Tag: New York City (NYC)

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #363 (1992)

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #363 (1992)

carlocarrasco

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, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

Issue #362 was a compelling read on its own. The creators had the difficult tasks of having Spider-Man and Venom in conflict once again, have the two stop fighting each other and then agree to join forces together to go up against Carnage who was simply too dangerous to be left free. Having read a lot of comic books showing Spider-Man and Venom in conflict with each other, to see them become partners was really alienating.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #363, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside the office of Daily Bugle publisher J. Jonah Jameson and Carnage has him cornered. The symbiote-wearing murderer does not give a damn about Jameson’s importance in the city and he throws him across the room to hurt him a lot. Suddenly, editor-in-chief Robbie Robertson enters the office with an assistant and Carnage notices them.

Elsewhere in New York, Spider-Man and Venom (both previously encountered Carnage after arriving in the city) swing their way through the city towards the Daily Bugle. While traveling, Spider-Man finds it very odd that he has partnered with his mortal enemy to go after the sociopathic murderer Carnage who does not even have the twisted conscience of Venom.

As Spider-Man mentions the need to call the Avengers for assistance, Venom rejects it and reminds him of the freedom promised to him when the mission against Carnage is over. Privately, Spider-Man begins to regret the arrangement with his mortal enemy.

The two arrived at J. Jonah Jameson’s office only to discover they are too late. Robbie Robertson tells them that the monster – Carnage – took Jameson with him going somewhere south and it wanted a large group of people to witness something…

Quality

Spider-Man with Venom during this part of the final conflict with Carnage.

To be clear, this comic book marks the end of the 3-part storyline that started with issue #361 (Carnage’s deadly debut). Similar to the previous issue, David Michelinie carefully set up scenes to build-up not only the tension for the inevitable final conflict with Carnage, but also to emphasize the moral and legal complications of Spider-Man’s team-up with Venom (who has been convicted by the justice system). That said, there was this very notable moment in which law enforcers wanted to apprehend Venom but Spider-Man intervened by taking responsibility on his behalf and pointed to Carnage as the greater danger to society.

Carnage in this comic book is really unhinged, obsessed with death and has no morals whatsoever. He has Jameson as his hostage and does not care about the lives of those who got in his way. In his insane mind, having a great audience for his bloody plan was a priority here and he shamelessly tries to connect with members of audience who share his cold-blooded ways. The insanity and unrelenting violence of Carnage are heavily emphasized here which only added to the tension of the final conflict.

The final conflict here is very action-packed and intense. Visually, this is one of the finest works of Mark Bagley in 1992 and he really delivered the spectacle big-time here. Not only that, Bagley brought Michelinie’s script to life which made the personal encounters between Spider-Man, Venom and Carnage very lively to see.   

Conclusion

J. Jonah Jameson is completely helpless in the presence of Carnage.

Amazing Spider-Man #363 (1992) is undoubtedly a powerful conclusion to the 3-part storyline that started in issue #361. Carnage’s personality and unrelenting violence has been clearly defined here and he easily eclipsed Venom when it comes to being evil and murderous as a super villain. Spider-Man here is desperate to stop Carnage and yet he maintained his sanity to focus on the mission while ensuring the protection of civilians and doing some restraint on his enemy-turned-partner Venom (who has violent impulses). The build-up is powerful and the same can be said about the pay-off. While the conclusion is expected, this comic book raises questions about Spider-Man’s honor and what he morally lost when he became so desperate he made very risky and very questionable decisions along the way.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #363 (1992) 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  @CarloCarrascoPH 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 #362 (1992)

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #362 (1992)

carlocarrasco

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, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

Following his first-ever encounter and battle with Carnage, Spider-Man realized that he alone cannot stop the sadistic, symbiote-wearing murderer. Worse, Carnage is on the loose in New York City and as time passes, civilians can easily get killed by him. As such, Peter Parker got very desperate and has decided to let his deadliest enemy get loose.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #362, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with Spider-Man and Johnny Storm of the Fantastic Four are riding a highly advanced team vehicle heading to the deserted Caribbean island where Eddie Brock/Venom is located. Spider-Man knows he is taking a lot of risk to meet Venom knowing that the murderer stalked him and came close to killing him before. Knowing that Carnage can easily kill civilians in New York City anytime, Spider-Man made it clear to Johnny that he needs to get Venom back to stop Carnage.

Sometime after arriving on the island, Johnny and Spider-Man (armed with the Fantastic Four’s sonic rifle) meet with Eddie Brock on the beach. Peter Parker quickly reveals his face to him and attempts to start a conversation. After overcoming the surprise of seeing Spider-Man alive, Eddie quickly turns into Venom and leaps towards Spider-Man for an attack. The webslinger quickly used the sonic rifle at him while Johnny turns into his fiery form. Venom overcomes the pain of the sonic blast, smashes the sonic rifle, and starts hitting Spider-Man hard…

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Carnage is unrelenting with his acts of violence.

This comic book tells parallel tales focused on Spider-Man and Venom, and Carnage. The meat of the story is about the desperate webslinger reaching out to his deadliest foe even though it means putting himself in great danger once again. David Michelinie is excellent in the dramatic portrayal of Spider-Man who has literally been pushed to the edge by Carnage and having no choice but to make a decision his own wife (who had a traumatizing first encounter with Venom sometime prior) disapproves of.

In issue #361, Peter Parker was technically a detective who worked on the trail of violence left behind by Carnage. Everything changed for the worse for Spider-Man during his violent first encounter with Carnage and he witnessed how unrelenting the murderer really is. The bloody “Carnage rules” message left behind had impact on his conscience.

That said, Spider-Man’s transformation into a desperate hero is very believable here thanks to David Michelinie’s strong writing.

Along the way, the rivalry between Spider-Man and Venom turned intense very quickly. It was during this encounter where you will feel the pressure intensify on Peter as he has to somehow convince Venom to stop being violent and join him to go after Carnage (note: Eddie Brock and Cletus Kasady shared a prison cell previously). Of course, Venom has the undying obsession of killing Spider-Man and he has no reason to believe him. Venom also has his own distorted belief about innocence. The rematch between the two – with Johnny Storm on the side – is the very meat of the story and it is engaging to read.

Carnage is here as well and the creators showed exactly what Spider-Man feared would happen.

Conclusion

The encounter between Spider-Man and Venom with Johnny Storm on the side.

There is a lot to like in Amazing Spider-Man #362 (1992). It has a lot of action drawn by Mark Bagley, has suspense in the right moments and the story itself is very engaging to read. The very heart of the story is the encounter between Spider-Man and Venom on the deserted island due to the high stakes involved plus the tension from the past returned in lively fashion. Spider-Man is desperate and he really pays a huge price for making a decision that his own wife disapproves of. Ultimately, New York City has Carnage as its newest crisis and what happened here blurred away the boundary that separates good from evil.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #362 (1992) 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  @CarloCarrascoPH as well as on Tumblr at https://carlocarrasco.tumblr.com/ and on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/authorcarlocarrasco

A Look Back at Spider-Man #45 (1994)

A Look Back at Spider-Man #45 (1994)

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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 culture enthusiasts, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s and to explore a part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Spider-Man monthly series.

As revealed in Amazing Spider-Man #388, Richard and Mary Parker – who spent some time living with Peter Parker’s family after suddenly emerging from nowhere – were not Peter’s parents but androids designed to look, act and feel human. They were life model decoys (LFDs) programmed infiltrate Peter’s life until they learn Spider-Man’s true identity. As programmed, they reported to their master the Chameleon. Just seconds before Richard revealed the secret identity, Spider-Man suddenly interfered and this led to a series of violent acts.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man #45, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by Howard Mackie and drawn by the late Tom Lyle. This is the first chapter of the Pursuit storyline.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins moments after the huge conflict that happened. A very broken-hearted Spider-Man realized that “Mary” and “Richard” were impostors and his actual parents have long been gone. He is also concerned about how his Aunt May will handle the truth about Richard and Mary. Deep inside him, a desire for vengeance against the Chameleon is growing.

As he swings from one building to another in New York City, Peter Parker begins to realize that his role as Spider-Man is turning into a farce. He begins his obsession of hunting down the Chameleon and stopping him until he keeps him out of his life for good…

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What you are seeing here is a very obsessive, aggressive and more violent Spider-Man. Vengeance is his motivation.

To make things clear to everyone, this tale does not have the long-running friendly neighborhood Spider-Man. Instead, we have the iconic webslinger who is deeply hurt and the pain he carries motivates him to pursue the Chameleon (who is responsible for reviving the deep pain Peter felt after his parents died). It is clearly a pursuit for vengeance and the writing by Howard Mackie is very believable.

That said, readers will not only see Peter Parker wanting vengeance but also his dark side emerge. Carrying over the tragedy that happened in Amazing Spider-Man #388, Mackie and Lyle precisely crafted a story that had a very dramatic and radically different Peter Parker. Peter even shouts at his wife Mary Jane and struggles with revealing the details of the tragedy to his beloved Aunt May. When he goes out as Spider-Man to find answers, he approaches crooks aggressively and with more violence than before. In short, Spider-Man here lacks restraint and really looks like he could become a public menace.

That said, the portrayal of a very broken Peter Parker here can be alienating even to long-time Spider-Man fans.

Along the way, the Mackie-Lyle duo managed to develop the Chameleon not only as Spider-Man’s target but also as his most cunning and very diabolical enemy yet. The Chameleon (first appearance in 1963’s Amazing Spider-Man #1) is very prominently shown here which is quite meaningful because he is the very first super villain to encounter the webslinger. The long-time villain is very organized and has set up a trap for Spider-Man. The Chameleon also has his own obsession versus Spider-Man and his personal connection with Kraven the Hunter has a lot of depth to the story. As such, there are common elements that the webslinger and the evil master of disguise share.

Conclusion

Great work by Howard Mackie and the late Tom Lyle on expressing Peter Parker’s sadness over the loss of his parents.

Spider-Man #45 (1994) is clearly a very engaging read even though its concept of Spider-Man wanting vengeance can be a turnoff to some readers. For one thing, the script Howard Mackie wrote has a lot of depth and Tom Lyle brought it to life with a fine art style. Having seen the 1989 movie Licence to Kill, I noticed the similarities Spider-Man has with Timothy Dalton’s James Bond when it comes to executing a private vendetta. That said, I enjoyed what was presented in this comic book. Indeed, this tale was published at a time when the dynamics of superhero storytelling in the 1990s changed dramatically moving towards tragedy, disaster and death. It is clearly a product of its time and anyone who wants to read a dark and gritty Spider-Man portrayal should go for this. As such, I am convinced to read on with the Pursuit storyline.

Overall, Spider-Man #45 (1994) 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 @CarloCarrascoPH 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 #388 (1994)

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994)

carlocarrasco

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, Spider-Man fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

During the height of the 30th anniversary celebration of Spider-Man in 1992, Peter Parker’s long-lost parents Richard and Mary Parker suddenly returned and their presence really altered the hero’s view of life, his marriage with Mary Jane and their family as a whole. As time passed, Peter’s aunt May became suspicious about Richard and Mary (note: scenes related to this were included in Amazing Spider-Man #386 and #387) and she went as far as hiring someone to investigate them from a distance.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #388, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with the Vulture being upset that the youth-restoration effects he had using the juvenator machine were only temporary. As the Vulture makes a move to threaten the lady doctor who help him, the Chameleon suddenly emerged from her in front of him.

Elsewhere, Peter Parker shared with Mary Jane that he recently revealed to his parents that he is Spider-Man. After a brief chat with her, Parker leaves their home as Spider-Man to visit his aunt who has been suspicious about Richard and Mary Parker…

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The moment of truth that turned out very painful personally for Spider-Man.

This particular tale is a tragedy which the cover art by Mark Bagley clearly showed. Beyond the cover, there is a lot more weight on the plot (which was nicely structured by Michelinie), the characters and tragedy itself.

Without spoiling plot details, I can say that the first half of the comic book has Spider-Man doing detective work and also doing the civilized approach of keeping the family together. Peter Parker’s care and concern for his aunt were naturally dramatize resulting in a human touch that should be seen. Along the way, the conspiracy was built-up gradually and the big revelation for Spider-Man (note: the truth about Richard and Mary Parker was revealed to readers long before Spider-Man learned about it) at the mid-point of the story really turned out powerful.

Even the Chameleon’s presence here is rather light, his acts of evil and diabolical agenda were powerfully portrayed. In fact, the Chameleon used his immense power of disguise that set off the disturbing events that happened in issues #386 and #387, and such revelations were integrated convincingly in this very comic book. What I found impressive was Chameleon’s ability on connecting details linking Peter Parker with Spider-Man. The Chameleon is clearly very intelligent and cunning, and this makes him a more formidable enemy for Spider-Man.

The 2nd half of the main story is where the action really got ramped up by many notches. The action is violent and intense, and yet the Michelinie-Bagley duo managed to insert twists and notable character moments that really added power to the tragedy. This is indeed a very compelling read and it will make you think deeply about how much emotional pain Spider-Man could absorb.

This comic book also has two short stories. The first one (drawn by Ron Lim) was set in the past showing Eddie Brock who just bonded with the alien costume. While the Venom-focused short story was designed to add depth to past events in Amazing Spider-Man comic books, it ultimately felt more like a filler than a substantial piece. Only die-hard Venom fans will enjoy it.

The second short story featuring Cardiac and Chance is completely forgettable and unnecessary.

Conclusion

Peter Parker sharing very confidential information with his wife Mary Jane before going out again.

Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) tells a really tragic tale with a purpose behind it. Historically speaking, this comic book made some Spider-Man fans angry and feeling very betrayed as they believed that the 1992 return of Peter Parker’s parents marked the new age in Spider-Man storytelling. On the iconic superhero himself, this tale marked the start of a so-called dark age in which Peter Parker got emotionally broken and his life got turned upside-down. To be clear, this comic book is not a tragedy done merely for the sake of doing a tragedy…it was a creative execution to alter the status quo of Spider-Man storytelling of the era. As such, what David Michelinie and Mark Bagley did here was not only daring but also a huge risk that turned out really powerful. This tale is so significant, Marvel Comics went ahead doing an alternate version with What If #61.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #388 (1994) 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  @CarloCarrascoPH 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 #149 (1975)

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975)

carlocarrasco

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, 20th century arts and culture enthusiasts, Marvel Comics fans and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the mid-1970s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

You heard about the notorious Clone Saga of the 1990s that dominated Spider-Man comic books for a few years? That was actually the 2nd saga about Spider-Man and cloning. The first one started in the mid-1970s and it was the result of a move by Marvel’s creative team to let Gwen Stacy return from the dead somehow. A new villain called the Jackal was eventually introduced and in his civilian form as Miles Warren (a character introduced much earlier), he had a personal obsession with Gwen Stacy whose death in Amazing Spider-Man #121 was too overwhelming for him to handle. Warren turned out to be an expert on cloning.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #149, published in 1975 by Marvel Comics with a story written by the late Gerry Conway and drawn by the late Ross Andru.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins on top of a building just moments after the Jackal revealed his secret identity to a weakened Spider-Man in the presence of the Gwen Stacy clone and Ned Leeds. For Spider-Man, the revelation is shocking because in his private life as Peter Parker, Warren has been his biology and biochemistry professor at Empire State University (ESU) where he and Gwen Stacy studied. Recently, Parker and Leeds visited Warren to check on certain cell samples from which Gwen Stacy’s clone had been created. Warren claimed those samples had been stolen by a man named Anthony Serba. Spider-Man eventually loses consciousness.

Some time later, Spider-Man awakens inside an abandoned tenement in lower Manhattan. He finds himself restrained on a wooden table and the Jackal starts talking to him. For the Jackal, what is going on is his moment of triumph.

As the Jackal keeps talking, Spider-Man suddenly frees himself from the table to get back on his feet to fight him…

Quality

Can you tell who is the real Spider-Man here?

Apart from historical significance of this original clone saga and the other one from the 1990s, this particular tale is finely written by Conway and the stakes were really raised high from the start (preceded by build-up of key events in prior issues). Clearly, what was presented here was a huge pay-off to the build-up of recent issues and the dialogue has lots of details that are thought-provoking.

At the center of the story is Miles Warren who has gone to the extremes as the Jackal and he already knows that Spider-Man and Peter Parker are one and the same person. He has a burning hatred towards Parker because he is young, he was loved by Gwen Stacy, and was responsible for her death (which happened in Amazing Spider-Man #121). There is a lot of drama Conway wrote into Miles Warren’s transformation into the Jackal (first appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man #129 along with the Punisher) as a result of Gwen’s death and there are established connections with his ability to perform cloning. Conway’s presentation of the origin of the Jackal here is indeed a must-see!

When it comes to the known feature of this comic book – Spider-Man’s physical encounter with his clone – this one was presented as a spectacle laced with suspense and intrigue for the readers. It was done to test the readers’ ability to determine who is truly Spider-Man as the fight with the clone (Ben Reilly without the name) went on. The fight itself is an extension of the madness, hatred and the lust for revenge of the Jackal. That being said, there is clearly a lack of impact behind the clone’s introduction as Conway created him only to bring closure to the cloning concept mandated by Stan Lee. The clone was never meant to return and replace Peter Parker as Spider-Man.

Conclusion

Some of the events that dramatized Miles Warren’s transformation into the Jackal.

Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975) is a very intense tale that has the engaging origin story of the Jackal who went on to become a very dangerous foe of Spider-Man. That said, Miles Warren here transformed into a freak sparked by the sudden death of the real Gwen Stacy, and the actions he committed really brought danger to Spider-Man.

There is a lot of intrigue and compelling stuff in this comic book, especially when you ignore the Clone Saga of the 1990s (which itself should be treated as a convoluted follow-up reflecting the chaos behind closed doors at Marvel Comics during the time). In my opinion, this original Clone Saga stood the test of time and the creative stuff that Gerry Conway and Ross Andru came up with is pretty believable and dramatic to read again.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #149 (1975) 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  @CarloCarrascoPH 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 #361 (1992)

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #361 (1992)

carlocarrasco

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 early 1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

When it comes to the argument as to who is the most evil or the deadliest foe Spider-Man ever has, many point towards Venom (Eddie Brock and the alien costume from Secret Wars) who is murderous, filled with revenge against Spider-Man, is physically formidable and knows Peter Parker and his family members. In the early 1990s, the creative guys behind the Amazing Spider-Man series made the key decision to create another symbiote-wearing super villain like Venom but much more violent, more murderous and truly insane.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #361, published in 1992 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins inside the agro-lab of the Empire State University where an awful figure in black-and-blood intimidates a male worker. The awful figure is Carnage and he decides to play with the worker a bit before fulfilling his intention to kill him. The worker tries to escape but ends up failing as Carnage throws a huge piece of hardware at the door. Carnage grabs the man, slams him on the wall and uses sharp makeshift blades that suddenly stretched to murder the him.

At the a certain home in Forest Hills, Peter Parker spends quality time his aunt May Parker as he repairs an important machine in the basement. Moments later, the phone rings and May goes up to answer it. Peter follows and learns that the call was meant for him.

Upon using the phone, Peter learns the tragic news that his friend Chip at the university was murdered. He excuses himself from May to go outside to secretly change into Spider-Man and make his way to Empire State University. Struck by the tragic news, Spider-Man is aware that there have been a dozen brutal murders in New York City over the last week. He is also aware that a message was written in blood by someone called Carnage…

Quality

The first-ever battle between Spider-Man and Carnage is very intense to look at.

To make things very clear, this comic book has the first full appearance of Carnage which is Cletus Kasady with a living costume spawned from Venom’s symbiote. Kasady himself first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #344 in 1991, and it is very clear that the creators deliberately modeled him after DC Comics’ super villain the Joker to have the psychopath appearance (distinctive messy hair, crazed facial expressions, slim body frames and the unusual jawline). Kasady and the Joker also have a nihilistic view of the world focused on spreading chaos while enjoying unrestrained violence.

David Michelinie was really methodical when it came to build-up the tension, presenting key details and pacing the narrative when showing Carnage (who actually appears on the first page) and emphasizing the details about him (including Kasady’s background history and personality as observed by the witnesses who knew him). The appearance of Carnage in the first half was deliberately limited to ten panels and as the story moved on, details of him were revealed especially when Peter Parker did his own detective work. By the time Spider-Man and Carnage finally faced off with each other, the spectacle (action scenes) really ramped up high and the Michelinie-Bagley duo succeeded in showing Carnage being deadlier and unrelenting towards the webslinger.

Spider-Man doing detective work in costume and in civilian form as Peter Parker. This is also one of the finest pieces of Spider-Man art done by Mark Bagley.

More on the iconic hero, Peter Parker here was portrayed as being highly disturbed by the recent murders of the city and the loss of his friend which compelled him to do very serious detective work leading up to his discovering of Kasady (and the eventual face-off in a ruined property where Carnage took refuge in). Parker also felt uneasy about remembering his recent encounter with Venom and the details of the murder reminded him of the old nemesis. The pacing here is excellent and as the narrative went on, the tension really intensified.

Spider-Man’s encounter with Carnage – which the cover art obviously emphasized without restraint – is really intense to look at. As he is completely unprepared as to what Carnage was capable of doing, the webslinger really struggled and was in danger in key moments. Carnage also has unique capabilities using the symbiote such as forming sharp blades and shooting small but sharp projectiles. If you want super villain-led moments of action that really challenged the superhero, you will find a good amount of that here. Also, I can say that Mark Bagley is very good in presenting the action scenes with dynamism, danger and intensity mixed together well.

Conclusion

The news image of Cletus Kasady on the lower-right corner is obviously patterned after Batman’s nemesis the Joker. That image really looks like it was ripped out of a Batman comic book.

Amazing Spider-Man #361 (1992) marks the very intense debut of Carnage and the way he was presented as the newest super villain for Spider-Man to deal with, he is nastier and deadlier than Venom (who would eventually have the delusion of protecting the innocent while remaining murderous). In fact, the way the battle between the two was executed here made me forget about Venom temporarily which shows the Michelinie-Bagley duo pulled the right moves in making this comic book. To be clear, Carnage is pure evil laced with insanity and with absolute disregard towards people. Both Carnage and Venom are murderers and they should be condemned always. It happens that Carnage is more disastrous and has no regard for human life, which ironically makes Venom looking a bit less evil by comparison.

As for Spider-Man, his portrayal here is really dramatic and his superhero pursuits only added to the trouble of his marriage with Mary Jane. As such, you could end up feeling sorry for MJ even though Peter Parker himself wants to solve problems while protecting not only their lives but also the lives of the innocent.

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #361 (1992) 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 Prime #20 (1995)

A Look Back at Prime #20 (1995)

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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, 1990s arts and culture enthusiasts, Ultraverse fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Ultraverse to take a look at one of the many tales of Prime from the monthly series that first launched in 1993.

In recent times, I’ve been reading and reviewing Prime comic books I missed out before. For my most recent Prime retro reviews, click here, here and here. For the newcomers reading this, Prime is one of the most definitive heroes of the entire Ultraverse and his true identity is the teenager Kevin Green. Prime is also one of three major Ultraverse figures in the team UltraForce.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Prime #20, published by Malibu Comics in 1995 with a story written by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones, and illustrated by Greg Luzniak.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with a man and a woman on bed. They just made love with each other. As the woman goes to the bathroom to fix herself, the man tells her she will be perfect in a new project and they will be together all the time even though he is already married. He tells her that will be a real ultra-heroine and already a lot of things are being prepared for her such. She will also have a new partner and already they found a way to get him to Washington.

Feeling terrible, the woman lowers herself on the bathroom floor, pulls a piece of hardware very hard, and an explosion suddenly happens.

In New York City, Kevin and his mother attend an opera. Kevin still has trouble adjusting to life in New York and misses his friends and the community of Canoga Park. He still has feelings for Kelly but remains confused as he still struggles with managing his personal life being himself and being Prime…

Quality

Kevin and Kelly talking to each other via a long distance call.

I really enjoyed this issue of Prime mainly because the writing done by Len Strazewski and Gerard Jones is really rich with depth. To make things clear, this is another Prime tale made to emphasize the title hero’s personality particularly with his personal life as Kevin Green who at this stage has turned into a really confused teenager. Not only is Kevin so far away from Kelly, he has not seen his father for a long time already, his mother has been working and is about to move to Washington for a new job, and public perception towards Prime has been tense.

As the cover already confirmed, the deadly villain Rafferty is indeed here although the traditional good-versus-evil conflict is not a major part of the story. Rafferty previously encountered Freex and The Strangers (click here, here and here) and it was only right to set him up for conflict with Prime.

When it comes to the art, I enjoyed Greg Luzniak’s style on Prime and the other characters. Luzniak is really good with the dynamic approach on visualizing superhero spectacle and acts. The way he shows facial expressions resulted in a wide range of looks and emotions.

Conclusion

Kevin in New York with his mother. His father has been away for a long time at this point in the series.

The character-driven approach done by the Strazewski-Jones duo made Prime #20 (1995) a very solid read. The story has a firm structure designed to open opportunities to emphasize Kevin Green’s development which in turn reflects his struggle with the changes of his life. This comic book also explores Kelly’s speculation that Prime and Kevin are one and the same, and the creators pulled off the right moves to add weight to that. By the time I reached the ending, I am convinced to go on to the next issue.

Overall, Prime #14 (1994) 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. If you want to support my website, please consider making a donation. 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 #387 (1994)

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #387 (1994)

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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 1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

In my previous retro review, Spider-Man had a match-up with his arch-enemy the Vulture who returned with a strong obsession within. The rematch is significant not only because it the two have a rivalry that lasted decades in reality, but also because the story was structured to function as a light reintroduction of Adrian Toomes (Vulture) for new Spider-Man fans of the 1990s.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #387, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins with the Vulture absorbing energy and the youth of Spider-Man using the Juvenator in front of Dr. Sanchez. As a result, Adrian Toomes/Vulture physically turned much younger with rejuvenated skin, cancer getting health, a stronger body and his hair grown back. He declares himself as the new vital Vulture. Spider-Man is down on the floor clearly weakened and with a change of his body’s shape.

Instead of taking the opportunity to kill Spider-Man, the Vulture decides to fly away knowing that his long-time rival will have to deal with brittle bones of old age. As Dr. Sanchez tries to help him, Spider-Man feels exhausted, his lungs feeling gummy and his ears ringing. Knowing that police officers are coming, the webslinger decides to get away and leave Dr. Sanchez behind.

Moments later at the top of the building, the weakened Spider-Man takes his mask and glove off realizing that he has turned into an elderly man…

Quality

Can you recognize Peter Parker?

To get straight to the point, this continued rematch between Spider-Man and the Vulture is so outlandish (backed with the science fiction approach to life energy and the so-called fountain of youth), it almost felt like it was a story crafted for the What If series of comic books. In fact, the sudden aging of Peter Parker into an actually elderly man getting into close calls with two notable family members made this tale even more suitable for the What If series (note: What If #4 of 1989 had a severely aged Peter Parker in it).

Still on the storytelling aspect of this comic book, the creators used the fountain of youth concept to pull off a significant twist on the enduring Spider-Man/Vulture rivalry. As Spider-Man grew so old, the Vulture became much younger which in turn convinced him he could reinvent himself and put his genius of electro-magnetism to great use.  

To make things clear, this tale is not purely a Spider-Man/Vulture rivalry with sci-fi twists. In fact, there is more to the plot than meets the eye here as the Juvenator machine becomes an important element of the story (leading to something intriguing in the next issue), and a sinister revelation concluded this comic book.

Conclusion

The Vulture rejuvenated into a young man at the expense of Spider-Man.

Amazing Spider-Man #387 (1994) is a solid follow-up to the previous issue and it also was a radical attempt to twist the Spider-Man/Vulture rivalry a lot reaching to the point of making it look and feel like a What If story. There is a good amount of suspense, character development and enough superhero spectacle that paid-off the build-up nicely. Ultimately, this tale is actually a part of a short storyline leading to the intriguing events of issue #388.  

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #387 (1994) 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 Spider-Man #4 (1990)

A Look Back at Spider-Man #4 (1990)

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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 culture enthusiasts and comic book collectors! Today we go back to the early 1990s and explore a part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Spider-Man monthly series.

Having reviewed the first three issues of the Spider-Man monthly series written and drawn by Todd McFarlane (click here, here and here), I can say that the 5-part Torment storyline has a daring concept, adulterated imagery and clunky storytelling. Issues #2 and #3 saw Spider-Man in violent battles with the Lizard who is clearly not himself but under the control of the Haitian witch Calypso. It is inevitable Spider-Man, who has been in a long-lasting disadvantage so far, will somehow meet Calypso face to face.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Spider-Man #4, published in 1990 by Marvel Comics with a story written and drawn by Todd McFarlane. This is the 4th chapter of the Torment storyline.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in a dirty alley deep within New York City. An exhausted and disoriented Spider-Man is shocked to see a grotesque looking Kraven with the vicious Lizard beside him. The moment made him remember what happened as a result of his previous with Kraven (note: refer to the Kraven’s Last Hunt storyline) which includes him getting buried temporarily with a grave designated to him.

Eventually Spider-Man sees through the illusion and realizes that Kraven is not in front of him but Calypso with the Lizard still under her full control. With an unspoken command from Calypso, the Lizard moves towards the weakened Spidey and carries him bodily…

Quality

This portrayal of Mary Jane having a good time again in the city without her husband is clearly filler and it did not add anything to the plot.

As anticipated, the webslinger finally met the Haitian witch who had been controlling the Lizard all along. With a mostly slow pace, the story has Spider-Man being helpless in the presence of two powerful enemies and McFarlane stylishly dramatizes moments from Calypso’s past showing her acceptance of evil ways (witchcraft), her personal connection with Kraven and her desire to have a new sacrifice done.

With Spider-Man restrained a lot for most of the story, it was not surprising to see Calypso have a good share of the spotlight to herself and the Lizard is clearly portrayed as her enforcer and assistant contrasting what was presented in the first 3 issues.

Unsurprisingly, the storytelling feels choppy although the slow pace allows readers to grasp Calypso’s intentions and her main purpose in the entire storyline. The lack of spectacle allowed McFarlane to implement long segments of suspense mixed with horror. With Spider-Man doing not so much, he’s technically a supporting character symbolizing the reader’s curiosity.

Conclusion

There is nothing like waking up in the presence of two evil figures while being restrained.

Compared with the previous, Spider-Man #4 (1990) does not have much to show and has even less entertainment value. Unless you are a die-hard fan of Calypso (so twisted and demonic under McFarlane’s handling), this particular story won’t mean much to Spider-Man faithful. The webslinger is still helpless but this is all part of the build-up for the fifth and final chapter.

In fairness, what was shown here might inspire fans to revisit Kraven’s Last Hunt and read past Spider-Man comic books showing Calypso’s connection with Kraven (note: Spider-Man and Calypso were present in Amazing Spider-Man #209). In my view, this comic book is not terrible but it does not have much entertainment value nor does it have anything engaging to show. I don’t feel so motivated to proceed with issue #5.

Overall, Spider-Man #4 (1990) should be avoided.

+++++

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 #386 (1994)

A Look Back at Amazing Spider-Man #386 (1994)

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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 1990s to examine a small part of the Marvel Comics shared universe through a tale of the Amazing Spider-Man monthly series.

Following a serious of unfortunate events that kept Spider-Man away from his wife Mary Jane (read my retro reviews by clicking here, here and here), the Amazing Spider-Man creators decided it was time to have the iconic webslinger in a new rematch with the classic villain The Vulture (specifically Adrian Toomes whose first appearance was in Amazing Spider-Man #2 in 1963). What makes Toomes Vulture notable (note: there were other versions of Vulture in Marvel’s history) is that he is an old man who happens to be a brilliant electrical engineer who proved to be a very capable criminal. He is also a co-founder of the Sinister Six.

With those details laid down, here is a look back at Amazing Spider-Man #386, published in 1994 by Marvel Comics with a story written by David Michelinie and drawn by Mark Bagley.

The cover.

Early story

The story begins in the prison complex at Ryker’s Island. Adrian Toomes (Vulture) is inside his prison cell working on a small device with a guard watching from his back. It turns out the device has a tractor beam and Toomes uses it on the guard to physically slam his body on the sliding door of the prison cell. Toomes then uses the tractor beam to pull the metal bars of the other side of the cell to create an opening. He equips himself with mechanical wings and flew out of his cell and reach the speed boat prepared by two companions.

At the residence of May Parker, Peter and his Aunt May talk with an investigator. It turns out Aunt May hired the investigator to follow and observe Richard and Mary Parker. When asked by Peter, she tells him she does not think Richard and Mary are his parents. As far as the investigator is concerned, there is nothing suspicious with Richard and Mary Parker. He tells peters that his aunt needs professional help (related to Alzheimer’s Disease)…

Quality

The physical conflict between Spidey and the Vulture is intense to see!

Perceived as modern during the time of publication, the conflict between Spider-Man and the Vulture in this comic book utilized the concept of everlasting youth with science fiction (combined with the villain’s own obsession). This in turn resulted in a unique approach executed by the Michelinie-Bagley duo to make something new with the rematch between Spidey and his winged nemesis.

The Vulture here is not only very obsessed with obtaining everlasting life as there is something deep inside him that has been raging. This explains why the winged super villain is more visceral in his battle with Spider-Man which Mark Bagley visualized with dynamism and intensity. For the newcomers reading this, the two have fought each other a lot since the 1960s and this 1994 rematch was very unique. The Vulture here is not unhinged but rather strategic while being obsessed, and this made him even more dangerous for Spider-Man.

Apart from the promised rematch, this comic book continued building up the tension for the eventual tragedy in Peter Parker’s life (which happened in Amazing Spider-Man #388) while also dramatizing the lasting hardships Mary Jane experiences as Peter’s wife. Peter Parker meanwhile is focused on his family and his intention to find professional help for Aunt May smoothly connected with his rematch with the Vulture.  

Conclusion

Mary Jane Parker participates in a promotional event of her TV show in a shopping mall.

There is a lot to enjoy in Amazing Spider-Man #386 (1994). The rematch between the Vulture and Spider-Man is engaging and intriguing to read. There is also a good amount of suspense applied on the main plot as well as on the sub-plot about Aunt May being suspicious about Richard and Mary Parker. The result here is a reading experience that is entertaining and also balanced with regards to tone and storytelling.  

Overall, Amazing Spider-Man #386 (1994) 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