Marvel Rundown: Reserve a table with SPIDER-MAN VS. THE SINISTER SIXTEEN

3 days ago 6

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Welcome back Marvel Rundown faithful as we once again tackle this week’s Marvel. Fresh off our Eisner win, this week we’ve created a menu of reviews that we are sure will satisfy you. Our main course is Spider-Man vs. The Sinister Six, a hearty dish crafted lovingly by J. Michael Straczynski and Phil Noto. For sides, we offer a rich assortment of Rapid Rundown reviews of What If.. Goofy was Spider-Man?, Ultimates #14, and Star Wars: High Republic Finale #1 So bon appetite!

As always, you are welcome to leave a word for the chefs here at The Beat! Tell us what you think of this week’s Marvel Comics! Shout us out in the comment section below or over on social media @comicsbeat, or @comicsbeat.bsky.social, and let us know.

Look, let this guy enjoy a meal piece you villains!

Spider-Man vs. The Sinister Sixteen
Writer: J. Michael Straczynski
Artist: Phil Noto
Letterer: vc’s Ariana Maher

We here at the Marvel Rundown have chronicled in great detail our ongoing dissatisfaction with the last few years of Spider-Man books. We’ve been frustrated that the adventures of Spider-Man have seemingly taken over the hijinks of Peter Parker’s personal life. Spider-Man sure fights a lot of bad guys but sure seems to have not time to actually interact with non super people.

One could say that the creative teams have let the balance between Peter’s superhero work and personal life slip enormously. Even worse, storylines have seen him as a pawn of an evil corporation, become a mystical defender of Earth, and if previews are believed, he might get involved in space nonsense. Whatever happened to a neighborhood friendly Spider-Man?

Peter and MJ go out for a nice night in Spider-Man vs.The Sinister Sixteen

There have a been a few bright spots though and surprisingly the Spider-Man Vs. The Sinister Sixteen is one of them. Surprising because writer J. Michael Straczynski was never known for humor during his six year long run on Amazing Spider-Man. This is the man who had Doctor Doom cry over 9/11, saddled the Spider Totem baggage to the character, and retconned things so that Norman Osborn impregnated Gwen Stacy. Fun times right?

But character work during that run was his strong point. So his return to the character does just that, feature strong character work as Peter Parker attempts a date with Mary Jane Watson at a chic restaurant. It’s also laugh out loud funny as seemingly every other Marvel hero and villain gets a reservation there.

Peter and MJ just want a nice night out.

The story of a date on the brink of disaster is everything that the current books don’t seem interested in doing. What draws readers to Spider-Man as a character is how no matter what superhero battle he fights, his personal life will always intrude on it or vice versa. As Spider-Man gets involved in bigger and bigger stories, they take him away from being Peter Parker. He’s why people have read his stories for decades. Spider-Man is powerful not because he fights bad guys but because he fights for the people in his life.

So Peter trying to enjoy himself for a night before being Spider-Man makes that impossible? That’s the making of a classic Spider-Man story. Seeing all of the various enemies attempt to not ruin anyone’s else evening? That’s comic gold. When it’s revealed why there’s so many superheroes and supervillains getting reservations that night on that particular night? Just the cherry on top of this particular comic sundae.

Making this story feel even more classic is artist Phil Noto. His depictions of Peter and Mary Jane are more in line John Romita Sr. rather John Romita Jr. but honestly, his work on this issue evokes that Justice League International artist Kevin Maguire. He roots his linework and character acting in realism but doesn’t over render anything here so he doesn’t distract from the humor. It boils down to the expressions on folks faces and how they use hands as they act and react. And let me tell you, Noto knows how to sell an expression and have characters use their hands. This issue is as handsome to look at as it is funny to read.

This won’t be the first time Straczynski returns to the character this year. As the last page of this issue advertises, he’ll write the upcoming Amzing Spider-Man: Torn mini-series. If this is a warm up for that series, then it might a welcome return to the character. Seriously, seeing Peter Parker do something as down to earth as go on a date just feels downright refreshing.

