brought DeFalco’s script into life here and this includes Spider-Man’s crossover with the mentioned Fantastic Four members, dynamic shots of the webslinger and fine dramatic expressions on characters’ faces.

Conclusion

With Black Cat and Mary Jane both present with Peter Parker, the tension and uncertainty grew only stronger.

Amazing Spider-Man (1984) is yet another great read from the DeFalco-Frenz duo. The stakes were raised higher and the pay-offs were really solid in this comic book. As mentioned earlier, this story marked the resolution of Spider-Man’s bond with the alien costume, and also paved a new path for future tales of the webslinger. Spider-Man’s crossover with Reed Richards and the Human Torch (which lasted several pages) is easily one of most crucial scenes of entire Marvel Comics stories of the year 1984 and its significance would be realized in relation to the origin and further tales of Venom.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man (1984) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #257 (1984)

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

In my previous retro review, Puma was introduced and quickly made an impact on the plot that connects the Rose with Spider-Man (who foiled the Rose’s criminal operation with the help of Black Cat). Puma is not a one-dimensional villain as he is quite principled. Ultimately, issue served as an entertaining build-up of the conflict between Spider-Man and Puma.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man , published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Ron Frenz.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins on top of a building in New York City. Puma grabs the head of the helpless Spider-Man (who just suffered the dislocation of his arm and endured the pain of shoving it back into place before eventually succumbing to the intense pain). He does not strike immediately as he finds the act of eliminating the webslinger almost too easy and he remembers the Rose promised him of a worthy foe.

Just as Puma starts his move to kill Spidey, Black Cat suddenly strikes him out of nowhere. Puma quickly recovers his balance and tells Black Cat to go away. Suddenly, Puma notices something in her. Using his heightened senses, he sees Black Cat’s aura then jumps at her. He quickly realizes he miscalculated with his movement and finds himself overshooting her. In a desperate attempt, Puma grabs  a pipe but it quickly broke and causes him to slide on the rooftop and hit the edge.  

As Puma picks himself up, the roof beneath him gives in and he falls down…

Quality

Spider-Man’s 2nd encounter with Puma is action-packed and fun to read. Pay close attention to the details.

There is no doubt that the story of this comic book is pretty much a big pay-off to the build-up of the previous issue. Not only that, the creative team continued to gradually develop Puma not only as a formidable foe of Spider-Man but also as a sensible and believable new addition to the Marvel Comics universe of the time.

Here, you will see Spider-Man in a truly vulnerable state which symbolically shows that wearing the alien costume has its limits when it comes to protecting and enhancing him. As seen in the final pages of issue , Spider-Man struggles a lot physically and, for the first time ever, struggles to command the symbiote (not realizing it is organic and has its own intelligence). With Spidey in a serious physical disadvantage, you will see Black Cat getting a nice share of the spotlight. Not only does she bravely face off with Puma, her concern for Spidey (note: she knows he is Peter Parker) intensifies in a very believable way. She still loves him but could not figure out why Peter prefers to live like a normal person when he could dedicate himself on being a hero every day as Spider-Man.

As for Puma, the creative team developed him even further both in his animalistic form and in his civilian identity as the head of Fireheart Enterprises. As the man Thomas Fireheart, he is a really intelligent man who analyzes a lot of details before making his next move. You will see more of his intellectual side as he deals with both his corporate affairs as well as his contracted service for the Rose (who in turn is serving the Kingpin).

The plot in this comic book is deeper and more elaborate. Without spoiling much, you will get to see the Puma-Rose-Kingpin connection and, more notably, you will see how complex and intense the situation becomes for Peter Parker when he encounters Puma for the 2nd time. The story is very good, you just have to read it.   

Conclusion

Spider-Man, Black Cat and the alien costume.

Like the previous issue, Amazing Spider-Man (1984) is a great read but in the form of a great pay-off to the build-up that preceded it. The DeFalco-Frenz duo succeeded in developing the newcomer Puma into a significant Marvel Comics universe addition and their portrayal of an injured Spider-Man is very captivating. That being said, I encourage you all to pay close attention to the literary details revealed during the banter between Spidey and Puma which will resonate with you when you read the next issue.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man (1984) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #256 (1984)

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1980s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1984 to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

The era when Spider-Man came back from deep space (refer to Secret Wars) with a new black costume (the symbiote that would later help form Venom) that itself had special abilities was indeed a very notable time in superhero comics history. As if Spidey’s troubled personal life was not enough, he had to deal with new villains that were formidable and tough to deal with.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man , published in 1984 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Tom DeFalco and drawn by Ron Frenz.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside a warehouse when Spider-Man suddenly catches a lot of men by surprise. The men turned out to be doing something illegal with lots of stolen good contained in boxes. Quite fearlessly, the webslinger knocks out many of them while Black Cat takes pictures (assistance for Peter Parker) from a distance above. Black Cat eventually gets involved in the physical struggle and the bad guys all got defeated afterwards.

