Spider-Man Marvel Adventures #7

Background

While this is certainly not the Marvel Adventure Universe that you probably remember, it is slowly becoming the Marvel Adventure universe that you will be seeing from going forward (which still may or may not be a good thing). It is (if you can pardon the expression), a Brand New Adventure, and, as we’ve been saying, for reasons that (mostly) simply confound us, Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man has been canceled and re-launched under this new title, Spider-Man Marvel Adventures. So Spidey’s name tops off the book’s header. This way we know it’s still about him (as a teen that are set in the modern-day world).

Story Details

Spider-Man is on a Mid-Town rooftop with Wolverine, Chat, and Kitty Pride, and they set out to play a game of superhero tag, as a way to test to see if Spidey has properly mended from his brawl with Bullseye. At first Spidey and Wolverine go at it with the girls simply watching, but then everyone gets into the act, and all four heroes are soon chasing each other across the rooftops of Manhattan.

Sometime later, Peter and Sophia are walking through Central Park getting something to eat and (still) talking about how Emma Frost kissed Spidey. Back at school, Gwen and Carter are working on the Spider-Man appreciation site. Gwen teases Carter a bit by constantly telling him how smart Peter is, and how much she wants to interview Spidey. Meanwhile, Spidey is across town stopping a bunch of thugs (who don’t work for Torino), from shaking down a street vendor.

At Berto Torino’s house, he is discussing his plans to crush Spidey with a very attractive blonde woman. Kitty and Sophia are in a clothing boutique shopping for clothes while Pete and Logan are outside talking. At City Hall, there are a pair of competing protest rallies both pro and con against mutants. Captain Stacy is there with other cops to keep the peace. Pete and Carter show up with Carter bitching how Peter ruing the grading curve by scoring 100 on a test. Pete spots a bunch of Tornio’s thugs who look like they are there to make trouble, so he warns Captain Stacy about it. Stacy tries to get the thugs to leave, but they break out hi-tech firearms and start shooting up the place.

Spidey arrives and starts to put the thugs down and help restore order. Someone in a car drives through the crowd scattering everyone. A young man jumps out of the crowd claiming to be a mutant and stands in front of the car, stating that he will stop it, only he isn’t a mutant, and nearly gets run over. Captain Stacy in a squad car rams the rampaging car, stopping it. This stops the riot and the young lad indicates that he just wanted to help and thought that desire was enough. Spidey tells him that it isn’t mutant power that makes someone brave, a hero or cool, but being who you really are. Stacy reminds Spidey that he is technically wanted, so Spidey gracefully opts for the better part of valor, and swings away.

General Comments

Ok, I’ll admit it; this “new” direction of Spider-Man Marvel Adventures is starting to grow on me. Yea, yea I’m officially an old. Codger, and I’m not entirely sold on this universe, but it is starting to win me over. I can’t tell you why, but it is starting to hang together a bit better than at first. I can see how, on some level, it really doesn’t matter that this isn’t the “real” Spider-Man (and yeah, I knew that coming in), it is becoming interesting to read it as, because of its differences from “real” Spidey, it isn’t possible to predict how things are going to turn out, which, as it so happens, makes for an interesting read.

Overall Rating

I’m liking it better, but it has a ways to go to totally win me over.

Footnote

This book takes the place of Marvel Adventures Spider-Man, picking up with the same continuity as that series had at the end of its run.