The Chi-Town Breakdown: ASM 71

19 Comments

1. @Mario: Best guess. Script comes in and there’s a deadline. No one artist can finish in time and so they put two on there.

   @Evan: You should definitely skip through Mark’s review and go to the comments, then go back and read it. Let’s also not forget, even if my bullet point does vanish, Gwen NEVER accepted Peter as Spider-Man, MJ did. It is pronounced SH like “shy” but no points are taken from our friend Nicole, she’s aces and does a lot for the Crawlspace. She enjoyed recording that message for you fans! From now on, I’m gonna call you “Chuck Town” if that’s cool. From one town to another. 😀

   @AC: I love being right on that topic. I should do an article on the debate of who is Peter’s true love in a Web of Love segment. Spoiler alert: Mary Jane wins.

   @Apu: I think it makes sense too. Everyone is focused on OMD but should be looking at the bigger picture…what triggered it?

2. I loved the issues but why do they have to use two artists? And why does the second make Spidey look like an 8 year old? this serious is huge you get your best artist and make each page epic!! especially when its spencer’s last song?? man I really wish JRJR was part of this. I agree with you on lyman he is a chameleon but maybe carlie as well? what role does she play in all of this? why is she here? so many questions with no answers just new questions is making me dread the wait! arrrrghghghghghgh cant wait spencer please don’t blow this.. stick to a great landing!

3. @Aqu@ — I agree that the unmasking as Peter’s sin makes sense. It’s almost a meta-commentary on the decision to have Peter unmask during Civil War. At the time when it was released, I remember reading it and thinking, “Okay, how are the writers going to undo this?” I knew it would happen sometime — or, honestly, I hoped that it would — but I had no idea how it would be done. I hadn’t considered a universe-wide mind wipe, and working an end to the marriage into the bargain (no pun intended) never occurred to me. And, given that I don’t know how much the unmasking played a role in whatever plan existed to end the marriage (if that indeed was the main goal after all), since I don’t work at Marvel, maybe Spencer is not so subtly conveying his disdain for that particular decision.

   Still, it seems sort of whiny (though, admittedly, not completely out of keeping with Harry’s character) that he would be so upset or jealous of MJ for Peter’s revealing his identity to her and not to him that he would go to such great lengths to bring suffering to so many others. There must be something more to it than that. Jealousy is very powerful, but she’s his true love, for Pete’s sake. (That time the pun was intended.)

   Hopefully this comment appears fairly quickly. I noticed that a comment I posted a few days ago finally appeared on the page this morning, so at least now I know I need only wait, and not repeat what I posted as I’ve done in the past.

4. This issue was a bit perplexing. I still have to get back and read FNSM by PAD (and all that period), so that may add to it.
   The part where we learn that MJ had Mysterio as an analyst and doesn’t remember it well gives me the creep.
   @Mark: I, too, read it as the door has always been open, and if I had time I would have gone back to check previous issues to be sure neither one of them actually tried to open it.
   They seem to be in some kind of mystical or ethereal place. It would be mind-blowing (and maybe a bit disturbing) if we found that Carlie too is one of Harry’s personalities!
   @Chi-Town: as I said, I never read Mysterio’s return so I had no context, but you may have nailed it with Pete’s sin being the unmasking. I think it makes sense.

5. Your breakdown of Pete’s love life is absolutely correct, and I’m not sure how anyone who’s read the comics from the beginning could disagree with you. However, I don’t think we need the abomination of Sin’s Past to prove MJ is Pete’s true love. Gwen, as she was written back then, would never have worked long term for Peter, but also would never have had an affair with NORMAN OSBORN of all people. Her characterization after her death has changed over the years, but that original version of Gwen was not a superhero wife.
   As for anyone who argues that MJ isn’t the woman for Peter, i’d suggest one scene. (i’m sure there are many, but this one is the best, in my opinion.) The last page of the death of Gwen Stacy story. Simple, but perfect.

6. I loved the issues but why do they have to use two artists? And why does the second make Spidey look like an 8 year old? this serious is huge you get your best artist and make each page epic!! especially when its spencer’s last song?? man I really wish JRJR was part of this. I agree with you on lyman he is a chameleon but maybe carlie as well? what role does she play in all of this? why is she here? so many questions with no answers just new questions is making me dread the wait! first it was a week now we are at two weeks arrrrghghghghghgh cant wait spencer please dont blow this.. stick to a great landing!

