I did say all the Spider-books had made it to #12, and that includes Webspinners. A stunning $3.50 for this one! Hard to believe I paid it. And I don’t… really know why. I would have told you the Romita, Sr. illustrated story from #1 was in this, and that’s why I bought it. But it’s not, so… I dunno. But it’s perhaps fortuitous that I did, because the actual story here is by Paul Jenkins, who will become much more associated with the webslinger very soon here on the blog, so I’m getting in on the ground floor. And penciler JG Jones is a rising star who will go on to some pretty big things from here, so that’s cool. Let’s see what they’re up to, because I don’t remember at all. Jimmy Palmiotti inks and Joe Rosas colors.
Clean lines and “realism” are soon to be the trend in comics art after the turn of the century. A strong reaction to the intense cartoony feel of the late 90s? Maybe. But for whatever reason, you can see why Jones would become a star if that’s what the people want. Hey, what in the world is going on? A dejected Peter Parker arrives at home. It’s just May, of course, MJ out as usual, and she isn’t able to make him feel better about I guess killing some guy who was maybe the Chameleon? Peter goes upstairs to freshen up before dinner and passes out on the bed. In his dream, he’s dressed as an unmasked Spider-Man, webbed to a wall of comic book pages. Really.
I promise Jenkins’ stuff isn’t so morose when he gets a regular title around here. Jenkins is a British writer, but unlike most British writers, he started his career in America, working for indies and writing Hellblazer at DC before coming to Marvel in the mid-90s. His 12-issue Inhumans with Jae Lee was one of the Marvel Knights launch titles, and a hit. He was pretty much made for the trend in comics writing to come, the more naturalistic, character-focused style that Marvel is going to ride to great success. But that’s for later. Right now, Peter relives the death of Captain Stacy from ASM 90, wracking himself with guilt, and then a montage of other deaths goes by, as Jones dutifully recreates panels from Harry’s death in TAC 200, Kraven’s death in TAC 131, Norman’s death in ASM 122, MJ losing baby May in SM 75 (Don’t see that one on the Peter Parker Guilt Parade often), and Ben Reilly’s death from the same issue, as he thinks about how anyone who gets close to him dies. Not exactly new territory, here.
The teeth over the original panels is a weird, creepy touch, but again, we’ve done this dance so very many times. He hops backward in time a little to relive her actual death.
And so we do the origin and Uncle Ben’s death, all with Peter telling himself everything’s his fault, yadda yadda. I am getting nothing out of this.
Peter battles his early foes as panels form their early appearances fly by, pointing out how those were simpler, easier times, but the villain vanish as Peter realizes it’s all too easy.
And that’s it. What on Earth was happening on the first few pages!? Good grief, what a mess. I wonder how this played to a younger me. Probably not much better. Just kinda felt like filler dressed up as a “more mature” story. But, again, Jenkins’ upcoming run in the Spider-Office is actually pretty good, as I recall, often great. I guess we’ll see… Man, I blew right through an oversized issue because it didn’t do anything but rehash a bunch of famous losses for the billionth time. $3.50!!