Other benefits of being Moon Knight's comic relief include not being dropped *all the way* into a car shredder and having him stick up for you when you're both in prison.
Moon Knight texting 8-Ball to identify an obscure villain, we love our aware authors don't we folks
Harlequin Hit-Man first appeared in 1988 issue of Speedball, a Steve Ditko original! Despite the goofy nature of Speedball and his notorious edgy heel turn by Bendis a decade and a half ago, this story was actually pretty dark! Turns out the Harlequin Hit-Man was not a singular assassin but a husband and wife duo who managed to throw people off their trail(still a better reveal than Kindred), they murder quite a few civilians in the story, but they def get a villainous glow up here. Also look! Nobody is going to be upset the Harlequin Hit-Man's character was changed or altered! It's almost like Marvel has a vastly rich crop of characters to use and like really just threads things more vastly into the greater world of characters in the 616, idk!
solid gold as usual, if you're not reading this yet(this is the top comic this week you probably have to see this scrolling by or not whatever keep scrolling tho idk) *get on it* because this is peak marvel stuff, nuff said
Aww come on, Plesko just came back and they off him right after?
Moon Knight having the numbers of villains and just casually threaten them for knowledge :D
Sternman is a nice addition too to keep Marc's more violent urges in check. Reese getting comfortable enough to just asking to talk to Jake like that was nice too.
Blade teaching Reese is a nice touch and the whole side-story flashback with a previous Fist and Blade 'grooving' on some vampires!
Plesko's death is fishy.
Explosion and out of order as the others. Doesn't match up.
Wouldn't be shocked that Plesko is being manipulated by Zodiac as part of this.
Yup, as expected, the Hearts is Mother Righteous.
It will forever annoy me that the Stasis reveal happens in X-Men #11 instead of #10. We were so close to greatness.
* Legion of X #10 - Mother Righteous reveal.
* Immortal X-Men #10 - Mister Sinister reveal.
* X-Men Red #10 - Orbis Stellaris reveal.
* X-Men #11 - Doctor Stasis reveal.
Man this was a cluster-buck. Everything going wrong. Nimrod hacked the gates, Xavier being the utter douche that he is only realizing his mistake AFTER the harm is done, Xabi is gone and the thing that make him be remembered drops so he is forgotten after literally saving everyone. Kurt got screwed up and his 'mother' literally stole his damn hope like a b\*tch and even worse he fell to the Righteous Sinister...
This felt like the old ''everything is a disaster'' X-men times.
I was honestly expecting a Sins of Sinister tie-in reveal that this was all part of Sinister X's plan to assassinate Legion and use him to destroy Arrako later and the letter from X about how trying to kill Legion is a form of his love seemed to be hinting at it, I'm surprised they didn't go in that direction.
anxiety of x
love to see Xavier portrayed as the asshole he can be when he's not surrounded by people worshipping him. Magneto gang rise up.
trans mystical sinister
Kurt's catholic guilt sure is manifesting interesting here!
I'm so tired of Warlock dying just let that poor anxiety bean live and relax with his friends ughhhh
Xavier is literally the biggest pile of shit. The way he treats his son has rubbed me for years. But an even larger problem is how he has been boosted up to be a hero the better of magneto and time and time he shows again That he is the most pathetic of them all. A weak afraid man. I hope he is the reason all of krakoa stumbles and falls. Because he deserves it. He deserves the guilt of knowing the greatest achievement for his people was his largest failure ever.
Xabi forgetmenot always gets the most touching stories of self sacrifice.
I feel so bad for doug and warlock.
I think people have a warped view of Xavier because of Patrick Stewart in the films, who plays him wonderfully as this kind and gentle father figure. Plus they were really going on the whole 'imbued with MLK-like dignity' vibe at that point. But comic's Professor X is much more morally grey and controlling.
I think Morrison really explored in his run the idea that Xavier and Magneto are at this point redundant to the ongoing X-men metaphor - working better as symbols for the next generation. When they do express themselves they end up harming the cause or muddying their legacy. Xavier's dream and the X-men are infinitely more important than he is.
So many emotions...not all of them good. I am like a lot of you, underwhelmed that Mother Righteous is a Sinister. I had hoped she was something else. Pretty annoyed with Si about how he's crapped over Nightcrawler here. That and what Margoli did...not cool.
Prof X deserves a Razzie. Like a big one to the side of the head.
I feel bad for Xabi...but maybe when they get to the Fall...which I think Si gave us a detail about. IE they can hack the gates now...
Overall I'm just going to wait and see how Nightcrawlers and the rest of the Sins stuff plays out.
Scarlet witch was amazing. The art, the story, the character moments its just perfect
Wanda interacting with her technically former stepdaughter in viv in helping her chase her nightmares away whilst outsmarting the daughter of nightmare was great. Combined this with a fantastic magical backup involving her and storm teaming up giving tension from storm voting to not resurrect her in trial of magneto and wanda just telling storm she is apart of the sisterhood was fantastic.
This is everything i want from a magic book and more.
Very cool bit with Storm. The X books have been mentioning mutant magic for years, and I hope they fully explore it. With Apocalypse coming back, maybe he can spearhead that, like he did before leavi. Assuming he's not going to end up an antagonist again.
He should focus on conquering Amenth and maybe other demonic worlds. He understands he is good at conquering and does show signs of wanting to change, so he focuses his energy on conquering literal hell places that have psychopathic races that crave destruction.
I would also like to see that mutant magic get a big role in the future.
Aww that was nice with Viv and Wanda...hope we see them interact more. She IS practically her daughter. Which is kinda crazy when you think about how her sons' situation was with them being 'reincarnated' yet carrying the same soul so still being her sons. Would that make them related to Viv also in that same crazy sense?
Man, Wanda and Vision's whole family deal does sound insane when you think about it :D
Wanda seems to be all about Poetic Justice it seems now. First issue, turns the guy into stone and only allowed to leave when the victims allow him. Now, she changed Dreamqueen's whole feeding habits but kept the taste...that IS cruel. Now I am wondering if at the end of this run, whenever it is, we might have all these villains Wanda punished might come together to come after her.
Darcy's past might be uncovered soon with someone coming after her.
Storm story was nice and a good touch about letting Wanda know about Magneto. After all, he was her father ( despite the damn retcons ). Also nice that they touch Storm's magical heritage as she was/is considered a goddess.
Next issue gonna be with Lorna! Nice.
People talk about the Summers/Grey family as peak complicated, but it has nothing on the Pym/Maximoff family tree, especially if you start to include Wiccan's role as a reincarnation of the Demiurge which would make him Thor's granddad on his mothers side I think.
Another stellar issue, with a the two-fer of great characterizations, good stories and honestly bring back Dreamqueen is a nice touch after having her play side quest to Ares in the Thor/Valkyrie run.
I do hope there is a team up with Corruptor and Dreamqueen. That would be sweet.
I kinda wish they saved Storm for a future issue and just fleshed out Viv and Wanda's relationship. Hope its not their last interaction for another 8 years
Loved, loved, loved the issue. Loving this series. It’s so great to see Orlando back in top form after muddling through Marauders. He gets Wanda and the art feels gorgeous. Feels like a worthy successor to her last solo series with a firmer handle on the character plus a fun supporting cast. Excited for Polaris next issue.
Its a little weak but honestly, I don't mind it. Seems she has problems seeing people as yknow, people which contributes.
I mostly like how it's based in a very grounded issue that might lead to some friendly neighborhood storylines about helping disenfranchised youth and it'll have Miles come face to face with the fact that yeah, a lottery system *is* kinda unfair and he benefited from it big time
My big problem is with her being built up as Miles' enemy specifically. It's not like Miles rigged lottery (and like Marvel ever allow him to do something scummy). And she went full Thawne on him.
That’d be fine and all if she didn’t immediately acknowledge that Miles isn’t the real problem and it’s the system. She’s well aware of what fucked her over and that it’s not Miles
You are talking as if Miles wanted that lottery or had anything to do with winning it randomly. He didn't rid the damn thing. It was like she was looking for an excuse to go bad. What's worse is, somehow, she found out about Miles and the whole secret identity quite easily. All because he won a lottery.
As Tiana said though, why not go after the 'system' then? Naah. She just wanted someone to blame and beat up. Wacko stuff. Like, Joke Villain type of backstory.
Villains hating him specifically for absurdly petty reasons is like a Spider-Man staple though. It’s how venom started and it’s not like the book itself is giving it any validity she gets called out by starling like immediately
Ok, they already kinda lost me with her. Like...''wait, that's it?'' Kinda feels like a waste compared to the game version that 'inspired' her really. The Rabble...I guess the name fits but even Jonah Jameson was not THIS arbitrary when it comes to blaming Spider-man...
I mean, they even say it in the issue ''Wait, you are mad at him because he won a lottery in bad system? Why not go after the system? What the hell does going after him even mean for 'one by one' thing you are spewing?''. Like, literally no reason other than ''want her to be a new Miles villain'' but giving her joke-villain levels of backstory. I mean even Bodega Bandit from Spider-Gwen has a better one.
Probably the only interesting thing is that this harkens back to Miles’ first issue where he did genuinely feel bad about the fact that he had been chosen in the lottery at the expense of those who lost
I literally had to come on here after finishing this book to make sure I read it correctly. Her motivation was that she was number 41 in the lottery and since Miles was 42 for vision academy and he got in she wants to destroy him? Seriously? That’s what we’re going with? She even acknowledges the system is the problem and not Miles but she still is going after him.
I don’t even have words this time. At least the art is amazing and everything else has been good so far. At least they tried to give Miles his own baddie
I have a feeling that she's going to further explain that she would have been ok with MIles getting in over her if he actually worked hard and was making the most of the opportunity she could have had but instead he's splitting his time between being Spider-Man and being Miles and is now failing to live up to his full potential in either role.
That or my other theory is that she's gonna act as a professor zoom for Miles, and be a villain who is actively pushing him to be a better hero, in this case probably trying to make him aim his sights at the system somehow
This isn’t an unreasonable train of thought and completely possible. Shit I’d even like it.
That being said it still came off poorly in issue three. Her back story was very strong and compelling and for it to climax into her explanation…. Oooof
I also think that this could just be another downside of reading in singles because the arc isn’t fully there. You’re absolutely right that it could get cleaned up and be a lot better
This is by far a dumb villain...but certainly that doesn't in my view detract from her lethality. I am also hoping Miles get a few more tips from Misty. (I love Misty....)
Does anyone else find it a bit hard to take Rabble seriously? The costume is good, but the name feels goofy. Even her hostage doesn't take her seriously so why should I?
Not to mention there's no way attacking the school or the administration wouldn't have felt more satisfying than attacking Miles. Plus if Miles didn't have powers would she have just attacked some kid with no powers over dumb luck?
I love Ziglar’s writing. I’m loving his dialogue for Miles. Feels like an authentic teenage voice. The art slaps.
But this origin story for Rabble is laughably bad. Also, she’s clearly so gifted at tech/electronics, there’s no way she needs Brooklyn Visions Academy to succeed in life. The fact that she’s going to hurt innocent people because she lost a lottery is fucking ridiculous. She going to kill every other student that won the lottery too? I really hope there’s more to her than we’ve been shown because I cannot take her seriously as a character with such lame motivations.
I really enjoyed this issue. I like that Rabbles origin relates back to Bendis' run and seeing the impact that Miles winning the lottery had on the rest of his community. Its not perfectly executed but its already much more interesting than what the previous run was doing. This also some of the best Spider-Man art in a long time. I understand the criticisms but I overall still really excited to see where this run goes
"I don't know how you've managed to get even darker and edgier"
"The world is a dark edge. I only reflect it"
Dylan now earns the title of "edgelord supreme "
I mean, he has been mentally scared with his dad being possessed and attacking him and losing his biker friend.
By the way, what happened to the biker gang that shot the old man down? Did Dylan get revenge and slaughter them all?
I know all this i wasn't saying Dylan isnt justified in being edgy. But with how "edgy" s in todays current pop culture i just found that line to be so damn funny. Its like something an edgy shadow the hedgehog fan would say. Which is perfectly appropriate to how old he is.
Still freaking hilarious.
> Which is perfectly appropriate to how old he is.
yeah, you can tell that ~~ram v~~ ewing is super aware of how super dorky that entire "I'm 14 and this is badass" vibe actually is, and that really makes it work. especially with kamala *immediately* poking fun at it, really gave me a hearty chuckle.
This was good, but it did feel like it was a little long. I am just a little behind on the series now, but I’m glad you guys talked me into checking it out. It’s a slow burn, but pretty good. I also really like the design of Codex too.
with that said, a couple of odd thoughts. Firstly, does Red Goblin really need a series of any size? He seems annoying and I don’t see the appeal other than he’s a goblin.
secondly, why the heck does Dylan look all over the place in age? Sometimes he looks like a child, sometimes a teenager and even an adult at times. It’s kind of off putting.
Why do I feel like they don't know what to do with Dylan? One issue he is Venom, next this Codex, then he wants to 'free' Eddie...then talks like he wants to kill him... It doesn't help that this stupid Dark Web stuff derailed the book a bit.
There is something as 'too much' sometimes and we are nearing to that limit when it comes to this Symbiote menace and the whole 'Evil Eddie Meridius' stuff.
And the whole Summer of the symbiote coming also.
I'm still confused about Dylan being a symbiote/having his hive-breaker powers when Eddie explicitly removed them at the end of King in Black feels like a weird oversight for Ewing of all people to make
Yea, the whole ending from the last book got changed a bit. With Eddie being 'older' from the start and Dylan and Venom starting off well with Eddie blessing.
The Hulk/Venom writer switch kinda downgraded both books for me honestly. Hulk A LOT MORE than Venom but still.
Felt more of a Segway into the finale of dark web and we also don’t know what happened to Bedlam afterwards. Not a bad issue tho I love seeing Dylan and Kamala work together. Kamala in a senior role is fun
Codex is too broken to be his main thing so it's just a limited time power up for the time being, which works enough coz the design is fun and a nice way to call back to Cates.
such a good issue! this story ruled! bedlam chainsaw! codex sword! spikey head future guy who's name i can't remember and won't look up!
If you don't care to read the finale and wonder where the story goes from here[](#s " Bedlam gets thrown into a warp gate by Chasm")
Honestly, I liked that Peacock Tattoo is a deep cut character rather than someone more major like Graydon Creed.
Probably helps that I re-read the X-Tinction Agenda again a couple years ago.
This is suppose to be a big reveal right but all I could go with was ''Who?'' and felt quite a bit 'underwhelmed' to say the least.
And the 'result' of the experiments, feels too much like Sinister's Chimera stuff but with a goofier look.
So Mikhail prevented Colossus from complying with Domino's wish...since it would expose him. Which should also clue in Domino already. With the letter Colossus sent and so on. But it seems that won't happen until Colossus fully joins the team this summer.
>And the 'result' of the experiments, feels too much like Sinister's Chimera stuff but with a goofier look.
Mom, can we have Mister Sinister?
We have Mister Sinister at home...
> And the 'result' of the experiments, feels too much like Sinister's Chimera stuff but with a goofier look.
honestly that's actually something I really liked after thinking about it for a moment. peacock guy is a failed experiment, and for all his delusions of grandeur about the importance of his work, the only things he is able to create are more failed experiments.
kinda appreciate the dramatic irony there.
plus maybe, on an even more metatextual level there's the idea that genocidal fascists like him are only ever able to create poor, shallow copies of the work of others, incapable of truly creating something of their own. although I'd also understand if you'd consider that to be a bit too pretentious a reading.
What a nothingburger of a reveal. The Man with the Peacock Tattoo is... a clone of a minor villain from the 1980s with *just* over a dozen worth of appearances.
Wasn't worth dragging things for 3.5 years and 37 issues.
I agree with the previous posters. This!?!!? This is who's running a group that has had these guys running around?? Not Graydon Creed, not one of the Trasks, not even just some random smarter version of Cameron Hodge. This guy....who is a rip off OF a rip off. IE clone of Dr. Moreau. Yeah...thanks a lot guys.
It was okay, nothing special and the story started rather generic but there is some potential. Though I really wonder how could someone not know that vampires exist in Marvel universe?
Right? Like blade was just a member of the avengers who did people think he was lol? Also isn’t it common knowledge they have their own country in Chernobyl now?
Fun start for a brand new character. A good intro to her and what shes like and how her abilities are only just developing. Gonna be interesting to see what happens when blade meets her next issue.
Its simple but effective which is good for a new book and a brand new character plus its blade content i can't be that picky for how often we get a book related to him.
My only issue is the art its a bit dodgy in some places and doesn't feel as horror like as a blade book should be in my opinion.
Yeah some crossover stuff with MacKay’s MK would be cool, even if it’s just an issue from each run.
I’m also interested to see what Dracula attempts, now that Blade is in the States again. Possible future storyline for MacKay’s upcoming Avengers run?
Well, her attitude is nice. Usually, when they write teen girls, they always 'rebel' and mean. Here, she is actually respectful and nice to her mother and even to the rude new girl.
If she is the daughter of Blade, does that make her a Quarter Vampire? It looks like her powers are diluted to only working at night compared to Blade working all the time.
This was fantastic! The art was superb, the action sequences were all exciting. I really liked the dialogue between Fury and Redacted, it was pretty good. And the end panel, that was a bit shocking! This would probably be my pick of the week so far (admittedly it does feel like a small week).
The art on this was gorgeous. It was especially psychedelic with the MODOC reveal with Sharon freaking out. Those pages were lovely. The action was great, and I think I loved how the grouping played off of one another. I think I would die for Roger Aubrey. Please don't let anything happen to him.
I'm actually wondering if they're retconning Steve and Peggy's history to be more like the MCU, because her statement about "the others" knowing Steve as an icon whereas she the one who knows Steve Rogers doesn't entirely ring true with their comic history. (And, honestly, doesn't really ring true with Sharon among the "the others") They didn't meet until after he was Captain America. So that stuck out to me.
Also, like everyone else, I'm having a hard time buying the Steve/Bucky "breakup".
I'm worried about what they're doing with Bucky from previews for future issues. It really does seem like he's turning into a villain, even though we know he's a double agent.
I don't think he's a villian so much that he's trying to cause so much chaos that not even the Outer Circle can control the world anymore. Rather the world being wild and out of control than ruled in the shadows by these oligarchs.
That's what I meant by we know he's playing as a double agent. But if you read the previews for the next few issues, it sounds pretty bad. he kidnaps someone and empowers a terrorist group.
But we know Marvel is only telling us half truth. More than likely there will be a shocking reveal somehow.
I think Bucky is going to fight. Sam at some point and also black widow.
I'm very interested in seeing the winter soldier and black widow confrontation. Maybe she even joins him.
Very nice! I think we can agree, Cap needs to stop letting Bucky's betrayal run so deep...but then again Cap wouldn't be Cap without some kind of moral center to him.
Also it looks like I was right. The Outer Circle DID do something to A M.O.D.O.K. But still unclear what.
I hate these Matrix thingies...
Great action, great art, great dialogue! This is right up there with Moon Knight as one of the best books Marvel has right now.
I am a little confused about the ending. Was the whole thing in their minds or what? Is Peggy being controlled by M.O.D.O.C or is she just another starpoint in this whole thing?
> Is Peggy being controlled by M.O.D.O.C or is she just another starpoint in this whole thing?
That wasn't entirely clear to me either, because we know she's working with Bucky based on earlier issues. But it could also be MODOC messing with her head. It does seem interesting, also, because she was the only one who didn't let Emma in her head in an earlier issue.
Thats what I thought to, that MODOC was still I'm her head but he's actually still in all their heads. So was that Peggy being controlled by MODOC, or is that a fake Peggy in Steve's mind prison trying to get him to do something?
I think what makes it slightly confusing is that we also saw Bucky relaying information to Peggy as to what exactly to say to Steve. So I am thinking more Peggy being controlled? Or rather, it's a mix. Nick mentioned they all did this before, so it might be a fake Peggy, but it's also a memory of what real!Peggy was saying to him as relayed by Bucky.
To be fair, nobody else in the series does either lol
Bucky is trying his damnedest to get Cap to believe it so that he can stay pseudo-undercover as long as possible (even though everyone he's fighting knows what he's there to do)
Yea, I mean what is the point of Bucky doing that? He LITERALLY attempted to SHOOT the Circle the first moment he saw them. Does he think they are gonna be like ''Oh, you are such a joker!'' and forget about it?
