Stillanerd Reviews: Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2 review

It’s not just people who seem “familiar, but different,” as Zdarsky and Bagley’s story of Spider-Man aging in real-time continues into the 1970s.

Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2

“Chapter Two: Our Father’s Way”

Writer: Chip Zdarsky

Penciler: Mark Bagley

Inker: Drew Hennesy

Color Artist: Frank D’Armata

Covers: Chip Zdarsky; and Michael Cho

Stories involving an alternate history are fascinating, and for good reason. They give us a glimpse into what our world might have been like if certain things did or not happen. What would the world be like if computers were invented earlier, or if the Nazis won World War II, or if JFK wasn’t assassinated? It’s the basis behind Marvel Comics’ original What If? series, where seemingly familiar heroes, villains, and stories take radical departures, and not always for the better.

What these stories and our imaginations tend to overlook, however, are the people who shaped our history. Speculating about what might have been is easy when you have the benefit of hindsight on your side. Much harder to contemplate is the notion that, if the people from our past made different choices, they would no longer be that person. They made those choices because that’s who they are.

Credit: Mark Bagley, Drew Hennessy, and Frank D’Armata (Marvel Comics); from Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2

…despite all the deviations, the age differences, and the crazy hairstyles and clothes, these are very much the same characters that Spider-Man fans have always known…Indeed, Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2 operates under the motto of “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Which leads us to the second chapter of Chip Zdarsky and Mark Bagley’s Spider-Man: Life Story. As issue No. 1 ended with Gwen Stacy discovering Peter Parker’s secret identity, Norman Osborn in jail, and Captain America protecting villagers from US troops in Vietnam, there were bound to be changes from the original 616 canon and between the intervening decade.

Sure enough, when Spider-Man: Life Story open in the year 1977, the differences come fast and aplenty. Peter and Gwen are married research scientists, with Peter working for Reed Richards while Gwen works for Miles Warren. Flash Thompson died in Vietnam, which is still ongoing as more superheroes join in the conflict. Doctor Octopus is reformed, working for Reed, and married to Aunt May. And that’s just the first four pages; before long, we also learn that Mary Jane Watson and Harry Osborn are engaged, Dr. Curt Connors is cured from becoming the Lizard, and Peter has a new, armor-plated Spider-Man costume.

Yet despite all the deviations, the age differences, and the crazy hairstyles and clothes, these are very much the same characters that Spider-Man fans have always known. Peter still grapples with personal guilt, Gwen is still supportive, Harry is still a drug addict with daddy issues, MJ still hides behind a party girl façade, and Miles Warren is still a creepy old man. Key moments from Spider-Man’s history sill happen but happen under different circumstances. Indeed, Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2 operates under the motto of “The more things change, the more they stay the same.”

Credit: Mark Bagley, Drew Hennessy, and Frank D’Armata (Marvel Comics); from Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2

Only this isn’t a disappointment as one might expect — far from it, in fact. Knowing his readers are likely familiar with Spider-Man canon, Zdarsky takes full advantage of this. Even if readers can anticipate what will happen because of their prior knowledge, they’ll still be unprepared for how things unfold. Nor does what happen ever feel like Zdarsky purposefully steering events down along a predetermined path. Everything feels natural because Zdarsky stays true to who these characters are. If anything, what happens in this comic actually gives new light to who these characters really are.

This different but familiar approach also makes what happens to Peter feel more personal than it did in Life Story No. 1. More than once, Peter’s decision not to volunteer for Vietnam, particularly when it comes to Flash’s death, comes back to haunt him. He’s called on the carpet for not doing more than just fight crime. He questions Reed over the ethics of withholding advanced technology from the rest of the world. Despite his vow to use his powers responsibly, it’s beginning to dawn on Peter that, maybe, he’s still been only thinking of himself all along. In other words, he’s growing up, and in ways which feel genuine.

It also helps that Zdarsky writes excellent dialogue. Hence certain moments, even you can guess what’s coming, still pack an emotional wallop. The scene with Peter meeting MJ and Harry at Studio 54 is wrought with heartbreaking drama, made all the more devastating due to years of pent-up resentment and regret. The ending offers a cruel, bittersweet twist on classic Spider-Man stories that feels just as earned as the originals. All the more impressive when you consider Zdarsky only has thirty pages of story to work with.

More from Comics

This is one the comic’s few downsides. So much happens within a small amount of pages that there seems enough material for three comics instead of just one. As a consequence, certain supporting characters, even those from last issue, are ignored. We never learn, for instance, how J. Jonah Jameson or The Daily Bugle fared during the 1970’s. Other significant events, like the death of Gwen’s father, Captain Stacy, are brushed off with little more than a passing thought from Peter’s interior monologue. As much as the emotional beats work, they would’ve been even stronger if Zdarsky was given more narrative room to work with.