After the struggle, Spider-Man and Black Cat (who know each other personally) have a short sentimental talk before parting ways. As soon as he arrives home, Peter Parker starts developing the pictures in preparation for much-needed income from the Daily Bugle.

Elsewhere in New York (the next morning), the warehouse raid caused by Spider-Man and Black Cat makes immediate impact on the secret operations of the Rose who in turn wants the hero dead. The Rose (who reports to the Kingpin) then sends a message to New Mexico to contact the one person capable of killing Spider-Man…the Puma.

Quality

Puma in his animalistic form deep within the harsh wilderness of New Mexico.

I can state that within the age of Spider-Man wearing the alien costume, this particular tale has a strong debut of a new foe and the plot itself is quite intriguing. Tom DeFalco cleverly paced the introduction of Puma whose civilian personality is that of a very focused business executive. The creative team took the inspired approach of defining Puma with the harshness of the New Mexico wilderness contrasted with that of his civilian identity spending time in the bustling urban environment of New York City.

Not only is Puma very powerful and focused, he also has a high standard when it comes to accomplishing tasks showing no fear nor hesitation with regards to potential obstacles ahead of him. Clearly, Puma is not your typical super villain but a very principled and very capable figure. When compared to Wolverine, Puma shares some common animalistic elements with him but he consistently maintains control of himself. This makes him a dangerous force of opposition towards Spider-Man.

Spider-Man here is usual self. His personal problems and lack of a stable life are taking their toll on him just as he continues to keep doing good (example: fighting crime). It should be said that when Puma first strikes at him, the creative monotony with the webslinger suddenly got snapped causing a new series of unfortunate developments that test him. It is also revealed here that using the alien costume does not spare him from serious physical injury.  

Conclusion

These panels show how vulnerable Peter Parker really is as the alien costume comes to him willingly.

Amazing Spider-Man (1984) is a great read. The build-up with Puma is very powerful and his presence really made a huge impact on the reading experience. By the time the story ended, I was very convinced to read the next issue.   

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man (1984) is highly recommended.

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at What If #21 (1991)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero enthusiasts, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1993 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the re-imagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series.

Some time ago, I reviewed What If #20 (1990) which explored what would have happened had Peter Parker/Spider-Man did not marry Mary Jane Watson. While that comic book’s story and visuals were engaging, the narrative weakened before the end and it turns out the tales was not really designed as standalone What If story. That being said, the story continues on in the 21st issue of the What If series that I just reviewed.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at What If #21, published in 1991 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Danny Fingeroth and drawn by Jim Valentino.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with a man – who overheard the talk between Black Cat and Mary Jane Watson during the end of issue – who calls someone and starts a negotiation. The unseen person on the other end of the call is not seen but the man knows about the other person’s history of attempts to kill Spider-Man.

Within the City of New York, the romantically bonded Spider-Man and Black Cat work as a crime-fighting duo bringing crooks down. Shortly after, they get married in a private ceremony in Niagara Falls, New York using fake names (Peter Parker as Peter Palmer, and Felicia Hardy as Felina Marvey). During their first night together as husband and wife, Felicia gets out of bed surprising Peter. It turns out, Felicia is in the mood for crime-fighting. This brings them back to New York City where they resume their anti-crime crusade as Spider-Man and Black Cat.

Peter Parker notices something with his new wife. No matter what she says as Black Cat, she is still in love with his Spider-Man identity and only tolerates his true, civilian identity. He wonders if Felicia will come to accept the real him…

Quality

The Vulture attacks Spider-Man’s wife Black Cat.

To begin with, this comic book has a much stronger story, deeper character development, solid twists and a very intriguing conclusion that also happens to be a lot more satisfying compared with issue .

For one thing, the team of Fingeroth-Valentino really ramped up their imaginative creations and took this tale to more daring directions. The core concept of Spider-Man and Black Cat being married is deeply explored which resulted in a tale that is intriguing for most of the time. Their marriage also raises questions as to how Spider-Man and Black Cat perceive each other both as civilians and as costumed crime fighters. Also explored nicely was how they handled their secret identities while struggling with their own emotions deep inside. To say the least, seeing Spider-Man and Black Cat as a married couple as well as a dynamic duo of crime fighters makes a solid reading experience.

I should also state that there is a lot of story and characterization-development pay-offs that reflect not only what was built up in this comic book but also in issue . To really enjoy and experience this issue, you must read the previous issue as well.

Conclusion

Spider-Man and Black Cat as the married couple and duo of crime fighters.

What If #21 (1991) is a very captivating read. To put it short, it exceeds issue on just about everything and the conclusion is a lot more satisfying and intriguing to read. The Fingeroth-Valentino team created an in-depth look at an alternate married life of Spider-Man as well as what would happen once the webslinger and Black Cat work together in fighting criminals while managing their personal secrets and the stress that comes with marriage. I should also state that the twists within the story are much more satisfying than in issue . This is truly a must-read not just for Spider-Man fans but for any superhero enthusiast!