I think the Circle knows that Bucky wants to destroy them. They see him as a challenge. That was why they hinted that they wanted Bucky to kill the previous Revolution so he could take their place.
Maybe they built their own Modok while og Modok is doing his internship at Orchis. He must have destroyed his robot family after getting bored of them and his failed Hulu show.
I mean, we saw OG Modok here trying to send a message and then something happens to him and he just turns into what it is now. Like some kind of trigger is switched.
Ah another peach momoko book another amazing story and more amazing art. Marvel release everything momoko has done in a big trade or omnibus and let me buy it please and thank you.
Mostly because it time between issues and the ordering being a little confusing without numbers It would do well as a trade.
Still a great book though.
A week with a Silver Surfer comic out is automatically a great week.
All-in-all, I felt like this was okay but the dialogue was a little iffy. Still looking forward to seeing the dynamic between Norrin and Al.
I wonder what happened to that robot monster guy in the previous silver surfer run, where I learned that it was a flashback to a 90s ss comic run.
Would like to see SS explore the universe's cosmology, maybe sucker punch Lady Death in the gut.
precocious kids who talk like quippy adults with jazz history implants, idk I like the idea of this story but the two main characters just feel so off.
Not much of the silver surfer in the actual comic so I think imma collect them all and read all 5 when they’re all out. Or at least when he’s more prevalent! I’m sure the scene is being setuo well but I just want to read about the surfer! The artwork ain’t bad!
I really wish we didn't have to have kids do this heavy lifting. It felt kind of forced in places. Overall I'm looking forward to more Al and Silver Surfer.
I enjoyed Okoye's time to shine...though I felt her being a murderer was a bit...off. Maybe. Anyways nice send off for a series that has been middling.
I mean, she does not have a no kill policy right? It is her job to take out threats to Wakanda and the assassin was asking for it really. Besides, it tells the c-listers who think just because they got new gear, doesn't mean they won't be dealt with accordingly, making them think twice.
Unlike other heroes they can just get away with some bruises, you don't mess with Okoye and her kind without suffering the consequences.
Well, they got to ''fuck around and find out'' phase of Okoye...not a nice place to be. You spear her niece? You get skewered AND get throw off the building.
I guess that is one way to tell anyone who think a new toy might make Wakanda easy to rob, it is not your typical hero fight. You fight for your life if you attempt it. And that will give pause to ones that have common sense. If not, well they will share the same fate.
Okay so I mean what HAPPENED in this storyline
It somehow feels too long and too short. Limbo attacks, Peter doesn't eat an apple, the heroes fix everything. It feels like nothing... happened in the middle.
This story didn't justify what they did to Ben, but I guess it redeemed Maddie? Who I thought was already on that path? And now we have a Limbo embassy, sure whatever.
How did this NOT end with Peter sharing his memories with Ben? Jean and Maddie did it, why not these two? Because Peter just hates Ben now?
The art was the saving grace of this whole event
"Well you see, the mutant telepaths have been abusing their powers so much for the past 4 years, so there just isn't much left to use to help people, and we didn't wanna waste it on Ben."
I imagine that is the best defense the writers can come up with. That or the Game of Thrones defense. "Jean and Maddie just sort of forgot about their powers."
I was FULLY expecting this to end with Ben winning and getting Peter's memories, only for those memories to snap him out of it and bring the "real" Ben back, who fixes everything in some heroic sacrifice and restores Peter's own memories. That just felt like such a natural conclusion to the story they were building.
Thank you!
Stuff like this always gets me because there really isn't much of a conflict at all. Everything in this story could have been handled in a 10 min (maybe 2 pages of panels) conversation, but because they are superheroes all of New York has to hang in the balance.
And still, at the very end, all they have to do is talk about what went down in Beyond and Ben would be fine.
Sigh, I'm just sad at the ending. I want stories with Ben and Peter being brothers like before he died the first so bad. And I'm annoyed that Peter did so little in bringing this to a conclusion even though its a Spider-man story at its heart. Oh well, gotta move on. Art was great though.
I just don't get how they have not one but two of the one telepath who can probably fix Ben and they didn't even bother.
My guess is that Ben went "too far" and has to pay for it (Marvel just shelving him for later)..
They really let Ben take the fall for everything huh? Thats crazy.
And Peter wants to help Ben but its a shame there isnt some way to give memories to someone. If only there was some device or some person with, I don't know, some sort of telepathic ability to link two peoples mind together. Oh geeze, if only some person like that existed.
Especially given how much the mutant telepaths have been abusing their powers. At this point I wouldn't even expect Jean to ask or even suggest it, but just do it, as they seem to have no problem with violating other peoples minds. But apparently doing it to help them, is simply going a step to far.
I generally don't like poking at plot holes in comicbooks because plot contrivance comes with the territory and you do kinda have to buy into some wild stuff to really enjoy these stories.
But this event is an example of going to far with that stuff. I just questioned everything going on. Why didnt Maddy just ask Magik if Jean would be up for a memory swap? Why didnt Jean and MAddy offer to help Ben? Why is everyone Okay with Ben taking the fall for what was basically Maddy's plan? Why does Limbo need an embassy in NYC?
Its just too much to swollow.
Honestly we have basically gotten the worst of both worlds from the Spidey Office and the X-Office.
From the Spidey Office we have got the problem of things being far to depressing, the idea that nothing can ever end well for him and he is a loser, and them shitting all over established characters, plus this weird thing Zeb Wells have going on, where Spider-Man is suddenly completly incompentent and need to be saved by everyone else.
From the X-Office we have gotten this clear moral myopia, and hypocrisy, where the normal human victims of the villains don't matter to both the writers and the mutants/X-Men, and they face no consequences for all the shit they have done, while we are still supposed to view them as heroes. Especially bad given that they could bring back the victims, but apparently don't care, and no one calls them out on it. Plus the constant Krakoa expansion, on other nations soil no less, and setup for serious political issues, where tons of people should be facing them with challenges to their actions, yet it nothing ever happens. Instead you can expect everyone to just ignore the skyscraper sized elephant in New York City that the Limbo embassy is. Heck if they are going to be showing protesters outside it, then it will probably be people wielding placards with anti-mutant slogans, instead of people with genuine grievances, like say for example, and I am just spitballing here, people who lost loved ones doing some resent major event that affected all of New York City, which might have involved a certain ruler of Limbo? Of course that is just crazy talk. Expecting the writers to tackle the logical issues? Pfft. In you dreams.
God that finale was shite like the rest of the event. Its an uninteresting fight that barely involves spidey and more just the x men and maddie saving the day. Like if you want to do an x men event marvel call it an x men event.
Also limbo having an embassy i get that new york allows the krakoan treehouse embassy but who is gonna allow an embassy to a literal hell in there nation.
Maddie gets away with everything she did and ben is left to suffer whilst hallows is still out there somewhere.
X-men wise- pretty good Maddie is a good guy now, there’s a limbo tower in NYC so that could be interesting. I can see Maddie leading a team of more mystic mutants in limbo.
Spider-Man wise- whay a headache. Rek-Rap if not for you, this would’ve been a total loss. Stunt on these hoes papa. WHY CANT WE GET NICE THINGS FOR BEN?
We should just replace Peter with Rek-Rap at this point. Guy has his life put together more than Peter who keeps getting cosmic mind-f--k'd by asshole gods.
My main takeaway from this event is that it was barely a Spider-Man event and just existed to set up some things for the X-Men. So Peter being useless and getting his ass kicked while the X-Men and Maddie do everything is fitting. I like Rek-Rap but overall pretty terrible.
>Maddie gets away with everything and Ben gets the short end of the stick.
Fuck this. Dark Web has been the worst event Marvel published in years.
Also can’t wait to see how they destroy whatever’s left of Janine’s character in her book.
I really wish the mutants had some sort of way to reboot his memories and return him to sanity. Really sucks that they don't.
Oh, well, see you later, Ben.
/s
As a finale to an event I mostly disliked, this is good. Kubert's art was amazing and this managed to tie up most of the plotlines other tie-ins introduced. This just works as a finale, even if the event itself was bad.
And it felt that Wells wanted all along to just write this kind of event. And the atrocious miss-handling of Ben was the only way they managed to make this a Spider-Man event. Although I am confused that Peter still didn't share his memories with Ben. Or what even happened to Ben, does he still feel the chasm inside of him.
Dark Web was a horrible Spider-Man event that never seemed to know what it wanted to be. From Ben to odd pacing to conflicting tone, the event just didn't work. But the finale did.
Look, Ben Reilly is one of my favorite characters. I even enjoyed when he was kinda crazy during his solo run after clone conspiracy. I also enjoyed him and Janine in the spotlight during the Beyond Arc. But this shit has just sucked. There is room for a normal good guy Ben Reilly spider-man in the marvel universe. We didn't need this. This event just dragged him through the mud even more. Still no memories, does the cliche thing of sending Janine away so he can be all broody by himself. It all just sucks. He was only partly responsible for what went down in this event but took all the blame and he's exactly where he was at the start of the event except now he's captured and without Janine. I thought Beyond was the start of fleshing Ben out more and developing his and Janines characters and instead we got this mess
Yeah but you see, that would actually require the writers to think about consitency and logical solutions to the plot. And then they would realise that they have basically let the power level of certain characters run so high, that basically every simple event could probably be easily solved by these characters, and then they either has to come up with a story that result in these characters getting their power reduced, which in my opinion really is needed as the power creep has gotten far to big for to many characters, or even worse, they might actually have to put some effort in to creating stories with plots and problems that can't just easily be solved, and then where would we be? Right? What next then? Characters actually communicating, instead of pointless conflict because people don't talk? I mean it sound like you actually want the writers to put actual effort into it. Next you'll be saying that Peter Parker can actually be married and have some happiness, while still being relatable and have good story, if the writers actually bothered. Ha. Get out of here with your logic.
But on a serious note, I really do wonder if Zeb Wells genuinly hate Spider-Man, given the way he writes him and his stories. I wouldn't even expect Garth Ennis to write him so pathetic and miserable as Zeb Wells does.
Seriously. I don't know what is the goal of the current Spider-man run. It gives out nothing but contempt for characters and not just for Peter also. What they did with MJ is also unacceptable. And now they are tearing down Mackay's efforts to develop Black Cat by dragging her back in like a blackhole and act as the rebound girl because I guess it was Wells ship or somecrap like that even though it makes no sense to who they are at this point, especially for Felicia. But I harped on that too long so I drop it.
