Category Archives: Spider-Man
Your Spider Sense Will Be Tingling With The Amazing Spider-Man # 700 On The Wednesday Run – December 26, 2012
That tingling sensation you’re currently feeling in your fingertips, your toes, your arms, your legs and/or your chest?
It’s not that extra helping from the holiday gravy boat or the excessive eggnog you’ve imbibed over the last few days. You’re not about to have a stroke from eating too much of the honey-glazed spiral ham and it’s not the heightened effect of tryptophan from all that good, good turkey eating either. That feeling, my friends, is your pop-cultured spider-sense: an early warning system set to caution you on potential pop-culture threats.
So, why is it tingling so acutely right now? Brace yourselves. Today marks the end of an era.
Today, the long-running Amazing Spider-Man monthly comic book series ends with issue #700. And I’m afraid our favourite web-headed superhero won’t be making it into a new issue #1.
Wait. WHAT???
The History Of A Universe – Marvel Comics: The Untold Story Reviewed
Otto Von Bismark is renowned to have said that people who respect the law and like sausage should never watch either being made.
After reading Sean Howe’s Marvel Comics: The Untold Story, I think we can add comics to that list.
I’m fairly familiar with comics history. I’m a fan of the subject, and was around for a number of sequences outlined in this history. But Howe’s book gathers the entire history of Marvel for one engaging ride.
Saturday At The Movies Exclusive: The Amazing Spider-Man
Too soon.
That’s what I thought when it was announced that Sony would be rebooting their Spider-Man franchise after Sam Raimi’s attempts to get a fourth film in his Toney Maguire -staring franchise fell flat. Regardless of what you thought about the failed third film (and I say failed only from an artistic standpoint, since Spider-Man 3 was still a huge financial success), there was a world created, a beloved character brought to life. Did we really need to start all over again so soon?
Turns out we did. Marc Webb’s The Amazing Spider-Man is an excellent entry in Peter Parker’s mythos, and like the best reboots, combines the old and new into the unique. Find more about what this Spidey freak thought of the film after the jump.
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Mat Langford’s Gaming World – Spider Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage
In keeping with the Spider-Man theme this week, and in anticipation of the new movie coming out, I figured it was only natural that I delve into the video game side of Spider-Man. There are a ton of Spider-Man games out there, with a few gems in the mix. The one that I loved however – and a LOT of people will disagree with me on this one – was Spider-Man and Venom: Maximum Carnage on the SNES.
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The Amazing Spider-Man Pregame: Beware the Lizard!
In just a matter of days the world will finally get to see the cinematic version of one of Spider-Man’s most dangerous foes, the Lizard. What some might not know is that the Lizard, much like Two-Face to Batman, is also one of the web-slinger’s closest friends and allies. Who is the Lizard? How did he come to be? And what might we expect on the big screen in The Amazing Spider-Man?
The Origin of the Lizard
The Lizard, also known as Dr. Curt Connors, first appeared in Amazing Spider-Man #6 waaay back in 1963, in a tale called “Face to Face with… The Lizard!” Gotta love them Marvel Age exclamation marks. Yeah, he showed up early in Spidey’s career, in his first year of web-swinging, created by the legendary team of writer Stan Lee and artist Steve Ditko. He was probably the fourth or fifth (it’s subjective, do the Tinkerer and/or Doctor Doom really count?) of Spider-Man’s major classic foes to be introduced. This is the real thing, baby.
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Trailer Time: Four Minutes Of Footage From The Amazing Spider-Man
Four minutes of The Amazing Spider-Man has found its way online after debuting last night during America’s Got Talent. As our resident Spidey freak, I can’t help but feel more and more excited with every piece of new footage we see from the film. I like Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, I like the costume and I like the brief hints of the Lizard that we’re seeing. Even more so, I like the idea that this is a Spider-Man story we haven’t seen yet, in either film or in animation. Rebooting and rebuilding a franchise is always tough, but I think director Marc Webb is going to deliver the goods with The Amazing Spider-Man.
Take a look at the new footage and let us know what you think.
Trailer Time: The Amazing Spider-Man
This brand new trailer for The Amazing Spider-Man just knocked my socks off. For a film I was hesitant about two years ago, I am totally excited to see what shows up on the big screen. Wow. Just wow. Take a look and let us know what you think of this latest trailer.
Biff Bam Pop’s Favourite Couples – Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson
You know your love is strong when the only thing that can tear it apart is an editorial decision.
That’s how Peter Parker and Mary-Jane Watson had their love torn asunder, at least. If not for the need of some sort of retcon to make Spider-Man a swinging single again after nearly 20 years of marriage, the two of them would still be going strong in the Marvel Universe.
Sure, Gwen Stacey was the first to capture Peter’s heart and see past his geeky love of science, and there’s no question that her death was one of the most tragic Spidey stories, but it’s that amazing love between Mary-Jane and her tiger that gave us a fun yet mature comic book couple, trying to maintain a marriage and a superhero identity.
Some of my most favourite Spider-Man stories have been linked to the marriage of Peter and Mary-Jane. Think back to Kraven’s Last Hunt (first known as Fearful Symmetry) – while much was made of the fact that Kraven managed to put down his longtime enemy, writer J.M. DeMatteis and artist Mike Zeck put just as much emphasis on MJ and her fear and worry about the fate of her husband. When the two are ultimately reunited, the fade to black is perfect.
It’s hard being a superhero’s wife, but Mary-Jane managed to cope and succeed. This was a couple you wanted to see make it. And if not for the need to turn back the clock to a younger Spider-Man, much like the one of the late 60′s and 70′s, their love would have continued on in the comics.
As for the films, the Spider-Man trilogy managed to make Peter and Mary-Jane’s relationship believable and just as difficult, with its own iconic moments thrown in. No doubt about, they’re one of pop culture’s greatest love stories.