Verdict: BUY

Rapid Rundown

What if Goofy Became Spider-Man Ultimates #14 Star Wars High Republic Finale

What if….Goofy Became Spider-Man #1
- When I told my four year old we were going to read this book and he saw the cover he said, “aw yeah we need to read this book.” A lot has changed about the way I think about art and entertainment since I became a dad. I am always on the lookout for all ages, family friendly comics I can read with my son, and these Marvel and Disney: What if…? comics have been enormous fun. The books recruit Disney’s stable of European comics creators to remix classic Marvel stories with Mickey Mouse and friends. Some have been better than others but each has been entertaining. This one featuring Goofy is the best of the bunch. Steve Behling’s plot offers up a fantastically silly twist on the Uncle Ben tragedy, elevated by Ricardo Secchi’s script which is full of deadpan humor. The beats are similar to what you know of Spider-Man’s origins but just weird enough to make you unsure where the book is going to end up. It’s a whole lot of fun. Francesco D’ippolito’s art lovingly homages the original Steve Ditko Amazing Fantasy 15 throughout. The awkward gangly Spider-Man of Ditko’s original stories suits the lanky, clumsy Goofy shockingly well. There’s all kinds of gags and fun in the visuals. Lucio Ruvidotti’s colors are bright and poppy with the limited palette of a classic 60s tale. Laura Tartaglia letters with a slightly imperfect shape to the balloons that feels authentically retro. You might be quick to write these Disney mashups off as simple corporate synergy and sure there is no denying the element of truth to that. But these are lovingly produced, funny comics worth reading. – TR

Ultimates #14
- Another month, another great “Ultimates” issue. Issue 14, by Deniz Camp with art by Juan Frigeri, introduces this alternate world’s interpretation of some of the most prominent capitalist organizations as the Ultimates attempt to change the world after their 3.0 initiative. But the most prominent corporations, Alchemax, Roxxon, Hammer, and A.I.M., have a secret weapon up their sleeves, a weapon that is exceptional and a bit uncanny. This issue isn’t just a great introduction to new characters, but also a fantastic moment that reminds readers why Ultimate Captain America is a standout character in this run and why this Ultimate Hawkeye is ten times more interesting than the central universe Hawkeye. The Ultimates are always fun to read, and the villains they face are some dangerous people. Without diving too much into spoilers, the new faction introduced has the setup to lead to a great event when the series ends. Though it may take a bit, given the many moving plot points shifting in the universe. The only downside of the Ultimates is that we aren’t getting more, and this issue is another example of it. Who knows how far this new villain organization will go with only four months remaining? Hopefully, Camp can satisfy all of the plots the team is introducing. If you haven’t been reading Ultimates, this issue is another great one to hop onto. Go. Read it now. Seriously. -LM
Star Wars High Republic Finale #01
- As a coda to the overall High Republic line, writer Cavan Scott, artist Marika Cresta, and colorist Jim Campbell land the ship as smoothly and elegantly as possible. With the main villains, the marauders known as the Nihil, defeated, we get a wrap-up of Keeve Trennis’s arc. When the High Republic kicked off, she was a padawan of Sskeer, a Trandoshan Jedi Master, but quickly rose to Knight status, followed by Master and eventually Marshal with a position opened for the Jedi Council. This character was a true hero in the Jedi Order, achieving significant victories but suffering from a lack of conviction with her place in the Order, and without spoiling it, Scott delivers an emotionally satisfying ending. Marika Cresta and Jim Campbell’s visuals are bold and bright, with gritty texture that adds depth to the scenery. If this is the end of the High Republic, I would like to applaud the creatives for opening up the Galaxy Far Far Away with something that gave us a new sandbox to explore. But one of the main barriers for readers with the High Republic line was the intersecting plotlines that were incredibly intricate, there was a scene in a comic that takes place at the same time and location as another scene in a book. Before I made the transition to an e-reader, I would wait for the soft cover, but the comic wouldn’t wait, so I knew about the destruction of a place before I read the main book about it. The other is the formidable commitment someone would have to make to get the entire story, and after being burned with the Disney reset, it is understandable if a reader doesn’t go all in. The comic line as a whole did some great work by some amazing creators, and there is gold in those side stories. – GC3