Overall, What If #21 (1991) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below, share this article to others and also please consider making a donation to support my publishing. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at What If #4 (1989)

Disclaimer: This is my original work with details sourced from reading the comic book and doing personal research. Anyone who wants to use this article, in part or in whole, needs to secure first my permission and agree to cite me as the source and author. Let it be known that any unauthorized use of this article will constrain the author to pursue the remedies under R.A. No. 8293, the Revised Penal Code, and/or all applicable legal actions under the laws of the Philippines.

Welcome back superhero fans, 20th century arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the year 1989 and explore a part of Marvel Comics’ universe through the reimagined tales emphasized in the What If monthly series (Volume 2).

For the newcomers reading this, I previously reviewed a variety What If comic books which you can find by clicking here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here. The joy of reading a What If comic book was the exploration of alternate outcomes in relation to the stories that have been counted by Marvel Comics as canon or official fictional history within their shared comic book universe. In this retro review, we will explore a key event from Spider-Man’s time with the alien costume (symbiote) which is related with the events of Secret Wars and the eventual establishment of his deadliest nemesis Venom.

With those details laid down, here is a look back What If , published in 1989 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Danny Fingeroth and drawn by Mark Bagley.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with the Watcher examining Spider-Man’s involvement with the Secret Wars that took place on a faraway planet created by the Beyonder. There, his costume got damaged beyond  repair and he acquired a new one made of what he perceived to be an advanced form of material. After successfully returning home, Spider-Man goes through some mysterious developments and he could not understand why he remains fatigued even as he spent more time sleeping.

With the help of Mr. Fantastic at the Fantastic Four headquarters, Spider-Man learns that his new costume is a living entity that has attached itself to him mentally and physically. As Mr. Fantastic uses a sonic blaster, Spider-Man and the alien costume got separated at last. Some time later, the alien costume re-attached itself to Spider-Man who eventually used church bells loud sounds to separate it. The alien costume would go on to the find Eddie Brock to form Venom.

The alternate reality begins with Spider-Man having a joyful reunion with Black Cat shortly after coming back from Secret Wars. Learning from her advise to have himself checked properly, he visits Dr. Connors (the Lizard) for examination and testing…

Quality

The possessed Spider-Man takes on Dr. Strange and the Hulk without hesitation.

To say that Danny Fingeroth’s script is very deep is an understatement. Specifically, this story is a great exploration of alternative events that not only affects the iconic Spider-Man/Peter Parker but also other elements of the Marvel Comics universe of the time. The concept of the alien costume fully bonding with Peter Parker with Mr. Fantastic and even Dr. Strange failing to help is indeed suspenseful and intriguing to read thanks to Fingeroth’s very solid writing. In fact, the story even shows Spider-Man as being possessed by the symbiote (complete with dialogue) and when you witness Peter Parker struggling to control himself consciously (while wrestling with the alien costume), you will really feel his pain. I should also state that there is a lot more about Spider-Man told here that goes beyond the possession which really turned out to be very compelling to read in my experience. This is easily the most engaging alternate portrayal of Spider-Man as we know him and it should be read by as many people as possible.

Along the way, this comic book portrays the alien costume as an insatiable being and the implementation of dialogue for it (structured in a way as using the vocal ability of the powered being it bonded with) gave it a very unique personality of its own. This is something that was not portrayed in the early appearances of Venom in which Eddie Brock does the talking and reacting to unseen messages from the symbiote. That being said, the alien costume here symbolizes possession within the Marvel Comics shared universe and its unknown state really challenges not only the intelligence of the superheroes but also their ability to decide on what final action to take with regards to sentient life.

As staged by the writer, the story’s narrative occasionally shifts away from Spider-Man to follow other characters such as Black Cat (Peter Parker’s love at the time), Mr. Fantastic (in a great portrayal of his proficiency in science and as a responsible superhero), Thor and others which made the reading experience really immersive in relation to emphasizing how this alternate reality affects others. You will get to see the Captain America, the Hulk, Iron Man, the Wasp, Captain Marvel, the Fantastic Four and the Avengers here.

Those who are fond of superhero spectacle will have a lot to enjoy here. Mark Bagley carefully paces the action scenes and he uses visual dynamism during the right moments.  

Conclusion

Through dialogue, the alien costume is portrayed as a sinister force.

I can say it out loud…What If (1989) is one of the best Marvel Comics alternate reality stories I have ever read and the creative team of Fingeroth-Bagley crafted an epic tale that goes beyond the featured question of “What if the alien costumer had possessed Spider-Man?”. The comic book works excellently as both a Spider-Man story as well as a Marvel superheroes struggle. The story touches on relevant topics such as possession, killing and scientific exploitation. This is a must-have comic book!

Overall, What If (1989) is highly recommended!

+++++

Thank you for reading. If you find this article engaging, please click the like button below and also please consider sharing this article to others. If you are looking for a copywriter to create content for your special project or business, check out my services and my portfolio. Feel free to contact me with a private message. Also please feel free to visit my Facebook page Author Carlo Carrasco and follow me on Twitter at  @HavenorFantasy as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco/