THE GIST OF IT… Greetings Crawlspacers! I have a question, if I just speed through this review just to see your comments without any explanation or thought process as to WHY…would you get mad? Thankfully, I’m not going to do that. I want to, but my “personal preference” takes a backseat when delivering what you people truly want to read about (take that note, Marvel). Plus at the end of this review I will be sharing a SHOCKING (not really, we all saw this coming) ANNOUNCEMENT!!! Peter is running out of time, he’s not thinking straight and this story has both hands on the wheel and is flooring it into overdrive. Fasten your seatbelts, cause here we go!
(Writer) Zeb Wells
(Artist) John Romita Jr
(Colorist) Marcio Menyz
(Editor) Nick Lowe
(EIC) C.B. Cebulski
Date Released 4/5/2023
Issue Number #23 LGY #917
Price Tag: $4.99
GRADE: D+
SUGGESTION: Don’t let the story drive the characters
STORY: Peter is quickly burying his costume near the crater on the outside skirts of Pennsylvania and foots it in his boxers to the nearest Greyhound after stealing some clothes. He arrives in New York realizing that even though he remembers being away with MJ for a week in the alternate dimension, it’s been only a couple of hours in his reality. GREAT SCOTT! After a confrontation with Norman and Aunt May’s place, Peter quickly picks up his spare costume at his apartment and swings to the Baxter Building for help. Johnny Storm and Ben Grimm want to help, but they need Spidey to explain things first to which Spidey has not time for. After a very quick escape, Spidey realizes that the feds are after him and quickly changes back to Peter. Then he is confronted by Captain America, who just wants to help his friend, but Peter has no time for Cap’s VERY logical, understandable, plan to clear things up which will provide help afterwards and punches Cap in the face instead. Now after outing all his friends/allies, scaring his Aunt, deemed as an Enemy Of The State, Peter will now take the time to go to Norman Osborn for help.
HOT-HEADED: Peter Parker was known to be “Hot Headed”. I mean I get it, classified as a “bookworm” the bullies pinned him as an easy target. The spider bite now gave him the power to fight back. Naturally, Peter did make some mistakes along the way, especially during those college days (1970’s comics). However, over the years he has learned to evolve and has done so in a more responsible manner. Who here recalls the Back In Black storyline, where Peter (not Spidey) beat the Kingpin to within a inch of his life? Fisk ordered the kill on Mary Jane, but the sniper hit Aunt May. Peter was fuming and dawning his symbiote style costume, he went after the one(s) responsible. It was showcase masterpiece of how a character has evolved over the years and showed great respect to both the characters within the story and the readers. It showed that Spider-Man can beat ass and still be “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man”.
In this issue…not so much…
Peter is racing against the clock to get back to Mary Jane to save her. He’s running pure on emotions and NOT thinking. He wants to get back to Mary Jane and he fears that time is against him, understandable. However, he’s NOT thinking smart or NOT thinking at all. Peter is labeled as a scientist and has the IQ to back up that assumption. He’s not applying it here by telling his allies (people that WANT to help him) to give him what he needs without question because he doesn’t have the time. Yet at the very last moment, allows that time for Norman Osborn at the end. He’s making the same mistakes he did back then.
For instance, in this issue he buried his costume to “cover his tracks” and then run in his boxers away from the “crime scene”. Why would this highly intelligent super human person think that would actually work out well? It would make more sense (from a character prospective) to still be in costume or at least take it with you. Dark Mark even agrees with me on this one and we don’t agree on that much. Later on, he even admitted it that was stupid of him to do that…DUH! This is a perfect example of the story driving the character and not the character driving the story. I’m sorry, but Wells failed this script.
Here’s another example of our beloved hero, NOT THINKING
He was told that there were TWO massive explosions, not just the one he fell from. TWO. To make matters worse, it was mentioned to him TWICE!!! By two people, superhero allies, that Spider-Man RESPECTS and TRUST! Common sense would trigger and make Peter think “Wait, there were two? Maybe MJ came…” They even offered a chance help him, but Peter wasn’t having any of that and went to his “arch enemy” for help which HE will give time to explain his situation. Once again, ANOTHER example of a story driving the character.
The biggest problem is that Spidey knows he is making stupid choices, admits them, but CONTINUES to make MORE because he’s thinking hotheaded like he did during his college days. Anger and desperation is clouding his judgement and that isn’t who Spider-Man is anymore, he’s evolved past that. It’s as if Peter’s life has no sense of depth. He’ just pushed from event to event and that is the only thing that has been consistent throughout Zeb Wells run. Should I put all the blame on Wells or should we look at editorial…more on that later..
