Comic Review -- Amazing Spider-Man #685: Ends of the Earth, part 4: Global Menace! / Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado

While I like the idea of this cover--Spidey and the two gorgeous superheroines Black Widow and Silver Sable posing all badass on a rooftop--it seems to fall flat.  The line work is good, and the composition's not bad, but it doesn't really seem to fit with the level of intensity the narrative demands.  The casual-ness of the rooftop scenario suggests they're in NYC, which is clearly not where the action takes place.  I also think Spidey should be depicted in his current costume now, and that the colors could have been a little more vibrant.  It's not bad, but it left me wishing it could have been more.

Spider-Man, Silver Sable, and Black Widow have taken out Sandman, but the odds are even more stacked against them.  Doc Ock has turned the world against the heroes, stepped up production of the parts for his lenses, and called out super-villains to help defend his factories.  Even S.H.I.E.L.D. tries to arrest them after they defeat the Rhino in North Korea.  Only Horizon Labs is working along with them, and Spider-Man reluctantly allows Sable to torture Sandman to get more information about Doc Ock's plans.  The remaining members of the Sinister Six, meanwhile, wonder if they should simply take the money Ock got for them and go their separate ways, but decide to remain with Ock when he demands they see the mission through to the end.

Spider-Man makes a counter-call to any and all superheroes who are willing to trust him, pleading for assistance in hindering Ock's plans, to which there are a number of responses across the world.  He and his team tackle a base in Symkaria, where they find a wealth of bad news: the factory is abandoned, Ock's satellites are finished, and he is about to implement his plan, which is not the friendly one he advertised to the rest of the world.  Bitter at his impending demise, Ock uses the satellites to deep-fry the world like he did in his first demonstration, starting with the portion that's currently facing the sun.  He intends to take the world with him when he dies.

Well, I have to admit that I'm a little disappointed that Peter turns out to be right about Octavius, but I can't say I'm very surprised about it.  Doc Ock has typically been a very spiteful and petty character (though there have been exceptions to this depiction), and I would imagine having to finally face down the endless maw of his impending death wouldn't do much to improve his disposition.  I think Slott took a good handle of the reins with this portrayal of him, and has set up a denouement that makes me want to see how Spidey can possibly beat him this time around.

I also like the scale on which Spider-Man is set in opposition to the world, thanks to Ock's manipulations.  He, Sable, and Black Widow are alone, with only Horizon Labs and a handful of heroes across the world agreeing to trust and help them.  It really ramps up the drama and the action, forcing Spidey to desparate actions like "acid-boarding" Sandman for information and using a pretty vicious detonation against Rhino.  Ock has clearly thought about the lengths to which he must go to finally beat Spider-Man, and at present, it looks like he's succeeding.

You REALLY think he didn't kiss
her back? (from ASM 679)

On a minor note, it looked like Silver Sable was about to admit she had feelings for Spider-Man, and while I wasn't a fan of the idea in the midst of a high-stakes global struggle, I was also let down that Peter essentially shut her down for Mary Jane.  I've always had issues with how Marvel ended their marriage, but I've never been a huge MJ fan, and have often felt that Peter should have a significant other who could hang in superhero circles (which is why I was a fan of the Black Cat's reunion with him).  Sable would definitely fit this bill, and I have to admit I was kind of wanting it to happen.  Oh well.

Artistically, things continue to look good, though I do wonder about some of the panels.  It seems some of the details get minimized or glossed over as Humberto Ramos continues to churn out page upon page upon page during this run.  It's not enough to make the issue look bad, though perhaps not as good as other issues I've seen leading up to this one.  Note to Marvel: please don't overburden your artists on your flagship titles.

Overall, this has been a good story, and I'm eager to see how it ends.  I'm not sure how much is left, but it feels like we're approaching the endgame soon--if not next issue, then the one after.  The story is compelling, and the artwork is good.  Highly recommended.

Comic Review -- Amazing Spider-Man #684: The Ends of the Earth, part III: Sand Trap / Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, and Edgar Delgado

Spidey's trials and tribulations just never seem to end, for him and his allies in this case.  This cover shot of him, Black Widow and Silver Sable all caught up in a titanic fight with a desert-powered Sandman really drives that point home and pulls readers in for this issue's story.  The colors here are great, the action is intense, and Black Widow continues to do an excellent impression of Felicia Hardy by leaving her cleavage exposed by black leather.  She'll definitely need a shower later.  At the very least, I'm amused.

Spidey and the Avengers have just been defeated by the Sinister Six in a stunning turnabout.  Silver Sable, who has tailed Spider-Man this far, rescues Black Widow from the downed Quinjet and sets an explosive charge on it.  She uses the distraction caused by its destruction to mask herself, Spider-Man and Black Widow before Doctor Octopus can destroy Spider-Man.  The Sinister Six leave, with the rest of the Avengers in tow, leaving the three heroes to rely on each other to undo Ock's evil plan.

Locating a production facility for Ock's satellites, Spidey uses the down time for their travel, the collective genius of the workers at Horizon Labs, and a little of his own ingenuity to combat the likely threat there: Sandman.  When they find him there, Spidey and his teammates manage to defeat him using the improvised tech he's come up with, and take Sandman off the playing field.  But Ock has already planned for this, and uses his bully pulpit on the world stage to deem Spider-Man a terrorist and demand the nations of the world take him down at any cost!