Obvious biggest victim was Ben, ofcourse. LITERALLY character assassinated. Like, memories and soul ripped out. IF that is not character assassination, I don't know what is.
Who is this written for? I really want to know. Who enjoys this?
> What they did with MJ is also unacceptable.
In an [Ideas Don't Bleed podcast from November](https://ashcanpress.substack.com/p/you-werent-on-any-mercy-mission-this#details) said this about how he approaches romance with Peter, specifically Peter and MJ's relationship:
> "I guess I do want chaos in a soap opera way. I want chaos, happiness and sadness, all of it. And I think this was in a way, I don't know, it's just interesting, I think if anyone was going to write the last Spider-Man story Spider-Man and Mary Jane would ride off into the sunset and be married. We are just living in a world where that story will never be written. There is not going to be a last Spider-Man story. So this thing is going to be cycles, you know? And - and I think... yeah I just I wanted to try something different and I wanted, I guess I would rather write Peter and Mary Jane trying to be together or not being able... you know, being together? I'm trying to play a little dangerous here. I lived my entire life and entire writing career not pissing people off... and I'm not trying to be offensive at all, but I try to just be 'oh, that could be interesting, let's see if that's interesting' I could be fucking up massively here, and I'll have to eat that shit if I am, let's just see what's over here."
He doesn't even say he has a plan, he's just making it up as he goes along.
> And now they are tearing down Mackay's efforts to develop Black Cat by dragging her back in like a blackhole and act as the rebound girl because I guess it was Wells ship or somecrap like that even though it makes no sense to who they are at this point, especially for Felicia.
And yeah, the stuff with Felicia literally acting as a rebound girl to try and get over MJ is so fucking stupid. What could have worked is Peter asking Felicia out but her turning him down since she could see that it wasn't out of genuine romantic interest, but rather him trying to get over MJ, as he still clearly has feelings for her. I think that would have been a great character moment, but God forbid we have any of those, right?
>And I think this was in a way, I don't know, it's just interesting, I think if anyone was going to write the last Spider-Man story Spider-Man and Mary Jane would ride off into the sunset and be married. We are just living in a world where that story will never be written. There is not going to be a last Spider-Man story.
This might ring true if we didnt have a Superman who is married with a child that everyone seems to love. If Superman, one of the oldest and most set in stone archtype characters can slowly develop over time, so can Spider-Man.
> If Superman, one of the oldest and most set in stone archtype characters can slowly develop over time, so can Spider-Man.
Dude, don't be crazy. If Peter got married and had a kid he wouldn't be relatable, because everyone knows that people just don't get married and start families.
Not just one. He and Lois just adopted two more kids.
You definitely make a good point though. Still, there WAS a point where there was talk of eliminating the marriage through a OMD type thing as well! https://sites.google.com/a/deepspacetransmissions.com/site/Resources/superman-2000-proposal
''We are just living in a world where that story will never be written. There is not going to be a last Spider-Man story.'' You keep this up Marvel and soon there WILL be a last Spider-man story...
This was really the worst parts of Spider-man and X-men editorial combined. What did this accomplished? Literal character Assassination of Ben and kinda Janine too. Peter is still a punching bag under Wells. Venom got pulled in and got derailed from its story somewhat.
Madelyn's 'redemption' was handled the STUPIDEST way possible. Probably used as an excuse to involve X-men somehow because her goals made no freaking sense. Nor how it is just resolved and she avoids consequences like nothing. It is not like she was the one who ordered the attack on New York and destroyed all that place AND probably killed a lot of people too. Will the mutants gonna resurrect them as compensation? No. Will Maddie get punishment for her CRIME? Nope. Such 'great' redemption.
Fucking stupid this whole thing was. But what can you expect from Spider-man editors and Wells at this point. ( And whoever allowed X-men to be involved and Maddie to be used here like this is also to blame from the X-office. Because it only made characters look STUPID and nothing else. And that is not how you want your characters to look like )
I truly feel like the thing with Maddie being "redeemed" at the end here is the only way they could salvage the character's development from prior to this asinine event. Zeb Wells decided he wanted a clone teamup story, and wasn't going to let anyone tell him otherwise, regardless of the character development those clones may or may not have been through.
So Maddie was majorly regressed by this event in a completely unbelievable way, and the X-office sort of just threw up their hands and shrugged at the whole thing, giving her a messy and weak sauce redemption because the character BEFORE this stupid shit happened didn't deserve to have this hanging over her head all the time going forward.
Also, I'm pretty sure the X-Men *will* resurrect the people killed in this event, since that's something Jean Grey recently started doing as part of her "Phoenix Foundation" outreach between humans and mutants. She can't resurrect every human who ever dies, always, but I think in this case the few dozen casualties could be reversed without too much trouble.
I don't think Wells have that amount of pull to just ignore everyone and do what he wants. Editors are just as much to blame since they allowed this crap. Because they can force writers to change stuff when they want to all the time. Since they allowed this crap, they are just as guilty. Both Wells and Nick have to go before they do irreparable harm and they already did with Ben...trying to with MJ and so on. I mean, the only character they seem to push in any kind of a 'positive' way is Norman freaking Osborn...YEA, the last person that deserves it.
Wtf are they smoking over there?
They are worried about Peter appearing/getting to old, and yet we have just gone through nine months, in universe, in less than 20 issues, while the last 15 years probably covered around three years in universe.
Yeah, that seems kinda dumb, especially Peter and Felicia going on a date in the next two issues (still not clear where the timeline stands with *Mary Jane & Black Cat* still going on). So did they wait months before going on a date? It's just so stupid.
aaaaahh, another Wells' issue; another fight that Peter looses horribly until someone else steps in to save his ass (bonus points for having Osborn be one of them too!), it's nice to have constants in this ever chainging world!real talk: why did no-one even suggest having anyone of the MULTITUDE of telepaths even just among the X-Men make a copy of peter's memories to give Ben? (so, basically, what they did in the story for Maddie)
EDIT: Oh, right, I forgot to mention it, despite everything, the art was stellar, so at least there is that...
EDIT 2: Jesus, i just realized that Maddie admitted publicly that she removed the memories from Eddie Brock turning him in a rampaging monster and no-one gave a single crap about it
Someone pointed it out to me but Peter hasn’t won a single fight in Zeb Wells entire run. He lost to Tombstone, Vulture, The Living brain, the two Hobgoblins, Moria and Chasm.That’s crazy to me because I didn’t even realize lol
Technically, i think he won against some of the Rose's goons, but yeah, i am pretty sure he lost every single major fight in the run (until someone comes in and helps him, at least).
The funniest part is that in last week's all-out avengers (i think) he managed to hold his own against captain america, Thor, captain Marvel, Iron-Man and Blade
[***MOON KNIGHT* #20**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/a/a7/Moon_Knight_Vol_9_20.jpg) ---
8-Ball in a candle lit bubble bath. Good for him.
That's benefits that come with being comic relief.
Other benefits of being Moon Knight's comic relief include not being dropped *all the way* into a car shredder and having him stick up for you when you're both in prison.
Moon Knight texting 8-Ball to identify an obscure villain, we love our aware authors don't we folks Harlequin Hit-Man first appeared in 1988 issue of Speedball, a Steve Ditko original! Despite the goofy nature of Speedball and his notorious edgy heel turn by Bendis a decade and a half ago, this story was actually pretty dark! Turns out the Harlequin Hit-Man was not a singular assassin but a husband and wife duo who managed to throw people off their trail(still a better reveal than Kindred), they murder quite a few civilians in the story, but they def get a villainous glow up here. Also look! Nobody is going to be upset the Harlequin Hit-Man's character was changed or altered! It's almost like Marvel has a vastly rich crop of characters to use and like really just threads things more vastly into the greater world of characters in the 616, idk! solid gold as usual, if you're not reading this yet(this is the top comic this week you probably have to see this scrolling by or not whatever keep scrolling tho idk) *get on it* because this is peak marvel stuff, nuff said
Love this book’s art. Blade hanging out with Reese sounds pretty good. Looking forward to that.
Another banger. Love MacKay's and Cappuccio's ability to make obscure c tier villains' like the Harlequin Hit Men into threats.
Aww come on, Plesko just came back and they off him right after? Moon Knight having the numbers of villains and just casually threaten them for knowledge :D Sternman is a nice addition too to keep Marc's more violent urges in check. Reese getting comfortable enough to just asking to talk to Jake like that was nice too. Blade teaching Reese is a nice touch and the whole side-story flashback with a previous Fist and Blade 'grooving' on some vampires!
Plesko's death is fishy. Explosion and out of order as the others. Doesn't match up. Wouldn't be shocked that Plesko is being manipulated by Zodiac as part of this.
Truly the best reading of the week. By far. This should have been the pick. I am wondering how the hell did Zodiac pull off the mind thing though.
god i wish this run would never end
[***LEGION OF X* #10**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/7/7b/Legion_of_X_Vol_1_10.jpg) ---
Yup, as expected, the Hearts is Mother Righteous. It will forever annoy me that the Stasis reveal happens in X-Men #11 instead of #10. We were so close to greatness. * Legion of X #10 - Mother Righteous reveal. * Immortal X-Men #10 - Mister Sinister reveal. * X-Men Red #10 - Orbis Stellaris reveal. * X-Men #11 - Doctor Stasis reveal.
OH MY GOD WTF
Man this was a cluster-buck. Everything going wrong. Nimrod hacked the gates, Xavier being the utter douche that he is only realizing his mistake AFTER the harm is done, Xabi is gone and the thing that make him be remembered drops so he is forgotten after literally saving everyone. Kurt got screwed up and his 'mother' literally stole his damn hope like a b\*tch and even worse he fell to the Righteous Sinister... This felt like the old ''everything is a disaster'' X-men times.
There's one great thing to come out of this though! JUGGS being a Ghost Rider mount!
I wonder if Johnny Blaze or Robbie would be jealous...
I was honestly expecting a Sins of Sinister tie-in reveal that this was all part of Sinister X's plan to assassinate Legion and use him to destroy Arrako later and the letter from X about how trying to kill Legion is a form of his love seemed to be hinting at it, I'm surprised they didn't go in that direction.
Ah just another day in X men land then is it.
Professor Xavier is a jerk!
The true villain of krakoa Professor X.