NITPICK: Surprised that a person from the distance didn’t see this and would classify it as a Bigfoot sighting.
PLOTHOLES: Remember Gus? The serial killer dept. collector that held no purpose? Ben Reilly took him down to limbo and Maddie took his soul. Not sure if that’s him on the other end, but what gets me is that Aunt May is surprised on how high these hospital bills are for Peter only being there for a few months. A few months in a hospital is pretty expensive and if you are living in New York, I’m sure they are even more expensive. In issue #1 of Wells run, Aunt May was disappointed with Peter, almost to the break of being unforgiven, no worries she did forgive Peter for whatever he did, but what if this is it? May was VERY concerned on how Peter acted with Norman. How it was so “unlike” him. It was surprising to her to see Peter, the man she raised, treat Norman like this. If this is the reason WHY she was upset with Peter, I get it, but I was expecting more. If feels like this was just written in there just to fill a hole up that wasn’t well thought of.
TIME SHENANIGANS: Yep, we called it since issue 1. Time shenanigans are in play. So a couple of hours in the 616 is like a week in the alternate universe that MJ is trapped in with Paul. Anyways I wondered what 6 months would have been given to the new info we have just received and our very own Mohammad did some math for us. So I share his thoughts on it.
From what I read it looks like for every 24hrs in the 616 universe, it’s one week or more in the other.
Let’s say 1 week so, if Mary Jane was missing 6 months or 180 days approx that would mean with..
1 year = 52 weeks
180/52 = 3.46 years Mary Jane would be missing for 3 years 6 months
but if we factor in the kids being 5-6 years old..
That would make it 2 weeks for every 24 hours so, to calculate 52/2 = 26 180/26 = 6.9 years or 6 years 10 months
Now, Mohammad is just doing a estimate. Doesn’t mean that this is the case, but it is fun to think about. It’ll be more clear once we hit ASM #26…then again, maybe it won’t. For me, this is just an excuse for Marvel to push their agenda along to keep Peter and MJ apart.
FINAL THOUGHTS: John Romita Jr was a hit and a miss and I really like the action shots, but that’s it. This to me, feels like a filler issue and is (in my opinion) written poorly just to keep the story going. No character development or characters acting like they were designed to be..actually with the exception of Johnny Storm and Captain America, everything else seem just out of place. I honestly don’t think it’s going to get any better down the line either which brings me to my next topic…
I’M DONE REVIEWING ASM.
I know I have said I would wait till ASM #26, but I’m folding my cards early. I’m tired of this run around and I just want this game to end. There is no point for ME to keep reviewing a book that feels more like a chore than a joy. What drove this early departure? On my last review I discussed my distaste for the “Editorial Mandate”. Apparently, Marvel heard me. It’s no secret, it’s been talk about and referred to many times via multiple outlets, ours included. However, at C2E2 this year, the EIC brought it up by saying “There’s no mandate, its more like a preference.” So to clear it up, CB and the rest of the staff grew up loving single Spidey and the 70’s comics and just want to keep it at that level. He’s not opposed to Peter being married to Mary Jane (last year’s C2E2 says differently) but that plot has to serve as a creative storyline and support editor’s “preference” …and THAT is where I draw the line. Nick Spencer did that, he found a way to undo a lot of what was wrong with Spidey and a creative way to merge the marriage into it, but by the end of “Sinister War”, it didn’t support the editorial “preference” of how Spider-Man should be. Still seems like a “mandate” to me, they are just calling it a different word. Then I guess this book doesn’t support my (and others) preferences so I’m bowing out. Doubt you’ll see another published letter from me, but it’s now canon that I made it on there 11 times. I just refuse to read and waste my time on story that drives characters instead of characters that drive the story.
I’m still here at the Crawlspace and you’ll see some article from me, but as for ASM review. I’ll let the Podcast Panel, Painbot, and Dark Mark tackle that. Speaking of Dark Mark, when he found out I was departing the review section…well, here’s the conversation…
I’m not going to bore you more, but this went on forever. I didn’t have the heart to tell him that I turned off my phone. The notifications I received when I turned it back on while getting ready for work…walloping websnappers! He started writing a script for that sitcom idea of his!
From the bottom of this Spider-Fan’s heart, I thank you all for allowing me to entertain you throughout these years when it came to the reviews. I know we at the Crawlspace read bad comics so you don’t have to, but now I just can’t and must move on to Spidey-Things I do like. I’m still on discord and still on the podcast and yes, will continue to annoy Mark as much as possible. That won’t change and will let you know if it does. Hopefully one day, Marvel will shape up and stop living their single glory days via fictional character and tell character developmental stories here in ASM. Till then, see ya on the WEB!