One thing that I'm glad never changes during these Sinister Six storylines is that Spider-Man always, always needs help from other superheroes to defeat Doctor Octopus and his allies.  Thus far, the escalation between him and Ock has evolved in a believable manner over the years, with Spidey's new tech and Ock's meticulous planning heightening the stakes for each.  That Spidey is also relying on his civilian colleagues at Horizon Labs as well as Black Widow and Silver Sable shows that the game has changed between these two, and that firepower of all types is needed: stealth, brains, brawn, and ingenuity.  It all makes for a story that is both intriguing and amusing, in places.

I mean, come on: Project Pink Hippo?  It's both ingenious and over-the-top cheesy.  In other words, vintage Spidey.  And to whoever created Grady Scraps: kudos.  I really like his character.

Artistically, I continue to enjoy Humberto Ramos's pencil work for this series.  While his characters tend to have slightly bigger eyes than I'd prefer, you can't argue that it makes plenty of room for expressions, which he uses deftly in conveying the story visually.  I also find myself gradually warming to the new costume for this storyline, but I also find myself fretting that it'll soon be discarded once this story is over.  The fight with Sandman was appropriately epic, and, once we see the strategy they employ, quite amusing as Sandman gets manipulated.  Excellent work.

Overall, this was a fun issue.  It had plenty of action, an amusing premise for taking down Sandman, great artwork, and plenty of spot-on dialog for the main characters.  I'm enjoying the story very much, and waiting eagerly for the next part of the story.  Highly recommended.

Comic Review -- Amazing Spider-Man #676: Tomorrow, the World! / Dan Slott, Humberto Ramos, Victor Olazaba, Edgar Delgado

Since I'm in the thick of reviews about "The Ends of the Earth" storyline going on in Amazing Spider-Man, I thought it'd make sense to review a story that is a direct precursor to it.  Starring the Sinister Six, "Tomorrow, the World!" sets up how they acquire the headquarters they end up using during the later story arc.

I'm generally not a fan of covers with dialog on them, but I guess I'll forgive this one, as it's literally the only appearance Spidey has in the story.  And besides, it's a corny, amusing-enough Spidey line, so it's not like it's out of place.  Artistically, I like the action pose and the reflection of the Sinister Six in the glass behind Spider-Man.  It is, at the very least, upfront about the premise, as the Sinister Six do take over this issue.

It's made clear from the get-go that the Sinister Six are preparing for something big: Sandman and Rhino are training up on their powers, Electro is helping put the finishing touches on the final suit Doctor Octopus will be wearing when he dies.  After the Intelligencia, a team of smart super-villains, quickly (and remotely) dispatch a super-team known as the Winter Guard through the use of their doomsday weapon, the zero cannon, the Sinister Six move in on their secret geo-base headquarters in the North Pole and attack them.

What follows is your typical inter-team  fight, with various members from one side paired up against someone from the other side.  Eventually, the leaders of each team, Doctor Octopus and M.O.D.O.K., engage in a battle of wits, with Ock quickly gaining the advantage and forcing M.O.D.O.K. to admit that he's Ock's inferior.  The Intelligencia, defeated, are then kicked out of their headquarters, with a warning to stay out of the Sinister Six's way.  Sandman asks why they saved the world from the Intelligencia's doomsday weapon, and Ock simply responds that it was a means to an end: the Sinister Six would be taking over the world in 2012.

I have to admit, this was a fun issue.  It's always nice to see a focus on the hero's adversary squad, particularly this incarnation.  Ock's resignation to his impending mortality is not without ambition, and it was especially interesting to see Sandman talking to the Wizard in the middle of their battle, with their past friendship coming to light.  I like small nods like that to continuity, however distant, as it shows the writer actually reads and cares about the source material.

Mysterio's line about thinking of the Intelligencia like Big Bang Theory, only evil, was pretty amusing as well.

From a larger perspective, it's also interesting to see the Sinister Six engaged in something that isn't directly either world domination or killing Spider-Man.  Sure, I imagine this story was a stepping stone to it, but it's nice to see them laying the groundwork by doing their own little version of saving the world.  And I have to say, at this point, I've seen Chameleon get caught twice in the last few issues.  He's no Vulture; at least with him, you knew he could play his part.  Chameleon keeps screwing  up, and I want him to go away.

Artistically, I have to say that I like Humberto Ramos's pencil work in this issue.  It's not perfect, and feels a little sloppy in places (like the Winter Guard's brief scene), but when he concentrates on the main parts of the story, it looks great.  All of the characters look engaged, expressive, and the action is dynamic and fluid. Ock's look is both terrifying and pitiable, but he conveys such an overwhelming sense of viciousness that it's easy to forget that this is a dying man.  Very good work.

Overall, this is a good stand-alone story that nevertheless adds a little bit of stock to the current "Ends of the Earth" story arc going on in ASM.  The portrayal of the Sinister Six is both amusing and compelling in places, the artwork is very fitting, and it sets up the current arc nicely.  Anyone who likes "Ends of the Earth" so far will want to read this.  Highly recommended.