Miles Morales: Stranger Tides (Family Comic Friday)

I read this middle school graphic novel over the course of 2 days. Day 1 of reading this book, I felt like I was in another world. I didn't understand the slang. The plot seemed to carry over from a previous story I wasn't aware of. Everything felt like it was a big mess. 

I don't normally do this, but on Day 2, I found myself dreading having to read more of this book. New characters popped up that Miles Morales knew. But I found myself scratching my head over just who these new folks were. And then we get to the last chapter of the book- and the art was completely different!

For the past 40 years or so in comic book history, if the main artist needs someone to help fill in, the editors will say that such and such artists assisted on pages 5-9 or something like that. There's no such warning in this 2022 Marvel work from Graphix and Scholastic. To have the main villain look completely different in the final act is just jarring. Though I must say, that whomever was behind that last chapter's art did one heck of a job at stylizing the Miles Morales Spider-Man. Only, this one looks like a Miles Morales from another universe!

I choose to read this book because Into the Spider-Verse 2 is coming out soon and I wanted to get into the mood to seeing the film. (The fact that it's Black History Month is just a happy coincidence.) The artwork of main artist Pablo Leon ( captures the visual tone of the first Spider-Verse film amazingly well. Why couldn't the relief artist(s)  keep with the vibe that was happening in the other 4 chapters?

It's not until you read the 'About The Author' page at the end of this book that you learn that this is the second volume written by Justin A. Reynolds. I'm thinking that the writer probably continues things from the first book into this volume with unwavering quality. And I probably would have liked this book better had I read the first book, titled Miles Morales: Shock Waves. But nowhere on the cover (front and back), nor inside this book are potential first time readers alerted that this is the second volume in a series until the back of the book!

An unaccounted for line-up change from the Marvel Bullpen. No indication that Stranger Tides is a continuing story. Plus the inclusion of the main villain who is an X-Men and Fantastic Four foe instead of Spider-Man (of any universe) foil! It's strike 3 for this book in my eyes. I've heard that editor-in-chief C.B. Cebulski is doing such an awful job that the overall quality of work coming from the House of Ideas is severely lacking. But at least he's not the all-time worst EIC, Axel Alonso. But the rust is really showing on this book.

Young readers should enjoy this book. But only if you let them read Shock Waves first. To not do so will result in a lot of lost readers. There is some fighting. Miles, being around 14 years of age, sneaks out of the house at night to go on patrol as Spider-Man (but then again, when hasn't an adventuresome child in kiddie lit not gone behind mom & dad's back to save the day. I'm looking at you, Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.) Stranger Tides for the most part was a wholesome read and there are some excellent sections about family and redemption that parents will love. 

Unfortunately, I am not in that category and I think my interest in reading book 1 as well as what happens next is just about at nil.

Rating: 4 out of 10 stars.

Spidey and His Amazing Friends #1- Halloween Trick-or-Read 2022 Edition (A Family Comic Friday Extra!)

I've got to hand it to Marvel Comics. They might not be producing Halloween specials for retail sale. However, the House of Ideas hasn't neglected its readers with Halloween themed freebies. And for once, one of the giveaways is somewhat themed for the holiday!

Based on the Disney Junior animated series for preschool and Kindergarten viewers, Spidey and friends Miles Morales and Gwen Stacey, The Ghost Spider, save New York City from the terrible pranks of the Green Goblin, Doctor Octopus and the Rhino! In the opening segment, the Goblin has his sights on unleashing a vat of pumpkin goo on the viewers of the annual Halloween Parade. 

That Halloween tale might only be 2 pages. But it's not the only holiday fun in this book. There are at least 3 or 4 activity pages based on the action at the parade. Plus, there are 3 masks for youngsters to cut out and wear for trick-or-treating. 

Over this Halloween weekend, comic shops are participating in Marvel's Halloween Trick-or-Read event. Since Diamond decided to go virtual only for this year's Halloween Comics Fest, I'm thrilled that Marvel stepped up and offered free comics for young and old once again. Marvel has 5 free comics this year including a Star Wars issue starring Doctor Aphra and a Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur reprint of Lunella Lafayette's first appearance. Add an all-ages Godzilla release from IDW and a terrifying looking adult Manga sample and comic book fans have 7 possible free comic books to add to their collections. 

Though the fun started yesterday, many stores are giving away free comics through Monday. So if you live near a local comics shop, bring the young readers in your life by (in costume or not) and grab some free comics. If you're not able to make it to a comics shop, keep an eye out for the whole line of Spidey and his Amazing Friends books and readers at your fav local book seller!

A fun Spider-Man read for developing readers. With all the activities that could damage the book, you might want to grab 2 copies!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Season's Beatings #1

X-Force, Spider-Men Miles Morales and Peter Parker, Squirrel Girl and the West Coast Avengers join Deadpool in this 2018 holiday comic. While it has elements of Run Lola Run and The Usual Suspects throughout the plot, this was another festive fail on Marvel's part this year.

The Spider-Men story starts great and then gets jumbled when the two Spidey's meet. It has a great ending however. 

The Squirrel Girl yarn was flat out perfect as she deals with Doctor Doom on a Latverian Christmas Eve. 

The West Coast Avengers story was horrid. It's got the Kate Bishop trying to solve the murder of a mall Santa. If she was doing the work on her own, it would be fine. Having Clint Barton on hand would have been ideal. Instead, Katie has some annoying purple haired mutant helping, hindering, and it was the biggest steaming pile of crap.

Then we have the framing story which involves Deadpool and X-Force. Deadpool by himself is very funny as usual. But X-Force are freakin' confusing as all get out. And once Wade Wilson and Cable's squad get together, it's like a very bad rendition of Who's On First?

The entire book is written by Winter Solider and Spider-Gwen's Jason Latour. I think if Latour had focused on characters that he's got experience writing about, this book would have been great. Or if Marvel had a different writer for each story. Instead, the entire book felt very uneven. 

Then there's the art. As I have mentioned in several posts, Marvel has gotten some flak on the lack of quality in the art. This holiday comic is no exception. The Spider-Men tale was a pale imitation of the great Darwyn Cooke at best. And I've never seen Deadpool look worse and that's saying something. At least whomever did the Squirrel Girl art was on point in this special. As I said, that one tale was flawless.

I'm not sure what Marvel was thinking this year. The Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur Christmas themed issue was great. But the two stand-alone holiday specials just weren't all that great. The House of Ideas has fallen into disrepair and the publisher is going to have to do something to fix things quick in 2019. It's no wonder Disney doesn't trust Marvel with it's more family friendly properties; subletting to Dark Horse and IDW instead.

Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse (2018)

It's extremely rare when a movie can do a fantastic and faithful adaptation of a comic book storyline. But that's exactly what happens here in Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse. 

Brooklyn teen Miles Morales is the new kid at an elite boarding school in the Big Apple. But when a strange looking spider bites Miles, he discovers that he's also the newest person to be imbued with spider-themed super powers. A chance encounter with Spider-Man promises to help teach Miles about his new abilities. But when Spidey is murdered by the Kingpin, Miles is left to flounder on his on in the super hero thing on his own. Or is he?

When going to pay his respects to the fallen wall-crawler, Miles comes face to face with Peter Parker! Only this Peter is older, grayer, and a bit out of shape. It turns out that the Kingpin is playing God with a particle accelerator, which is opening windows into other dimensions. These experiments are ripping holes in the fabric of space and time and bringing things from parallel universes into Miles' world., such as other Spider-Men. 

The Kingpin's device must be stopped or the entirety of the multiverse will be destroyed. Alone, Miles Morales is in way over his head. But with a Spider-Man mentor behind him and some other inter-dimensional help, the newest Spidey in the Spider-Verse just might have a chance to save the day!

I loved how Miles Morales was finally introduced into the Marvel Cinematic Universe. This animated film proved that you don't have to go live action to be canon. I would love for Tom Holland's Spider-Man to eventually meet Miles. The events of this film helps to usher that crossover into being without taking away from either's origin stories. 

The film was an artistic masterpiece. Visually stunning, the animators did an amazing job making the film feel both live action and like a comic book at the same time. This is how motion comics need to be done!

Plus there's just so many Easter eggs that give homage or tribute to the amazing array or writers and artists who have given Spider-Man life. So many Kirby dots! Plus lots of streets, businesses and more are given names of Spidey creators. There's even a very cool blink and you miss it nod to the campaign to get Donald Glover to be the next Spider-Man. And there won't be a dry eye in the room with one of the final cameos made by Stan 
'The Man' Lee!

Black Panther might have been the cultural moment of 2018 Marvel movies. Infinity Wars might be the most talked about. Ant-Man and the Wasp may be the film that progresses the events of the MCU the furthest and Venom was the brightest surprise for 2018. But Into The Spider-Verse is the best Marvel film of the year! It's the one that I was ready to get right back in line to see again!

Adults and children will love this movie! Just because this is an animated film, don't allow that to make you decide to skip it! You are all going to have some time over the next couple of weeks with the holidays to spend with family and friends. If the subject of going to see a movie pops up in your conversations, recommend seeing Spider-Verse! As much as I want Aquaman to do well in theaters, this is the movie that should be seen on the Christmas break!

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

All-New X-Men, Volume 6: The Ultimate Adventure

    With their teachers summoned to Westchester to hear the reading of Professor X's will, the students of the New Xavier School are bored silly. Suddenly Cerebro goes wild having detected a new mutant just coming into her powers. But when some of the time displaced X-Men arrive, they spook the young mutant further and find themselves teleported away to various locations around the world. Separately, each member of the team are faced with strange happenings that lead them all to come to the same realization- this is not their earth!

  Just when I think All-New X-Men can’t  get any better, Brian Michael Bendis scoops a handful of the mutants up and puts them into his Ultimate Universe! BAM- or should I say Bamf? Either way, it’s an instant classic.

  The addition of the Miles Morales as a guide for the time and space displaced original X-Men was a brilliant idea. Spidey isn’t really known for being affiliated with the X-Men. But because Miles has crossed universes before, teaming with the Peter Parker Spider-Man of Earth-616 in the miniseries Spider-Men (2012), it makes perfect sense.

  If you like stories that involve time travel- then All-New X-Men is the series you’ve been looking for. But if you also like for your time travelers to hop from alternate earth to alternate earth, you should watch Doctor Who. But this volume is the next best thing!!!  Featuring some of your favorite Ultimate Universe characters (Plus X-23!), dynamic art by Mahmud Asrar (Siege: Battlefield), as well as the aforementioned Bendis this truly is the Ultimate Adventure!

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 2: Revelations

  As the Ultimate Universe begins to unravel, all of the remaining secrets you've been waiting for answers are uncovered before the final curtain goes down on Miles Morales and his band of New Ultimates.

   Reveals include:

•    How did Norman Osborne survive after seemingly dying during his climatic battle with Peter Parker in revealed?
•     Is the Peter Parker who returned asking to for his mantle of Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man the real deal or a blasted clone?
•     Where's Miles' dad and what's been the deep dark secret he kept for so long?
• and much more...

   

    While this volume does tidy things up in a big way, the ending boasts the biggest question of 2015? Just what happens to Miles and the rest of the world in Secret Wars when the Battleworld arrives at the series end?

    That's right, this volume is the last we'll ever see of Miles Morales in the Ultimate Universe. Well, for now, at least, as nothing really is forever in comics. 

    A grand capper to a great character in a great alternate universe from Marvel Comics. 

    It's fitting that the mastermind behind the Ultimate Comics universe, Brian Michael Bendis, crafted the swan song to Ultimate Spider-Man. The artwork by David Marquez was also very good. However, he's not the original artist behind UC: Spider-Man #1. That would've been the icing of the proverbial cake.

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, Volume 1

Ok- I think the cover ruined Spoiler #2.

  

     It's a new series and a new life for Miles Morales, the Ultimate Spider-Man. After the assault on Roxxon Corp. Miles has some new allies in the form of SHIELD agent Ultimate Spider-Woman, feisty Bombshell, and the mysterious Cloak & Dagger. He also has a new family dynamic as the teen has been named a ward of the state as it's assumed that his father died during a recent visit from Galactus.