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EDIT: I thought about it after posting just now, and I would only extend the “dead brand” statement to the comics and TV. (Bring back “Spectacular”!) Spidey’s been doing pretty well in film and gaming.
Thanks for your dedication to Spidey despite the decline in quality over the past decade-and-a-half, Spencer notwithstanding, Peter. I am glad to hear that you will be taking the Mike McNulty route of remaining on the podcast, as opposed to the Berryman route of withdrawing entirely (I still miss that salty, hilarious, brilliant Texan, and coming from an Oklahoman that’s saying a lot LOL).
But, man, I do not blame you. Apathy is setting in for me. This story absolutely does not need to be six parts, and is being padded to meet an arbitrary anniversary issue. Spider-Man as a character has been diminished, padded, and diluted so much that I am on the cusp of proclaiming this to be a “dead brand.”
The natural progression of the character has been off since the Byrne/Mackie run. We had brief, if imperfect respites of good characterization and pretty good, sometimes excellent, stories with JMS, Jenkins, and Spencer, but that hasn’t been enough to right the ship. Peter’s story naturally led to his marriage with MJ, and the growth of their family. She absolutely is Peter’s “one and only” [see JR’s “Why it had to be you, Mary Jane”]. Any story in the good ole’ 616 that keeps them apart is a waste of time and, as Peter suggested several times, essentially spinning our wheels.
I’m personally not quite at the point of dropping the book, but I’m closer than ever out of sheer apathy. I’m holding on out of simple completionism though, as I still have a fool’s hope that one day this will be fixed and I will absolutely hate the prospect of having to go back and fill in gaps with this sludge.
Thank you Chi-Town. It was an honor.
Viva Crawlspace!
So far Wells’ run has been one disappointment after another so I can’t blame you for not wanting to review this book anymore.
@Chi-town. Sad to see you go. As many said, your reviews were always more intertaining than the book itself. Hope to see you in the comments section again!
However, you are right about the quality (or lack thereof) of the book. Just like with dark web, the entire thing could have been solved if the characters just took the time to talk for one minute. And it’s becoming more and more irritating.
@Jeff. I think that many fan are still mad at the MJ/Peter split more because of what it symbolizes (regression and bad writing) and how it was done (I mean “with great power there must come great responsibility” doesn’t mesh with “make a deal with the devil to erase a mistake) rather than the split itself. If Marvel would have done something more in character, people would have been peeved but they would have gone over it
Chi-Town I think you’re misunderstanding the two explosions dialogue. There was two explosions when Wayep was seemingly killed in issue 22- one when each of his pieces hit the ground. And Peter clearly saw that.
Re:Peter- I think what happened with Ben and Johnny was clearly Ben and Johnny’s fault, not Peter’s. Peter clearly explained that MJ was trapped in a dangerous dimension and Ben and Johnny wanted to slow things down to run some tests on him. Even if time HADN’T been running quickly in the dimension, a small delay could easily result in MJ being maimed, raped, murdered, etc. And why did they want to run the tests? Because the FBI suspected Peter was involved in the explosion because his costume was found nearby. What superhero HASN’T been in an explosion at this point? And since when do Ben and Johnny let another hero being wanted by the authorities get in the way of rescuing innocent people? Wells tries to boost this by suggesting they thought Peter might be an impostor but then why did they release him from the tentacles in the first place?
Cap was arguably Peter’s fault, since he didn’t explain to Cap that MJ was in danger. But Peter DID make it clear that he needed to get to Tony’s or T’Challa’s lab ASAP. Why would Peter ask that if someone’s life wasn’t in danger? Cap has dealt with enough people who have escaped from dangerous situations and left people behind that he should be able to handle situations like this better. So have Ben and Johnny. The entire situation was contrived just to get Peter to have to go too Norman.
Speaking of which, why was Norman at May’s house to start with? May knows Norman is the Goblin- she’s known since Jenkins’s run- and she’s had some very bad experiences with Norman. Norman kidnapped her during the Clone Saga and tricked her friends and relatives into thinking she was dead and later buried her alive during Millar’s run. In one story, when May and Jay were at a party and found out Norman was invited, May wanted to leave. In their last encounter, Norman tried to use the Carnage symbiotie to get Normie to murder Aunt May. Why on Earth would May let Norman into her house? That’s why I don’t think that May was mad at Peter for attacking Norman- Peter’s reaction was entirely understandable under those circumstances.
