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Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #791 review

By Mike McNulty

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In which the finale of Dan Slott’s “Fall of Parker” treats Spider-Man’s return to the Daily Bugle like an innovative new direction.

Amazing Spider-Man #791

“Fall of Parker Part 3 – Back to Ground”

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Writer: Dan Slott

Penciler: Stuart Immonen

Inker: Wade von Grawbadger

Color Artist: Rain Beredo

Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover: Alex Ross

It may not seem like it, but I really do sympathize with writers of long-running serialized comics. I don’t envy them, either. Their job is a constant, aggravating balancing act. Stray too far from the traditional status quo, and critics and reviewers like myself chastise them for going against the basic tenants of the series. Go “back to basics,” and we complain about that writer no having any new ideas. Sometimes, we forget how challenging it is coming up with fresh, new story ideas.

On the other hand, when a comic book writer of a long-standing series tells the “same old story” while claiming it’s “brand new,” then finding sympathy becomes harder. If that “same old story” also recycles scenes, instances, plots, or even character types while also claiming they’re doing something new, then that’s just trying one’s patience.

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Rain Beredo (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man #791

Amazing Spider-Man #791 is an average comic made all the more average with its claims of originality while lacking originality.

One scene in Dan Slott’s Amazing Spider-Man #791 illustrates this perfectly. Peter Parker, as Spider-Man, gets a cellphone call from Aunt May while he and Mockingbird fight rogue robots with a hive-mind intelligence. Aunt May is ecstatic when she hears Peter has a new job…until she learns he’s working at the Daily Bugle again. “No, I’m not ‘backsliding,'” Peter insists. “I’m not taking pictures!”

It’s true, Peter isn’t the Bugle’s photographer anymore. He’s now their new Science Editor, working under Joe “Robbie” Robertson, and supervising his own staff of reporters. Even so, no matter how much Peter or Slott may protest, it’s still “backsliding,” and not just because Peter is working at the Bugle again. In terms of character dynamics, Peter’s interactions with the new Bugle characters reads virtually the same as those with Horizon Labs. There’s even a character who comes across as a passive-aggressive version of Sajani Jaffrey.

As fantastical as comics are, it strains credulity that the same news publication which castigated Peter for mishandling an international billion dollar company would hire him for a managerial position. Besides, how many times did Slott show over the course of his very run that Peter has terrible leadership skills?

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Rain Beredo (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man #791

When even characters in the story are wondering why Peter Parker and Bobbi Morse are together, I find myself nodding in agreement. Despite engaging in a lot of banter, Spidey and Mockingbird have zero chemistry between them.

Then there’s Spider-Man continuing to date Mockingbird. I joked before how Slott turned the former Mrs. Clint Barton into the next Carlie Cooper. Now Mockingbird has Black Cat and Mary Jane Watson’s characteristics, too. When even characters in the story are wondering why Peter Parker and Bobbi Morse are together, I find myself nodding in agreement. Despite engaging in a lot of banter, Spidey and Mockingbird have zero chemistry between them. If anything, Bobbi acts more like Peter’s older sister or his mom than his girlfriend.

I’m sure there are those who’ll say Spider-Man having a romantic relationship with a fellow superhero is fresh (even though Brian Michael Bendis did it first in Ultimate Spider-Man) but I must throw some ice-cold water on this. Whenever two superheroes from different IP’s become a couple, and they aren’t exclusive to a team-up book, it damages both characters in the long run. Just look at Black Panther and Storm, and Superman and Wonder Woman as examples of what can–and does–go wrong.

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Rain Beredo (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man #791

In addition, Slott highlights Mockingbird’s feminism to point of parody. At her new job, Bobbi berates a technician for “suppressing” a robot’s default digital female voice when he tries resetting to a male one. It’s too ridiculous if intended as a serious social commentary, and it falls flat if meant as a joke. Not to mention, as this Wall Street Journal article suggests, isn’t the insistence on female voice assistants actually reinforcing a cultural stereotype? The only thing this scene truly succeeds at is foreshadowing the issue’s climactic twist.

This at least shows Slott maintains some degree of narrative cohesiveness. Despite being “Part 3” of “Fall of Parker,” Amazing Spider-Man #791 can be read on its own. The story is self-contained, with a basic three-act structure, which, while being seemingly inconsequential, also develops future subplots to come. In this regard, the comic does read like something written and published from several years ago, in that has a brisk plot stuffed with dialogue.

Much more modern, of course, is the art by Stuart Immonen, and it’s all right in spots. It looks kinetic enough, especially during the fight with the rogue robots I mentioned earlier. Only there’s a few instances where Immonen’s basic grasp of realistic-looking anatomy and body proportions look skewed. He also some really odd–and creepy–facial expressions. Perhaps Immonen was attempting a slightly exaggerated style to fit the story’s lighter tone, but it doesn’t quite work.

Thus, Amazing Spider-Man #791 is an average comic made all the more average with its claims of originality while lacking originality. As the opening salvo for returning Spider-Man back to his roots, these last three issues read like Slott eating sand from a dry well. Considering what specifically happens towards the comic’s end, it’s an ironically apt metaphor.

Stillanerd’s Score: 2.5 out 5

Next: Stillanerd Reviews: Amazing Spider-Man #790 review

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

Credit: Stuart Immonen, Wade von Grawbadger, and Rain Beredo (Marvel Comics); from Amazing Spider-Man #791

  • “I’m good on the couch.” I understand your need for sleep, Pete, but couches are not comfortable places for long-term sleeping.
  • So now Bobbi’s worries Peter spends too much as Spider-Man as she watches him swing away outside the apartment window. And people griped about Mary Jane doing the exact same thing.
  • Hey Pete? Would it have killed you to wear a tie on your first day? You’re an editor now. There’s no need to look like you’re auditioning for a 1990’s grunge rock band.
  • “This’d be like if Bill Gates was caught using an iPhone.” First off Peter, you’re no Bill Gates. Second, are you seriously suggesting your glorified iPhone rip-off, i.e. Webware, is better than the actual iPhone? No wonder Robbie tells you “Get over it.”
  • “Peter Parker using an A-Droid.” An A-Droid equals Android? So much for the Bill Gates using an iPhone analogy.
  • Hold on? How does a biochemist like Bobbi not only design top-of-the-line security systems, but also have an “understanding of every area of science” in a robotics company?
  • “Sorry, Dr. Parker.” Marvel will never acknowledge that Peter technically never earned his doctorate, will they?
  • Geez, and I thought Peter did brazenly stupid stuff. This Colin guy takes it to a whole other level.
  • Yes, Spider-Man trying to come up with a cute name for himself and Mockingbird goes on way too long. Plus, “Spockingbird” would work better if were Mockingbird and the Superior Spider-Man.
  • “Since when does the default sand-villain have to be Sandman?” Because he’s a better-known villain, came first, and that Quicksand is pretty much a copycat of him?
  • “Being held against her will in a dozen BB-8s?” In case you forget Disney owns both Marvel and Star Wars. Also, you want reasons for why should you capture Quicksand, Spidey? How about she’s still a wanted super villain? You, of all people, should know letting bad guys get away is a bad idea.
  • Guess Harry is back being an unknowing dupe for his father’s machinations. Though again, why is Liz Allan going along with whatever design he and the nanny have on the kids?

Next: 100 greatest superhero stories

What are your own thoughts and feelings about Amazing Spider-Man #791. Do you think it was a step backward for Peter Parker working at the Daily Bugle again? Also, are you a fan of Spider-Man and Mockingbird as a couple? If so, what are your arguments in favor of it?

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