    In reality, Mr. Morales discovered that Miles is Spider-Man and blamed him for the death of his mother. It's been hinted that Miles' dad has a mysterious past and clearly having a son with super powers hit too close to home. But I have no idea when all of this happened nor which series it all takes place. It surely didn't happen in the pages of Ultimate Spider-Man! Thankfully, I know of these events now because of flashbacks and conjecture from other characters. But if not for these teasers I would've been clueless to about 50% of what's going on in this series.

   Along with these changes comes another villain from the Peter Parker Spider-Man's past. I don't want to spoil who it is, but it's a huge reveal. There's another big spoil in this book that involves a mysterious character and it very much could result in the end of Miles' claim to the mantle of Ultimate Spider-Man.

 But before any of this takes place, you're invited to a very special gathering of friends and family. It's been 2 years since the death of Peter Parker and Aunt May and Gwen Stacy have thrown a party to reflect and honor the fallen superheroes life. With tons of cameos and surprises, it was a very fun read that made me missed the original Ultimate Spidey series. It had heart, humor, and tons of food. It was perhaps the best recent story I've read in quite a while.

    The new series is just as good if not a teeny bit better than the first Miles Morales certain title. I still don't understand why Marvel needed to cancel that series and then immediately issue a new series (other than trying to cash in on those few readers who think an issue #1 will be worth big bucks one day.) The writing by Brian Michael Bendis is superior as always and the art was excellent. But like I mentioned earlier, if not for some very much needed flashbacks, I wouldn't have enjoyed this volume quite as much as I did.

  Worth Consuming

   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Volume 5

 

 It's been a year since Miles Morales' epic fight with Venom and the conflict still haunts him as it left one parent dead and the other crippled. Vowing to never again put friends or family into harms way, Miles has destroyed his suit and tried to go about life as a normal kid. But the life of a crime fighter isn't so easy to give up as friends, SHIELD agents, and superheroes are constantly trying to get Miles back in the game.

    It looks like the Ultimate universe will have to do without a Spider-Man. So when Miles witnesses an attack by the mysterious duo the media is calling Cloak & Dagger, his curiosity isn't peaked. That is until he learns that the ruthless Roxxon Corporation, that was behind Miles getting his spider powers, is now working behind the scenes attempting to recreate a new Spidey out of runaways and kidnap victims. Now it's full on war but will Miles fight alone or can he gain the trust of SHIELD and these new heroes in order to bring down the global giant?

    I'm not sure if Marvel had the entire Ultimate universe undergo a 'One Year Later' scenario or if it's just this title that jumps ahead 12 months. I've not been able to readily get my hands on other Ultimate Comics titles at my library. So, I'm not very familiar with anything else new under the Ultimates imprint. But, I liked the idea of having Miles' story jump ahead some.

   I've long felt that Miles was just too young and too frail looking to be Spider-Man. He has the attitude and the athletics but let's face it, he's a bean pole. With this transition, Miles has gained some much needed bulk and height. I'm not so afraid that if a strong guy like Juggernaut got a hold of him that he wouldn't break the kid in half anymore.

   Bendis continues to do a fantastic job with this new Spider-Man and the level of heart, angst, humor, passion, and action is top notch. Sadly, this volume is the last of Bendis' run on the Ultimate Comics Spider-Man title. Marvel has this hair-brained idea to now only run a series about 12 months to 2 years in order to produce better quality stories and, of course, make more money.

    (I mean, hey, if the cover says issue #1, it must be going to be worth a million days one day, right?)

But worry not true believers as Bendis, Miles,  and company will be back in the pages of Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man!

   Worth Consuming

   Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Volume 4

  After the battle that resulted in the accidental death of his uncle Aaron, Miles Morales' Spider-Man finds himself Public Enemy #1. On his trail is brash investigative reporter Betty Brant, who thinks she has a lead as to just who is behind the new mask of Spider-Man. But her snooping will result in a blast from the Peter Parker Spidey's past when Venom returns!  Believing Miles' father to be Spider-Man, Venom wages war on the Morales family. Sending mom and dad to the hospital, Miles must go on the attack or he'll be the next target on the enemy's hit list. Armed with the assistance of former Parker flames, Gwen Stacy and Mary Jane Watson, Miles will need all the intel and insight he can get in his first ever battle with the symbiote terror!