Also, while issue No. 1 felt as though it took place in the 1960’s, this comic doesn’t quite capture the feel of the 1970’s. Despite offhand references to Vietnam, Watergate, and the Bee Gees, it does looks too contemporary. Spider-Man’s new costume, for example, is clearly more inspired by the Playstation 4 version than something from forty years ago.

Credit: Mark Bagley, Drew Hennessy, and Frank D’Armata (Marvel Comics); from Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2

That being said, Bagley’s art still looks great, even surpassing his work from the last issue. Body language and facial expressions look more natural, and page compositions are perfectly arranged for seamless panel-to-panel transitions. With the exception of a single black page, this is one of those rare books where there isn’t a pointless or superfluous image. The art also looks even more vibrant from Frank D’Armata’s coloring than it did in issue No. 1. Makes sense considering how it’s meant to be a time when Disco was all the rage.

If the purpose of Spider-Man: Life Story No. 1 was to make you just how different things could become, the purpose of Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2 is to show how timeless these characters really are. Place them in a different time, change a few narrative details, and they’ll still behave in ways similar to what they’ve done before. Which goes to show that maybe it’s not the stories that really matter, but the characters, the people, whom those stories are about.

Stillanerd’s Score: 4.5 out of 5

Next. Stillanerd Reviews: Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2 review. dark

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (with funky spoilers)

Credit: Mark Bagley, Drew Hennessy, and Frank D’Armata (Marvel Comics); from Spider-Man: Life Story No. 2

Is it morbid to notice how coincidental it is that Flash Thompson was born in 1947 and died in 1974?
So if superheroes did exist in our world, the Vietnam War would’ve lasted longer? Take that, Watchmen!
Huh? Did Peter Parker, Mr. “With great power comes great responsibility,” really suggest that “saving lives on both sides” of a war prolongs that war? Maybe it really was a good thing he didn’t enlist.
Hey, Reed Richards? If you’re really so smart, how come you still haven’t figured out Tony Stark and Iron Man are the same person after a decade?
And if you’re wondering, like Peter and Reed, “Why did Aunt May ever marry Doc Ock?” remember it almost really did happen in the original comics.
“The Gemini Porject?” Oh, I see what you did there, comic. Talk about being sneaky.
“…I have one more secret to tell you…” And so much for Norman’s plot-induced amnesia.
“Scipro-Genesis?” Really, Professor Warren? That’s the name you came up with for your company? Considering Ben Reilly-27 came up with “New U,” maybe he really was the better Jackal after all.
“I should be home doing my taxes.” Um, Peter? It’s April 16th, 1977, right? That means you should’ve filed your taxes the day before. Here comes Spider-Man’s most fearsome foe of all–the IRS!
Even with all those upgrades to his suit, Peter still needs a web backpack for his regular clothes?
“Didn’t quite get the uppers/downers combo right…” In case you forgot which decade this story’s set in. Though considering what kind of drugs people really used at Studio 54, Harry’s really lucky he only passed out.
“Instead of telling [Flash] he was making a mistake–” But how does MJ know that? (Looks back through issue No. 1, sees MJ standing in front of Peter and Flash). Oh, that’s really clever.
Hey, Reed? Before you go off on the “irresponsibility” of introducing fabric made from unstable molecules into the free market, may I present you with a little education on how progress and innovation actually works courtesy of Danny DeVito?
“…that even your wife left you for a man who lives under the sea.” Wow! So Reed Richards really is destined to drive Sue Storm into the arms of Namor.
The Black Goblin? How is it that the original comics never came up with that one?
And my head canon that Norman Osborn has been a clone since Amazing Spider-Man No. 122 has just been validated.
“Please, it’s not what it looks like.” Said every creep ever once they got caught, Prof. Warren.
Woah! Even before the clones have a chance of ruining his life, Peter hates them. Talk about prejudice.
Who would’ve thought there were even more messed up ways for Gwen to die that Spider-Man accidentally snapping her own neck with webbing?
Not sure which scenario is worse? That Peter either unknowingly married the clone of the woman he loved, or that he unknowingly cheated on his wife with her own clone? Not to mention having his wife–or is it his dead wife’s clone?–choose his clone over him. So much for comics not being soap operas.

dark. Next. 100 greatest superhero stories

Looks like next time, Secret Wars, the black costume, and maybe “Kraven’s Last Hunt” are going back to the 1980’s…sort of. Until then, what are your thoughts about this comic? How did what happen in this comic compare to what really happened in the original Spider-Man comics? Will Peter and MJ still marry in this timeline? Will he still start his own business? Will the Vietnam War still be going on a decade later? What consequences and changes do you foresee happening?

Home/Comics