It’s true that there were clues all along that more time had passed for MJ than the rest of the cast- the first hint was issue 3 where MJ acts like it’s been more than 6 months since she saw Felicia.
I wonder who’s dying in issue 26- the obvious choices are MJ or Norman. Kamala is a possibility but I doubt Wells could get permission to do it. Aunt May and Randy are also possibilities but they’ve done nothing this arc. (And there’s no way Wells got permission to kill Ben, Johnny or Cap.)
@Chi-Town — I just wanted to thank you for the time and effort you dedicated to writing reviews for the Crawlspace. I’m sure there were some reviews here and there that I didn’t comment on, but I certainly appreciated and enjoyed every one — not the least because, as you know, your review is often more entertaining than the book itself.
I’m glad that you’ll be contributing to the site in other ways, and I’m happy for you that you’ll now have more time to dedicate to other activities, like spending time with your family or building a treehouse with Mark. (I just got an idea for a comic strip: “Chi-Town and Mark” — Think of Calvin and Hobbes, but with grown men, one of which may or may not be a plushie.)
Your love and passion for Spider-man have always shown, and as a fellow fan, I appreciate the unique way you share your joy, inspiration, and enthusiasm with others, all while creating new fans along the way. And, most of all, I admire your willingness to say unabashedly exactly how you feel, to the people who have the power to change things. That voice is still very important, so I hope you will continue to be vocal when you feel called upon to do so.
Excelsior!
@ ChiTown Well we definitely agree on one thing, good characterization does produce the best storytelling. And ultimately, when I get a comic, or any fiction really, I’m looking for a good story above all else and I don’t believe that Wells have been delivering good stories. That’s their biggest failing, any editorial mandates aside. They are failing to tell good stories – Dark Web was atrocious, one of the worst in recent memory.
I am an older reader, and I remember when I started reading it was not “MARY JANE IS THE ONLY WOMAN IVE EVER LOVED” tm. Peter had proposed to her in the late 70s, she turned him down. She wasn’t around for years -from 1979ish through 1983, and even when she came back it was more of as a friend, not “the love of my life”. He was dating the black cat. The marriage, when it happened felt sudden and forced – THAT felt like an editorial mandate more than anything, and it only happened because Stan wanted to write a married spidey in his strip. Peter and MJ had not been anywhere close to marriage when the proposal issue seemed to come out of nowhere . At least thats how it felt to the readers I knew back then, the general buzz in comic news and even from industry professionals I talked with back then around ’87. But theres a whole generation that have only known Peter and MJ as married partners, they grew up with that dynamic and I get that. For me, MJ was one of many partners Peter had over the years, Betty, Gwen, Felicia, to name a few. I would never consider a story good or bad solely on the basis of whether Peter and MJ were married in it. Again, at the end of the day I have to ask myself – was it good storytelling? And unfortunately Wells is failing at that.
I only say all of this to point out that you, more than a lot of people on the internet, genuinely know and love these characters. You have a sense of who they are and their drives, motivations, over decades. Not everyone has that. Its a shame to think you won’t be reviewing anymore just because Wells is writing a few stinkers and the editors are hell bent on creating drama between Peter and MJ. These things run in cycles, i’ve seen it over decades. Some writer down the line will put them back together, another writer down the line will split them up, or Peter will have a new partner, split up with them, get back together, you get the idea. At the end of the day, was it a good story? And a lot of people look to reviewers like you to give them that clarity and scope of history by which to judge that.
I genuinely hope you reconsider!
I only say
@Jeff: For me (I’m not the only one that thinks this) Growth and Development equal good characterization that produces and scripts to a good or great story.
On Spider-Man. It was already set in stone that Peter and MJ were married and there have been a lot of good issues (few key great issues) that evolve their relationship as part of the story. OMD was a bad idea stemmed from editorial which broke the character(s). Am I an advocate of Peter and Mary Jane being together, Yes. There character developments and growth brought them to that road and beyond. OMD was editorial driven for a certain “preferences”, not a character driven stroy/purpose. I believe that’s all I need to say on that.
No worries, just refresh the browser before you comment. Happens all the time.
@Chi town – I guess that’s what I’m curious about. For you, does “good characterization” only growth that leads to Peter and MJ being together? can good characterization and growth also lead to them being with other people? Does it have to be “Peter and MJ – soulmates for life” or in the natural progress of serialized fiction other people can enter each others lives?
Sorry – my comment is back. It was gone for a few hours
Deleted my comment? Not cool. I didn’t even get a chance to see chi towns reaction….