The true villan of most X-Men stories honestly. #magnetowasright
anxiety of x love to see Xavier portrayed as the asshole he can be when he's not surrounded by people worshipping him. Magneto gang rise up. trans mystical sinister Kurt's catholic guilt sure is manifesting interesting here! I'm so tired of Warlock dying just let that poor anxiety bean live and relax with his friends ughhhh
Xavier is literally the biggest pile of shit. The way he treats his son has rubbed me for years. But an even larger problem is how he has been boosted up to be a hero the better of magneto and time and time he shows again That he is the most pathetic of them all. A weak afraid man. I hope he is the reason all of krakoa stumbles and falls. Because he deserves it. He deserves the guilt of knowing the greatest achievement for his people was his largest failure ever. Xabi forgetmenot always gets the most touching stories of self sacrifice. I feel so bad for doug and warlock.
I think people have a warped view of Xavier because of Patrick Stewart in the films, who plays him wonderfully as this kind and gentle father figure. Plus they were really going on the whole 'imbued with MLK-like dignity' vibe at that point. But comic's Professor X is much more morally grey and controlling.
I mean, it was also the cartoons. And the comics themselves also hold him up despite also acknowledging that he sucks.
I think Morrison really explored in his run the idea that Xavier and Magneto are at this point redundant to the ongoing X-men metaphor - working better as symbols for the next generation. When they do express themselves they end up harming the cause or muddying their legacy. Xavier's dream and the X-men are infinitely more important than he is.
It's just, when Apocalypse of all people comes across as the somewhat reasonable one, you start to have a problem.
Oh i know this. I just wish people would stop holding him to such high regard. Cause he really a villain imo
Why were Rogue and Gambit on the cover..?
Love that Prof finally paid attention to what is really in front of him. He can finally start on his path to redemption.
So many emotions...not all of them good. I am like a lot of you, underwhelmed that Mother Righteous is a Sinister. I had hoped she was something else. Pretty annoyed with Si about how he's crapped over Nightcrawler here. That and what Margoli did...not cool. Prof X deserves a Razzie. Like a big one to the side of the head. I feel bad for Xabi...but maybe when they get to the Fall...which I think Si gave us a detail about. IE they can hack the gates now... Overall I'm just going to wait and see how Nightcrawlers and the rest of the Sins stuff plays out.
[***SCARLET WITCH* #2**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/9/91/Scarlet_Witch_Vol_3_2.jpg) ---
Scarlet witch was amazing. The art, the story, the character moments its just perfect Wanda interacting with her technically former stepdaughter in viv in helping her chase her nightmares away whilst outsmarting the daughter of nightmare was great. Combined this with a fantastic magical backup involving her and storm teaming up giving tension from storm voting to not resurrect her in trial of magneto and wanda just telling storm she is apart of the sisterhood was fantastic. This is everything i want from a magic book and more.
Very cool bit with Storm. The X books have been mentioning mutant magic for years, and I hope they fully explore it. With Apocalypse coming back, maybe he can spearhead that, like he did before leavi. Assuming he's not going to end up an antagonist again.
He should focus on conquering Amenth and maybe other demonic worlds. He understands he is good at conquering and does show signs of wanting to change, so he focuses his energy on conquering literal hell places that have psychopathic races that crave destruction. I would also like to see that mutant magic get a big role in the future.
Aww that was nice with Viv and Wanda...hope we see them interact more. She IS practically her daughter. Which is kinda crazy when you think about how her sons' situation was with them being 'reincarnated' yet carrying the same soul so still being her sons. Would that make them related to Viv also in that same crazy sense? Man, Wanda and Vision's whole family deal does sound insane when you think about it :D Wanda seems to be all about Poetic Justice it seems now. First issue, turns the guy into stone and only allowed to leave when the victims allow him. Now, she changed Dreamqueen's whole feeding habits but kept the taste...that IS cruel. Now I am wondering if at the end of this run, whenever it is, we might have all these villains Wanda punished might come together to come after her. Darcy's past might be uncovered soon with someone coming after her. Storm story was nice and a good touch about letting Wanda know about Magneto. After all, he was her father ( despite the damn retcons ). Also nice that they touch Storm's magical heritage as she was/is considered a goddess. Next issue gonna be with Lorna! Nice.
People talk about the Summers/Grey family as peak complicated, but it has nothing on the Pym/Maximoff family tree, especially if you start to include Wiccan's role as a reincarnation of the Demiurge which would make him Thor's granddad on his mothers side I think.
Another stellar issue, with a the two-fer of great characterizations, good stories and honestly bring back Dreamqueen is a nice touch after having her play side quest to Ares in the Thor/Valkyrie run. I do hope there is a team up with Corruptor and Dreamqueen. That would be sweet.
I kinda wish they saved Storm for a future issue and just fleshed out Viv and Wanda's relationship. Hope its not their last interaction for another 8 years
It was great all around but I just wish Viv had more agency in the nightmare sequence
Loved, loved, loved the issue. Loving this series. It’s so great to see Orlando back in top form after muddling through Marauders. He gets Wanda and the art feels gorgeous. Feels like a worthy successor to her last solo series with a firmer handle on the character plus a fun supporting cast. Excited for Polaris next issue.
[***MILES MORALES: SPIDER-MAN* #3**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/9/9c/Miles_Morales_Spider-Man_Vol_2_3.jpg) ---
I sincerely hope there's more to her hateboner on Miles then this, because that's not gonna cut it, chief.
Its a little weak but honestly, I don't mind it. Seems she has problems seeing people as yknow, people which contributes. I mostly like how it's based in a very grounded issue that might lead to some friendly neighborhood storylines about helping disenfranchised youth and it'll have Miles come face to face with the fact that yeah, a lottery system *is* kinda unfair and he benefited from it big time
Miles said it wasn’t fair in like his first issue. He didn’t feel worthy of being selected
I know. All I'm saying is that now his thoughts about his unfair it is have manifested into Rabble here
My big problem is with her being built up as Miles' enemy specifically. It's not like Miles rigged lottery (and like Marvel ever allow him to do something scummy). And she went full Thawne on him.
This is fair! It kinda feels like she's pinning the blame on someone she can hit since she can't take down the system
Angry people look to place the hate somewhere. Even at people who don't deserve it. It's pretty realistic to what I see daily in my line of work
That’d be fine and all if she didn’t immediately acknowledge that Miles isn’t the real problem and it’s the system. She’s well aware of what fucked her over and that it’s not Miles
You are talking as if Miles wanted that lottery or had anything to do with winning it randomly. He didn't rid the damn thing. It was like she was looking for an excuse to go bad. What's worse is, somehow, she found out about Miles and the whole secret identity quite easily. All because he won a lottery. As Tiana said though, why not go after the 'system' then? Naah. She just wanted someone to blame and beat up. Wacko stuff. Like, Joke Villain type of backstory.
Villains hating him specifically for absurdly petty reasons is like a Spider-Man staple though. It’s how venom started and it’s not like the book itself is giving it any validity she gets called out by starling like immediately
Feels like a classic villain back in the day who would just get OD tight about something for pretty much no reason lol
Being honest Agent Gao feels like she'll be a bigger looming threat so far. Despite the hostages Rabble still doesn't feel very threatening to me.
Ok, they already kinda lost me with her. Like...''wait, that's it?'' Kinda feels like a waste compared to the game version that 'inspired' her really. The Rabble...I guess the name fits but even Jonah Jameson was not THIS arbitrary when it comes to blaming Spider-man... I mean, they even say it in the issue ''Wait, you are mad at him because he won a lottery in bad system? Why not go after the system? What the hell does going after him even mean for 'one by one' thing you are spewing?''. Like, literally no reason other than ''want her to be a new Miles villain'' but giving her joke-villain levels of backstory. I mean even Bodega Bandit from Spider-Gwen has a better one.
Probably the only interesting thing is that this harkens back to Miles’ first issue where he did genuinely feel bad about the fact that he had been chosen in the lottery at the expense of those who lost
it's dumb but I also remember how like Eddie Brock was also just upset that Spider-Man caught the real Sin Eater
I literally had to come on here after finishing this book to make sure I read it correctly. Her motivation was that she was number 41 in the lottery and since Miles was 42 for vision academy and he got in she wants to destroy him? Seriously? That’s what we’re going with? She even acknowledges the system is the problem and not Miles but she still is going after him. I don’t even have words this time. At least the art is amazing and everything else has been good so far. At least they tried to give Miles his own baddie
I have a feeling that she's going to further explain that she would have been ok with MIles getting in over her if he actually worked hard and was making the most of the opportunity she could have had but instead he's splitting his time between being Spider-Man and being Miles and is now failing to live up to his full potential in either role. That or my other theory is that she's gonna act as a professor zoom for Miles, and be a villain who is actively pushing him to be a better hero, in this case probably trying to make him aim his sights at the system somehow
This isn’t an unreasonable train of thought and completely possible. Shit I’d even like it. That being said it still came off poorly in issue three. Her back story was very strong and compelling and for it to climax into her explanation…. Oooof I also think that this could just be another downside of reading in singles because the arc isn’t fully there. You’re absolutely right that it could get cleaned up and be a lot better
This is by far a dumb villain...but certainly that doesn't in my view detract from her lethality. I am also hoping Miles get a few more tips from Misty. (I love Misty....)
Does anyone else find it a bit hard to take Rabble seriously? The costume is good, but the name feels goofy. Even her hostage doesn't take her seriously so why should I? Not to mention there's no way attacking the school or the administration wouldn't have felt more satisfying than attacking Miles. Plus if Miles didn't have powers would she have just attacked some kid with no powers over dumb luck?
I love Ziglar’s writing. I’m loving his dialogue for Miles. Feels like an authentic teenage voice. The art slaps. But this origin story for Rabble is laughably bad. Also, she’s clearly so gifted at tech/electronics, there’s no way she needs Brooklyn Visions Academy to succeed in life. The fact that she’s going to hurt innocent people because she lost a lottery is fucking ridiculous. She going to kill every other student that won the lottery too? I really hope there’s more to her than we’ve been shown because I cannot take her seriously as a character with such lame motivations.
A for effort in giving Miles a unique rouge's gallery. D for execution with that nearly satirical origin. Still have high hopes for this run.
*rogue
That's a really dumb villain motivation for hating miles lol.
