Stillanerd Reviews: Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 review

It’s the return of a more grounded, back-to-basics Spider-Man along with a classic favorite title. All he needs now is a real story.

Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

More from Comics

Artist: Adam Kubert

Color Artist: Jordie Bellaire

“Spider-Fight”

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Artist: Goran Parlov

Colors: Nathan Fairbairn

Letters: Travis Lanham

Once there were two signature Spider-Man comics. Most of you are familiar with The Amazing Spider-Man. The other was a comic which first appeared in 1968. It was magazine-sized, with more pages, and printed on black-and-white newsprint. It only lasted for two issues. In 1976, Marvel revived it as an ongoing series, albeit as a normal-sized, 32-page comic printed in color, which lasted for over twenty years. That comic was The Spectacular Spider-Man, originally titled Peter Parker, The Spectacular Spider-Man.

Seeing as how Marvel is preparing an appeal towards old school fans after Secret Empire, this latest revival of Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man seems like it was designed with that in mind. And on the basis of this first issue by writer Chip Zdarsky (Howard the Duck, Sex Criminals, Jughead) and artist Adam Kubert (Batman vs. Predator, Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine), this is definitely a more traditional take on the wall-crawler than the one we’re seeing over in Amazing … kind of.

Credit: Adam Kubert and Jordie Bellaire (Marvel Comics); from Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1

[Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1] places greater emphasis on Peter’s life as Spider-Man than the title would suggest…It’s definitely less Peter Parker and more Marvel Team-Up.

“Kind of” was the phrase that kept cropping up while I read through this first issue. It kind of focuses on Spider-Man as a street-level superhero, even though Peter Parker is still a billionaire tech mogul. It kind of re-establishes Spidey as Marvel’s everyman, though perhaps too much of one. And it kind of takes place entirely in New York, until Spidey goes to Chicago to follow up on a lead.

But it also kind of places greater emphasis on Peter’s life as Spider-Man than the title would suggest. In fact, almost of all Spider-Man’s interactions during this first issue strictly occur entirely within the superhero community: sharing lunch with Johnny Storm / The Human Torch; being saved by Scott Lang/Ant-Man; saying a brief hello to Sam Wilson/Captain America; and an explosive encounter with Invincible Iron Man‘s Riri Williams / Ironheart. Even the backup story is all about a fight between himself and Black Widow.

Even the introduction of two new characters are within the confines of Peter’s life as Spider-Man. A stand-up comedienne named Rebecca London asks Spidey out after he saves her from a mugging. Later, Peter even calls her as Spider-Man to arrange their first date. He also meets the go-to-repairperson-for-superheroes dubbed The Mason, who by coincidence is also the brother of long-time Spider-Man villain The Tinkerer. It’s definitely less Peter Parker and more Marvel Team-Up.

Credit: Adam Kubert and Jordie Bellaire (Marvel Comics); from Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1

It’s another Spider-Man who, in spite of his age and experiences, behaves like he’s still a fifteen year-old rookie.

The main story also doesn’t have much in the way of a plot. What passes for one centers around an encrypted Stark Industries smart phone found on one of the muggers, prompting Spidey to investigate. As McGuffins go, it’s incredibly flimsy. And the main story doesn’t have much traditional superhero action either. Its single fight is over in just four panels. All that leaves us with is a comic consisting of one prolonged, loosely connected dialogue scene after another. By the time the first story ended, I wondered if Zdarsky spent a night binge-watching Seinfeld reruns.

As for how Zsdarsky depicts Spider-Man, his Peter Parker definitely fits the description of the socially-awkward, self-deprecating smart guy who’s never taken seriously. Moreover, Spidey often mutters asides to himself, and either speaks before he thinks or being overly careful in finding the right word. He acts uncomfortable towards other superheroes, and even more so towards attractive members of the opposite sex. It’s another Spider-Man who, in spite of his age and experiences, behaves he’s still a fifteen year-old rookie.

Fortunately, Zsdarky’s dialogue is quite decent, brimming with sharp, sly wit and occasional clever referential humor. The beginning of the comic, for instance, has Spidey recapping his origin story from Amazing Fantasy #15. We assume he’s narrating in the first-person for the sake of new readers, until Johnny interrupts with, “Why are you telling me your origin again?!”

Credit: Adam Kubert and Jordie Bellaire (Marvel Comics); from Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1

The comic also sets up two intriguing developments towards the end of both its stories. The main story gets special attention as it involves (SPOILERS) the return of Peter’s supposed long-lost sister, Theresa, a character first introduced in the original graphic novel, Amazing Spider-Man: Family Business by Mark Waid. Zsdarsky’s following through on an underrated, almost forgotten story, from three years ago is a pleasant unexpected twist.

This issue also serves as another prime example why Adam Kubert is a master comic book illustrator. His panels appear complex, but never complicated. There’s a tremendous amount of detail in them, but he always knows his subject for each panel. Almost every scene shows a different angle and point-of-view, yet still maintains visual and sequential consistency. If there’s a flaw, it’s that Kubert minimizes his inking, perhaps relying a bit too much on colorist Jordie Bellaire. This can, but rarely, makes some scenes appear flatter than they should.

What truly impressed me, however, isn’t Kubert’s drawing Spider-Man in the correct proportions. It’s how he individualized him. Like Mark Bagley, he depicts Spidey with a lean muscular structure with lenses almost as large as his mask. He also draws Spidey with a slightly slumped posture, and his arms as close to his torso as much as possible. This not only gives Spidey the appearance of his namesake, it visually conveys how he’s still just wide-eyed kid at heart.

Credit: Goran Parlov and Nathan Fairbairn (Marvel Comics); from Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1

As a first issue for a new ongoing series, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 is imperfect, but still enjoyable nevertheless.

The artist for the backup, Goran Parlov, is also highly capable. His work appears much closer to the traditional “Marvel Style,” with an emphasis on making images look as dynamic as possible. It bares a remarkable resemblance to the work of Sal Buscema, an artist known for his work during the previous run of Spectacular Spider-Man. I also liked the way he contrasted Spidey and Widow through inking, with Widow shown in constant shadow compared with the bright, colorful wall-crawler.

As a first issue for a new ongoing series, Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1 is imperfect, but still enjoyable nevertheless. It certainly recreates the mood and ambiance of a traditional Spider-Man comic, making for a nice enough alternative to Amazing. I would’ve appreciated it far more if it had an actual narrative. After all, just because they’re called “comic books,” it doesn’t make them sitcoms.

Stillanerd’s Score: 3 out of 5

Next: Stillanerd Reviews: Venom #151 review

Credit: Adam Kubert and Jordie Bellaire (Marvel Comics); from Peter Parker: The Spectacular Spider-Man #1

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

” … robbed my wrestling promoter.” Wait a minute? I thought the Burglar robbed the backstage office of one of those late night shows, Spidey? You sure you’re not confusing what happened with a certain Sam Raimi movie?
Am I alone in thinking a superhero universe having superhero movies is kind of weird?
Oh, Aunt May, if only you knew what Peter sacrificed just so you could worry about his love life all over again.
Hmm … so Scott Lang somehow got into a tussle with one of Namor’s villains?
Careful, Spidey! If Scott knew the real reason you wound up with six arms in Amazing Spider-Man #100, he’d laugh even harder.
Actually, I’m impressed Rebecca even knows Spidey’s wall-crawling powers don’t just apply to his hands and feet.
“It’s why I never bothered with siblings.” I know this is just foreshadowing the ending, Spidey, but what about your clones? Don’t you consider them your brothers?
Huh? I forgot all about Uatu Jackson and what happened to him after Horizon Labs left. Then again, most of Peter Parker’s Horizon Labs cast are just there to begin with.
“Thanks. NBD.” Oh please tell me Spidey isn’t into Snapchat, electronic dance music, and Tough Mudder competitions, too?
A comic with sound dating advice in the footnotes? That’s a first.
Okay, when even a Marvel comic is making fun of Spider-Man being Tony Stark’s quasi-sidekick in Spider-Man: Homecoming, you know there’s a problem.
“Lee Harvey Osborn.” Really? A JFK assassination joke that also doubles as a Spidey reference?
“Good Night Widow. And good luck.” And an Edward R. Murrow reference to boot too.

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