The Amazing Spider-Man Annual: 1991

I just don't think I could live in the UK and be a comic book fan. It takes not several months but several YEARS before material that debuted in the United States to finally become available across the pond. And how the stories are chopped up into smaller pieces for weekly releases instead of monthly, with some non-vital art deleted would just infuriate me to no end. This hardback annual from London's Marvel Comics LTD is proof in point. 

This annual contains material set in the early days of the Hobgoblin. The usurper to the Green Goblin throne has been in operation for a while. But Spider-Man has no idea who is behind the mask. It's so new in the Hobgoblin's career, poor Harry Osborn thinks it might be him operating under some sort of fugue state like his evil father did prior as the original Green Goblin. But an early encounter with this new Spidey villain puts Harry at ease for that. But what's with the personal vendetta that the Hobgoblin has against the Osborns? 

Meanwhile, Peter Parker is trying to adjust his life to a series of changes. Recently freed from the Venom symbiote, Parker learns that Mary Jane Parker knows he's Spider-Man! Plus, thanks to the destructive nature of his alien parasite, Petey quit college and it's caused a strain between him and Aunt May.

Along with the story, this annual is full of fun and games. There's a couple of mazes, a valuable fact-file about the back-story of the Hobgoblin (without revealing the identity of the baddie), a search-a-word and much more. 

Though this annual was released in 1991, it contains material that was originally published in 1984 in the pages of America's Amazing Spider-Man. Was British Marvel books devoted to Spider-Man really behind by 7 years? Or do English annuals reprint fan favorite stories? I'd really be interested to know.

Another mystery I want to know more about: how did this book end up here? I found this at a book warehouse for only a buck. That store was in Raleigh, NC. How did it get there? Too bad books don't speak because I bet there's an interesting tale behind it's travels.

Rating: 6 out of 10 stars. 

Choose Your Own Aspen Adventure #1 (HCF 2017)

Every Halloween ComicFest, Aspen Comics does something for kids. While I think it's great to appeal to the next generation of comic collectors, Aspen isn't really known for it's all-ages titles. What appealed to me was the 'Choose Your Own Adventure' aspect of the title. As a child of the 80s, I was in love with those paperbacks that allow you, the reader, to control the plot of the story. 

Marvel has been perfecting this type of story over the past couple of years. They seemed to be the only publisher doing such comics. So to see another publisher finally tackling the concept intrigued me. Unfortunately, this is NOT a Choose Your Own Adventure comic book.

In this 2017 special, an amateur magician accidentally sends a group of wild and mystical animal pals into two places unknown. As the two groups try to get home, you the reader help them on their quest by solving puzzles, riddles, and other cool activities. 

While writer Vince Hernandez builds the activities up as helping to forge the destinies of the animals, there's nothing here to alter their outcomes. Usually with a Choose Your Own Adventure, the reader must decide to that the character left or right. Going left might result in finding the lost treasure. While going right might cause the protagonist to fall into a pit of vipers.

By saying something like 'help the animals through a maze' doesn't change the characters' destinies. That's not the case here as this really more of an activity book. Don't get me wrong, I like the idea of an activity book comic book. But don't sell me a Choose Your Own Adventure if there's nothing in it that if left up to me to decide. 

This comic offering from Aspen had promise but it lied. Still, it was a fun read. The characters were adorable and the fun and games was something I would have killed for as a trick-or-trick prize. The book is just not what I was sold on.

Worth Consuming!

Rating: 7 out of 10 stars.