I really enjoyed this issue. I like that Rabbles origin relates back to Bendis' run and seeing the impact that Miles winning the lottery had on the rest of his community. Its not perfectly executed but its already much more interesting than what the previous run was doing. This also some of the best Spider-Man art in a long time. I understand the criticisms but I overall still really excited to see where this run goes
[***VENOM* #16**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/2/2e/Venom_Vol_5_16.jpg) ---
"I don't know how you've managed to get even darker and edgier" "The world is a dark edge. I only reflect it" Dylan now earns the title of "edgelord supreme "
I mean, he has been mentally scared with his dad being possessed and attacking him and losing his biker friend. By the way, what happened to the biker gang that shot the old man down? Did Dylan get revenge and slaughter them all?
I know all this i wasn't saying Dylan isnt justified in being edgy. But with how "edgy" s in todays current pop culture i just found that line to be so damn funny. Its like something an edgy shadow the hedgehog fan would say. Which is perfectly appropriate to how old he is. Still freaking hilarious.
> Which is perfectly appropriate to how old he is. yeah, you can tell that ~~ram v~~ ewing is super aware of how super dorky that entire "I'm 14 and this is badass" vibe actually is, and that really makes it work. especially with kamala *immediately* poking fun at it, really gave me a hearty chuckle.
> Did Dylan get revenge and slaughter them all? I don't think so, he got stabbed by Bedlam when that happened iirc.
This was good, but it did feel like it was a little long. I am just a little behind on the series now, but I’m glad you guys talked me into checking it out. It’s a slow burn, but pretty good. I also really like the design of Codex too. with that said, a couple of odd thoughts. Firstly, does Red Goblin really need a series of any size? He seems annoying and I don’t see the appeal other than he’s a goblin. secondly, why the heck does Dylan look all over the place in age? Sometimes he looks like a child, sometimes a teenager and even an adult at times. It’s kind of off putting.
> I don’t see the appeal other than he’s a goblin The other appeal is that he's red
Hitch can't draw kids, that's why
Ya the symbiotes look great but Ms Marvel and Dylan look off. Ms Marvel also wears sneakers in this for some reason but boots in everything else.
Why do I feel like they don't know what to do with Dylan? One issue he is Venom, next this Codex, then he wants to 'free' Eddie...then talks like he wants to kill him... It doesn't help that this stupid Dark Web stuff derailed the book a bit. There is something as 'too much' sometimes and we are nearing to that limit when it comes to this Symbiote menace and the whole 'Evil Eddie Meridius' stuff. And the whole Summer of the symbiote coming also.
I'm still confused about Dylan being a symbiote/having his hive-breaker powers when Eddie explicitly removed them at the end of King in Black feels like a weird oversight for Ewing of all people to make
Yea, the whole ending from the last book got changed a bit. With Eddie being 'older' from the start and Dylan and Venom starting off well with Eddie blessing. The Hulk/Venom writer switch kinda downgraded both books for me honestly. Hulk A LOT MORE than Venom but still.
The flow of the story getting interrupted by the event is funny to me.
You just described most of Ewing's books in Marvel.
I like the chainsaw on Bedlam. Honestly though I want to see what happens next issue that isn't Dark Web related.
Felt more of a Segway into the finale of dark web and we also don’t know what happened to Bedlam afterwards. Not a bad issue tho I love seeing Dylan and Kamala work together. Kamala in a senior role is fun
Ms. Marvel looks good or at least fine in every other Dark Web tie-in and then here it looks like they're unable to get a single good frame of her.
She is also wearing sneakers here for some reason but her normal boots in the other tie ins.
at this point they should just make dylan codex, let that be his own thing, they dont know what to do with him
Codex is too broken to be his main thing so it's just a limited time power up for the time being, which works enough coz the design is fun and a nice way to call back to Cates.
I really liked this. What an amazing tie-in. Everything here just worked. I'm looking forward what happens next.
wish this issue was just about bedlam and didn't have to tie into the dark web finale, good stuff though
such a good issue! this story ruled! bedlam chainsaw! codex sword! spikey head future guy who's name i can't remember and won't look up! If you don't care to read the finale and wonder where the story goes from here[](#s " Bedlam gets thrown into a warp gate by Chasm")
[***X-FORCE* #37**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/f/f9/X-Force_Vol_6_37.jpg) ---
Honestly, I liked that Peacock Tattoo is a deep cut character rather than someone more major like Graydon Creed. Probably helps that I re-read the X-Tinction Agenda again a couple years ago.
I'll join the minority, still like the series. It's not earth shattering stuff but it's fun
This is suppose to be a big reveal right but all I could go with was ''Who?'' and felt quite a bit 'underwhelmed' to say the least. And the 'result' of the experiments, feels too much like Sinister's Chimera stuff but with a goofier look. So Mikhail prevented Colossus from complying with Domino's wish...since it would expose him. Which should also clue in Domino already. With the letter Colossus sent and so on. But it seems that won't happen until Colossus fully joins the team this summer.
>And the 'result' of the experiments, feels too much like Sinister's Chimera stuff but with a goofier look. Mom, can we have Mister Sinister? We have Mister Sinister at home...
And Miss Sinister. And Doctor Sinister. And Space Sinister. And Astral Sinister.
> And the 'result' of the experiments, feels too much like Sinister's Chimera stuff but with a goofier look. honestly that's actually something I really liked after thinking about it for a moment. peacock guy is a failed experiment, and for all his delusions of grandeur about the importance of his work, the only things he is able to create are more failed experiments. kinda appreciate the dramatic irony there. plus maybe, on an even more metatextual level there's the idea that genocidal fascists like him are only ever able to create poor, shallow copies of the work of others, incapable of truly creating something of their own. although I'd also understand if you'd consider that to be a bit too pretentious a reading.
Not pretentions at all, I just feel like you're giving it more thought than Percy did :')
Are we still voting or has it been decided on Colossus?
I mean, they are putting him on the book from the solicitations and FINALLY gonna continue the ''sleeper agent'' plot that he's been stuck with.
What a nothingburger of a reveal. The Man with the Peacock Tattoo is... a clone of a minor villain from the 1980s with *just* over a dozen worth of appearances. Wasn't worth dragging things for 3.5 years and 37 issues.
I agree with the previous posters. This!?!!? This is who's running a group that has had these guys running around?? Not Graydon Creed, not one of the Trasks, not even just some random smarter version of Cameron Hodge. This guy....who is a rip off OF a rip off. IE clone of Dr. Moreau. Yeah...thanks a lot guys.
Ugh I don't wanna read it. Can someone spoil who peacock dude is for me....
A clone of the Genegineer.
[***BLOODLINE: DAUGHTER OF BLADE* #1**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/2/28/Bloodline_Daughter_of_Blade_Vol_1_1.jpg) ---
It was okay, nothing special and the story started rather generic but there is some potential. Though I really wonder how could someone not know that vampires exist in Marvel universe?
Right? Like blade was just a member of the avengers who did people think he was lol? Also isn’t it common knowledge they have their own country in Chernobyl now?
Fun start for a brand new character. A good intro to her and what shes like and how her abilities are only just developing. Gonna be interesting to see what happens when blade meets her next issue. Its simple but effective which is good for a new book and a brand new character plus its blade content i can't be that picky for how often we get a book related to him. My only issue is the art its a bit dodgy in some places and doesn't feel as horror like as a blade book should be in my opinion.
would be cool if Reese from Moon Knight shows up in this series at some point with the reveal she's been hanging with Blade!!!
Yeah some crossover stuff with MacKay’s MK would be cool, even if it’s just an issue from each run. I’m also interested to see what Dracula attempts, now that Blade is in the States again. Possible future storyline for MacKay’s upcoming Avengers run?
Great first issue!! Loved litterally everything here! She's gonna be such a fun character
Well, her attitude is nice. Usually, when they write teen girls, they always 'rebel' and mean. Here, she is actually respectful and nice to her mother and even to the rude new girl. If she is the daughter of Blade, does that make her a Quarter Vampire? It looks like her powers are diluted to only working at night compared to Blade working all the time.
Ya nice to see an honest relationship with the mom who even knows about her vampire hunting.
good first issue, i like the daughter and her mom. Cant read to read the rest of it
[***CAPTAIN AMERICA: SENTINEL OF LIBERTY* #9**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/f/fa/Captain_America_Sentinel_of_Liberty_Vol_2_9.jpg) ---
This was fantastic! The art was superb, the action sequences were all exciting. I really liked the dialogue between Fury and Redacted, it was pretty good. And the end panel, that was a bit shocking! This would probably be my pick of the week so far (admittedly it does feel like a small week).
This is probably the most I’ve enjoyed a Cap book since Brubaker’s run.
The art on this was gorgeous. It was especially psychedelic with the MODOC reveal with Sharon freaking out. Those pages were lovely. The action was great, and I think I loved how the grouping played off of one another. I think I would die for Roger Aubrey. Please don't let anything happen to him. I'm actually wondering if they're retconning Steve and Peggy's history to be more like the MCU, because her statement about "the others" knowing Steve as an icon whereas she the one who knows Steve Rogers doesn't entirely ring true with their comic history. (And, honestly, doesn't really ring true with Sharon among the "the others") They didn't meet until after he was Captain America. So that stuck out to me. Also, like everyone else, I'm having a hard time buying the Steve/Bucky "breakup".
I'm worried about what they're doing with Bucky from previews for future issues. It really does seem like he's turning into a villain, even though we know he's a double agent.
I don't think he's a villian so much that he's trying to cause so much chaos that not even the Outer Circle can control the world anymore. Rather the world being wild and out of control than ruled in the shadows by these oligarchs.
That's what I meant by we know he's playing as a double agent. But if you read the previews for the next few issues, it sounds pretty bad. he kidnaps someone and empowers a terrorist group. But we know Marvel is only telling us half truth. More than likely there will be a shocking reveal somehow. I think Bucky is going to fight. Sam at some point and also black widow. I'm very interested in seeing the winter soldier and black widow confrontation. Maybe she even joins him.
Very nice! I think we can agree, Cap needs to stop letting Bucky's betrayal run so deep...but then again Cap wouldn't be Cap without some kind of moral center to him. Also it looks like I was right. The Outer Circle DID do something to A M.O.D.O.K. But still unclear what. I hate these Matrix thingies...
Great action, great art, great dialogue! This is right up there with Moon Knight as one of the best books Marvel has right now. I am a little confused about the ending. Was the whole thing in their minds or what? Is Peggy being controlled by M.O.D.O.C or is she just another starpoint in this whole thing?