7. Maybe the art here isn’t an issue for some but it definitely is for me. It brings what would have been a solid issue down with a muddy, scratchy, disjointed look. It’s depressing to me how the back end of Spencer’s run has been hampered, if not flat out torpedoed, by substandard art. Thank God at least Sinister War looks good. It’s just a shame the same can’t be said for ASM. Of all the new developments in this issue, probably the most intriguing is wondering what Stromm has left for Norman. I’m definitely leaning towards believing it involves the twins he had with Gwen. If so, that’d be a pretty big move for Spencer to pull right towards the end of his run. Anxiously waiting to see how Spencer is gonna bring it all to a close.

8. @Chi-Town and Mark — Gosh, simply put, I don’t know which I enjoyed more: reading the review or your bickering in the comments. Mark, I saw your “not for naught” — I wasn’t going to say anything, but I see you snuck it in there. Sometimes I find myself racing through the review just to see what you all are saying in the comments.

   I second (or third) ac’s statement below about the quality and historic significance of this story if it undoes OMD and Sins Past in one fell swoop. Chi-Town, even if you would then lose a bullet point for your argument that Mary Jane is Peter’s true love, I still agree with you whole-heartedly. Let’s look at it this way: Mary Jane is venerable in her vulnerability, and Gwen is just vulnerable.

   By the way, I noticed that Nicole Bandit pronounced your name “chai” Town, with a hard CH, but I have a friend from Chicago who insists that it’s pronounced with an SH like “shy” as in Chicago itself. Was I told incorrectly? I need to know so that I can pronounce it the proper way in my head. I love the voice mail element of your review, by the way! It’s an excellent touch!

   I’m in Charleston, SC — even though I typed “you all” above instead of “y’all” — and here people have a habit of calling this place Chuck Town. I guess it’s supposed to be hip or cool (I’m neither of these), and it just strikes me as odd because it doesn’t even reduce the number of syllables. Chi-Town makes much more sense.

9. I loved the issues but why do they have to use two artists? And why does the second make Spidey look like an 8 year old? this serious is huge you get your best artist and make each page epic!! especially when its spencer’s last song?? man I really wish JRJR was part of this. I agree with you on lyman he is a chameleon but maybe carlie as well? what role does she play in all of this? why is she here? so many questions with no answers just new questions is making me dread the wait! first it was a week now we are at two weeks arrrrghghghghghgh cant wait spencer please dont blow this.. stick to a great landing!

10. I actually like Gabriel Stacy. I thought the American Son miniseries he was a part of was really good. The original story might not be the best, but good things can still come out of it.

    As for Kindred not being around, I agree with Michael. It has gotta be because Harry got resurrected. Before that, he was operating fully as a demon in Hell. And then he’s alive again. I’m still hoping that Kindred and Lyman are actually a split personality, living in the same body, and that Lyman just can’t remember (just like how Norman forgot in the old stories that he was the Green Goblin).

    The Lyman with Carlie? Probably a Chameleon, but I’m willing to bet he was only brought in to stand-in for Harry once Kindred started making moves against Peter, from the start of Spencer’s run on the title.

11. @Mark: Thanks man! I saw the word “Absconded” on the recap page, so I decided to use it as well. Unlike you, I pay attention in class ;). It’s always better to read when you don’t do the review, however if you LOVE this issue the review is more fun to write up. This one, not so much, but wasn’t that bad. That bothered me to, about Harry. He was very bland about just realizing the door was open, however when both he and Carlie walked out, he seemed a bit shocked. I’m willing to give him the benefit of a doubt. Stromm said “To the man that STOLE my legacy, I give him this.”. Stromm is out for revenge so I think that whatever Norman is going to uncover, it’s not going to be pretty for Norman or the Osborn Legacy. Eye for Eye time of thing. As for what it is, your guess is as good as mine.

    @Nicole: Always a pleasure to work with you and thank you again! I was aiming for “Joyfulness and Insightful”. Edutainment is the key!

    @AC: My man, I can’t argue with that. Two terrible stories in the Spider-Mythos that SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED! PERIOD! To quote KayDay though “These things happen.”. OMD isn’t forgettable, however Sins Past is. Actually some people welcome Sins Past because it argues the point that Gwen was never faithful to Peter. Since I’m a Mary Jane fan, I point that out about Gwen, to prove that MJ is Peter’s TRUE love where as Gwen is Peter’s FIRST love. Betty and Liz were just crushes and Felica was just lust. That’s MY opinion and not everyone shares that.

12. Hey, I know that we’re all focused on OMD being dealt with, but it looked to me that we might be also getting rid of Sin’s Past… MJ doesn’t remember her visits with Mysterio? Is it possible he implanted memories of Gwen being pregnant and that Gwen’s “kids” are some sort of clones? Norman is going to Europe where they supposedly grew up…
    If this story makes OMD and Sin’s past go away at the same time, it will be the greatest story in the history of mankind…

13. Always a pleasure to work with Pete! And his commentary on each issue is so insightful; he’s a joy to read.

14. Some interesting revelations here with the Kindred/Mysterio timeline and a kind of neat reveal to find that MJ received therapy from a disguised Mysterio after Harry’s death but at this point all the endless teasing on the way to the big finale just leaves me begging for all this to finally be over with. No matter how well Spencer brings his run to a close, I fear the overwhelming feeling I’ll have at the end is just exhaustion rather than elation – and probably more than a hint of irritation that what might have been a terrifically entertaining story had it played out in a more concise way instead became intolerable due to being dragged out to an absurd degree. And it really can’t be said enough how the back end of Spencer’s run was marred by substandard art. To me, the art in this issue – as it has been for so many ASM issues of late – is a hindrance to enjoying the issue. Maybe it looks fine to others but for me it’s an eyesore. The style might work fine elsewhere but on ASM, especially in an issue like this that has to evoke the past, I think a cleaner, more traditional look was called for. Even just basic storytelling suffers here. I feel like the moment where Harry sees that the cell door is unlocked is more confusing than it should be because the art isn’t clear on what’s happening. Was it always unlocked? Did it suddenly open while he was talking to Carlie? I don’t know. Seeing an issue like this makes me all the more grateful that at least they have Bagely on Sinister War. It’s just a shame he couldn’t be pulling double duty on ASM. But hey, one man can only do so much. Overall, I’d have to give this issue a middling grade of C+. Better art would have vaulted it a full grade higher, even if the tired feeling of “Oh God, can we just get to the point of all this?” would have remained.

15. Absconded – nice vocabulary word there, Chi-Town! Nice to see my efforts in continuing your education are not for naught.

    I liked this issue a little better than you did. Maybe because I could just sit back and read it without thinking about the review. I’d give it a B. My issues with the issue (see what I did there?) are pretty much the same as yours. The big thing that bothered me the most was Harry’s reaction when the door was unlocked. To me it seemed that he is suggesting that it was always unlocked when clearly it wasn’t. I’m curious if others read it that way.

    So Stromm says that Norman stole his (Stromm’s) legacy, so the key is to give him (Norman) his legacy? What could that be? It doesn’t seem that it would be a hidden goblin cache since Norman was still evil Norman when Stromm died. It could have something to do with Harry, especially if Stromm created the will after he met Kindred, but before Kindred killed him. Especially since Kindred kept saying “Say my name!” For that matter, it could be Stromm’s contingency plan in case Harry double-crossed him. Stromm has experiences with be double-crossed by Osborns, so he may just have been ready for that. But what would it be? Norman recognizes the key, so… I just don’t know.

    I do think Kindred wants that isotope genome thingee in order to merge Lyman into him. Maybe that’s his way of returning to the land of the living?

    Nice job on the review (I’m feeling nice this morning).

16. Great review! I agree that MJ reaction was a little off, but she seemed to genuinely trust Beck, so chances are she didn’t process her kidnapping as that, but as a way for Mysterio to get her someplace safe .

    Feels like there is indeed 2 Harrys. Also I believe the door opening was Norman doing, and both Harry and Carlie are stuck in that mansion in Europe.

17. I have a couple of guesses after reading: 1) I believe that Norman’s main sin is the abduction of Mayday. 2) Many people think that the estate is similar to the one in which Gabrielle and Sarah grew up. 3) I like the theory that Gabrielle and Sarah are chameleons.

18. Michael: LMAO! OH autocorrect, you can be so cruel sometimes! Thanks for the comment man!

19. I think Kindred’s visits to Mysterio becoming less frequent over the years have to do with Harry returning after OMD and becoming a father again.
    “He makes her real by showing how venerable she was” VENERABLE? Maybe the Crawlspace staff is right about you being obsessed with MJ. 🙂
    I wonder if the mansion that Norman is heading to is the same one that Ned found the serum in and Harry Lyman was on his way to when Kindred grabbed him. There’s got to be some significance.
    Also, it’s a bit weird that the cell door opened after Harry’s monologue. There’s got to be something up with that as well.