    It's been a few months since I last returned to the corner of the Ultimate universe. It wasn't because I didn't like the previous 3 volumes of this series. It's that I had to wait a very long time for my queue to pop up at my local library. That's how in demand this series is. 

     There's very little I don't like about the Miles Morales Spider-Man. Brian Michael Bendis gives this version of Spidey just as much care and attention to detail as he did to the Peter Parker incarnation. I know some cannot get over the fact that a Spider-Man is black. But that's never bothered me in the least. 

   My issue with the Morales wall-crawler is that he's so young and tiny. It's evidenced here in the fights scenes against gigantic Venom. In comparison, it looked like the villain could have snapped Morales in half like a twig and used his legs for toothpicks if he'd ever got his hands on the wily hero. Over the course of this series, Miles has inherited Peter's mantle, web-shooters, and powers. Now if he could inherit his muscle. 

   Not short on deft-defying acrobatics or zingers, this Spider-Man is here to stay, as long as a strong guy like Rhino doesn't catch him first!

  Worth Consuming
  
   Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Amazing Spider-Man 2

              

   After missing it in theaters and then somehow passing it on HBO and OnDemand, I finally got my hands on a copy of Amazing Spider-Man 2. This action romp through the Big Apple on the web-swinging back of your friendly neighborhood Spider-Man pits the hero against the armored Rhino, the electrifying Electro, and the creepy Green Goblin all the while balancing love and job in his civilian life as Peter Parker. On paper, this should be a slam dunk. But at almost two and a half hours long the film's momentum is paced sporadically as the plot gets really dragged out and then all of a sudden it gets jammed pack with a dizzying array action and adventure.

   Amazing Spider-Man left me pleasantly disappointed. It has some very good acting. With the exception of Heath Ledger's Joker, that's not really what superhero films are known for. There were some very fun scenes that succeed thanks to the great acting. But overall the film feel flat in areas that comic based films are praised for, especially plot and SFX.

Andrew Garfield's timing and poise as Spider-Man/ Peter Parker is excellent. The way he makes Spider-Man a thriving part of New York and his scenes with everyday people and the real heroes of the city, the NYPD and NYFD, while in costume were perfect.
 
   Then you got Jamie Fox who played a nerdy uberfan of Spidey's named Max Dillon, who is turned into the misunderstood Electro was fantastic as well. There was a real character progression to Dillon that made him a sympathetic foe. Plus there was great chemistry between Garfield and Fox in their few scenes together.

   Speaking of chemistry, Andrew Garfield's Peter and Emma Stone's Gwen Stacy got it! Maybe it;s because the two are lovers in real life, but they made ASM2 a kind of romantic comedy in the vein of Tracy and Hepburn. Even Paul Giamatti as Rhino was good though I think his Russian accent needed work because I couldn't understand a word he was saying. (OKAY- maybe it was too good!)

    If this was the only dynamic of Amazing Spider-Man 2 then the film would be an instant classic. But the writers, producers, and director decided to add Norman and Harry Osborn into the mix. Norman, played by Chris Cooper, has some sort of terrible auto-immune disease. His search for a cure is what leads to OsCorp conducting its research with spiders that ultimately bite Parker and give him his powers. With Norman's death, his company is handed over to his son, Harry. When Peter tries to reach out to his old friend, the film spirals into about 45 minutes of Harry trying to find a cure for the genetic condition he inherited from his father. It may be important to understanding Harry's character and motivation, but it really slows the film to a snails pace.

   Harry's search for a cure winds up taking on the mystery behind the death of Peter's folks. Peter finds a satchel that belonged to his father and that spins the film off into yet another tangent. Sure, Peter's search does provide some much needed scientific jargon as to why that spider's bite gave him special powers but that's about all it does to benefit the film.