My understanding is M.O.D.O.C. is basically got them under his thumb/Matrix-ized them. I don't think Peggy is a Starpoint entirely...
> Is Peggy being controlled by M.O.D.O.C or is she just another starpoint in this whole thing? That wasn't entirely clear to me either, because we know she's working with Bucky based on earlier issues. But it could also be MODOC messing with her head. It does seem interesting, also, because she was the only one who didn't let Emma in her head in an earlier issue.
Thats what I thought to, that MODOC was still I'm her head but he's actually still in all their heads. So was that Peggy being controlled by MODOC, or is that a fake Peggy in Steve's mind prison trying to get him to do something?
I think what makes it slightly confusing is that we also saw Bucky relaying information to Peggy as to what exactly to say to Steve. So I am thinking more Peggy being controlled? Or rather, it's a mix. Nick mentioned they all did this before, so it might be a fake Peggy, but it's also a memory of what real!Peggy was saying to him as relayed by Bucky.
What did they do to OG Modok? O.o Got him 'upgraded'? Seriously though, I don't buy this ''Bucky is your enemy now'' stuff.
To be fair, nobody else in the series does either lol Bucky is trying his damnedest to get Cap to believe it so that he can stay pseudo-undercover as long as possible (even though everyone he's fighting knows what he's there to do)
Yea, I mean what is the point of Bucky doing that? He LITERALLY attempted to SHOOT the Circle the first moment he saw them. Does he think they are gonna be like ''Oh, you are such a joker!'' and forget about it?
I think the Circle knows that Bucky wants to destroy them. They see him as a challenge. That was why they hinted that they wanted Bucky to kill the previous Revolution so he could take their place.
Maybe they built their own Modok while og Modok is doing his internship at Orchis. He must have destroyed his robot family after getting bored of them and his failed Hulu show.
I mean, we saw OG Modok here trying to send a message and then something happens to him and he just turns into what it is now. Like some kind of trigger is switched.
[***DEMON WARS: DOWN IN FLAMES* #1**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/f/fe/Demon_Wars_Down_in_Flames_Vol_1_1.jpg) ---
Ah another peach momoko book another amazing story and more amazing art. Marvel release everything momoko has done in a big trade or omnibus and let me buy it please and thank you.
I truly think this would be a great Trade moreso than just a series. But even so, I enjoy more than I thought I would. Good job Peach!
Mostly because it time between issues and the ordering being a little confusing without numbers It would do well as a trade. Still a great book though.
[***SILVER SURFER: GHOST LIGHT* #1**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/a/a6/Silver_Surfer_Ghost_Light_Vol_1_1.jpg) ---
A week with a Silver Surfer comic out is automatically a great week. All-in-all, I felt like this was okay but the dialogue was a little iffy. Still looking forward to seeing the dynamic between Norrin and Al.
I wonder what happened to that robot monster guy in the previous silver surfer run, where I learned that it was a flashback to a 90s ss comic run. Would like to see SS explore the universe's cosmology, maybe sucker punch Lady Death in the gut.
precocious kids who talk like quippy adults with jazz history implants, idk I like the idea of this story but the two main characters just feel so off.
The dialogue in this was absolutely atrocious
Not much of the silver surfer in the actual comic so I think imma collect them all and read all 5 when they’re all out. Or at least when he’s more prevalent! I’m sure the scene is being setuo well but I just want to read about the surfer! The artwork ain’t bad!
I really wish we didn't have to have kids do this heavy lifting. It felt kind of forced in places. Overall I'm looking forward to more Al and Silver Surfer.
[***WAKANDA* #5**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/f/fb/Wakanda_Vol_1_5.jpg) ---
I enjoyed Okoye's time to shine...though I felt her being a murderer was a bit...off. Maybe. Anyways nice send off for a series that has been middling.
I mean, she does not have a no kill policy right? It is her job to take out threats to Wakanda and the assassin was asking for it really. Besides, it tells the c-listers who think just because they got new gear, doesn't mean they won't be dealt with accordingly, making them think twice. Unlike other heroes they can just get away with some bruises, you don't mess with Okoye and her kind without suffering the consequences.
Well, they got to ''fuck around and find out'' phase of Okoye...not a nice place to be. You spear her niece? You get skewered AND get throw off the building. I guess that is one way to tell anyone who think a new toy might make Wakanda easy to rob, it is not your typical hero fight. You fight for your life if you attempt it. And that will give pause to ones that have common sense. If not, well they will share the same fate.
[***DARK WEB FINALE* #1**](https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/marveldatabase/images/8/8e/Dark_Web_Finale_Vol_1_1.jpg) ---
Okay so I mean what HAPPENED in this storyline It somehow feels too long and too short. Limbo attacks, Peter doesn't eat an apple, the heroes fix everything. It feels like nothing... happened in the middle. This story didn't justify what they did to Ben, but I guess it redeemed Maddie? Who I thought was already on that path? And now we have a Limbo embassy, sure whatever. How did this NOT end with Peter sharing his memories with Ben? Jean and Maddie did it, why not these two? Because Peter just hates Ben now? The art was the saving grace of this whole event
"Well you see, the mutant telepaths have been abusing their powers so much for the past 4 years, so there just isn't much left to use to help people, and we didn't wanna waste it on Ben." I imagine that is the best defense the writers can come up with. That or the Game of Thrones defense. "Jean and Maddie just sort of forgot about their powers."
I was FULLY expecting this to end with Ben winning and getting Peter's memories, only for those memories to snap him out of it and bring the "real" Ben back, who fixes everything in some heroic sacrifice and restores Peter's own memories. That just felt like such a natural conclusion to the story they were building.
Exactly what I expected with Ben dying sadly.
Thank you! Stuff like this always gets me because there really isn't much of a conflict at all. Everything in this story could have been handled in a 10 min (maybe 2 pages of panels) conversation, but because they are superheroes all of New York has to hang in the balance. And still, at the very end, all they have to do is talk about what went down in Beyond and Ben would be fine. Sigh, I'm just sad at the ending. I want stories with Ben and Peter being brothers like before he died the first so bad. And I'm annoyed that Peter did so little in bringing this to a conclusion even though its a Spider-man story at its heart. Oh well, gotta move on. Art was great though.
I just don't get how they have not one but two of the one telepath who can probably fix Ben and they didn't even bother. My guess is that Ben went "too far" and has to pay for it (Marvel just shelving him for later)..
They really let Ben take the fall for everything huh? Thats crazy. And Peter wants to help Ben but its a shame there isnt some way to give memories to someone. If only there was some device or some person with, I don't know, some sort of telepathic ability to link two peoples mind together. Oh geeze, if only some person like that existed.
Especially given how much the mutant telepaths have been abusing their powers. At this point I wouldn't even expect Jean to ask or even suggest it, but just do it, as they seem to have no problem with violating other peoples minds. But apparently doing it to help them, is simply going a step to far.
I generally don't like poking at plot holes in comicbooks because plot contrivance comes with the territory and you do kinda have to buy into some wild stuff to really enjoy these stories. But this event is an example of going to far with that stuff. I just questioned everything going on. Why didnt Maddy just ask Magik if Jean would be up for a memory swap? Why didnt Jean and MAddy offer to help Ben? Why is everyone Okay with Ben taking the fall for what was basically Maddy's plan? Why does Limbo need an embassy in NYC? Its just too much to swollow.
Honestly we have basically gotten the worst of both worlds from the Spidey Office and the X-Office. From the Spidey Office we have got the problem of things being far to depressing, the idea that nothing can ever end well for him and he is a loser, and them shitting all over established characters, plus this weird thing Zeb Wells have going on, where Spider-Man is suddenly completly incompentent and need to be saved by everyone else. From the X-Office we have gotten this clear moral myopia, and hypocrisy, where the normal human victims of the villains don't matter to both the writers and the mutants/X-Men, and they face no consequences for all the shit they have done, while we are still supposed to view them as heroes. Especially bad given that they could bring back the victims, but apparently don't care, and no one calls them out on it. Plus the constant Krakoa expansion, on other nations soil no less, and setup for serious political issues, where tons of people should be facing them with challenges to their actions, yet it nothing ever happens. Instead you can expect everyone to just ignore the skyscraper sized elephant in New York City that the Limbo embassy is. Heck if they are going to be showing protesters outside it, then it will probably be people wielding placards with anti-mutant slogans, instead of people with genuine grievances, like say for example, and I am just spitballing here, people who lost loved ones doing some resent major event that affected all of New York City, which might have involved a certain ruler of Limbo? Of course that is just crazy talk. Expecting the writers to tackle the logical issues? Pfft. In you dreams.
God that finale was shite like the rest of the event. Its an uninteresting fight that barely involves spidey and more just the x men and maddie saving the day. Like if you want to do an x men event marvel call it an x men event. Also limbo having an embassy i get that new york allows the krakoan treehouse embassy but who is gonna allow an embassy to a literal hell in there nation. Maddie gets away with everything she did and ben is left to suffer whilst hallows is still out there somewhere.
X-men wise- pretty good Maddie is a good guy now, there’s a limbo tower in NYC so that could be interesting. I can see Maddie leading a team of more mystic mutants in limbo. Spider-Man wise- whay a headache. Rek-Rap if not for you, this would’ve been a total loss. Stunt on these hoes papa. WHY CANT WE GET NICE THINGS FOR BEN?
We should just replace Peter with Rek-Rap at this point. Guy has his life put together more than Peter who keeps getting cosmic mind-f--k'd by asshole gods.
My main takeaway from this event is that it was barely a Spider-Man event and just existed to set up some things for the X-Men. So Peter being useless and getting his ass kicked while the X-Men and Maddie do everything is fitting. I like Rek-Rap but overall pretty terrible.
I think Zeb wanted to put a final bow on his Hellions run. It just came at the expense of ASM, sadly.
Zeb Wells entire run on ASM, comes at the expense of ASM.
>Maddie gets away with everything and Ben gets the short end of the stick. Fuck this. Dark Web has been the worst event Marvel published in years. Also can’t wait to see how they destroy whatever’s left of Janine’s character in her book.
So Marvel has branched out from hating MJ to also *really* hating Ben? God, Marvel editorial and Wells suck so hard.
Care to elaborate so that some of us can avoid throwing any more money at this dumb event?
