Marvel Adventures Spider-Man #2

Background

When this reviewer began reading Spidey in '62, Peter Parker was in High School, and I hadn't gotten there yet. Now Parker is still in his late 20s or early 30s and I'm, shall we say, much older that that. Hence the need for this title, which is targeted towards new, and even younger readers.

Born out of the retro-reprint-cum-retellings of Marvel Age Spider-Man Marvel Adventures Spider-Man is a back-to-basics kind of book that tells single-issue tales of Classic Spider-Man in a modern-day setting. Still, according to pre-press info, this book won't simply be classic tales told yet again, but will attempt to retro-fit new stories of a younger, more in inexperienced Spider-Man into continuity.

Story Details

In Amazing Spider-Man Annual #1 Spider-Man went up against not one, not two, but six (count 'em, six) of his most nefarious foes who had finally determined that if they couldn't take Spidey on their own, they would perhaps do better if they all ganged up on him. So Doctor Octopus, gathered five other formidable foes (Kraven The Hunter, Sandman, Electro, Vulture, and Mysterio), together, and organized them against our favorite hero as The Sinister Six.

Given as this was originally presented in an annual in an expanded format, this issue is the first of a two-parter.

We cut to Spidey who is in the process of apprehending a hapless second-story man, only something has seemed to have gone terribly wrong with his amazing abilities, and he nearly falls off the wall to which he is clinging. The thief gets away, and Spidey in nearly apprehended by a cop. The next day, on his way to school, Peter misses his bus, and resorts to web-slinging to get to school, only he seems to be completely powerless, as none of his abilities are working.

Peter, feeling somewhat buoyant, feels that the "curse" of having to be Spidey has been lifted from him, and he can go back to being a normal teen. Feeling upbeat for the first time in a long time, he marches into the Bugle, chats up Betty Brant, approaches J.J.J. and quits. Meanwhile, Doc Ock is attempting to wrangle his five "associates" in line (much akin to getting cats to walk in a parade), long enough to formulate a plane on how to defeat their common foe.

The Sinister Six, bent on revenge, start rampaging through the city looking for Spidey. As he isn't around, the Fantastic Four take up the defense of New York, and engage in a running battle with the group of criminals. Unwilling to face the FF, the Sinister Six head back to their hideout to make a new plan. Unwilling to be ignored by Spidey, Doc Ock heads over the The Daily Bugle, in an effort to draw Spider-Man out. Once there he grabs JJJ and Aunt May (who went to The Bugle looking for Peter). Frantic, Betty Brant, finally reaches Peter at home and informs him of what transpired at the office, and Peter, changes into Spider-Man to rescue his Aunt. Needless to say, since his powers are still on the fritz, he is forced to take a cab to the warehouse where he knows that Ock is hiding out. Only, when he gets there, he discovers that he is facing not only Ock, but the rest of the Sinister Six as well, leaving us hanging for part two, next issue.

General Comments

Once again, the story is completely faithful to Stan and Steve's original tale, while presenting it in a new light. This story has all of the fun and innocence of that original story, while spinning it for a new generation of fans.

Overall Rating

As with the initial issue of this series, this book is all about the fun, with none of the burdensome crush of continuity. It is a great jumping on point for new or younger readers who would like to read a rip-roaring yarn of super heroic proportions

Footnote

On a personal note. This reviewer feels that younger reader have been mostly ignored over the past couple of decades. While Marvel has attempted to reach this audience in the past, I always felt that it never truly but the full weight of the company behind them. However, now, with it's flagship character in a new comic with stories, not adapted from some little-seen animated adventure, but straight from the heart of the Marvel Universe itself, this series should hopefully last for quite some time to come.