   Ideally with all of the tangents and sprawling plotlines, this film should have been cut into two movies and Amazing Spider-Man turned into a trilogy. But with a major deal struck between Marvel Studios and Sony to add Spidey to the official Marvel movie universe,  I think the plans to make this film series into a trilogy were scrapped in order to get Spider-Man into 'Captain America: Civil War' as soon as possible. (It's rumored that this is the movie in which Spidey will be introduced to the MMU.)

   Sadly, Andrew Garfield will not be portraying the wall-crawler in the forthcoming Captain America flick. In fact the Peter Parker Spider-Man might not even be featured in the forthcoming Spider-Man cinematic reboot scheduled for release around 2019. ( In an effort for a more diverse Marvel film universe, rumor has it that the half black, half Latino Miles Morales Spider-Man will appear in Civil War.)

  Yes- the Spider-Man franchise is going to get a second reboot in less than 5 years time! And for that reason alone, I feel that that this film tries to do too much because there won't be an Amazing Spider-Man 3 to round out the unanswered questions of the first film. One such question is still unanswered- just who is the guy in the shadows at the prison for bad guys? He pops up again in this film and I still don't know who the heck he is.

   Amazing Spider-Man 2 is a rare type of superhero film. It's acting was far better than the story and don't get me started on the special effects. Maybe it's because I watched this film on DVD but the action scenes involving Spidey were so fake looking. But during Stan Lee's tenure are the mastermind behind the Marvel Age of Comics, his stories were known for being heavy on character and drama and that's what happens here. I just hope Marvel Studios allows Andrew Garfield a much-needed swan song before the pass on the mantle of Spider-Man to whoever is cast as the Miles Morales Spidey.

   Rating: 5 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 3

All troubles I’ve had with a Spider-man this young has completely vanished. Though folks like Captain America are having trouble with the idea of such a youngster being an Ultimate, Miles Morales has won me over. With a great side storyline involving a sort of new Civil War has me on the look out for those tales. Divided We Fall/ United We Stand, you both are on my wish list. Art is fantastic as seen in the cover page’s easter worth. Cannot wait for further volumes.

Worth Consuming

Rating: 10 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Vol. 2

The new Spider-man keeps getting better. I know, I ranted about how young Miles Morales is. Well, the thing is that everyone seems to know whoever’s behind the mask is not old enough to drive a car. Since everyone else has this beef, I felt justified. But, it allowed me to enjoy the ride all that much better. The art is really good. I even like the covers, even though they are clearly CGI. The writing of Bendis is really what makes this book. Just like with the first Ultimate Spider-man series, he’s got me hooked again! I need volume 3 STAT! Worth Consuming.

Rating: 9 out of 10 stars.

Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Volume 1

   When the Ultimate Spider-Man/ Peter Parker dies; Fate, Destiny, or Kismet sees to it that a successor is chosen. Enter Miles Morales, a gifted youngster who's been bitten by one of Norman Osborne’s genetically altered spiders.

   The book starts off slow, with it being at least 3 issues before Miles dons the mantle of Spider-man. Adding to the odd flow of the book is that part of the story is of another issue that deals with the first appearance of Morales in the Ultimate Universe. Then after the first arc is completed, the rest of that ground breaking issue is reprinted, but it deals mostly with Mister Fantastic and the X-Men and has nothing to do with Spidey.
   
   Here is my big problem with the book. It’s not that this Spider-man is black. I have no problem with this. I signed the petition years back for Donald Glover to be Peter Parker in this newest Spider-man film and it turns out Glover was what inspired Bendis to create a minority replacement to Peter Parker. My issue with the book is that Morales is in middle school. He’s like 10-12 years old and it just doesn’t seem plausible that Nick Fury would use such a young kid considering how hesitant as he was to use Parker, who was 16, when he first became a costumed hero.

    Thankfully, Milo and his best friend are wonderfully crafted and they make for pleasant reads. Also, I like how Bendis is using Aunt May and Gwen Stacy as mentors giving Miles the “With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility” mantra that really inspired Peter. I think there is great potential for this book and I'm already standing in line, waiting for more to come.

   Worth Consuming.

   Rating: 8 out of 10 stars.