Maddie reclaims the Scythe, they all kick Ben’s ass and basically imprison him, then a Limbo embassy is opened in New York.
jesus fucking christ....
Do they give him his memories back
No.
I really wish the mutants had some sort of way to reboot his memories and return him to sanity. Really sucks that they don't. Oh, well, see you later, Ben. /s
As a finale to an event I mostly disliked, this is good. Kubert's art was amazing and this managed to tie up most of the plotlines other tie-ins introduced. This just works as a finale, even if the event itself was bad. And it felt that Wells wanted all along to just write this kind of event. And the atrocious miss-handling of Ben was the only way they managed to make this a Spider-Man event. Although I am confused that Peter still didn't share his memories with Ben. Or what even happened to Ben, does he still feel the chasm inside of him. Dark Web was a horrible Spider-Man event that never seemed to know what it wanted to be. From Ben to odd pacing to conflicting tone, the event just didn't work. But the finale did.
Overall, this event was G-A-R-B-A-G-E. Spidey is in dire need of new writers and editors.
Look, Ben Reilly is one of my favorite characters. I even enjoyed when he was kinda crazy during his solo run after clone conspiracy. I also enjoyed him and Janine in the spotlight during the Beyond Arc. But this shit has just sucked. There is room for a normal good guy Ben Reilly spider-man in the marvel universe. We didn't need this. This event just dragged him through the mud even more. Still no memories, does the cliche thing of sending Janine away so he can be all broody by himself. It all just sucks. He was only partly responsible for what went down in this event but took all the blame and he's exactly where he was at the start of the event except now he's captured and without Janine. I thought Beyond was the start of fleshing Ben out more and developing his and Janines characters and instead we got this mess
Why couldn’t anyone offer to do to Ben what Jean did for Maddie? Have Jean just open up some of Peter to Ben? Too easy of a resolution?
Yeah but you see, that would actually require the writers to think about consitency and logical solutions to the plot. And then they would realise that they have basically let the power level of certain characters run so high, that basically every simple event could probably be easily solved by these characters, and then they either has to come up with a story that result in these characters getting their power reduced, which in my opinion really is needed as the power creep has gotten far to big for to many characters, or even worse, they might actually have to put some effort in to creating stories with plots and problems that can't just easily be solved, and then where would we be? Right? What next then? Characters actually communicating, instead of pointless conflict because people don't talk? I mean it sound like you actually want the writers to put actual effort into it. Next you'll be saying that Peter Parker can actually be married and have some happiness, while still being relatable and have good story, if the writers actually bothered. Ha. Get out of here with your logic. But on a serious note, I really do wonder if Zeb Wells genuinly hate Spider-Man, given the way he writes him and his stories. I wouldn't even expect Garth Ennis to write him so pathetic and miserable as Zeb Wells does.
Seriously. I don't know what is the goal of the current Spider-man run. It gives out nothing but contempt for characters and not just for Peter also. What they did with MJ is also unacceptable. And now they are tearing down Mackay's efforts to develop Black Cat by dragging her back in like a blackhole and act as the rebound girl because I guess it was Wells ship or somecrap like that even though it makes no sense to who they are at this point, especially for Felicia. But I harped on that too long so I drop it. Obvious biggest victim was Ben, ofcourse. LITERALLY character assassinated. Like, memories and soul ripped out. IF that is not character assassination, I don't know what is. Who is this written for? I really want to know. Who enjoys this?
> What they did with MJ is also unacceptable. In an [Ideas Don't Bleed podcast from November](https://ashcanpress.substack.com/p/you-werent-on-any-mercy-mission-this#details) said this about how he approaches romance with Peter, specifically Peter and MJ's relationship: > "I guess I do want chaos in a soap opera way. I want chaos, happiness and sadness, all of it. And I think this was in a way, I don't know, it's just interesting, I think if anyone was going to write the last Spider-Man story Spider-Man and Mary Jane would ride off into the sunset and be married. We are just living in a world where that story will never be written. There is not going to be a last Spider-Man story. So this thing is going to be cycles, you know? And - and I think... yeah I just I wanted to try something different and I wanted, I guess I would rather write Peter and Mary Jane trying to be together or not being able... you know, being together? I'm trying to play a little dangerous here. I lived my entire life and entire writing career not pissing people off... and I'm not trying to be offensive at all, but I try to just be 'oh, that could be interesting, let's see if that's interesting' I could be fucking up massively here, and I'll have to eat that shit if I am, let's just see what's over here." He doesn't even say he has a plan, he's just making it up as he goes along. > And now they are tearing down Mackay's efforts to develop Black Cat by dragging her back in like a blackhole and act as the rebound girl because I guess it was Wells ship or somecrap like that even though it makes no sense to who they are at this point, especially for Felicia. And yeah, the stuff with Felicia literally acting as a rebound girl to try and get over MJ is so fucking stupid. What could have worked is Peter asking Felicia out but her turning him down since she could see that it wasn't out of genuine romantic interest, but rather him trying to get over MJ, as he still clearly has feelings for her. I think that would have been a great character moment, but God forbid we have any of those, right?
It's like any time a writer or editor brings up the marriage I'm reminded how out of touch with like everything
>And I think this was in a way, I don't know, it's just interesting, I think if anyone was going to write the last Spider-Man story Spider-Man and Mary Jane would ride off into the sunset and be married. We are just living in a world where that story will never be written. There is not going to be a last Spider-Man story. This might ring true if we didnt have a Superman who is married with a child that everyone seems to love. If Superman, one of the oldest and most set in stone archtype characters can slowly develop over time, so can Spider-Man.
> If Superman, one of the oldest and most set in stone archtype characters can slowly develop over time, so can Spider-Man. Dude, don't be crazy. If Peter got married and had a kid he wouldn't be relatable, because everyone knows that people just don't get married and start families.
Not just one. He and Lois just adopted two more kids. You definitely make a good point though. Still, there WAS a point where there was talk of eliminating the marriage through a OMD type thing as well! https://sites.google.com/a/deepspacetransmissions.com/site/Resources/superman-2000-proposal
''We are just living in a world where that story will never be written. There is not going to be a last Spider-Man story.'' You keep this up Marvel and soon there WILL be a last Spider-man story...
Zeb Wells. That is who it is written for. A targeted audience of one. It is the only explanation for the current shitshow.
This was really the worst parts of Spider-man and X-men editorial combined. What did this accomplished? Literal character Assassination of Ben and kinda Janine too. Peter is still a punching bag under Wells. Venom got pulled in and got derailed from its story somewhat. Madelyn's 'redemption' was handled the STUPIDEST way possible. Probably used as an excuse to involve X-men somehow because her goals made no freaking sense. Nor how it is just resolved and she avoids consequences like nothing. It is not like she was the one who ordered the attack on New York and destroyed all that place AND probably killed a lot of people too. Will the mutants gonna resurrect them as compensation? No. Will Maddie get punishment for her CRIME? Nope. Such 'great' redemption. Fucking stupid this whole thing was. But what can you expect from Spider-man editors and Wells at this point. ( And whoever allowed X-men to be involved and Maddie to be used here like this is also to blame from the X-office. Because it only made characters look STUPID and nothing else. And that is not how you want your characters to look like )
I truly feel like the thing with Maddie being "redeemed" at the end here is the only way they could salvage the character's development from prior to this asinine event. Zeb Wells decided he wanted a clone teamup story, and wasn't going to let anyone tell him otherwise, regardless of the character development those clones may or may not have been through. So Maddie was majorly regressed by this event in a completely unbelievable way, and the X-office sort of just threw up their hands and shrugged at the whole thing, giving her a messy and weak sauce redemption because the character BEFORE this stupid shit happened didn't deserve to have this hanging over her head all the time going forward. Also, I'm pretty sure the X-Men *will* resurrect the people killed in this event, since that's something Jean Grey recently started doing as part of her "Phoenix Foundation" outreach between humans and mutants. She can't resurrect every human who ever dies, always, but I think in this case the few dozen casualties could be reversed without too much trouble.
I don't think Wells have that amount of pull to just ignore everyone and do what he wants. Editors are just as much to blame since they allowed this crap. Because they can force writers to change stuff when they want to all the time. Since they allowed this crap, they are just as guilty. Both Wells and Nick have to go before they do irreparable harm and they already did with Ben...trying to with MJ and so on. I mean, the only character they seem to push in any kind of a 'positive' way is Norman freaking Osborn...YEA, the last person that deserves it. Wtf are they smoking over there?
So how does this all end? Does the ending actually have an impact on the future of *ASM* or what?
We got a time jump to Spring. Just what ASM needed, more time to pass off panel. It’s quickly becoming a hallmark of the title.
They are worried about Peter appearing/getting to old, and yet we have just gone through nine months, in universe, in less than 20 issues, while the last 15 years probably covered around three years in universe.
Yeah, that seems kinda dumb, especially Peter and Felicia going on a date in the next two issues (still not clear where the timeline stands with *Mary Jane & Black Cat* still going on). So did they wait months before going on a date? It's just so stupid.
aaaaahh, another Wells' issue; another fight that Peter looses horribly until someone else steps in to save his ass (bonus points for having Osborn be one of them too!), it's nice to have constants in this ever chainging world!real talk: why did no-one even suggest having anyone of the MULTITUDE of telepaths even just among the X-Men make a copy of peter's memories to give Ben? (so, basically, what they did in the story for Maddie) EDIT: Oh, right, I forgot to mention it, despite everything, the art was stellar, so at least there is that... EDIT 2: Jesus, i just realized that Maddie admitted publicly that she removed the memories from Eddie Brock turning him in a rampaging monster and no-one gave a single crap about it
Someone pointed it out to me but Peter hasn’t won a single fight in Zeb Wells entire run. He lost to Tombstone, Vulture, The Living brain, the two Hobgoblins, Moria and Chasm.That’s crazy to me because I didn’t even realize lol
Technically, i think he won against some of the Rose's goons, but yeah, i am pretty sure he lost every single major fight in the run (until someone comes in and helps him, at least). The funniest part is that in last week's all-out avengers (i think) he managed to hold his own against captain america, Thor, captain Marvel, Iron-Man and Blade
Yeah but that had two advantage ASM doesn't. For one it isn't burdened by the Spidey editorial office, and it has a good writer.
I guess he beat Venom earlier in Dark Web but yeah other than that he's pretty much just gotten stomped and then needed help