@Jeff: No, I was reviewing Spect for this site when Chip Zdarsky wrote it and didn’t like it that much, FNSM by Taylor took an upswing, but I was always a fan of Spidey and his supporting cast pre OMD. Now, I have read some other issues and loved Nick Spencer writing ASM and that was promising, but the “editorial preference” got in the way. If there is a consistent road block that is preventing good character development and the “editorial preference” is that road block/agenda driven device then I’m out. Like I said ” plot has to serve as a creative storyline and support editor’s “preference” …and THAT is where I draw the line.”
So is the only reason chi town is quitting because he doesn’t like Peter and MJ not being back together? Because there were decades of stories where Peter was not with MJ too. I don’t think wells is doing that great of a job writing but there were certainly worse eras like Byrne and mackie. Is it just quitting out of spite re Peter and MJ?
I think if Peter just said “there is time dilation, MJ is in trouble” they would instantly help him.
Also @Dark Mark, you might wanna read the Spider-Man series by Dan Slott that I ranted about a while ago. I still don’t think it is great but a potentially large development happened in #7 of that book that might make it over to the main ASM eventually. But apart from that plot point the rest of the stuff isn’t necessary to know.
@Mark: Sure, Peter needs help now, but needs to stop and think for a second. I’m pretty sure even MJ would tell him “You are no good to helping me acting like this.” I have ALWAYS said nice things about you and although they may have been sarcastic at times (all the time) they come from respect. You will see me in your comments section, I am going to rely on you to tell me what is going on because I sure won’t read this crap.
@George: In the words of B.J. Thomas “Because I’m freeeeee. Nothing’s worrying meeeeee.”
@Joshua: That is the plan Josh. See? It’s so bad that even YOU have no energy to make a lame and pointless “Paul Joke”
@Jonny: Couldn’t agree more. Till that happens, I’m just going to better quality reading material to invest and be happy with. That’s my “preference”. 🙂
As Someone who once read Spider-Man normally since JMS’s run but had to take a break bcuz of money issues, I feel like the editorial legit don’t care. The audience is vocal, the feedback is resounding, and the articles from CB websites keep putting them on blast. If the preference is hurting sales, stop it and revisit your strategy.
Sony used to get negative responses for their BTS drama with their Spider-Man movies, but now people praise Sony Animation for Spider-Verse. Particularly Miles being his own thing and Peter B Parker growing as his character after he saw Miles handle himself. Peter B now has a kid, something honest fans wanted for comics-Peter for almost THIRTY YEARS.
Marvel is seemingly in their own bubble/echo-chamber. Their “preferences” matter more than the long-term loyalty of their audience and customers. The company needs genuine new blood.
“WHAT DID PETER DO”?!
Act like an idiot by burying his costume at the scene of a massive explosion and then by attacking Captain America when a thirty second explanation would have likely sufficed. Bravo, Zeb Wells. And I don’t care how worried Peter was about Mary Jane, I still don’t believe he would act this impulsive and only worsen his problems.
At this point, I’m just tired. This is far from the worst Spider-Man run I’ve read, but it’s just been one disappointing and underwhelming development after another. Being a Spider-Man fan feels like Stockholm Syndrome at this point. I don’t even have the energy to make a “MaryJane love Paul” joke at Chi-Town’s expense. Be free, my son. Run away from this abusive relationship and don’t look back until Marvel pulls their heads out of their hindquarters and actually gives fans something to look forward to.
In other words, never.
Be free, Chi-Town. Embrace serenity. ASM likely won’t be readable again for years.
Just look away for now and we’ll hope ASM to be handled better down the road.
I think it is only fitting that we go out on opposites. I give this a solid B+. I don’t blame Spidey for being angry at FF and Cap. MJ is stuck with an angry god and your pal Paul for who knows how long and every minute he dallies, it could be weeks or months (we have no guarantee that time works exponentially with ours, it could be like Narnia. Torch and Thing made it clear he was not getting past them without a fight and Cap made it clear that he would give no help until they clear this with the government. Screw them. Peter needs help now.
My only concern is that with it being a time difference, they could be MJ’s kids, but I think they are only going to tease it. She is only a mother figure to them (which is still a pretty powerful connection).
Chi-Town, I hate to see you go, despite the fact I have been nothing but nice to you and you always seem to take shots at me. But as I am so noble, and your shots were never all that witty, I tolerated them with humble magnanimity. It was a blast and I better see you in the comments section – especially since you are leaving me to do DOUBLE the work now. Not bitter, just pointing that out…