Spider-man Reign # 1-4 Review
This Review was Submitted by Spider-ben:
Writer/Artist: Kaare Andrews
Covers: Kaare Andrews
This review will be much shorter than the usual full length reviews I do, mostly because this mini-series didn't do a whole lot for me as a fan. First of all, this is pretty much taking Frank Miller's classic Batman story "The Dark Knight Returns" and throwing Spider-Man into the spotlight. The story focuses on the future, a bleak and distopian Manhattan ruled by Mayor Waters and his harsh followers. Members of the police force enforce the law with cruel and unfair tactics and methods. The entire city is enveloped by this electronic web technology, supposedly keeping the city and it's people safe and isolated from the outside world. Peter Parker is an old man, working in a flower shop. Parker is fired and decides to brood over the loss of Mary Jane, and also decides to wallow in self pity focusing on all his other mistakes in life.
J. Jonah Jameson is also alive and well, and decides to pay Peter a visit to smack him out of his funk and put on the costume to oppose Mayor Waters and his storm trooper policemen. The sinister six is put back together to fight off Spidey again, and they must obey since they have technology in their bodies that prevents them from straying or not following orders (basically the same thing being done to the Thunderbolts). Peter puts on the black costume, gets his butt kicked, wallows in more self pity, reveals his spider-cum was responsible for killing MJ, gets his encouragement back, and goes off to fight once more. Along the way some kids revolt against the police officers, the sinister six are guarding Mayor Waters, the Mayor's lackey reveals to be Venom and behind the whole thing, Sandman finds out he has a daughter to can turn to cement girl, Peter puts on the red and blues again, and Peter fights off the sinister six and faces Venom. More symbiotes attack the city, Jameson continues to fuss and whine, Sandman watches cement girl die and sacrifices himself to help Spidey.
The symbiotes go boom, the rule of Mayor Waters is over, Spidey continues to web swing despite being super old, and Jameson continues to bash him for it.
The end.
Thoughts/Comments: Overall, unless you are a die hard Spidey fan or completist, I'd advise skipping this mini. The art looks really bad, Andrews should go back to his old art style. The story was lacking in points, and it's clearly trying to be dark and gritty like Frank Miller's Dark Knight tale. Jameson should be dead he is so old, and Pete's spider-cum killed MJ. That's pretty lame. Overall, I'd give this a B-. It may seem harsh, but this just really didn't do much for me. I'm skipping on the hardcover as well. Hopefully Kaare's next spidey story will be original and fun, and maintain his old art style.
I read this series and it was a bad ripoff of DKR. Spider-ben if you didn't like it that much why did you give it a B-, I would have given it a worst letter grade.
I gave the mini a B- because I really, really, really have trouble giving a spidey book a grade of C or lower! It's lame, but I'm a Spidey lover and just can't slam my hero that much! Seriously, I think the only storyline(s) that would merit a D,D-,or even F are parts of the original clone saga. Oh, and that whole "The Final Chapter" revealing Aunt May didn't die in Amazing 400. That was ultra lame, probably D worthy. But other than that, I didn't want to give this mini to low of a grade. After all, I did throw down the cash to buy it, and I do like Kaare Andrews. So that is the reason why this got a B- from me. I'm curious what you and other fans would grade it though.
Personally Spidey-Ben I love your reviews, but I have to agree with Dajoka here. This series was horrible to me it would have been a D-. Even if it is my favorite character doesn't make it an excuse to give it a higher grade. From the sound of your review you probably should have given it a D as well.
i loved it. i mean fucking loved it. everyone hates on it(omar and dan),but i think the art was sick and the story was diffrent.
In a way I enjoyed a few parts of it. But overall it really was trying to be something it wasn't. Sorry spidersperm and Frank Miller wannabe artwork does not make a good comic book. What I did enjoy was JJ being the one to get Peter up and going again. I agree with spiderben this can easily be skipped go and read Dark Knight Returns.
What the hell? Spider-ben a B-? You really should have been less lenient since it is your favorite character. My four year old daughter could have written a better story. This book doesn't deserve to be printed on the paper it saw light on. I wouldn't have given this rip-off an F, it would have read off the scale. A waste of money and space much like Joey Q.
How is the idea of an unhealthy dose of spider-sperm any different than putting Aunt May in the hospital of the umpteenth time, having Spidey get all dark for half a year in an attempt to sell more books? His mainstream books are pre-Clone Saga all over again. At least "Reign" offered an explanation: whereas a Batman-less Bruce Wayne still has the thrills of a philanthropist's life to fall back on (e.g. the intro car race), Peter is lost in a world that doesn't need superheroes, that doesn't have any RESPONSIBILITIES to fulfill. Further, "Reign" was a better spin-off of DKR than DKSA was; it was intended to be a little spoofish. I LIKED it, and I want a follow-up that tells us where the Goblins and the Avengers are in this dark future. Hey, if you want your friendly neighborhood hero to be a brooding lame-o, as Marvel thinks fans of his regular books do, than you might as well have some good old-fashioned "what if" fun with it!
honestly good review and all, and for the DKR thats true, it is very similar, although the art and the story were really good. ive never seen a spidy story like this, at least not as far back as i can remember. It wasent so much a rip off on price but maybe the story. I give it a thumbs up, just thought id get my word out there.
I too think that a B- is way too generous for this series.
The story and art were obvious DKR rip offs. I hate the smiling news anchor shot that was used repeatedly. And the Dr. Octopus part was asinine.